Sports Authority Either Deceptive or Illiterate

I went to Sports Authority in Waikele this afternoon to by a new pair of tennis shoes. They had bins full of what were called "Clearance" items. Along the aisles piled high with all sorts of shoes (some marked down on sale and some at regular price) were big signs that said:

TOTAL STOCK CLEARANCE

Take 30% Off Lowest Price Marked

So, I pick out a pair of shoes on sale for $39.99 and go to check out to pay for them. I am charged $42.68. "Hold it a moment," I said. "I thought I would be given an extra 30% off."

"No," she replied. "That is only for our clearance items."

"But," I said, "Your signs say that your entire stock of shoes is for clearance."

"I'm sorry," she said. "Only those shoes marked "clearance" are subject to the extra 30% off."

So I asked for the manager and, ten minutes later, I asked him the same question.

He said that the sign was clear about what was eligible for the discount. At the bottom of each sign in small letters was this:

items marked .97 eligible for discount

Of course every shoe not in the bins was marked with a .99 ending price.

"But that doesn't make sense," I said. "How can the entire stock be clearance when only a few items are marked with the .97 price?"

"I'm sorry," he said, "that the way the signs are worded was confusing for you."

I figure that either the signs were so worded with a deliberate intent to mislead.....or else whoever made the signs did not know what "Entire Stock" means in plain English. I'm fairly sure it was the former. What do you think?

There....I feel much better now! Thanks for letting me blow off my frustration!