[Eee Pad Transformer General] monkeychef:
Resolution Found

I think everyone should read this post. You may find it helpful and interesting.

Over the weekend I discovered this coupon (it was in the marketplace, but I still found it) and I attempted to find a Staples that had a transformer. Sadly, no stores sell the tablet, so I decided that the Iconia is another very good option. Over the past 4 days I have called over 20 different Staples stores, 3 Best Buys, Staples Corporate, and Best Buy Corporate. My total number of calls was 163 (includes dropped calls).

I'll start with Best Buy (as my local Staples was out of tablets). After reading about the success people had with them, I visited my local store. A sales associate helps me find what I am looking for, gets the tablet, brings me to the register, and then calls his manager. The manager came to the counter, whispered to the sales associate, and then looked at me. Manager says no, they won't use coupons. Next two Best Buys say the same thing. I called their corporate office a few times, each time getting a different answer. After my last call, I decided I would go back to Staples.

I called 20 different Staples, all of them more than 3 times. Some said that another store had them, another said they were supposed to get a shipment of them (and then didn't), and some just said they had none and hung up. Three separate managers at my local staples said they would not allow me to use the coupon at their kiosk to order the tablet online (even though the tablets were in stock at the time).

Yesterday I started to finally make some progress. I called a store that is a bit out of the way from where I live, but I decided I would drive there to get a tablet. The manager at this particular store (Dan) was extremely helpful and told me that I could order a tablet from his kiosk when they come back in stock. He even told me that if the tablet I wanted did not come back in stock before the coupon expired, he would give me a rain check. I couldn't have been happier, except for the fact that I was a bit impatient.

So today, I went to visit a local university, and I was close to some other Staples. I called them, but they had nothing in stock. So I decide to try my local Staples one more time. The manager still says no. I decided to call back the Staples with the helpful manager. This manager was a godsend.

As soon as I told her (lets call her Amy) about the tablet she said that she didn't have it in store, but that it was back in stock on the website. She said that if there wasn't another store closer to me, that I could come in and order it from the kiosk. I told her about my experience at the local store and she got....I'll call it annoyed. She said that my local store was not following the rules and that they should be punished for her actions. She gave me the number for a customer service center to call, and while I called them she called her corporate number to complain about my local store (before we hung up she told me to call her back to tell her the outcome). The first woman I get at the call center was my second godsend.

This woman (lets call her Amy2) listened to my entire story and told me that I could order the tablet through her, as she could make an exception due to my experience. Within 10 minutes I had an email confirmation saying that my Iconia would be delivered on Friday (THIS FRIDAY!!!) I got the number for the president's office in order to leave a message saying how much these two women helped me today.

I called back Amy and told her everything had been settled out, and she told me that I should call my local store as they had something to say to me. She told me corporate was going to figure out what was going on in my local store and get rid of what ever problem existed. Amy was very happy that I got what I wanted, and I told her that I would put in a good word for her.

I then called my local store, where a manager was the first person to answer. I then identified myself as "the tablet guy" that wanted to purchase a tablet from the kiosk. To my surprise (and delight) he cleared his throat and said "I am very sorry for the misunderstanding on my part. I hope I have not kept you from ordering your products at Staples." I told him to go F*** himself and then hung up the phone.

I learned a few things over the past few days. A) Patience is a very important skill to master. B) Never give up on the things you want (especially if you REALLY want them). C) There are always helpful people out there in the world, you just have to find them. D) Staples has five call centers, 3 in the US and 2 and Canada.

In the end, I got an Iconia. I am sure I will be very happy with it.

If you have read this entire story, thank you very much. I hope that this information can help someone.