Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 09:28:47 -0800 (PST)
From: Lamune The Brave
Subject: Banned from Staples

Hello,

The idea of being banned from Staples.com is kind of amusing, since my
father and I have both (at one time) been officially "banned" from a
local Staples store.

It wasn't unusual for one of us to walk in to the store with a weekly
flier, and come out with a shopping cart full of goodies for under $10.
(If not free.)  

The manager was also a real prick, and we started noticing that
whenever one of us attempted to get a price match on an item, he'd do
everything in his power to deny it, or at least give us a hard time.
(Usually by sitting on the phone with Best Buy for up to 45 minutes at
a time just to verify that a $20 item was in stock...) He had even gone
as far as denying us a sale, but allowing the same price match to a
friend of mine who went in as a "mole" as per my request just a few
minutes later.

We were totally not welcome after my Father noticed a pricing error on
a very very nice computer desk w/ hutch.  (Normally sold in three
separately-priced pieces, the sign was misprint-ed claiming that all
three parts came for the price of the middle table alone.) Admitable an
error, but as much as they fought with us, Dad was insistent on
fighting back for this one. On top of getting this $500+ workstation
for around $200... I then pulled out a $50 coupon, and watched his head
explode. =)

They made it quite known we weren't welcome for some time. At least,
until our numerous complaints hit the right person at Corporate.  Now
that manager is gone, and the new one has no problems actually
following Staples printed policies. 

Well, back to work...

Thanks,