Don't like having your conversations recorded? Don't shop at Best Buy then!

[BriGy86]

i started my 1st retail sales job in a big electronics store about a year ago (i've since moved to a dif place in the company) but i was/am amazed that about 90% of consumers go in not know what they need/want to do with a computer, they have absolutely no idea what vaguely makes one computer better than another, they relied souly on me. they don't even bother or have the ambition to do a quick search on google about anything.

and people wonder why sales people always "swindle" them in to service plans

 

[BriGy86]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: Snakexor
best buy does not have to honor the manufacturers warranty....

Maybe not in New Jersey, but in CA they do. Unless there is a disclaimer posted in plain view that basically says.... "We do not honor manufacturers warranty. Please consult them for any problems you may have. No Other warranties expressed or implied."

CA > NJ 😀

i believe that by law if its with in the warrenty, no matter if you bought it at compusa best buy or circuit city, they HAVE to send it out to HP or where ever to have it fixed (at least with laptops, here in MN) so even if they say they honor the warrenties you are probably better off time wise to just send it to the manufaturer yourself and eliminate the middle man.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: KrillBee

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: KrillBee
i hate being bothered by best buy sales officials asking if i want a warranty on a certain product, and them trying to convince me. Its very difficult to buy a computer or laptop from best buy without having to listen to a 5 minute spiel about warranties.

.

Whats so difficult about saying "Not interested", followed by a "no" if they continue. I've done it repeatedly. Buying a new car, dont want the crap i just firmly say "no". Its that easy.

Course, I've had plenty of practice with all the chuckleheads that come to my door trying to sell me crap.

the problem was that the dad wasnt assertive enough in giving the salesperson a no, and he didnt say no often enough, he would wait for the salesperson to finish their entire pitch (which would last about 5 minutes per each service plan) before saying no, cuz he didnt want to interrupt them. (just trying to be nice probably)
And they definately do make it hard for you to interrupt them, cuz they dont shut up! lol

and me and my friend didnt say much since we werent the ones paying for it.

a swift upper cut to the jaw would sort that.

or you could just say, look mate SHUT THE FVCK UP YOU JIBBERING ASSHAT,

or threaten just not to buy the laptop if he doesnt shut his pie hole

or, even better, buy a spunkmeyer muffin before you go in, and while he's ranting.....shove that thing in his mouth! that'll shut him up

 

[BriGy86]

i think the best approach everyone should do would be to tell them you will leave if they don't stop pushing the service plan, if they persist just say "i think im just going to go buy it some where else" and head for the door

this way the sales person doesn't get pissed at you for ruining his/her day because you yelled, screamed, and swore at them, and it really show that if they keep up their tactics they will have no customers to sell to

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Phil

Originally posted by: saahmed
BestBuy sucks. I am so glad they didnt hire me when I really wanted to work there. I got hired at another store and work in an electronics dept. where I am treated well and I get commission on some things.

What I hate about Best Buy. When you actually want help with something, nobody will come ask you if you need help. you will be standing aroung for half an hour waiting for an employee and then you just have to walk over and find one. At my store we make sure we ask every customer if they need help, if they say no we just say ok and walk away, we dont hound them. At BB, It really pissed me off when I went in to buy a laptop that only they sell. Also, they offer you a warranty for everything. I bought a $15 cd player once for my brother, and at the checkout the girl offered me a warranty for like $8. I just laughed in her face. I swear they would offer a warranty on like CD's or maybe a pop. "For only $.50 you can get a warranty on your pop. If it isnt fizzy enough we'll replace it!"

I was offered a warranty on a £10 toaster at Currys in the UK.
The service plan was £11.

:flip;

lol

i buy online as much as pos....until they invent electronic sales men, i dont have to listen to the warrenty crap.

just imagine...you buy something on BB.com, and as your moving through the checkout, you get countless pop ups explaing and pushing you to buy warraties or service plans....that would be annoying

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
You can't win, you get the customers who if they were NOT offered it and it breaks raise hell because they weren't offered it. On the other hand you get some customers who raise hell because you DO offer it.
...

I treat my customers with complete respect, but it's a 2 way street, if they come in and are just complete asses to me, I will respond in kind and not be very helpful.

I think the point in this thread isn't about whether it's offered or not, it's the harrassment that typically follows the first "No thanks". If you want to offer the warranty to me, that's perfectly fine and I have absolutely no problem with that. But if you start questioning my spending habbits and financial situation, I'm going to get very hostile very quickly. For example, I was in a holiday rush last year (the only reason I'd even BE in a Best Buy in the first place) trying to buy a 60" LCD HDTV. After getting everything rung up, the salesman offered me the warranty. Enjoy this little give-and-take:

CSR: "Can I tell you about our service plan for this television?"
Me: "No thanks. I'm in a pretty big hurry here."
CSR: "Well it may be of some value to you."
Me: "I'm really not interested in it, but if you want to give me the literature on it so I can review it later, that's fine. I'm aware that I have 30 days to purchase it."

Everything was fine up until that point. Regardless of whether or not the salesman thinks I'm being stupid for not considering the warranty is irrelevant. Why? Because it's MY decision to make, and if I choose to be ignorant, then that's my right as a customer.

CSR: "Well, let me just take a few moments to explain it."
Me: "No. Maybe I wasn't clear: I'm in a hurry and need to get back to work."

One thing that a LOT of salespeople are sadly mistaken about is the idea that customers "owe" it to them to listen to the pitch. That's horsesh*t. The only thing a customer "owes" you is the cost of the product they're purchasing. If they're not interested in hearing about a product or service, then that's their right.

CSR: "Well, may I ask why you're not interested?"
Me: "No! You can't! I just want to buy the TV and get out of here!"
CSR: "If it's a money issue, maybe we can look at financing."

This REALLY pissed me off. Now this guy thinks he's a financial consultant.

Me: "Who do you think you are? I didn't come here for financial advice. I want to pay cash for that television and I want you to take it and get me the hell out of here so I can get back to my job".

CSR: "Well maybe you could come back when you have more time."
Me: "Here's an idea. Maybe you could take that TV and shove it up your ass sideways. Get me your manager NOW."

So he goes to get the manager. Now that I've wasted an hour of my time and been insulted in the process, I was extremely pissed... and I STILL didn't have a television (nor did I intend to purchase one at that point). I raised hell with the manager in the middle of a busy store. Maybe I looked like an idiot, but I really don't care. I walked out after my tirade (not that the manager gave a fsck in the first place) and went online and purchased my TV online. I was asked ONCE during the checkout process if I wanted the warranty. I clicked "no" and was able to move on with my life. What a fscking concept!

Retail chains aren't losing business to online businesses on price alone. The bigggest factor for me is that places like Best Buy are such a gdamn pain in the ass!!! If I could get in and out without getting the third degree on warranties, magazine subscriptions, AOL, and satellite TV, I wouldn't mind spending a couple extra bucks to support a place that allows me to experience these products firsthand. But, that's not how retailers choose to do business, so screw them. They're a last resort for a growing number of people, and they did it to themselves.

So, if you want to politely offer me the warranty, I will politely decline it. Respect my response and respect my time if I tell you I'm in a hurry. If I'm feeling generous, I'll let you go on about the benefits blah blah blah, but that's my CHOICE, not an obligation. If I don't want to hear about it, take my first "no" and let's wrap it up. If your boss tells you that you need to get 10 "no's" before you're allowed to accept it, then you have a choice to make. Either ignore your boss or deal with my reaction. Regardless, your work situation is your problem, not mine.

I'm not going to take it in the ass just so you can get a gold star for the day. Do I get a discount if I didn't get my bonus from my job? No. Then why do I have to spend another $300 so you get yours? My problems are mine, and your problems are yours.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: Dulanic
You can't win, you get the customers who if they were NOT offered it and it breaks raise hell because they weren't offered it. On the other hand you get some customers who raise hell because you DO offer it.
...

I treat my customers with complete respect, but it's a 2 way street, if they come in and are just complete asses to me, I will respond in kind and not be very helpful.

I think the point in this thread isn't about whether it's offered or not, it's the harrassment that typically follows the first "No thanks". If you want to offer the warranty to me, that's perfectly fine and I have absolutely no problem with that. But if you start questioning my spending habbits and financial situation, I'm going to get very hostile very quickly. For example, I was in a holiday rush last year (the only reason I'd even BE in a Best Buy in the first place) trying to buy a 60" LCD HDTV. After getting everything rung up, the salesman offered me the warranty.

Now you see why I still said I hate BB, they usually are an exception, go elsewhere, anywhere else and it will go alot better 🙂

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: BriGy86
i think the best approach everyone should do would be to tell them you will leave if they don't stop pushing the service plan, if they persist just say "i think im just going to go buy it some where else" and head for the door

this way the sales person doesn't get pissed at you for ruining his/her day because you yelled, screamed, and swore at them, and it really show that if they keep up their tactics they will have no customers to sell to

Yup... and the LAST thing we would want in this world is to upset the salesperson :roll: .

The problem with threatening to not buy the laptop/TV/etc is that it's exactly what they would like to have happen. Store managers would most oftentimes rather hold back that merchandise so they can sell it with a warranty. And like I said above, it's not at all uncommon for stores to suddenly not have that laptop in stock the moment you refuse the warranty.

 

[sohcrates]

if they make all their money off "junk" like add-ons, then why are their products still so aggregiously overpriced?

the other day i went in for the first time in a long time and they were selling a 3 pronged power cable for computer for $12!!!!

i mean, that isn't even in the realm of realistic

 

[BriGy86]

i will have to agree though that service plans on some items are a good idea to invest in, like expensive laptops, expensive desktops, LCD screen replacement

examples of the service plan where i work
laptop service plan:
-covers screen damage (cracked screen, bad pixels- as little as 3 anywhere on the screen, also covers the hinges)
-1 battery replacement a year for as long as the plan is (only if there is a noticable diff in how much charge it holds
-covers hardware as long as its not dropped or spilled on (if the hard drive goes bad, ports on the mother board go bad, keboard goes bad)
platinum upgrade for laptops (good for the non computer savvy people)
-you can get, for free, most of the tech services we offer
-we install for free any software you buy during the course of the plan
-we also install any hardware you buy during the course of the plan for free
-free virus and spyware scans during the course of the plan
-restoring your machine is free during the course of the plan
-a data transfer from old machine to the new one
desktop plans
our plat. desktop plan is the same as the plat upgrade for laptops except it also includes hardware coverage
LCD replacement plans
if the color starts the fade or as little as 3 pixels go out during the 2 years of the plan you get a new one off the shelf
(i think its around 60 or 70 bucks to cover a 400 dollar monitor, pretty reasonable i think)

and from what i have seen our company is pretty good about honoring them
(thats another thing, if you do buy a service plan no matter how great it may seem, know how well the company you're buying it from honors it, this i think is one of the top reason people hate BB)

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: Dulanic
You can't win, you get the customers who if they were NOT offered it and it breaks raise hell because they weren't offered it. On the other hand you get some customers who raise hell because you DO offer it.
...

I treat my customers with complete respect, but it's a 2 way street, if they come in and are just complete asses to me, I will respond in kind and not be very helpful.

I think the point in this thread isn't about whether it's offered or not, it's the harrassment that typically follows the first "No thanks". If you want to offer the warranty to me, that's perfectly fine and I have absolutely no problem with that. But if you start questioning my spending habbits and financial situation, I'm going to get very hostile very quickly. For example, I was in a holiday rush last year (the only reason I'd even BE in a Best Buy in the first place) trying to buy a 60" LCD HDTV. After getting everything rung up, the salesman offered me the warranty.

Now you see why I still said I hate BB, they usually are an exception, go elsewhere, anywhere else and it will go alot better 🙂

True. HH Gregg is probably the best as far as leaving you alone, with CC close behind... although toward the end of my tenure at CC, I saw some pretty questionable sh*t go down. But I've been in there since over the past 7 years, and I usually get asked once and then the leave me alone.

At BB, you can't buy a damn CD in less than half an hour.

 

[BriGy86]

Originally posted by: jbourne77
Regardless of whether or not the salesman thinks I'm being stupid for not considering the warranty is irrelevant. Why? Because it's MY decision to make, and if I choose to be ignorant, then that's my right as a customer.

this is the problem though, most consumers don't want to admit they were dumb for not buying the service plan when their product breaks, so with your average customer they will not buy the plan, then when it does break they will bitch and complain that it costs too much to repair it, and/or they will make up lies about how they DID buy a service plan or that they were never offered one. people never want to take the blame for their own mistakes

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: BriGy86

Originally posted by: jbourne77
Regardless of whether or not the salesman thinks I'm being stupid for not considering the warranty is irrelevant. Why? Because it's MY decision to make, and if I choose to be ignorant, then that's my right as a customer.

this is the problem though, most consumers don't want to admit they were dumb for not buying the service plan when their product breaks, so with your average customer they will not buy the plan, then when it does break they will bitch and complain that it costs too much to repair it, and/or they will make up lies about how they DID buy a service plan or that they were never offered one. people never want to take the blame for their own mistakes

You're right, but that's retail.

Plus, what 1 out of 100 customers *might* do a year down the road is not justification for browbeating them now into getting an extended warranty.

 

[Stuxnet]

www.bestbuysux.org

 

[Eeezee]

Best Buy is pretty lame.

For some reason I thought it was illegal to record someone for business purposes without their consent.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: BriGy86
i think everyone should keep in mind though that the sales people are just doing their job, the reason the sales people seem pushy at times is because they get bitched at by the higher ups.

if that sales guy doesn't sell a service plan he has to answer to his manager on why he didn't (like it was the sales guy's choice to begin with :roll:, i don't understand management at times) just be blunt, let the guy know you aren't mad at him, but there is also no way in hell that you are going to buy a service plan, even if you get a discount on it or no matter how nice his manager is about it

(although i do agree a service plan is a good thing on some items, but it also depends on who you get it through as well)

Right on, management is actually the problem here. It's not the employees' fault that Best Buy is run by idiots

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: BriGy86
i think everyone should keep in mind though that the sales people are just doing their job, the reason the sales people seem pushy at times is because they get bitched at by the higher ups.

if that sales guy doesn't sell a service plan he has to answer to his manager on why he didn't (like it was the sales guy's choice to begin with :roll:, i don't understand management at times) just be blunt, let the guy know you aren't mad at him, but there is also no way in hell that you are going to buy a service plan, even if you get a discount on it or no matter how nice his manager is about it

(although i do agree a service plan is a good thing on some items, but it also depends on who you get it through as well)

Right on, management is actually the problem here. It's not the employees' fault that Best Buy is run by idiots

And it's not the customers' faults that the employees chose to work for those idiots.

 

[Nick5324]

Add this the ever growing list of reasons to not shop at BestBuy.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: BriGy86

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Which is why I LOVE shopping at Best Buy 😉 . It's a golden opportunity to fsck with people.

Seriously, Best Buy can be a hell to shop at, but if you have the right attitude, it's a masochist's amusement park. They don't ask to see my bags often, but the times they have I've had a variety of responses ranging from playful to downright hostile... just depends on my mood.

"Can I see your bags?"
"No, but the cashier just saw them so go ask her if you're so interested."

"Can I see your bags?"
"Can I see your junk?"

"Can I see your bags?"
"If you didn't trust me, why did you let me in the store in the first place?"

"Can I see your bags?"
"Fsck off"


The last one is my favorite since they're not expecting it at all. The key is to look real mild-mannered as you're walking to the door, and then when they ask, pull a Jeckyl & Hyde on their ass.

Of course, there's always the classic:

"Can I see your bags?"
"No"

It's always amusing to watch how suspicious they become by your response but how frustrated they become because they can't do a damn thing about it.

Oh, and I don't feel sorry for the Best Buy employees. I worked at Circuit City in college and I got treated like ass too. Take up a sh*tty job, you'll get treated like sh*t. This isn't Russia: if you can't handle it, quit. Consumers shouldn't be expected to tolerate sub-human treatment just because "it's their job". Fsck that. If you're going to treat me like a child when I tell you "no, I don't want the warranty", then I'm going to treat you like a doormat.

In short, you've got my respect until you show me I don't have yours. It's as simple as that.

so since people treated you like crap you do the same to others?

reminds me of bullies in the 3rd grade

That's really not what he said...

He gives others respect until they treat him like crap. That is when he treats them like crap. That's logical.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
It seems like this would violate federal wire tap laws. Does anyone know?

Ask Bush 😛


Ausm

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: Dulanic
You can't win, you get the customers who if they were NOT offered it and it breaks raise hell because they weren't offered it. On the other hand you get some customers who raise hell because you DO offer it.
...

I treat my customers with complete respect, but it's a 2 way street, if they come in and are just complete asses to me, I will respond in kind and not be very helpful.

I think the point in this thread isn't about whether it's offered or not, it's the harrassment that typically follows the first "No thanks". If you want to offer the warranty to me, that's perfectly fine and I have absolutely no problem with that. But if you start questioning my spending habbits and financial situation, I'm going to get very hostile very quickly. For example, I was in a holiday rush last year (the only reason I'd even BE in a Best Buy in the first place) trying to buy a 60" LCD HDTV. After getting everything rung up, the salesman offered me the warranty.

Now you see why I still said I hate BB, they usually are an exception, go elsewhere, anywhere else and it will go alot better 🙂

True. HH Gregg is probably the best as far as leaving you alone, with CC close behind... although toward the end of my tenure at CC, I saw some pretty questionable sh*t go down. But I've been in there since over the past 7 years, and I usually get asked once and then the leave me alone.

At BB, you can't buy a damn CD in less than half an hour.

I love CC and all..but wow I had a crappy experience there once 🙂

We were just looking at the digital cameras when a sales girl came up. She asked if we needed help. I told her "we're just looking, thanks". She said "what type of camera are you looking for". I told her "we're just looking around, thanks anyway". Then she asked If I was looking for Digital or 35MM. I was like "we're not, thanks". Then she asked me what type of camera we had at home. At that point I liked at her and said "can you leave us the heck alone, we're trying to look".

She walked off and told a manager and they walked up to us and asked us if we needed any help. HA. I swear, some people are just DUMB. They kept looking at us like we were evil, but DAMN she wouldn't shut up and let us look.

 

[yourdeardaniel]

wow remind me to shop at BB

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Ausm

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
It seems like this would violate federal wire tap laws. Does anyone know?

Ask Bush 😛


Ausm

Actually this person raises a good point. Depending on state law, BB could be breaking the law on recording conversations. Some states allow you to do so, as long as one of the parties knows. Other states require you to have both parties know of the recording.

Honestly I don't believe it's happening. It's more rumors and conspiracy theories.

 

[apinomus]

I agree with the fight back option of putting on a button that says the employees are being recorded. I think the only thing they could do is ask you to leave. They don't have the right to take it from you. Worst case scenario they call the cops and ask you why you're doing this... you can simply say you were fighting back in protest of being recorded to begin with.

 

[ajf3]

Here's the easiest solution... when they hard sell you a $300 warranty on a $2k laptop, tell them you'll buy it if they discount the LAPTOP by 5%. Pay for it. Go back the next day (or march straight over to the return counter if you're bold), and return the warranty you purchased. Pocket the 5% discount for your trouble. 😉