I've been selling computers and consumer electronics at 2 different straight commission based stores and I'm finally out of it. I'm moving into furniture sales which is alot better money, when added onto my business I should be rolling very well (wasn't too bad off in the first place although I wont get to enjoy it before most likely going to Iraq shortly) ........ Even though I love computers, I hate selling crap which is basically what we carried. Due to the Angel/Devil thread and most of the guys on here equating devils with the smart customers and angels with the stupid ones. I just wanted to point out my take on it.
Devils
-------
Yes a percentage of these might be savvy shoppers like alot of the members of this forum. But the truth is 99% of this group of people are straight up geriatrics.
First point. It's a sale the store I work at runs 4 times a year called the "family sale" where the give away $25,000 in gift cards across the 14 stores: The store I work at is very large (think a large best buy size) and has a blue carpet around it, there are 5 signs around the carpet with a baloon hanging from them and numbers on the sign. If the number you have on the flyer you got in the mail matches the number you win. Hello!!! They send 50,000 of these things, with possible winnings of around $1500 per store your chances of winning anything are very low....save your time and gas. I've seen 2 $10 winners in three years and one $250 winner.
Next point. Asking for the bathroom: This is the customer that walks right up to you as soon as the store opens grabbing on his/her crotch asking where the bathroom is. Then you happily point out that it is all the way at the back of the store and they look at you like you're the idiot.
Next point. I apologize for your inconvenience: This is a running joke among most of the salesmen where a customer complains about something we had no control over yet thinks they're entitled to free stuff. My favorite example is one gentleman who would come in. Stand around for 2 minutes, then ask for the manager. When the manager goes up to him he complains that he's been here for half an hour and that noone has offered to help him. The funny thing is, the first time this guy did this, we were closed. I think the manager did give him a discount the first time but then the goof tried doing the same act subsequent times.
Next point. Complaining about rebates: Yes rebates suck. But on the same hand most of the devil customers will shop at a competitor if they have more mail-in-rebates. My favorite line. You guys are selling this for $50 more than best buy. Look on bb's website and we have it for $50 less in store but they have it for $50 less after rebate and the customer wants me to drop the price $50. Hello buddy! The reason it's cheaper there is because they know less then half the geriatrics won't collect on the rebate. Do you know how many times a month I have customers asking if we match mail-in-rebates? Generally it's the same people complaining about them when they fill out the forms wrong. I've gotten to the point where I go over the rebate completely including pointing out all the shady fine print and if they don't get their money because of their own stupidity or laziness, just tell them the last point. -----> (I apologize for your inconvenience).
Next point. Demoing stuff in store then asking if we match online prices. These people know we're on commission then waste 20 minutes of our time only to say by the way I saw this on xxxxx.com for $60 cheaper and was wondering if you guys match that. My response, "we don't match online prices". Them, "that's too bad". Me, "what website was it that much cheaper on". Them, "insert low ranked vendor from pricewatch here". Me, "well seeing they have a 2 out of 10 in customer satisfaction, good luck with that". Them "thankyou" (thinks in head "omfg I'm such an ownzored geriatric piece of sh1t"). Me, "have a great day" (thinks in head "stupid dumba$$).........Please note like I mentioned before only 1% of these devil customers are savvy. Most of the savvy ones would mention newegg or zipzoomfly etc....usually it's something like barts discount cameras, tigerdirect, champs bargain computer outlet...etc.....
Next point. Calling on the phone for tech support after buying the pc from someone else and not wanting to get connected to India: Customer, "hi, I've got this problem with my computer it keeps shutting off and I'm wondering if you-". Me, "ma'am to better serve you can I get your home phone number area code first so I can look up what computer you have". Customer, "ugh ugh ugh, I didn't buy it from you guys". Me, "well unfortunately we don't offer tech support over the phone but let me see if I can get you the right number".
Next point. What will you give me for free: It never fails there is a certain % of customers that want something thrown in because they're spending x-amount of dollars.
Next point. I bet this was the easiest sale you've ever had: Whenever a customer says this it means they just came in on the cheapest item in the ad, pointed to me they wanted it. I ring them up and all proud of themselves they tell me how happy they are to give me the commission. I have never had a customer say this that actually bought a profitable product- stuff in the ad generally isn't profitable.
Next point. People who wait in long lines for long amounts of time to save small amounts of money on crappy products, generally Black Friday sales: Personally, I can appreciate people who wait in line for something they really want when it first comes out. I waited in line for PS2 and Xbox on release day, hell just recently I went to the midnight giveaway for halo2 for those who preordered and waited like an hour at midnight to pick up my copy. However, I am going to say this- those of you who wait outside on Black Friday to pick up $29 dvd players and $5 dvd's are geriatrics. You would be better off working some extra hours instead of spending them outside in the cold with a bunch of other cold mean people about to stamped each other to death to be the first one to pick up the Aladdin dvd at best buy or the $349 emachine that is normally priced at $369 every third week. The real joke though is on the 90% of the people that wait and get nothing because the product sells out before their number comes up.
Angels
---------
-Savvy customers. They know what they want. I would think a majority people on these forums are in this category. However, don't be asking salespeople stupid techie questions. If it's something you know about, figure it out yourself. The other day I had a guy calling asking the speed on the memory and if the modem was v.90 or v.92. He then complained about how they were using pc2700 memory with a 400mhz fsb athlon. I felt like telling him because only idiots buy these computers in the first place and that he was basically as idiot if he knew as much as he did and actually considered buying one. (It was a $600 hp).
-People who don't buy pg's. I make alot of money selling them but feel like I'm scamming people, so after I ask once as I'm obligated by the company and you politely tell me no, I'm happy to finish the sale. (not angels to the company but angels to me).
-People who treat the store employees with respect. Most of the guys in retail aren't making alot of money and guess what! Most of them aren't responsible for what happened to you. In fact at most chains, most issues are generally above even the store managers head in terms of pricing and policies.
-People who don't buy cheap sh1t. While like I mentioned before it's cool to find a good product at a good price and buy it. I'm talking hot deals on good products. I'm 100% for it. But you people that buy generic $29 dvd players, try and take advantage of price match policies that were designed to keep a company competitive, not bankrupt them, need a lesson in life. It's cool to be cheap, but when you're getting operated on by the welfare doctor- just remember where being cheap got you.
Anyways, looking forward to selling furniture.....lots more profit and don't think I'll have to worry about hearing if we match internet pricing
Devils
-------
Yes a percentage of these might be savvy shoppers like alot of the members of this forum. But the truth is 99% of this group of people are straight up geriatrics.
First point. It's a sale the store I work at runs 4 times a year called the "family sale" where the give away $25,000 in gift cards across the 14 stores: The store I work at is very large (think a large best buy size) and has a blue carpet around it, there are 5 signs around the carpet with a baloon hanging from them and numbers on the sign. If the number you have on the flyer you got in the mail matches the number you win. Hello!!! They send 50,000 of these things, with possible winnings of around $1500 per store your chances of winning anything are very low....save your time and gas. I've seen 2 $10 winners in three years and one $250 winner.
Next point. Asking for the bathroom: This is the customer that walks right up to you as soon as the store opens grabbing on his/her crotch asking where the bathroom is. Then you happily point out that it is all the way at the back of the store and they look at you like you're the idiot.
Next point. I apologize for your inconvenience: This is a running joke among most of the salesmen where a customer complains about something we had no control over yet thinks they're entitled to free stuff. My favorite example is one gentleman who would come in. Stand around for 2 minutes, then ask for the manager. When the manager goes up to him he complains that he's been here for half an hour and that noone has offered to help him. The funny thing is, the first time this guy did this, we were closed. I think the manager did give him a discount the first time but then the goof tried doing the same act subsequent times.
Next point. Complaining about rebates: Yes rebates suck. But on the same hand most of the devil customers will shop at a competitor if they have more mail-in-rebates. My favorite line. You guys are selling this for $50 more than best buy. Look on bb's website and we have it for $50 less in store but they have it for $50 less after rebate and the customer wants me to drop the price $50. Hello buddy! The reason it's cheaper there is because they know less then half the geriatrics won't collect on the rebate. Do you know how many times a month I have customers asking if we match mail-in-rebates? Generally it's the same people complaining about them when they fill out the forms wrong. I've gotten to the point where I go over the rebate completely including pointing out all the shady fine print and if they don't get their money because of their own stupidity or laziness, just tell them the last point. -----> (I apologize for your inconvenience).
Next point. Demoing stuff in store then asking if we match online prices. These people know we're on commission then waste 20 minutes of our time only to say by the way I saw this on xxxxx.com for $60 cheaper and was wondering if you guys match that. My response, "we don't match online prices". Them, "that's too bad". Me, "what website was it that much cheaper on". Them, "insert low ranked vendor from pricewatch here". Me, "well seeing they have a 2 out of 10 in customer satisfaction, good luck with that". Them "thankyou" (thinks in head "omfg I'm such an ownzored geriatric piece of sh1t"). Me, "have a great day" (thinks in head "stupid dumba$$).........Please note like I mentioned before only 1% of these devil customers are savvy. Most of the savvy ones would mention newegg or zipzoomfly etc....usually it's something like barts discount cameras, tigerdirect, champs bargain computer outlet...etc.....
Next point. Calling on the phone for tech support after buying the pc from someone else and not wanting to get connected to India: Customer, "hi, I've got this problem with my computer it keeps shutting off and I'm wondering if you-". Me, "ma'am to better serve you can I get your home phone number area code first so I can look up what computer you have". Customer, "ugh ugh ugh, I didn't buy it from you guys". Me, "well unfortunately we don't offer tech support over the phone but let me see if I can get you the right number".
Next point. What will you give me for free: It never fails there is a certain % of customers that want something thrown in because they're spending x-amount of dollars.
Next point. I bet this was the easiest sale you've ever had: Whenever a customer says this it means they just came in on the cheapest item in the ad, pointed to me they wanted it. I ring them up and all proud of themselves they tell me how happy they are to give me the commission. I have never had a customer say this that actually bought a profitable product- stuff in the ad generally isn't profitable.
Next point. People who wait in long lines for long amounts of time to save small amounts of money on crappy products, generally Black Friday sales: Personally, I can appreciate people who wait in line for something they really want when it first comes out. I waited in line for PS2 and Xbox on release day, hell just recently I went to the midnight giveaway for halo2 for those who preordered and waited like an hour at midnight to pick up my copy. However, I am going to say this- those of you who wait outside on Black Friday to pick up $29 dvd players and $5 dvd's are geriatrics. You would be better off working some extra hours instead of spending them outside in the cold with a bunch of other cold mean people about to stamped each other to death to be the first one to pick up the Aladdin dvd at best buy or the $349 emachine that is normally priced at $369 every third week. The real joke though is on the 90% of the people that wait and get nothing because the product sells out before their number comes up.
Angels
---------
-Savvy customers. They know what they want. I would think a majority people on these forums are in this category. However, don't be asking salespeople stupid techie questions. If it's something you know about, figure it out yourself. The other day I had a guy calling asking the speed on the memory and if the modem was v.90 or v.92. He then complained about how they were using pc2700 memory with a 400mhz fsb athlon. I felt like telling him because only idiots buy these computers in the first place and that he was basically as idiot if he knew as much as he did and actually considered buying one. (It was a $600 hp).
-People who don't buy pg's. I make alot of money selling them but feel like I'm scamming people, so after I ask once as I'm obligated by the company and you politely tell me no, I'm happy to finish the sale. (not angels to the company but angels to me).
-People who treat the store employees with respect. Most of the guys in retail aren't making alot of money and guess what! Most of them aren't responsible for what happened to you. In fact at most chains, most issues are generally above even the store managers head in terms of pricing and policies.
-People who don't buy cheap sh1t. While like I mentioned before it's cool to find a good product at a good price and buy it. I'm talking hot deals on good products. I'm 100% for it. But you people that buy generic $29 dvd players, try and take advantage of price match policies that were designed to keep a company competitive, not bankrupt them, need a lesson in life. It's cool to be cheap, but when you're getting operated on by the welfare doctor- just remember where being cheap got you.
Anyways, looking forward to selling furniture.....lots more profit and don't think I'll have to worry about hearing if we match internet pricing
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