Total Wine sent me a mailer describing a 15% discount on Wines Direct From the Winery. I had found an inexpensive wine there earlier this month that I like, so I took my coupon that came in the mailer and went there this afternoon. Sure enough. There it was. With the "Wines Direct From the Winery" card on the shelf, and the price printed on it - $7.99 per bottle.
To get the discount, you must buy six, so I got them and went up and checked out.
And the bill said they were $8.99 per bottle.
The next step required a Manager, and he asked me to walk with him while he looked at the wine shelf.
Yep. $7.99 per bottle. And his reaction?
They had overlooked changing the price last night. Or yesterday. Whenever.
It was supposed to be marked $8.99. Took him about 10 minutes, but he was able to recompute my bill (which I had paid by debit before I realized what had happened). He refunded me the difference.
So, why am I going through all of this?
Because - yesterday when the wine was $7.99 per bottle and the discount was the normal 10% for a 6-bottle purchase, the cost would have been $43.20.
Now that they have changed the price to the $8.99 they intended it to be today, six bottles, with that 15% discount - will cost the next shopper who buys Canyon Oaks - $45.90.
Is there a hint of avarice in this practice?