Really, REALLY pushy Clerks at Apple

[katie ta achoo]

My friend is leaving for Interlochen tomorrow morning, so she needed a computer before she went. I recommended an iBook, because that's all she would really need.

So, I take her to the Apple store, and we meet her mom there, who's already talking to a clerk.

He has already gotten her to start signing up for Apple Financing (14.99%! Kill me now!).
He's talked her into .Mac, too which my friend won't use.

Then, he gets on the PowerBook thing.

She didn't NEED a PowerBook. She barely needs the power of an iBook! And with the specs being so close, it's' impossible to justify spending $500 more for it!

Also, he starts with "the PB is better.. it has a better screen for watching DVDs and Photo editing" (She'll watch the occasional DVD but she isn't a film-phile and doesn't edit photos intensely) Don't the PB and iBook have the same screen?? Argh!

THEN, he started on about MS office. I told her about OpenOffice, HELL, I told the CLERK about OpenOffice, but he starts going on about how unstable and incompatible about it, and the most recent stable build of NeoOfficeJ is pretty darn nice!

SO, Her $999 iBook (with however much AppleCare is) turned into at least $2300. Half of it being financed at 11% for the first few months, then 15% after.

WHAT IS UP WITH PUSHY SALES GUYS?
He saw a Mark and he WENT. Why didn't he back off when I told him what she NEEDED?

Have other people noticed this?

One time I was there, a little old man came in to get an eMac for his church, but he was talked into a 15" PowerBook. Fully Loaded.
I know that for every $500k they get $500 commission (I read it on the internet somewhere...) every fiscal quarter. That's .1%! I know $500 is $500, but ARGGHHH. (He told her that he doesn't work on commission.. ugh)

 

[EJBasile]

Sales men are sales men. They'll do anything to convince buyers to pay more.

When I was getting support for my powerbook with a dead logic board, they were trying to have me upgrade to tiger, get applecare, get more ram, and have me get FCE.

I thought it was rather silly of them to do that when I was calling in because my powerbook was having problems.

 

[clayj]

Behavior like that is one reason why I got out of sales a LONG time ago... before I went to work for Microsoft, I worked at Radio Shack for three years and Software Etc. (which is now part of GameStop, I think) for one year. I was DAMN good at my job... but I kept having conflicts with my sense of honesty, which prevented me from selling anything I didn't truly believe was a great product.

Then THAT turned into the philosophy of "don't try to sell me ANYTHING, just answer my questions when I ask them"... basically, the premise that customers are smart enough to know what they want, do their research, and then make informed decisions pretty much on their own.

The salesdroid should have backed off the moment he realized that your friend was there with someone who was guiding their decision. Sometimes the best thing a salesperson can do is to just let the customer tell them what they want, and then provide that.

 

[iDarenotsay]

Mac Specialists don't make commission. Most of them aren't salespeople. It's been my experience that they try to find the best solution for a customer...sometimes actually DOWNselling them from something like a Powerbook to an iBook. Many of Mac Specialists I know are photographers, video editors, graphic artists who work at Apple as a part time job and love Apple and telling people about Apple stuff. Occasionally a Best Buy/Used Car Salesman type gets in...so that's unfortunate.

 

[katie ta achoo]

The salesdroid should have backed off the moment he realized that your friend was there with someone who was guiding their decision.

Yeah.. the salesguy knows that I knows my Macs. Still, he pushed the PB. "No, she doesn't need that .2GHz for $500. She needs an iBook."

Argh.. I'm gonna have to avoid him in the future.

I'm still gagging on the 14.99% financing.
*ow.. my interest rates!!*

 

[NEENAHBOY]

WHAT IS UP WITH PUSHY SALES GUYS?

He was just trying to make a sale, and apparently he did a damn fine job of it, too. I envy that guy.

 

[Mr. Anderson]

I've gone with a few friends to make purchases - and I've never let anyone *push* me - especially if I know what I want. It is annoying, but its also they're job - that doesn't make it any better though.

D

 

[ham_man]

I don't think that I have ever taken the advice of a sales guy, except when I went to the bicycle shop. That is the only place where people are there for the pleasure of what they are doing.

Every other retail outlet, including Apple, is trying to sell as much crap down your throat as is humanly possible...

 

[jsw]

I'm not totally clear on this: did she get the loaded PB, or did you intervene in time?

 

[katie ta achoo]

I'm not totally clear on this: did she get the loaded PB, or did you intervene in time?

PowerBook.

I still set it up for her and transferred all her old windows docs and stuff over.

I hope she enjoys the Mac world. I didn't have time to sit with her and show her adium and iLife and how to do stuff.. I told her to play with it on the plane..

 

[jsw]

PowerBook.

I still set it up for her and transferred all her old windows docs and stuff over.

I hope she enjoys the Mac world. I didn't have time to sit with her and show her adium and iLife and how to do stuff.. I told her to play with it on the plane..

Ah well, she'll like it, though she won't like the payments.

Of course, as you know, if people only bought what they truly needed, the economy would go to hell. Thankfully, we have pushy salespeople.

 

[katie ta achoo]

Ah well, she'll like it, though she won't like the payments.

Of course, as you know, if people only bought what they truly needed, the economy would go to hell. Thankfully, we have pushy salespeople.

Mmm.. economy...

*watches wiggly greenspan wiggle*

CONSUMER SPENDING MAKES UP HOW MUCH OF GDP?

What if we/they start making informed, smart decisions?
*faints*

 

[MattG]

Jeez that sucks, but like others have said, they're pushed to do that stuff. It's just like when I worked retail, managers pushing you to up-sell and sell extended warranties and whatnot. I'm glad not to be doing that anymore.

But regardless, at least your friend got a great computer!

 

[narco]

14% is nothing, my old Apple financing was 28%! I was in a position where I had to purchase a Mac right then and there, so I really didn't have a choice. In fact, last month I just FINALLY paid off the original iBook from 1999!

But yeah, it's typical of salespeople to try to sell more. Since they don't get commission, maybe he was new and tried to show off? I would also blame the mom partly because she was falling for it. It's a good thing you showed up.

Fishes,
narco.

 

[tech4all]

When I bought my Mac they salesman told me I should get some sort of virus protection app. So I ended up getting a subscription to .Mac. He told me that he get's hit about once a month by a virus. I guess he may have meant Windows viruses, but he didn't specify that. Come to think of it when he said that I should have said, "I thought Macs didn't get viruses! Forget that, I'll just get a Dell!" (did I just say that?). And boom he looses a Power Mac G5 sale (course I couldn't really do that to Apple )

But really, when I'm really knowledgeable on something I don't let the salesman/woman pressure me into buying stuff I don't really have a use for (extra warranties for lower cost stuff, etc). Sometimes I'll even ask them questions that I know the answer to just to see how knowledgeable they are on the product in question. I do that mainly at Fry's - which reminds once I was playing around in the Mac section and this guy asked me some questions about an iBook. I helped him out and I think I made the store some money. Actually sometimes when I fooling around with Macs other customers come up to me and ask me questions thinking I'm an employee

Ok that's enough off topicness. Hope your friend enjoys her new iBoo....I mean Powerbook

 

[Xtremehkr]

I find upselling to be a turnoff in general. It's not only Apple. Everytime I visit a convenience they try and sell me more than what I am buying. Though Apple does try to sell me a HD backup for $50 on the rare occasion a repair needs to be made. Basically, I'm with you on this. Most of the time, I know what I want, and having to argue with a salesperson about what I should ultimately get is a pain in the ass. I don't like that Apple does this too, it's not what I would call thinking different. Just help me get the product I need, and I will be appreciative in the long run.

 

[Abstract]

Yeah.. the salesguy knows that I knows my Macs. Still, he pushed the PB. "No, she doesn't need that .2GHz for $500. She needs an iBook."

Argh.. I'm gonna have to avoid him in the future.

I'm still gagging on the 14.99% financing.
*ow.. my interest rates!!*

Why didn't you just cut in and tell your friend to forget the PB?

If he kept pushing and continued to do what he was doing even though I was getting mad, I would have either dragged my friend out, or showed him up by telling him exactly why my friend doesn't need a 12" PB, and then tell him how similar they are.

 

[highres]

It's called retail sales...That's why I buy online from a reputable source. I can take as much time deciding what I really need and then buy it.

 

[Heb1228]

I think the sales guy did fine. I've notcied on these forums that some people tend to be iBook people and some tend to be PB people. Some wont' recommend a PB for anyone and others won't recommend an iBook. I'm in the group if hardly ever recommending an iBook UNLESS the person is just very strapped with their budget. I'm guessing the sales guy was like me. I think the iBooks are kind of bulky and ugly compared with the PBs and I think most people will be happier in the long run with a PB.

As far as .Mac, i think its much the same way. You either think its great and tell people its writh it or you hate it and hink anyone's an idiot who would pay that much money for it. I thin kits a really cool thing for new Mac users especially for publishing homepages straight from iPhoto. ANYBODY can use that.

He was right about OpenOffice too. Its not ready for widespread use. I think its a pain in the rear to use compared to MS Office.

 

[katie ta achoo]

Why didn't you just cut in and tell your friend to forget the PB?

If he kept pushing and continued to do what he was doing even though I was getting mad, I would have either dragged my friend out, or showed him up by telling him exactly why my friend doesn't need a 12" PB, and then tell him how similar they are.

When homes went to the back to get some stuff, I told her that. I told her mother that. I TOLD THE CLERK, when he got back.

I told her the latter two, but I couldn't exactly drag her out... she's leaving for michigan tomorrow (or today rather.. just turned 12:01 here) and she needed a laptop THAT DAY.

*head pops*


Oh well, PBs are pretty sweet... but no backlit keyboard makes me sad... even though it is a little useless. haha

Ah, looks like I'll be having FUN working retail through college... why can't I be an economist with a high school diploma?

 

[yg17]

I've never had a problem at the Apple Store. I usually find the employees there to be very friendly and not high pressure me. Then again, I know exactly what I want when I walk in there so I never need to ask their advice for anything. Did she walk in there and say "I want an iBook with these specs: _____" or walk in there and say "I need a laptop". I think there's a huge difference there on whether or not you'd get high pressured.

Best Buy on the other hand, ugh, they're horrible, especially with warranties. The kid working there spent 5 minutes high pressuring me to get an extended warranty for my Xbox and nearly **** his pants when I walked out of there without a warranty. Then, they tell you that the only time you can buy a warranty is at time of purchase, no coming back. I'm always able to go back and purchase within 30 days.

As much as I hate salespeople, I gotta give them credit for having balls to do what they do. It takes some serious guts to pull the crap I've seen some do (especially car salesmen.....the lengths they will go to just to sell a car).

 

[Stampyhead]

My friend is leaving for Interlochen tomorrow morning, so she needed a computer before she went.

Well, whatever computer she ended up getting, she's going to have a great time at Interlochen. I went there for all 4 years of high school. What's her major? Sorry to get off topic, I just got excited when you mentioned my old school!

 

[katie ta achoo]

Well, whatever computer she ended up getting, she's going to have a great time at Interlochen. I went there for all 4 years of high school. What's her major? Sorry to get off topic, I just got excited when you mentioned my old school!

French horn. She's leaving for just junior year. Today was her last day in town, so we hung out with her and a bunch of friends, our conductor, her family, etc.

She's getting kind of bummed about it-- she's worked really hard on a concert we have on THURSDAY, and they aren't letting her stay in houston for another week to do it. (People show up to my school 2 weeks late all the time. It's all music camps.. you know how it goes) It's weird-- Interlochen should know about concert preparation, ya know?

She's also bummed that she'll miss a lot of senior recitals. She's asked my friends and I to change ours. (We have a friday. Heeeeeyllll no. FEB 10! btw, if anyone wants to come, haha)

She's still coming to vienna with us, though! (maybe... like 90% sure)

 

[Deepdale]

Then, he gets on the PowerBook thing.She didn't NEED a PowerBook. She barely needs the power of an iBook! And with the specs being so close, it's' impossible to justify spending $500 more for it! QUOTE]

When a salesperson starts going off like a runaway train, I have replied in the past that I am going to need more time to think about some of their suggestions. I will then go elsewhere for 5-10 minutes and then deal with another employee, this time making it abundantly clear what I am interested in.

If other non-requested options are once again pushed in your face, smile and say, "All those extras sound so cool, but since I did not ask for them, can I assume they will be installed free of charge? If not, stick to my game plan or bring the manager over since my time is also valuable. Thanks very much."

 

[Applespider]

I think it depends on what salesperson you get; I watched one woman in the Apple Store in London use an iBook and decide that was what she wanted with the sales guy; she only wanted to get email and go online. On the way to the back of the store, she spotted the Powerbook and decided that she preferred that colour. The clerk tried to steer her back to the much cheaper iBook since she didn't need the twice the price Powerbook but nope, she was having it.

Salespeople are successful at selling people up though because most people don't do that much research before they go to the shop to buy something and will believe everything they hear. Because they're not sure what will be sufficient for them, they often think that perhaps they should move up a band and get the next model since it will sing and dance and maybe last a little longer and because most people believe that the salesperson knows more than them.

If I'm buying anything expensive, I do my research; know how much various models/competitors are, how much the accessories are and if I need them and then go speak to sales people and haggle.