The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: MilkyTaroMochi on April 27, 2013, 08:44:36 PM
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I am still a little surprised about this happening in the first place. I do apologize if someone else mentioned this before here. ^^;
Since I'm in Houston for the weekend, I went to the Galleria mall with my boyfriend and we decided to peek into Hot Topic, since I had the Hot Cash coupon-thing. Looking around in the store, high on a shelf in-between the Funko MLP figures, was a SDCC Ditzy Doo.
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(I apologize for the picture quality – took it from my phone and I didn’t want to be too obvious about taking the picture in a store. D: )
After spotting the Ditzy Doo at the top of the shelf, I went to the employee and asked about it and how much was she (I assumed they were selling her if she was out of the floor/shelf). The employee jokingly told me $100 and then shortly said that he’d ask about it. He went to the guy working at the register, whom said that that Ditzy wasn’t for sale. Said employee mentioned that she was for a giveaway, but the first employee said “But we had that giveaway months ago!"
Then the register employee then said to me that if I were to spend $200 in the store, he’d let me have it. Honestly, that kind of bugged me considering he had seemed to change his answers in a matter in one minute. ^^;
I am still puzzled and a tad frustrated about the whole ordeal. I wasn’t going to “buy her for $200”, but it kind of bugs me that if she wasn’t for sale, then why was she out where people could see her? I can’t have been the only one that saw her there (this was about 6pm when I was there), and I feel if she wasn’t for sale, they would have made it “obvious” like with a sign or something like that. A part of me wanted to ask if they could take her down from the shelf so I could see her for myself (like see if she had a price tag or her or something), but I felt it would have been a bit much to do that. D:
I guess in the end, I am just wondering one thing: why is/was she at that store? O_o
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Um, that would have gone to a runner up. A second name should have been drawn if the first person did not pick it up. They should NOT still have that.
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Iccky...that's not very good store practices. I personally would have asked for them to call someone above them and get the proper story straight.
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Go back. Buy how much ever merchandise they told you to buy to get her. Then, return all the stuff later and keep her!
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I wish I had thought about asking for the manager when I was there. D: That's what my mom said when I told her about it when I got back home. She also mentioned that she thought there was a rule that if something was on a store shelf and wasn't street-dated or literally couldn't buy it at a register, they have to sell it to you.
I thought it was really odd that Ditzy was at the store (she sure wasn't out/displayed the two times when I was at that same Hot Topic last month during Spring Break). And if she was for another giveaway, wouldn't there have been an announcement about it by now (or in-store signs saying so)?
Go back. Buy how much ever merchandise they told you to buy to get her. Then, return all the stuff later and keep her!
If I wasn't going back to my city in the early morning, I would likely do that. xD I kinda wondered if he said that in hopes that I wouldn't actually do it.
And I'm not gonna lie - if I had that much spare money, I'd actually say yes to the deal and see what he'd do (like reaction and whatnot).
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I don't go to hot topic but I would have asked for a manager about it.. when it comes to items like that I wouldn't trust the store employees totally
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I would have
Go back. Buy how much ever merchandise they told you to buy to get her. Then, return all the stuff later and keep her!
I would do this, honestly, if you really wanted her.
I imagine they have her in the store to draw in customers...
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Man I would have been so frazzled if I saw her in Hot Topic!!
Honestly I would have asked to speak to a manager. The fact that the employee changed their mind about selling her would make me a little suspicious.
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If she was actually offered at $100 (like the first employee mentioned) I would have done it with no hesitation, and see if the Hot Cash would have worked for it. She is number 1 on my "get pony!" list, but at $200 that the guy offered her for, I felt like I'd get her cheaper from eBay or another Arena member (I had checked how much she was going for on eBay shortly after leaving the store.)
And to be honest, I wasn't too keen at him changing his mind about her being for sale or not. Sorta "killed" it for me, if that made sense.
If only I hadn't gotten so frustrated to not ask for the manager or "call their bluff about the $200 price"! I do regret that. T_T Knowing my luck, I wouldn't be surprised if the guy at the register was the manager (considering he was the one who said the $200 thing, and I can't imagine an regular employee actually having the guts to make that offer). D;
I already am on the fence about Hot Topic in general, but this situation sure isn't making them look better to me.
Man I would have been so frazzled if I saw her in Hot Topic!!
Honestly I would have asked to speak to a manager. The fact that the employee changed their mind about selling her would make me a little suspicious.
I was mildly freaking out and in shock, because I had never seen her in person!
I got suspicious when he mentioned the giveaway and the first employee mentioned that it already happened (with me agreeing and stating that I remember HT already had one).
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Oooh I would have been mad if it were me. :stressed: I'd call the store back and ask to speak to a manager about it. If the manager seems unhelpful, Hot Topic seem to me pretty helpful to people who have issues with stores through their Facebook or other customer service routes from what I've seen. They should not have her just sitting there for display like that. I bet she was meant for the giveaway but was never given for some reason.
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Oooh I would have been mad if it were me. :stressed: I'd call the store back and ask to speak to a manager about it. If the manager seems unhelpful, Hot Topic seem to me pretty helpful to people who have issues with stores through their Facebook or other customer service routes from what I've seen. They should not have her just sitting there for display like that. I bet she was meant for the giveaway but was never given for some reason.
I was thinking about calling the store when they opened (while on the road, heading back to my home about four hours away), but I wasn't sure if that would be a good idea since, assuming they'd want me to come back to that store as an apology [or something like that, for example], I wouldn't be able to do it. Boyfriend and I gotta be back in my town by 1pm. ;_; The Facebook option was on my mind as well, and I feel that might be the better option for the situation.
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Buy it all and return it all... and keep :muffin: Pony Pony!
It really bothers me that :muffin: Pony Pony is changed to "Drama Pony" when I type it with correct spelling.
Isn't the drama hype over already? >.> I feel like I'm using a dang apple phone with these auto corrects.
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Hmmmmm.... fishy behavior! And really, having her out and then jerking you around.... If you didn't have to go so far away, I would say go back, even to just get an apology for not being given the respect a customer is entitled to. You did nothing wrong; you were shopping, saw an item that interested you, and asked how much to purchase it. You should have been dealt with in an honest manner. I'm sorry you were run in circles on a pony you want so much!
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I would at least call and ask to speak to a manager - they shouldn't have treated you like that. It must have been so frustrating. :/
And that pony really should have been given out by now. It's odd they still have her.
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I was at my local Hot Topic this afternoon, looking for Ms D merch. If I'd had the extra money, I'd have called their bluff. Easy to mass that much and get the pony. Their loss, your gain. But only if you'd truly had the funds and stuff to buy.
But I tend to call people on bs. Or circle around to get a straight answer.
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Oooh I would have been mad if it were me. :stressed: I'd call the store back and ask to speak to a manager about it. If the manager seems unhelpful, Hot Topic seem to me pretty helpful to people who have issues with stores through their Facebook or other customer service routes from what I've seen. They should not have her just sitting there for display like that. I bet she was meant for the giveaway but was never given for some reason.
I was thinking about calling the store when they opened (while on the road, heading back to my home about four hours away), but I wasn't sure if that would be a good idea since, assuming they'd want me to come back to that store as an apology [or something like that, for example], I wouldn't be able to do it. Boyfriend and I gotta be back in my town by 1pm. ;_; The Facebook option was on my mind as well, and I feel that might be the better option for the situation.
Call anyway. And ask if they would be willing to mail it to you, or let you have a friend pick it up. Honestly - it'd be worth it. That's just really bad store practices. =(
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OR go to their facebook page and complain and post the picture. They WILL comment i bet 100%.
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I would be more likely to complain to customer services or head office than back at the store. Often branches of retailers in national chains are run like their own little fiefdoms - so sometimes you wont get an answer or certainly not the one you want.
That pony was a prize in a give away - so either they "forgot" to do the give away or they made no effort to find or assign a winner...a little cheeky all in to be honest and breaking most standard competition rules.
It really does make me wonder how many Drama Ponies were given to stores - was it really one per store? - As for a limited run pony which had what 150-200ish at the Fair last year?...Hasbro decided to give over 600 of them to Hot Topic??? Really???
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Mini-update: i decided to call them on the way back home (just got back). Phone call went surprisingly well, and one of the guys was indeed the manager. ^^; he remembered me, and was really nice over the phone.
Keeping my hooves crossed - i just might be getting that Ditzy!! :D i'll explain in more detail when I get in touch with my parents (of all times for them to be at the movies, lol). :3
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oh wow, good luck! :D
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Mini-update: i decided to call them on the way back home (just got back). Phone call went surprisingly well, and one of the guys was indeed the manager. ^^; he remembered me, and was really nice over the phone.
Keeping my hooves crossed - i just might be getting that Ditzy!! :D i'll explain in more detail when I get in touch with my parents (of all times for them to be at the movies, lol). :3
Woot woot! Keep us updated!
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Keeping my hooves crossed - i just might be getting that Ditzy!! :D i'll explain in more detail when I get in touch with my parents (of all times for them to be at the movies, lol). :3
I hope it all goes well for you~
What a strange story :/ huh.
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I hope you get her, those employees were really cruel to you.
Drama Pony creates drama everywhere she goes!
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Oh I hope that you luck out and get him :)
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Good luck MilkyTaroMochi! I hope this story has a happy ending and you get your pony! :D ::crosses fingers for you::
Drama Pony creates drama everywhere she goes!
Lol, seriously! :lol:
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I love my parents. :heart:
Luckily there were at a movie theatre that was about 15 minutes away from that mall, so they went and just picked her up for me. :frolic: I had even sent both parents a picture of what she should look like (package included), just in case that HT tried to pull the wool over their eyes and give them the Funko one. Mom is supposed to call me back in a few so she can describe the box to me (I just wanna make sure, hehe). I'm still in shock and excited.
As for the phone call earlier, going by the manager (who I assume was the guy at the register yesterday who brought up the $200 price thing), the Ditzy Doo was the giveaway one, but the person who won the drawing never came by for her. So I guess they waited for a few months just in case and had put her out for display. I was the first/only person to have asked about her, so I'm guessing she wasn't out for too long? Although considering how high she [and that shelf] was in the store, I wouldn't be surprised that/if no one mentioned or saw her beforehand.
Initially, he had said that I could come back to the store and get her if I bought an MLP shirt (which was a fair deal), but after telling him I wasn't going to be back in town for another few weeks due to college, he said that if I could get someone to come and get her for me, he'd give the pony to them. :) I did leave my name and gave him my parents' name to be safe. Since she wasn't an actual "item" in the store (like retail item, I'm assuming), he couldn't mail her to me or my parents, so it had to have been someone to go and get her personally.
I do appreciate him doing this, because I sure wasn't expecting anything good out of the phone call. <3
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I love my parents. :heart:
Luckily there were at a movie theatre that was about 15 minutes away from that mall, so they went and just picked her up for me. :frolic: I had even sent both parents a picture of what she should look like (package included), just in case that HT tried to pull the wool over their eyes and give them the Funko one. Mom is supposed to call me back in a few so she can describe the box to me (I just wanna make sure, hehe). I'm still in shock and excited.
As for the phone call earlier, going by the manager (who I assume was the guy at the register yesterday who brought up the $200 price thing), the Ditzy Doo was the giveaway one, but the person who won the drawing never came by for her. So I guess they waited for a few months just in case and had put her out for display. I was the first/only person to have asked about her, so I'm guessing she wasn't out for too long? Although considering how high she [and that shelf] was in the store, I wouldn't be surprised that/if no one mentioned or saw her beforehand.
Initially, he had said that I could come back to the store and get her if I bought an MLP shirt (which was a fair deal), but after telling him I wasn't going to be back in town for another few weeks due to college, he said that if I could get someone to come and get her for me, he'd give the pony to them. :) I did leave my name and gave him my parents' name to be safe. Since she wasn't an actual "item" in the store (like retail item, I'm assuming), he couldn't mail her to me or my parents, so it had to have been someone to go and get her personally.
I do appreciate him doing this, because I sure wasn't expecting anything good out of the phone call. <3
Holy batman, congrats! Resourcefulness pulled off and now you are getting the highly sought after Dizty :muffin: Pony, are we calling her Drama Pony now? Because I like it.
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Whooo hooooo!!! Oh I am soooo excited for you! What a wonderful surprise! :cheer:
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Thanks, you guys! I'm happy that you guys suggested I at least call back the store. I almost didn't in fear that it would be "pointless" to do so.
Holy batman, congrats! Resourcefulness pulled off and now you are getting the highly sought after Dizty Doo/Drama Pony, are we calling her Drama Pony now? Because I like it.
Drama Pony is better than the name my dad jokingly gave her: That Stinkin' Pony. xD
And my mom indeed confirmed it is the SDCC Ditzy Doo - said she checked everything on the package with the picture I sent. xD
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So in the end you got her for free? Now that is a score!
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Wow, how exciting! So glad you were able to get her :)
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So in the end you got her for free? Now that is a score!
Yeah, my parents were able to get her without having to buy anything. I did mention to my mom that it was a possibility (since the guy had mentioned if I bought a MLP shirt I could get her, earlier).
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Wow, super lucky! Congratulations! Hard to believe the person who won never came to get her. Madness.
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Wow congratulations on getting her! and for free even, how awesome!
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oh my celestia!! what an awesome story! congrats
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I love this story! I'm so glad they let you have her for free!
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wow thats lucky :) My sister works at hot topic i should ask her if her store did anything like that...
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Congrats on being able to get her!!!!! What did you end up paying for her?
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Hey, this thread turned out to be one of the neatest "get" stories I've heard on the Arena. Congratulations! ;)
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I love my parents. :heart:
Luckily there were at a movie theatre that was about 15 minutes away from that mall, so they went and just picked her up for me. :frolic: I had even sent both parents a picture of what she should look like (package included), just in case that HT tried to pull the wool over their eyes and give them the Funko one. Mom is supposed to call me back in a few so she can describe the box to me (I just wanna make sure, hehe). I'm still in shock and excited.
As for the phone call earlier, going by the manager (who I assume was the guy at the register yesterday who brought up the $200 price thing), the Ditzy Doo was the giveaway one, but the person who won the drawing never came by for her. So I guess they waited for a few months just in case and had put her out for display. I was the first/only person to have asked about her, so I'm guessing she wasn't out for too long? Although considering how high she [and that shelf] was in the store, I wouldn't be surprised that/if no one mentioned or saw her beforehand.
Initially, he had said that I could come back to the store and get her if I bought an MLP shirt (which was a fair deal), but after telling him I wasn't going to be back in town for another few weeks due to college, he said that if I could get someone to come and get her for me, he'd give the pony to them. :) I did leave my name and gave him my parents' name to be safe. Since she wasn't an actual "item" in the store (like retail item, I'm assuming), he couldn't mail her to me or my parents, so it had to have been someone to go and get her personally.
I do appreciate him doing this, because I sure wasn't expecting anything good out of the phone call. <3
Holy batman, congrats! Resourcefulness pulled off and now you are getting the highly sought after Dizty Doo/Drama Pony, are we calling her Drama Pony now? Because I like it.
That is truly awesome! Major congrats! :)
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Congrats. That's a great story. I call her Ms D because I can't spell her true name.
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Thanks so much, everyone! :blush: I still can't believe this happened, and I am very happy that I got my #1 pony. Certainly made my day/weekend! I can't wait until I see her in person in a couple of weeks. <3
My mom had said that when she and my dad walked into the Hot Topic, they apparently stuck out like a sore thumb and the manager knew who they were before my mom mentioned Ditzy to him. xD
avene1984: She didn't cost anything - the manager allowed me/my parents to have her for free since the person who originally was supposed to get her never showed up.
I do owe my dad a beer/drink when I see him next month as a thank you payment. xD
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wow congrats to you , she is a very cute pony .
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Wow congratulations! That is such an awesome surprise! I'm glad that you were able to get her in the end.
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Awww, I am glad this story had a happy ending! How awesome!
Not only did you get a really elusive cool pony, but you have a wonderful story to go with it.
You really did win her! :)
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Wow what a story, huge congrats! ^.^
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Awww! What a great story! Congrats!
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I love this story!! :biggrin:
I'm so glad you called the store and talked to the manager. Now you won't always have the "what ifs" about her :) and she was free!!! Your parents are awesome too!
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Wow. It was meant to be for you! Enjoy your new girl!
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Aha I always say.. if you don't ask you don't get!
Huge congratulations, what a cool pony to get for free!
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Wow! Congrats! What a GREAT story!
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I'm surprised no one else has asked to buy her before you. Too bad she didn't actually have a price or was for sale.
EDIT: Just read the rest of the thread - so lucky you called! Congrats on getting her for free!
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Wow what a great find! Congrats!!!
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What amazing luck!!!! Congrats :D
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Wow, huge congrats!! That is awesome!!! :biggrin:
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That's amazing! Congrats!!
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Thanks again for all the congrats, everyone! :blush: I certainly will never forget this situation. :3
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WOW- what a fun story! I would have freaked if I saw that pony up on the shelf...
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Very cool story! I'm glad the pony found a home with someone who will really appreciate her. It's like she was waiting for you!
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Thanks so much, everyone! :blush: I still can't believe this happened, and I am very happy that I got my #1 pony. Certainly made my day/weekend! I can't wait until I see her in person in a couple of weeks. <3
My mom had said that when she and my dad walked into the Hot Topic, they apparently stuck out like a sore thumb and the manager knew who they were before my mom mentioned Ditzy to him. xD
avene1984: She didn't cost anything - the manager allowed me/my parents to have her for free since the person who originally was supposed to get her never showed up.
I do owe my dad a beer/drink when I see him next month as a thank you payment. xD
OH WOW!!! That is so awesome!!!! Hold onto that Girl!!! :)