One factor is how large the company is ..
the sheer ponderousness paralyzes them.

Had this happen at my local Fastenall.
I buy some stuff ...........it's $ 22.88 ...........some number like that.
I wanted to keep things simple in my check register so I asked the guy if I
could write a check for $ 23.00

"Nope...........our system doesn't have a way to handle that.
I say ..'ok..........it's a tip then.'
Sorry sir ...we're not allowed to take tips.
I ask them how many stores the company has ...
3,500 .
therefore...........they can't just be practical and reasonable, and
evidently  have a way to deal with 12 extra cents.
To be fair ..their real target customers are companies that spend thousands
per order.
I also see one or two guys there doing nothing all day long, every day.  But
they are good for some fasteners ...just don't try to mess things up by
paying a little extra.  S t u p i d  if you ask me.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2011 5:02 PM
Subject: Friday-Incompetent Sears

>I have always loved Craftsman tools and the selection at Sears. Tonight I
> had in mind trying out their layaway program for some bigger tools, but I
> wanted to purchase a set of piers to see how it worked. It didn't. After
> forty minutes online with tech support chat, I gave up and asked for a
> cancellation of my order. I didn't really need the pliers, I just needed
> the
> process to work.
>
> What is it with these companies? How hard could it be to get a web store
> to
> work these days? I told the tech how much I loved Craftsman tools and how
> much I had bought over the years but to pass along how they had lost a
> customer to Amazon's much, much better user experience.
>
> Jim