New York Butcher Shop (NYBS) took a far-less-than-gracious approach to our use of LivingSocial (LS) coupons.
My parents, new to Mt. Pleasant, have been taking advantage of LS to learn of the local favorites. At the advice of my uncle, my mother purchased 4 coupons to NY Butcher Shop ? 2 for her household (limit 2 p/p), and separately, 1 for my brother?s, and 1 for mine.
With this daily deal, you spend $8 for a $16 gift certificate to NYBS, to be used no later than November 15, 2011. ?The Fine Print?: Limit two per person; Limit one per person per visit; Valid only at Mt. Pleasant, SC location.
So yesterday, my dad calls to remind me that we need to use our coupons by today. He?s excited to visit this establishment in particular, as he is a New Yorker and truly appreciates an authentic NY butcher shop. So, this morning, we make the trip anxious to see what this hidden treasure holds.
We slowly peruse the shop and take in all the unique options. We fill a basket totaling about $70 worth of meat. Approx $20 worth was mine, and the remainder, ~$50 worth, was my father?s. I take out my items, hand them to the clerk behind the counter, and offer my LS coupon for $16 for the price of $8 (previously paid for on LS). He takes it with a sigh as he pulls out a list of LS voucher #s. While looking through the list, he sees my father pull out his coupon, looks up and makes an exasperated gesture. He states that you can only use one at a time. I said that I understood, and that I am using mine (cash) and he, my father, is using his separately. Note that my father?s purchase is approximately $50, the LS discount is $8, so while my $20 purchase only cost me $3+ at the register, my father?s $50 purchase would come up to $34+ at the register (not including the $8 coupon price). So, all in all, not a shabby customer.
The clerk then states that it is ?people like you? (us) that abuse the system and ruin it for everyone. I then asked him if his shop chose to participate in LS. He said yes, then I asked why he is being rude, and he again said that it?s people like us that ruin it for everyone else. My father then says that we have another coupon and we?d be back later today with my brother to use it ? asking if it would be a problem, since this is obviously not going smoothly. The clerk says that it?s in the same name, so it would not be honored. His tone is aggressive and rude, and the older gentleman has come over to observe. The older gent states ?they expire today ? you had six months to use them? ? to which my father responds ?what does it matter which day we use them? and I follow with ?we paid for each of these coupons, and you?re getting our money either way, why is this day an issue?? Again, we are abusing the system. Then my father, amazingly calm throughout, asks quietly ?why are you being ass holes about this?? The young one bows up to my father, says ?get out of my shop? followed by ?NOW! OR I WILL CALL THE COPS!? and makes a show of walking toward the telephone. Also, keep in mind, there are people behind us now, listening and watching. One of the men in line leaned over and said ?always the Texans, huh?? with a smile? acknowledging the inhospitable demeanor of the shop owners that is so stereotypical of New Yorkers. I cannot believe the amount of restraint my father used with that interaction.
I had already paid for my baby back ribs and drunken goat cheese burgers, so I walked out with them. They tried to keep the remaining coupons, but I retrieved them, as they were in fact paid for ? $ I?m sure that NYBS has already received.
My father returned home, called LS and received a credit. LS apologized and said this type of situation is rarely a problem, as the vendor is receiving the money one way or the other.
The customer service was terrible. If they truly had an issue with our use of the coupons, then it should have been addressed VERY differently. NYBS has lost our patronage and that of anyone else I can reach.
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