Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Rather funny customer today

snberk103 said:
The OP could have said nothing at all. If the fellow isn't buying an iPad at all, then it doesn't matter if he doesn't fully understand it. If he is buying an iPad 2, then it doesn't matter if he doesn't understand the iPad 1.

If nothing is said by the OP, the fellow keeps his dignity. He has a pleasant time showing off to his wife (who may already know what the iPad 1 does and does not do). He comes back some other time and buys something from the store where he had the pleasant time.

We all have things that we "know", that are wrong.

If the fellow wanted to buy an iPad 1, then the OP could have upsold him to an iPad 2 by talking about how the 2 does both video and photos. Which is not technically misleading, if you never mention what the iPad 1 does/does not do.
Click to expand...

So letting the guy believe he had something he did not, instead of possibly giving him the info he needed to go back and confront the person who screwed him would be better? Or using the fact the guy got screwed already as an avenue to take more of his money on an iPad 2 would have been better? But attempting to help the guy by correcting his misinformation, THAT'S unacceptable?

Riiiiiiiiiiiight.....

I don't think the OP either set out to hurt the guy's pride, nor frankly, was he responsible for protecting it either. He tried to help the guy and it just didn't work out the way he expected. Everybody needs to stop inserting their own personal sensitivities and context into what the OP actually said.
 
D1G1T4L said:
How am I twisting words? You said he purchased an iPad 1 from an online auction site and was under the impression it had a camera. You told him it didn't have a camera.

What am I not understanding here?
Click to expand...

I said 'I think " it makes a lot difference
 
TheWheelMan said:
So letting the guy believe he had something he did not, instead of possibly giving him the info he needed to go back and confront the person who screwed him would be better?
Click to expand...
A) OP only "thought" he might have an iPad 1. We don't know that the fellow did have one.
B) Based on the overhead conversation, if the fellow did have an iPad it might have been an iPad 2 and he was showing his companion what he didn't buy - because of the lack of the feature to make movies.
C) Very unlikely he had any iPad because he was, according to the OP, telling his wife. He probably would used his own iPad to show her anything.
TheWheelMan said:
Or using the fact the guy got screwed already as an avenue to take more of his money on an iPad 2 would have been better?
Click to expand...
Since it's unlikely that the fellow had already "... got screwed already ..." then if he was in fact shopping for an iPad, then gently moving him towards the iPad 2 is both better for the store, and preserves the fellow's dignity. Plus, later on, when he finds out that the iPad 1 doesn't have a camera he will feel even better about buying the iPad 2.
TheWheelMan said:
But attempting to help the guy by correcting his misinformation, THAT'S unacceptable?
Click to expand...
When did it become a stranger's job to correct anyone's small misunderstandings of the way things work? If I have don't understand something correctly, and it is not going to impact me in any meaningful way, then - please leave me alone.
TheWheelMan said:
Riiiiiiiiiiiight.....
Click to expand...
Sarcasm is so much more effective when you are firmer ground.
TheWheelMan said:
I don't think the OP either set out to hurt the guy's pride, nor frankly, was he responsible for protecting it either.
Click to expand...
I agree. I don't think the OP meant to hurt the fellow's feelings. But he did so by interfering where he was not invited. He was not "... responsible for protecting [the fellow's feelings]..." , nor was the OP responsible for correcting his misunderstanding. At that point. If the fellow had attempted to buy the iPad 1 based on his misunderstanding of the camera, then the OP does in fact have a responsibility to not sell the fellow the iPad 1 until the camera thing had been cleared up.
TheWheelMan said:
He tried to help the guy and it just didn't work out the way he expected.
Click to expand...
He didn't try to help the guy. He tried to tell him he was wrong. Two different things.
TheWheelMan said:
Everybody needs to stop inserting their own personal sensitivities and context into what the OP actually said.
Click to expand...
Yep.


Until you have worked sales for a number of years (and I haven't - I'm not an expert in sales) it's hard to come up with a way of correcting someone gently at the moment you need to be. I can be just naturally non-confrontational (At least what I'm told) and I would have added a few extra words into that first conversation with the fellow.

"I don't' believe that the iPad 1 has a camera." Be open to being shown otherwise. When the fellow finds the light sensor, "I'm pretty sure that is the light sensor. Lets just check by putting a finger over it... and look the screen dims." Now, you are bringing the fellow along on a voyage of discovery. And you'd better hope that the screen actually dims.

At this point the fellow accepts the new information, and you have become a "wiseman" in his eyes since you taught him something new. Or he's a stubborn old coot and there's really nothing you can do, except charge him extra for a left-handed plug or something.
 
OP, funny story, good read.



v66jack said:
The customer is always right. (Let them think what they want)
Click to expand...


Not always. I work with MLB and New Era and a lot of customers believe the 59 hat that is the authentic hat on field is actually the 39. Sometimes they tell me I'm wrong and I have them mixed up but I inform them they are mistaken.
 
I'm pretty certain I would've done the same thing. But that's why I don't work in contact with the public. :D
 
snberk103 said:
A)

When did it become a stranger's job to correct anyone's small misunderstandings of the way things work? If I have don't understand something correctly, and it is not going to impact me in any meaningful way, then - please leave me alone.

He didn't try to help the guy. He tried to tell him he was wrong. Two different things.

Until you have worked sales for a number of years (and I haven't - I'm not an expert in sales) it's hard to come up with a way of correcting someone gently at the moment you need to be. I can be just naturally non-confrontational (At least what I'm told) and I would have added a few extra words into that first conversation with the fellow.
Click to expand...

On the first note: somehow this has become the norm for those raised after the emergence of the web.

There is a BIG difference between retail staff and a great salesman/customer service rep. I learned a lot during my long tech retail history. Your average rep will jump in and correct. A great rep will instead skirt the blatant correction and direct the conversation to a learning experience highlighting the advantages of the iPad 2, integrating the correction as just a bullet-point in the comparison. "and as an addition to the faster processor, brighter screen, and thinner case design, the iPad 2 now has face time which leverages it's all-new dual cameras to allow you to do video chat with friends and family."

You always need to be careful to never insult your customers. I've seen many technically-brilliant sales people make this mistake. Not all customers show that you've insulted them, but they are less comfortable and that's the last thing you want. It's always about reading the person and easing your way into a mutually beneficial relationship with you as the helpful and knowledgeable go-to guy. If you can do this successfully you'll find a very nice increase in repeat customers and customers asking for you personally. It's very rewarding.
 
Last edited:
Generally when I am at a retail store, I don't prefer that the employees randomly insert themselves into my personal conversations. If it was me, and you want a better way of approaching it - ask him if he needed any help and if he said yes, then work your way in to that point. Its no different than me interrupting someone on the bus thats talking to their friend about a topic and telling them they are incorrect. But thats just my opinion, of course.
 
Jhingha said:
At my work, we have this iPad counter, just for demo purposes (just like the apple stores)

Anyways, this old guy, was telling his wife everything he knew about the iPads, (its hard to understand some people still don't know what an iPad is, but I can manage)

So at a moment he told her

"The iPad 1 can only make pictures, and the iPad 2 can also make video"

I was rather confused with this line, how would anyone come up with this kind of nonsense, so I stopped cleaning the shelve (and ear dropping) and told the man, "Excuse me sir, the iPad 1 is not equipped with a camera"

And here the joy started, he almost got mad at me for telling the truth, and he was like " YES IT HAS"
So after a few sentences I asked him to show it to me"

He grabbed the iPad 1 (we still have a demo..) and flipped it numerous times. it was rather funny looking him search for something that aint there

So after a few quick flips he stared at a tiny 'hole' (which u might know as the light sensor) and pointed and told me: "Here! I told you so! I was right!"

I had trouble holding my laugh and told him it was the lightsensor for the screen to dim in dark situations.

He slowly started getting a red face and told me " Ok " and then he left with his wife pulled on her arm

I guess I'm not gonna see him soon again though :(

Thanks for let me share :p
Click to expand...

Nice going. Way to make the customer feel like an idiot, and even worse, in front of his wife. You must have come across as a smart ass know it all. You drove the guy out of the store without a sale. I'm sure your manager wasn't too happy about that. You obviously are not cut out for the sales thing.
 
Blorzoga said:
Nice going. Way to make the customer feel like an idiot, and even worse, in front of his wife. You must have come across as a smart ass know it all. You drove the guy out of the store without a sale. I'm sure your manager wasn't too happy about that. You obviously are not cut out for the sales thing.
Click to expand...

All he did is correct the customers misunderstanding and the customer took it the wrong way.

Most salesman would let the customer believe they were right just to get a sale, the OP has actually done the right thing in my opinion.
 
macingman said:
All he did is correct the customers misunderstanding and the customer took it the wrong way.

Most salesman would let the customer believe they were right just to get a sale, the OP has actually done the right thing in my opinion.
Click to expand...

But he wasn't being a salesman at the time... he was "cleaning a shelf" and decided to intrude on a conversation between a guy and his wife just to "correct" him... heck his wife probably proves him wrong all the time at home and now he gets a kid popping in just to make him look worse... in public.

Now if they were talking with him and leaning towards a sale and this came up... of course something should have been said.

But he heard a private conversation and decided to set the guy straight.

I can sympathize though... it's *hard* to keep your mouth shut when you hear something you know is incorrect but that's where a little tact is called for.

"Tact" isn't something you really have when your young anyways... I still can't trust myself to use it 100% of the time. If I could hit 75% of the time I'd be happy ;)
 
The last thing I want to come across with in a shop is annoying and arrogant staff.
 
Informing people that they have less than average intelligence is what MacRumors forums are for.
 
Last edited:
Hahaha that is a kinda funny story.

Just about as funny is how many people are arguing that you did the wrong thing or you're a bad person for making the guy upset. Alot of people gotta chillax. :cool:
 
ok firstly peeps need to chill the feck out
put the claws away peeps.. it's all very well making snide remarks, in hindsight

second i really don'y think their was mal-intent on the op, pls read his comments again :rolleyes:

i think he was educating what seemed like a rather misinformed old chap - i think he meant to depict t that the old man had a delusional belief of the ipad having a cam - i really do not see any malice or hostility played by the OP, whatsoever
 
Last edited:
...except that the OP stated that he was "cleaning shelves" which automatically means he's NOT paid to talk to customers --except to maybe direct them to where the bathrooms are. His need to prove the customer wrong resulted in a loss of a sale.

In other words, epic failure.

And why he decided to come here to post and brag about it, is beyond comprehension.


Moral of the story: don't attempt tasks beyond your pay grade.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back