After a frustrating semester of dealing with the bookstore, my pot has finally boiled over. It started out as a simple transaction. I went to purchase a digital tape recorder. This item was essential for me this semester as I am a media major and on staff at The Catalyst. Armed with a book voucher, I went in to complete the purchase the second week of school. At that time, I learned the bookstore had just run out of the item and reordered them. The manager advised me to check back the following week. After weeks and weeks and no tape recorder, the manager offered to pre-order it for me so that one would be held for me when it finally arrived. I went along with that idea out of sheer desperation. Three more weeks went by and nothing had arrived.
If anyone had bothered to perform inventory, they would have noticed the store was low on this item and therefore ordered them prior to the last one being sold. Also, if anyone cared that this item never arrived after it was allegedly ordered weeks ago, they would have made a call to the manufacturer to find out what the delay was. Instead, everyone stood around twiddling their thumbs and brushing me off every time I inquired about when the tape recorders would be in. At times, I was treated as if I were bothering the employees and just being an overall nuisance.
After two months of waiting, I was shocked to see a “note recorder” on the wall at the bookstore. I immediately grabbed one fearing if I blinked, it would disappear. When I got one, I realized what I purchased was something straight out of the 18th century. It was not at all digital, and had no usb ports. I went to return this pathetic excuse for a recorder and was advised “all electronic sales are final.” I inquired as to how one is supposed to know that, because there are no signs posted, and the cashier replied to me, “It’s on the receipt.” This response was not surprising to me because this “so what” attitude is what I have been dealing with all semester. The response angered me because it made no sense. You don’t get a receipt until your purchase is complete and once you complete the sale that is when you learn the sale is final. I find that “policy” absolutely unacceptable.
I have discussed this frustration with many classmates and have realized I am not the only one who has this and other problems with the bookstore. The big money items such as science and math textbooks are immediately ordered and smaller less profitable items are ignored. If the bookstore doesn’t want to deal with the smaller items, they should remove them from the list of items they sell. If they are going to continue to offer them, every effort should be made to ensure the items are available to customers.
It is my hope that the bookstore gets its act together. Under no circumstances should one have had to spend an entire semester chasing down an item as simple as a digital tape recorder and then have to deal with senseless policies.