The Mr. Brown Network

I went to Office Depot today with Jennie to purchase just a few things – namely, paper and a new USB thumb drive. While we were there, a printer caught my attention, the HP OfficeJet 6500 All In One Printer, mainly because we’ve been in need of a fax machine for a while, and I want a printer that I could use to print out the occasional color photo (right now, we have a HP LaserJet P1006 Printer, a nice, and cheap, laser printer that prints for about 2-4 cents/page, depending on the settings).

While I’m looking around, a female employee comes up to me. She asks me if I need help with anything, and as always, I say, “No thanks, I’m just looking around.” I hate dealing with floor employees – most of them have no idea what they’re talking about, and they’re just trying to earn a commission. Luckily, this one went on her way.

I go back and meet Jennie in another section of the store, and another employee comes up to us; this time, it’s a guy. He asks the same annoying question, and I tell him the same thing, immediately turning and heading out of the section. I mention to Jennie that I saw a printer that I liked and made my way over to the section. Little did I know the employee was following us because he overheard us talking about printers.

Immediately, he asks “Do you need help with anything in this section?” I tell him the same thing – no we’re just looking. Instead of leaving us alone, he starts asking about our printing needs. I tell him I have a laser printer, and I’m just looking. He then asks if I print some ridiculous (75,000) number of pages a month, and I tell him no – I do not tell him anything about my printer, toner cartridge, etc.

He then proceeds to tell me that I’m getting ripped off by my printer, despite the fact that he knows nothing about it. He tells me that my printer is costing me over 6 cents a page to print, and that the ink jet I’m looking at costs about 3 cents a page to print… obviously, both amounts are (on average) more than what it actually costs me to print. I tell him we’re just looking and we’re getting ready to move, thinking he would get the hint that we’re not buying today, and to leave me the hell alone.

Instead of walking away, he suggests that we buy a $399.99 printer!!

Needless to say, I will no longer be making printer purchases in-store; instead, I’ll be going to the good ol’ rainforest of Amazon.com.