I experienced one of my pet peeves today, and made a bit of a pest of myself.

I was buying a roll of screening material to use as a replacement for a basement screen that had been shredded by a prairie gopher.   The gopher fell into the window well and could not escape the way it came (falling in) so tried to exit through the window.  The screen was easy work but unfortunately it met it’s match with the glass.   I had to dispose of the body and then of course fix the screen.

Back to my local Canadian Tire store where I was making this purchase I decided to also get another garden gnome.  I collect them and when presented with the opportunity, well you know how it goes. (What are garden’s for if not as homes for gnomes).

When I got to the checkout, the cashier was very friendly and commented how cute the gnome was and that it was too bad they never went on sale.

Pet Peeve time

“I brought it here to pay for it because I want to buy it .   I said.  “If it is not on sale why is it on the shelf”

She laughed ( I guess she did not yet realize how serious I was) ” Oh you can buy it, just not at the sale price”

“If I can buy it and it is on sale, it should be for the price marked on the shelf where I found it”

The cashier got that, oh not another one look and explained ” The sale price is a lower price than the one marked”

“So” said I ” if this product is being sold at a lower price some other time why do I have to pay a higher price now?

I could see the cashier was regretting getting into a conversation with me and wondering what to say when I gave her the easy out, just completing the transaction, thanking her and leaving.

The story has a funny end though, the cashier asked me if I was okay taking my Canadian Tire money electronically.  I said okay and she gave me the card and said I had to register at home on the internet – “You do know what the internet is?” she said.  And I thought bazzinga, she got me back.

Technically Speaking

Everything in the merchants store on display and marked with a price is on sale.  I always struggle when told an item which is in fact “on sale” is not on sale.  Just a pet peeve I guess.

I should note, no need for a rush of comments,  I do understand the commonly understood use of the term “on sale” in context.  Really though we should be more clear using terms like – reduced for quick sale,  price reduced, etc.  Or I guess I should just live with it.  I could tell the cashier at Canadian Tire was not impressed.