"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
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The message
from NC contains these words:

Janet Baraclough wrote:
If anyone is heading to B and Q's garden section , could you please
let me know what they're charging for their smallest-pot-size
camellias
this spring? They don't have plant prices on their website.

Janet (Isle of Arran)

give your local B&Q a call ? Numbers are on the web via the store
finder.

I have the number thanks, but have you ever tried asking a B and Q
garden dept staff anything face to face? I hate to think what it's like
trying to get a sensible answer over the phone :-)

Janet

It isn't just the price Janet, you should be able to confirm they
actually have any in stock and weren't sent an extra cage of
rhododendrons by mistake - or the cage didn't fall off the back
of the delivery lorry - or they're sold out. Or have only one or
two left with branches missing etc.

However you should be able to find out what you want...eventually.

With many of these places, there may be a long wait before anyone
answers the phone at all. Although this doesn't cost you money -
only patience. It doesn't pay them to have people sitting around,
although that might depend on what time of day you phoned.

After explaining what you want - price and availability information
there may be a wait until they get a response from someone sitting
in front of a terminal. From what you tell them over the phone
they should immediately be able to tell you the price and how
many they have in stock. You may need to spell out the name carefully
or they may have it wrong themselves however. They read the bar-codes
off the cages into hand-helds when the stuff is delivered and bar-codes
off the pots when it goes through the till.
They can tell you this information at the information desk, without
you as a customer knowing the product code, and so they should be able to
tell you over the phone as well. This is from looking over people's
shoulders, not inside industry knowledge.
Once you've got the information you want it doesn't hurt to ask the
name of the person you're talking to. Once you've phoned any of these
places and got an answer, this gives you leverage if you turn up and
the information turns out to be wrong. Much more leverage than if you
walked in off the street. If you have a name even better. "I phoned
today and spoke to Mary and she said you had 200 in stock. I've just
travelled 50 miles and your computer at the inquiry desk says there
are 100, but there are none in the store. I want to speak to the
manager please. What are you going to do for me please. This is totally
unacceptable." These placed often sell Gift Vouchers etc. which
might be offered in lieu if you're insistent enough.



michael adams

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