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Yet again, I am blown away by the "intelligence" of Best Buy employees.

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Original poster
Sep 10, 2007
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Here I am at my local BB checking out the new Macbook Air when I overhear a conversation between an employee and the customer. This guy is asking her (the employee) about the iPad and it's features as well as the plans. She starts off by telling him that there is no unlimited but for $49.99/month you get 2GB of data What!? He then starts asking about being able to print with the new software etc., etc. (Here's where it get's real good) She then tells him it might be safe to just hold out until late November early December for the next iPad to come out! :eek: He said "there is a new one coming out this year?" She was like yeah when you get your Christmas money and come shopping, isn't it obvious that would be the most logical time to release a new product?

There are so many things wrong with situation and yes, this is a true story that occurred no more than 4 hours ago. Not only is she giving incorrect information about rate plans as well as turning down business, but she is making claims about a device that we have barely even hear rumors about! What are these people thinking!

There really is no specific point to this thread but I just had to bring it up because this is not the first experience I have had with Best Buy and their "smarts".


Comments? Thoughts? Similar stories?
 
That happens everywhere, especially the Apple Store, some employees there don't know what they are talking about. Someone told me that the iPad won't work on T-Mobile (yes it won't support their 3G service, but it will support T-Mobile EDGE) and will only work for AT&T and no one else.
 
But it's like, not even something that we know because "we are on the inside and hear rumors/speculation on MacRumors " type thing. This is known facts that are just out there. $49.99 for 2gb of data are you kidding? And when he asked if she knew what date it was going to be released she said if I do know and told you I'd have to kill you (being playful, of course) acting as if she was in the know... it's like COMON. They know nothing.
 
ohaithar said:
That happens everywhere, especially the Apple Store, some employees there don't know what they are talking about. Someone told me that the iPad won't work on T-Mobile (yes it won't support their 3G service, but it will support T-Mobile EDGE) and will only work for AT&T and no one else.
Click to expand...

I'd imagine that has more to do with keeping in line with corporate policy and the relationship with ATT and VZW.
 
I've seen Best Buy/Geek Squad people claim they are A+ and B+ certified. Anyone who knows anything about computer certs knows what a joke that one is. (Hint: One of them is real, and the other is a figment of their imagination)

I also like telling customers in the TV dept. about the wonders of Monoprice.com or any other web store where they can buy that HDMI cable for about 1/10th the Best Buy price.
 
ohaithar said:
That happens everywhere, especially the Apple Store, some employees there don't know what they are talking about. Someone told me that the iPad won't work on T-Mobile (yes it won't support their 3G service, but it will support T-Mobile EDGE) and will only work for AT&T and no one else.
Click to expand...

Well, it won't work on T-Mobile 3G, and it won't work on Sprint or Verizon period, so it wasn't a complete lie. Technically it works on T-Mobile's EDGE network, but why would you want to restrict yourself to EDGE?

That's not nearly as bad of a statement as some of the other crap salespeople say.
 
steve2112 said:
I've seen Best Buy/Geek Squad people claim they are A+ and B+ certified. Anyone who knows anything about computer certs knows what a joke that one is. (Hint: One of them is real, and the other is a figment of their imagination)

I also like telling customers in the TV dept. about the wonders of Monoprice.com or any other web store where they can buy that HDMI cable for about 1/10th the Best Buy price.
Click to expand...

Maybe they should shoot for A++ too, :rolleyes:
 
Even funnier than underinformed retail workers are the shoppers who expect them to be experts just because they have a shirt with the store logo on it.
 
Disc Golfer said:
Even funnier than underinformed retail workers are the shoppers who expect them to be experts just because they have a shirt with the store logo on it.
Click to expand...

How is expecting them to know 1 of TWO rate plans of their highest selling device right now an expectation of expertise??? Not to mention her turning away a customer because "a new iPad will be released by Christmas."

What an ignorant comment.
 
Let me start by saying I used to work at Best Buy, and although I was one of the more intelligent employees there, I will admit there were times when I didn't know the answer to some customer questions--mainly when the customer asked stupid questions.

That being said, most Best Buy employees are part-time high school and college workers that are just told to sell sell sell. They aren't on commission (contrary to popular belief) and they aren't trained on every single item that is sold in their store. Not to mention the iPad has only been at Best Buy for a few months. Cut them some slack. They are salesmen, not specialists. Consider your typical car salesman. He can't tell you everything you want to know about the car he is selling you, but he will sure make you think he knows everything about it.

All that being said--I, too, enjoy hearing a poorly educated BBY employee try to explain something to me that I know the answer to.
 
^ Okay but why claim there is a new product coming out when there is hardly even any speculation about one. And if they don't know they answer to something, they should just say so and ask a fellow employee for help. Are they too embarrassed to do so? I'm not saying they should know all answers to every product but this is a little extreme IMO.
 
They're sales people, not tech support. The best Best Buy sales reps can tack on $200 in overpriced accessories and a crappy warranty to that cheap computer that's being bought. That's how Best Buy makes most of their profit.
 
^^ Very true. Best Buy doesn't make a ton of profit off computers, TVs, etc. It is the accessories and warranties and services that they tack on with those products.

This is why people think BBY employees are on commission. They are always trying to add something to the sale. This is because BBY employees are brainwashed by their supervisors that their job is to sell sell sell sell sell and they will be killed otherwise.
 
iMJustAGuy said:
^ Okay but why claim there is a new product coming out when there is hardly even any speculation about one. And if they don't know they answer to something, they should just say so and ask a fellow employee for help. Are they too embarrassed to do so? I'm not saying they should know all answers to every product but this is a little extreme IMO.
Click to expand...

probably got it mixed up with the iOS update
 
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