Salesmen at Best Buy = Thieves

[LethalWolfe]

Apparently it does. I say this because they STOPPED pushing them at the counter. I doubt this was a result of just me, though they heard it a lot from me as I'm a business customer and spend a lot of cash per year there. It's a bunch of people like me that get things changed. Perhaps they just decided to stop pushing it? We'll never know.

Or perhaps other people talked to the manager since the manager, not the cashier, runs the store. Or perhaps the magazine push just ran its course because these things typically only happen for a few weeks. When I worked at Blockbuster years ago there were usually 6-8 promotions/incentives/up-sells that we cycled thru annually.

Could all of this be a coincidence? There's a good chance. But it sure can't hurt.

I'm not trying to say that if you are dissatisfied you should keep it to yourself I'm just staying there's no point in voicing your displeasure to someone who is powerless to help resolve your issue. Talk to someone working in customer service or talk to a manager. When I worked in retail management I always made sure my cashiers were quick to pass problems up to me because the alternative is having two people who can't fix the problem (the cashier and the customer) just getting frustrated w/each other. When dealing w/a big chain if you really want results you need to get out of the store level and contact the district or regional manager. Those people tend to not like it when customer complaints aren't handled at the store level and will typically bend over backwards to make the customer happy (even if the customer is in the wrong).

Saying you made a "scene" just kinda set me off 'cause I have experienced grown adults throwing temper tantrums at cashiers even though the cashier has absolutely no power to resolve the issue at hand and doesn't deserve to be yelled at by a self-centered douche-bag who enjoys treating store employees as whipping boys.

Me? Bitter? Whatever would've given you that idea?


Lethal

 

[mingoglia]

Or perhaps other people talked to the manager since the manager, not the cashier, runs the store. Or perhaps the magazine push just ran its course because these things typically only happen for a few weeks. When I worked at Blockbuster years ago there were usually 6-8 promotions/incentives/up-sells that we cycled thru annually.


I'm not trying to say that if you are dissatisfied you should keep it to yourself I'm just staying there's no point in voicing your displeasure to someone who is powerless to help resolve your issue. Talk to someone working in customer service or talk to a manager. When I worked in retail management I always made sure my cashiers were quick to pass problems up to me because the alternative is having two people who can't fix the problem (the cashier and the customer) just getting frustrated w/each other. When dealing w/a big chain if you really want results you need to get out of the store level and contact the district or regional manager. Those people tend to not like it when customer complaints aren't handled at the store level and will typically bend over backwards to make the customer happy (even if the customer is in the wrong).

Saying you made a "scene" just kinda set me off 'cause I have experienced grown adults throwing temper tantrums at cashiers even though the cashier has absolutely no power to resolve the issue at hand and doesn't deserve to be yelled at by a self-centered douche-bag who enjoys treating store employees as whipping boys.

Me? Bitter? Whatever would've given you that idea?


Lethal

Point taken. For the record, I'm a pretty easy to deal with customer and am aware of your points. My hope is if I don't happen to talk to a manager at that time that perhaps word will get out. If it really bothers me that much I'll track down a manager. I'm not really one that would request one before leaving the store for a matter that was merely a minor annoyance. I know my post may not seem this way but I'm typically a very easy going customer.

Okay I'll sometimes make cashiers feel uncomfortable when they wish my Happy Holidays and I follow it up with Merry Christmas in some of the stores whose policy is to use the former in an attempt to not offend anyone.

I'm also a customer that when shopping at Walmart I refuse to let the workers at the door look in my bag and check my receipt upon leaving the store as it's not a members only store like Costco in which you sign an agreement stating they can check your receipt on the way out. I remember one time I bought a card table for my wife's bunco night and i walked out the front door with it in the box and didn't make eye contact with the worker (he was searching someone elses bags when I walked passed). He then said, "sir, sir". I said, "no thanks. I don't need any help out" while not making eye contact and kept walking. He got on the walkie talkie and all sorts of people came out of the woodwork in the parking lot with their walkie talkies. I tossed the card table in the back of my truck which was too high for them to see and casually drove off with them scouring the parking lot looking for the card table. It of course was paid for. I haven't stolen anything since I was about 7 or 8 and I got caught and humiliated in front of my parents and the police... never did that again.

You know, maybe I am an arse.... Condemn away.

 

[David G.]

You know, maybe I am an arse.... Condemn away.

Well, you probably are. But I support you!

 

[chill.]

before you guys come out gung ho with guns blazing, you might want to think about perspectives from the other side

the salesman are probably told by their manager/corporate to try to sell extra services, you have to realize that the PR you're dealing with don't have any real power and you shouldn't take it out on them

and some of you need to chill out with the good samaritan ********. you know that it is illegal for stores to have those $5.00 and up credit card limits? if credit card companies find stores refusing to accept credit cards then they are in danger of having their license revoked. however, most of the time, it's mom and pop shops that have these limits in place so that they don't actually lose money from transaction fees. it's against regulations, but i don't make a big deal/throw a temper tantrum because it's a dick move.

apply above anecdote to half these posts

 

[synth3tik]

..and you think Best Buy is the only company to up sell?

It's absolutely silly anyway to buy any computer products for Best Buy IMHO.

The way Best Buy treats customers is nothing new.

 

[lightpeak]

Consumer Reports magazine generally almost always recommends refusing the "EWP", because you're literally paying to gamble something goes wrong!

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...ty-11-06/overview/extended-warranty-11-06.htm

While this article is from 2007, they still say it's never been truer today.

Personally when I'm asked if I want to buy one, I say to myself: "Only suckers buy extended waranties."

That may be true, but I confess to buying it and having it come in handy. Like at The Source (By Circuit City), was known as Radio Shack. Like when I need a battery for my Bose Wave stero remote control. $4-something and for about $1.25 I get the extended warranty that lasts 3 years. Battery goes dead after 6 months, I bring it in. Just tell them I got the EWP, didn't even have to provide the paperwork (original sales receipt), just provide my name and postal code. They give me a new one and I'm on my merry way.

So I basically contradicted myself, but I generally believe CR mag is right.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

before you guys come out gung ho with guns blazing, you might want to think about perspectives from the other side

If you read the thread, most seem to indicate that however ethical/non-ethical, the employee was doing their job and that the customer was asking for it not doing research on a thousand dollar purchase, or maybe that's just my opinion.

 

[macsmurf]

The only thing that sounds like a scam is this pre-optimization. I wonder what they mean by that.

The rest is a matter of preference. Some people like insurance more than others.

EDIT: Turns out it is a scam. http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/0s-1s-and-s/2009/11/25/best-buy-no-way-sell-apples

 

[IntheNet]

For the most part, Best Buy employees are a bunch of young clueless idiots who don't mind trying to rip you off at any chance they get. Just one case in point would be hdmi cables- they will try and sell you a "monster" hdmi cable for $80, when you can buy a comparable hdmi cable for less than $8 on amazon or monoprice...

Perhaps you just ran into a poor salesman or saleswoman... we already have a credit account at our local BB and I have purchased several Apple items, along with lots of other non-Apple merchandise, therein with savings... it all depends on the salesperson you have and you are free to ask for another Best Buy employee to help you if you are not comfortable with a salesman...

 

[Corrode]

A bit off topic, but similar. We have lax gun laws here in AZ. A law was passed that allowed you to carry a firearm in a restaurant that served alcohol UNLESS a sign was posted at the front entrance and by the liquor license. I frequently go into a Red Robin by my office and sit at the bar with my business partner for lunch. After going there for a few months at least once or twice a week they put up the sign stating no firearms. The sign was right there across from me, mocking me as I sat and ate lunch. I told the manager that although I do not carry a firearm in public, I believe it's our right to be able to if we chose so.... particularly concealed where it's not going to make anyone nervous. I didn't go there for a few weeks. The next time I went back the sign was gone.

The same thing happened at the Denny's by my house. I take my kids there every couple of weeks and they started posting the sign there (even though they didn't even serve alcohol). I told the manager the same thing and I started going to another Denny's further from the house. Well a couple of months went by and I went there a couple weeks back because I didn't have time to go to the further one and sure enough, they too took the sign down.

Has no one actually commented on this?!? Are you joking? You stopped taking your kids to a particular Denny's because they didn't allow anyone to carry guns inside? Surely, this is written tongue in cheek...

Did you feel safer at the other Denny's, where all the gun-toting customers can come and go freely? Did you think that your kids were not safe at the Denny's where no guns were allowed?

I realize that not going to that particular Denny's was a statement on your rights as an American but COME ON! Protesting such a cause is absolutely outrageous.

I don't want to get into a debate about the right to bear arms (even though gun-ownership is staggeringly proportionate to the number of firearm related deaths), but don't you think a logically minded person would think to take their kids to the Denny's that doesn't allow people to carry guns?

 

[parakiet]

some small remarks..

i've demonstrated products for a well known camera manufacturer. all those shops and salesmen are the same (as stated in this thread)
they need to sell!

things like stock and bonuses will influence the preferred product.. not what the costumer really needs.

when an costumer asks an mac pro he'll get it.
when a costumer wants a macbook but there are only macbook pros in stock.. the chance he'll walk out with a mbp is 'high'

one other thing, not everyone sits at home studying fora and sites before purchasing something. most of them just go and see at the stores
(hell, i've seen people buying compact cameras just because it is pink or red.. no other questions asked!)

about those add on profit generating insurances and other stuff:
most people don't want it. those who buy it feel safer or better

 

[agr5]

It's their job to make money and it is your job to do the research and decide what YOU need. Never trust the guy trying to make money... it usually won't end well for you.

 

[kanpachi]

Salesmen will always be salesmen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlgYQwf1Pug

 

[flashy-cat]

You know the section in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books where they "evict" the bottom useless third of their population to another planet? Well, sales staff should definitely be discarded in this manner

 

[StruckANerve]

None of your business. A sucker is born every day and you shouldn't care if other people get ripped off.

 

[StruckANerve]

Consumer Reports magazine generally almost always recommends refusing the "EWP", because you're literally paying to gamble something goes wrong!

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...ty-11-06/overview/extended-warranty-11-06.htm

While this article is from 2007, they still say it's never been truer today.

Personally when I'm asked if I want to buy one, I say to myself: "Only suckers buy extended waranties."

That may be true, but I confess to buying it and having it come in handy. Like at The Source (By Circuit City), was known as Radio Shack. Like when I need a battery for my Bose Wave stero remote control. $4-something and for about $1.25 I get the extended warranty that lasts 3 years. Battery goes dead after 6 months, I bring it in. Just tell them I got the EWP, didn't even have to provide the paperwork (original sales receipt), just provide my name and postal code. They give me a new one and I'm on my merry way.

So I basically contradicted myself, but I generally believe CR mag is right.

Not all the service plans are a ripoff. I bought one for my Xbox 360 and of course it broke, though not because of RROD. I've actually made money off of Best Buy with the replacement plan through price drops on the Xbox and games being included through promotions.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

The Service Plans have their ups and downs. For a while Best Buy wouldn't check for water damage on iPods. Every time a new one came out, those who had the service plan could simply take their old ones drop it some water, come to the store and Best Buy would give them a store credit allowing you to purchase a new one. Eventually Best Buy apparently caught onto the problem and began checking for water damage.

 

[LethalWolfe]

You know the section in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books where they "evict" the bottom useless third of their population to another planet? Well, sales staff should definitely be discarded in this manner

Personally I'd kick out the self-righteous people who judge others solely based on what they do to make ends meet, but that's just me...


Lethal

 

[CV4]

Macbooks last time I checked do not need to be optimized overnight upon purchase nor do the batteries go out in 1 year 6 months.

With Vista and PC's yeah I would probably agree but with Apple I do not. So I want to present this to the experts here.

You are as ignorant as the salesperson when you say things like this.

The same thing happened at the Denny's by my house. I take my kids there every couple of weeks and they started posting the sign there (even though they didn't even serve alcohol). I told the manager the same thing and I started going to another Denny's further from the house. Well a couple of months went by and I went there a couple weeks back because I didn't have time to go to the further one and sure enough, they too took the sign down.

So you were mad that the Denny's stopped letting people bring guns to a place where you bring your kids? I am at a loss for words. Why should anyone have to bring a gun to Denny's?

In general, why do you want people to be allowed to bring guns to places they are drinking? That is just asking for **** to get ****ed. For someone with children, you have some priority issues it seems.

 

[gnasher729]

If you read the thread, most seem to indicate that however ethical/non-ethical, the employee was doing their job and that the customer was asking for it not doing research on a thousand dollar purchase, or maybe that's just my opinion.

I wouldn't say the employee was "doing their job". I would say the employee was doing what they were told to do, and if they don't do it they will lose your job.

 

[agr5]

I wouldn't say the employee was "doing their job". I would say the employee was doing what they were told to do, and if they don't do it they will lose your job.

Isn't doing what your boss or supervisor tells you to do, "your job"...

 

[fa8362]

Anyone who doesn't know what they're doing/buying is taking unnecessary risk. If you're unwilling to invest the time necessary to understand what you're buying, then you're asking to be taken advantage of. I'm not condoning what salespeople do, but it's easily avoided.

 

[Serif]

None of your business. A sucker is born every day and you shouldn't care if other people get ripped off.

I take a slightly different view in that whilst I may know a fair bit about tech, I know a lot less about other things that are important and expensive but just don't interest me.

If I come across someone being bamboozled by a sales person, and the opportunity arises, I'll try and have a quiet word with them and offer them some sensible unbiased advice. I just hope someone else would do the same for me under other circumstances.

 

[carlgo]

There is salesmanship. Ok.

There is outright lying. Evil.

There is ignorance. Lot o that, eh?

I was at a box store looking at cameras and people were asking questions. The salesgirl was just making stuff up, throwing out some tech-words out of context, and was getting so embarrassed because she didn't know the answers. Not her fault. Why did they stick her in the camera dept? It would be like putting me in the Super Collider info center. Just a bit out of my sphere of knowledge!

I gave a couple of answers and got a lot more questions. Soon several people were asking, almost a crowd around me. I was actually getting a little nervous about this, making sales even. The salesgirl took the opportunity to escape.

It is so stressful for employees to be in a position they can't handle, without any meaningful training.

 

[skye12]

No, they are just doing what their managers want them to do. It's
part of their job. Everyone's business ultimately comes down to someone
selling something for profit. It is up to consumers to be somewhat educated.

This is something i feel like the youth generation, used to downloading
content for free, does not understand. They think everything they buy should be for cost.
Or cost nothing if they can figure out to "acquire" it that way.