Most of the time, I love BMV. (Mostly because I love books.)
I love BMV so much, BMV gift cards have become a go-to-gift for me. People give them to me, I give them to other people. It's all very lovely.
Usually, I go to the Annex location. Usually. This weekend, after the Annex location didn't have what I wanted, I headed up to the Yonge and Eglington location instead. It's not my favourite. Stuff is always out of order and the salespeople are snippy and unhelpful. Nonetheless, they had what I wanted. So armed with $10.93 left on my gift card (after spending the majority of the balance in the Annex and confirming the amount left) I found what I was looking for, and headed to the cash with a purchase of exactly $11.
Cue banter with the guy working cash, who seemed nice, at least initially. I mentioned that I had $10.93 on the gift card and would pay the difference in cash. ($0.07). He laughed. No problem there. Seven cents is an amusing amount, I suppose.
Alas, the fact that I had a gift card was an issue for this dude. Basically, our interaction continued like this:
Gesturing to my gift card, he says, "Our system is down, so I doubt this is going to work today."
I say, "Oh. What do you think we should do?" Meaning, should we at least run the card through the machine before we decide it doesn't work?
He says, "It won't work."
I say, "Ooookay... well ...." and look over at my partner to see what he wants to do. I know it's only $11, but I have the card, the store already has my money. I don't want to end up paying twice, or buying more than I want. That doesn't seem fair.
All of a sudden, cashier dude suddenly butts in with a shouty, eye-rolly, "Just take it! Just take it!"
So I say, "Sorry?"
And he continues exclaiming "Just take it!" and shoves my purchase toward me.
It was just utterly bizarre behaviour and even now, I'm not really sure what he was so angry about.
I respond with, "I don't understand. Do you mean you'll try the card later when the system is back up and it will probably work?" After all, I'm not trying to screw him over. I don't want him to get into trouble. I know underpaid retail work isn't exactly fun.
"No, it probably won't," he says. "But just take it. Go. Take it." Dude rolls his eyes practically out of his head. Every time I try to continue the conversation or clarify, I get the same thing "Just take it!" Shouty. Angry.
So you know what? I did. I just took it. And I got the heck out of there. I mean, really. How ridiculous.
Ultimately, I got what I wanted, I guess. I got my books. He kept my gift card. My total, other than seven cents, was covered by the card. It's fine. I don't feel like he forced me to steal something, but MAN ... the dude was just weird. And rude. So weird and rude! Maybe he was having a bad day, but a quick search on Yelp tells me he's probably just your garden-variety dickhead and acts this way with everyone.
Moral of this story: Cheap books aren't ALWAYS worth the trouble. Go to the Annex location instead. Or mentally prepare yourself for this asshat. It'll be fine, but very annoying.
BMV Books (the crappy midtown one)
2289 Yonge St.
(Yonge and Eglinton, ½ block North of Eglinton, East side of Yonge)
416-482-6002
UPDATE:
Right after posting this, the Annex location started replying to me on Twitter. I am assuming the person responding is both trying to be funny and trying to be a dick. Failing in the first arena, but winning in the second. Congratulations, BMV! Maybe you're dickheads all around, eh?
I love BMV so much, BMV gift cards have become a go-to-gift for me. People give them to me, I give them to other people. It's all very lovely.
Usually, I go to the Annex location. Usually. This weekend, after the Annex location didn't have what I wanted, I headed up to the Yonge and Eglington location instead. It's not my favourite. Stuff is always out of order and the salespeople are snippy and unhelpful. Nonetheless, they had what I wanted. So armed with $10.93 left on my gift card (after spending the majority of the balance in the Annex and confirming the amount left) I found what I was looking for, and headed to the cash with a purchase of exactly $11.
Cue banter with the guy working cash, who seemed nice, at least initially. I mentioned that I had $10.93 on the gift card and would pay the difference in cash. ($0.07). He laughed. No problem there. Seven cents is an amusing amount, I suppose.
Alas, the fact that I had a gift card was an issue for this dude. Basically, our interaction continued like this:
Gesturing to my gift card, he says, "Our system is down, so I doubt this is going to work today."
I say, "Oh. What do you think we should do?" Meaning, should we at least run the card through the machine before we decide it doesn't work?
He says, "It won't work."
I say, "Ooookay... well ...." and look over at my partner to see what he wants to do. I know it's only $11, but I have the card, the store already has my money. I don't want to end up paying twice, or buying more than I want. That doesn't seem fair.
All of a sudden, cashier dude suddenly butts in with a shouty, eye-rolly, "Just take it! Just take it!"
So I say, "Sorry?"
And he continues exclaiming "Just take it!" and shoves my purchase toward me.
It was just utterly bizarre behaviour and even now, I'm not really sure what he was so angry about.
I respond with, "I don't understand. Do you mean you'll try the card later when the system is back up and it will probably work?" After all, I'm not trying to screw him over. I don't want him to get into trouble. I know underpaid retail work isn't exactly fun.
"No, it probably won't," he says. "But just take it. Go. Take it." Dude rolls his eyes practically out of his head. Every time I try to continue the conversation or clarify, I get the same thing "Just take it!" Shouty. Angry.
So you know what? I did. I just took it. And I got the heck out of there. I mean, really. How ridiculous.
Ultimately, I got what I wanted, I guess. I got my books. He kept my gift card. My total, other than seven cents, was covered by the card. It's fine. I don't feel like he forced me to steal something, but MAN ... the dude was just weird. And rude. So weird and rude! Maybe he was having a bad day, but a quick search on Yelp tells me he's probably just your garden-variety dickhead and acts this way with everyone.
Moral of this story: Cheap books aren't ALWAYS worth the trouble. Go to the Annex location instead. Or mentally prepare yourself for this asshat. It'll be fine, but very annoying.
BMV Books (the crappy midtown one)
2289 Yonge St.
(Yonge and Eglinton, ½ block North of Eglinton, East side of Yonge)
416-482-6002
UPDATE:
Right after posting this, the Annex location started replying to me on Twitter. I am assuming the person responding is both trying to be funny and trying to be a dick. Failing in the first arena, but winning in the second. Congratulations, BMV! Maybe you're dickheads all around, eh?
I had the urge to respond that if he (one can only assume it's a he, with snark like that) wants to be called awesome, he would first need to behave in an awesome or awe-inspiring fashion. And I can't really see a situation where a snarky dickhead at a used bookstore might find the opportunity to earn such a descriptor, can you? Sigh.
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