Sounds pretty shady...

[Italiahaircolor]

My DH and I were visiting my sister at college the other weekend and happened upon a small, totally cute store that sold older pieces of furniture with new pieces as well...

When I was there I saw the cutest little "cabinet" that matched the blue in my room and masterbath perfectly, plus it was really interestingly distressed too. I

it instantly, and wanted it--not to mention the price was pretty reasonable for an antique. The owner of the store shared that the piece had come from some hardwear store, and was about 50+ year old--dispite the modern paint color and all. The only problem was, I had NO idea what I would do with it. See, I have an issue with seeing something, liking it, and buying it without always thinking thru what to do with it--and the price of this was enough money to stop me from being overly impulsive, plus, my DH was there and he''s a like a circut breaker for my credit card sometimes

.

So I passed on it, sadly. But it has been haunting me. I finally decided that I could mount it in the bathroom, and use it as a medicine cabinet dispite the glass pains.

I called the store yesterday, and the owner answered. I asked what her weekend hours were so I could drive out there and buy it--it''s a decent ways away...she started in on how she has a 6 year old daughter, and how she opens it up when she has time because she lives in a different town

. So, I asked if she was planning on being open on this weekend, and she asked if I would be able to come on Friday...I told her I couldn''t because I have to work. But, I said I could call my sister and she could come pick it up Friday...if this lady would be willing to take my amex over the phone. She told me she didn''t take amex, so I asked if she could take my visa debit card...she told she could take credit/debit cards, but would prefer if I just brought in cash or a cheque

.

This made me feel really weird, so I told her "nevermind" and hung up. She is still calling me and leaving me voicemails

. I cannot believe she accepts credit cards and yet tells me to pay cash...and then when I say I am no longer interested, she keeps calling and calling--like 7 times! Soooo weird. My DH says something sounds "off" about and shady about this store and this lady....I happen to totally agree.

 

[neatfreak]

I can understand why small merchants don''t accept AMEX (HUGE costs for them per transaction) and also why she prefers cash (again they get charged fees for CC transactions). But I can''t believe that she asked if you could pay in cash...weird. Maybe she really needs the cash in hand for something? Sounds like she needs some customer service training! And 7 phonecalls? That is just too much IMO...

That stinks though, I hate it when I see something I love, pass on it, and then can''t track it down again when I am ready to buy!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 10/22/2008 2:53:10 PM
Author: neatfreak
I can understand why small merchants don''t accept AMEX (HUGE costs for them per transaction) and also why she prefers cash (again they get charged fees for CC transactions). But I can''t believe that she asked if you could pay in cash...weird. Maybe she really needs the cash in hand for something? Sounds like she needs some customer service training! And 7 phonecalls? That is just too much IMO...

That stinks though, I hate it when I see something I love, pass on it, and then can''t track it down again when I am ready to buy!

I probably would have paid cash if she had regular business hours and not flying by the seat of her pants, and opening when she has time...if I had gotten a chance to go there myself I would have just taken money from my account--after all, using my debit card is basically using cash...

But since my sister would be the one picking it up, I can''t use cash...she''s a college student and doesn''t have that much money to just "use" and get paid back later.

Its sad I''ll have to pass on it...it was a great piece....but sometimes things aren''t meant to be, right?

 

[meresal]

I know this may be a bit of a hassle, but what if you transfer the money to your sisters bank account and she just withdraws the cash to go pay for the item?

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 10/22/2008 3:13:10 PM
Author: meresal
I know this may be a bit of a hassle, but what if you transfer the money to your sisters bank account and she just withdraws the cash to go pay for the item?

That would have been an option, if the sales lady hadn''t "requested" that I pay cash.

The way I see is if you have a store, and you''re selling goods, and you accept credit cards...then you really have no *right* to tell someone to pay by cash or with a check.

At this point, it''s more of the principal than the inconvience factor. I understand that there are fee''s attached to credit card purchases that the store must cover, and it sucks to be a small business and be required to do so...but thats not really my problem, that''s her problem. If she doesn''t want to pay the fee, then she has choices--don''t accept credit cards (which will limit her business) or don''t own a store. But you cannot tell me, the consumer, to pay cash when in reality you takes Visa too. If she wants cash in hand...or needs it...again, thats not my problem.

By the way...when we were there this past weekend, we were the only ones in her store--and she had stock piled up to the ceiling.

 

[Maisie]

I suppose it comes down to how much you want the cabinet... do you love it enough to pay cash? By the sounds of it you really liked it.. maybe you could ask for a discount for cash and see what she says...

 

[blondebunny]

I think the reason she was asking for cash was probably she might have been thinking "you" were doing something shady... I mean someone calls and asks you to charge something over the phone?? Usually they are not supposed to do that.. and since it is your sister picking it up and not you, you could easily call and dispute the charge saying you didnt do it ya know or it was a stolen CC?? She is probably just looking out for herself as well...just my opinion...

 

[ChargerGrrl]

i can understand the vendor asking you to pay in cash if there was a discount involved. but since that''s not the case, it''s just kinda strange!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 10/22/2008 6:50:02 PM
Author: blondebunny
I think the reason she was asking for cash was probably she might have been thinking ''you'' were doing something shady... I mean someone calls and asks you to charge something over the phone?? Usually they are not supposed to do that.. and since it is your sister picking it up and not you, you could easily call and dispute the charge saying you didnt do it ya know or it was a stolen CC?? She is probably just looking out for herself as well...just my opinion...

I was going to post the same thing.
There is no way I would accept a CC under those conditions.

 

[iheartscience]

Tons of stores accept CC''s over the phone. That''s just strange...I''d skip it, too!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 10/22/2008 6:50:02 PM
Author: blondebunny
I think the reason she was asking for cash was probably she might have been thinking ''you'' were doing something shady... I mean someone calls and asks you to charge something over the phone?? Usually they are not supposed to do that.. and since it is your sister picking it up and not you, you could easily call and dispute the charge saying you didnt do it ya know or it was a stolen CC?? She is probably just looking out for herself as well...just my opinion...

Let me clarify this for you...

I wouldn''t have charged it over the phone IF she had regular business hours that included the weekend, I would have gone in myself and paid for it at the time. I was only going to charge it over the phone IF my sister went to pick it up for me since this woman doesn''t have set hours apparently.

And, FYI, lots of places do take CC''s over the phone...she just wanted cash.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 10/22/2008 6:44:04 PM
Author: Maisie
I suppose it comes down to how much you want the cabinet... do you love it enough to pay cash? By the sounds of it you really liked it.. maybe you could ask for a discount for cash and see what she says...

Using a debit card is the same thing as using cash. I only use a debit card for the added protection, and because my DH is an employee of the company thru which we bank, we get points for every dollar we spend via debt which can be used for various things....so it would only make sense to use the debit verus cash for this.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 10/22/2008 9:16:23 PM
Author: thing2of2
Tons of stores accept CC's over the phone. That's just strange...I'd skip it, too!

yes but at least around here they require id or signature when its picked up/delivered.
A standard merchant account does not cover it, they charge more to allow you to accept them that way.