Ok, what have you heard computer salesman saying before...

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
I only really had experience with one salesperson before - I usually buy my own parts, and do so online.
Was at Walmart; she said that she'll only use Intel processors, because AMD makes junk that will either not work with any programs, or else their CPU's just fail in a few months. I said that the 4 AMD PC's I had at home would beg to differ.

That's really sad that some people can be so uneducated about these sorts of things. I guess it takes dancing blue men in spacesuits to make a "really reliable" processor.

 

[neutralizer]

Once I was in Fry's looking for some AS3 so I walked up to one of the employees wandering... he didn't know so he said he'd refer me to someone very knowledgable about computers:

Me: Do you know where I can find Arctic Silver?
Him: Is that a game?
Me: No, it's a thermal paste.
Him: Thermal paste, what's that? What do you do with it?
Me: You put it on the processor.
Him: You mean a sink? (He proceeds to show me a dinky plastic Coolermaster hsf... nothing compared to my AX-7)
Me: No, you put it between the sink and the processor.
Him: Huh?
My dad: It's kind of like a glue.
Him: Uh... go ask the hardware people...

Another time I heard someone say "This motherboard is made by Intel. It must suck because Intel is a small company." When he said motherboard, he meant the computer itself.

And also I've heard someone call a standalone P3: "Hey, this computer can't go on the Internet, then it must be slower than mine and I have a Pentium 1."

 

[Mikeyb01]

Ok here's mine! I went to best buy to get a Bluetooth dongle for my Nokia3650. (I could of ordered online and did eventually but was right there)

Me: Do you have any bluetooth dongles?
Guy:............ (Puzzled)
Me: an adapter?
Guy........ (Thinking)AH!
The guy then takes me to a Blue Alienware!
Me:No a little adapter.
He goes over and conversates with a manager guy they finally take me to an dongle.
I get it home and it doesn't support bluetooth's serial port!

 

[OverVolt]

Hmm well lets see...

I saw someone at BB headed to the cash register buying an AGP 8x ATI R9600Pro saying to the salesman "this will work in my laptop right?" I just chuckled and went on thinking about how half of BB's stock room is probably full of returns.

Now in my area, i have met some pretty knowledgable salespeople who answered my questions fairly well. At CompUSA my sister was buying a laptop and out of curiosity i asked what the spindle speed of the HD was, and he actually knew that it had a 4,200rpm drive (of course saying the +$400 dollar one next to it had a 5,400rpm drive) but i was kinda suprised he knew. He was an older guy so i assume he was the manager.

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: vegetation

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
Once heard a customer tell a salesperson he wanted a printer for transparancies and couldn't decide on laser (back when lasers were very expensive) or inkjet. Salesman told him laser would be better because inkjet would only "paint" on the media and it might fall off. A laser would actually "burn" it into the media. I stepped in and told the guy that that was BS as the laser never touched the media, only a drum. The salesman countered that he was right because the media came out of the printer warm, proving that the laser had "burned" the image into it.

He probably just used the wrong words to describe a problem that exists with inkjets. Back then, and even still now with some printers, most inkjet ink is water soluble (maybe why he said "paint") so the entire transparency can be wiped off relatively easily. Laser is more or less permanent (why he said "burned"?). Inkjet printouts can always be botched up if you have to carry something and it gets moist. If you're teaching a class or giving a presentation and need the transparencies, you're in big trouble if you realize all your cute diagrams have been smudged. Back when I was teaching and we didn't have projectors in the classroom yet, I used to religiously ensure all my inkjet transparencies were kept dry and seperated. So the issue is real, though many inkjet cartridges now use better formulations to prevent this problem, but way back then it was very much a big deal.

laser is not permanent. if you fold or crumple up a laser printed piece of paper, you remove the toner. that's why folded copies generally lose some of the text. if you crumple up an inkjet printed piece of paper, that doesnt happen. of course when you get crap wet... and then there are transparencies... some melt in laser printers.

 

[mbackof]

I actually have a good salesman story. A customer was in my local Staples yesterday explaining that their computer has been slow recently. He told them about spybot and explained how to download it. He said to try that before they purchase any other solutions. It was so nice to hear the salesperson be honest to a consumer and knowledgable. I almost went up to praise him for being honest, till I found out that they didn't have the network switch I went there to purchase. Then I walked out.

 

[rudder]

"If you don't buy this high end UPS, your pentium 4 will burn up."

quoted froma best buy computer salesman.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: rudder
"If you don't buy this high end UPS, your pentium 4 will burn up."

quoted froma best buy computer salesman.

Damn that's a good one, thanks for bringing it up. I have worked on many biz systems that had a UPS for that very reason. They get talked into them for added security "to prevent data loss in the event of a power failure" even though everything they do is available on hard copy and the worst that might happen is they have to re-enter some financial data in quickbooks

 

[Arsynic]

Freakin' wow. The sad sh*t is that I believe every single story I heard. Since I'm a PC/Network technician, I just walk into those stores, get what I need, and then I get the hell out. I don't buy prebuilt computers anymore and the last thing I bought was a Wireless-B card for my PC when I could have bought it from New Egg for $10 cheaper...including shipping. I just didn't want to wait over the weekend.

 

[TheBDB]

This is why I was pissed when my dad bought a computer at Best Buy a couple months ago. He actually got a great deal because they charged him the wrong price, but he is lucky he wasn't screwed because he didn't consult me first.

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: mAsTAd
back in 2000, my parents went to some stupid comp. store and the guy told them that a 600mhz p3 with 64mb Ram was a great computer and that it was popular. It was a Daewoo qrium. what the fcvk is a daewoo qrium. my parents bought it for 1200.

I know Daewoo used to make Leading Edge computers.

 

[MrMaster]

Originally posted by: FreshFish
I don't know how you value your money MrMaster, but i sure as heck wouldn't want to shell out $65 to merely have a computer looked at. Now maybe if they fix it for $65 it would be a different story.

Most places charge just to have your brakes LOOKED at on a vehicle. Why wouldn't this be teh same issue?

Plus, how many times do people charge exorbinant amounts for a problem that they can fix in a minute? It might be their minimum charge for any type of work.

 

[earthling30]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
That's really sad that some people can be so uneducated about these sorts of things. I guess it takes dancing blue men in spacesuits to make a "really reliable" processor.

Most of these so-called salesmen that I've noticed are still in high school or going through college, or at least that is how it is in my area.

 

[Steve]

Sorry if this is a repost....has anybody seen Maddox's take on Compusa?

http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=compusa_sucks

 

[Kenazo]

This thread is great! I don't have any stories to share though. I avoid Staples, BB, OD, Futureshop, etc.

 

[kd7fhd]

Someone needed memory several years ago (when pc133 was the fastest on the market!) and bb had some on sale. As it was for someone who only used their coputer for several business apps and getting on the internet (dial-up), I wasn't overly concerned about the brand name so I stopped by the bb store in Fort Collins. After the clerk told me that the memory I was looking for wouldn't work in my computer - and he didn't even ask what kind it was! - I thanked him and went over to sam's club and got the memory.

Several years later I stopped by bb again just to see how things were going for them. I have been cured of ever going back again.

 

[White Widow]

While this thread is absolutely hilarious, it's also really disturbing. If it's really true that EVERY sales industry is like this, then this puts a HUGE burden on the consumer to know everything about everything. Many of you seem to feel it is the customers responsibility to educate themselves, and I agree. But for many people, it is very difficult to learn about computer systems: the terminology is all new, and there is no clear analogue for a PC elsewhere in everyday life, except maybe a car, which most people also don't understand. Because of this, we must rely TO SOME DEGREE on sales people. And this brings me to the really critical question:

Are sales people in BB, CC, Fry's, etc. just completely ignorant about what they sell, or are they lying intentionally?

Either way, and enterprising enthusiast with time on their hands (ie. college student) could make a nice business offering their services as a Buying Guide to accompany people when they go to buy a computer and help them sort through the BS and tell them the truth.

It would also be funny to do an "underground" documentary and bust these guys telling lies.

 

[SneakyStuff]

I read that maddox article, and something occured to me, he mentioned the "selling of your personal information" to 3rd party companies to send you garbagee' I wen tinto a Bestbuy to simply swap a DVD in wide-screen for the full screen, the guy at the return/exchange said he "NEEDED" my phone #, adress, and name to do this... I absolutely LOATHE bestbuy, it makes me feel like a noob shoppin there.

 

[Finnkc]

I only go to the big box stores (Best Buy, Futureshop) for games and DVDs lol.

When I walk thought the PC department I always hear the sales guys talking crap ... and most of them don't know what the f*ck they are talking about.

Once and only once I was at the repair desk asking if they had any of the Maxtor 60GB HDs for sale still. I was waiting for the guy to check stock on the PC in front of him ... mean while beside me some nice lady is talking to the tech guy about the camera she just bought and how the USB thing wasn't working.

For about 20mins the tech guy was like "well you will have to bring it in so we can look at it."

I didn't catch the original problem ... anyway she is pissed and walks off.

I walk over to the cash with the HD and she is buying some CDRWs .. I tell her that the tech guys are useless here ... she smiles and says "ya so I see" ...

I ask her what her problem was ... it turns out she was using Windows 2000 and was logged in as a standard user on her husbands PC and that when she went to run the install program it was telling her she didn't have privileges to install the software.

She said her husband was away on business and wanted to surprise him with the $1000 dollar camera she just got him lol.

So I tell her the problem is simple to fix she just has to login as an administrator and it will install fine.

She looked at me and said "now why the hell couldn't that a*s hole at the desk tell me that?"

lol

I mean really would it have been so hard for the guy at the desk to tell her that?

morons.

 

[gistech1978]

that you needed to change settings in your registry to add RAM

 

[DustBunny]

Story from yesterday ^_^

I went to Best Buy yesterday to buy a portable CD player... Picked up a CD and some earbuds as well... The salesman was trying to sell me the 2 year extended warranty for it. He was the only one doing the talking. Quote:
"This thing won't last you more than a year. The laser will wear out. After a while you'll put a CD in and it will be skipping badly or won't read and you'll be like 'Man this sucks!'... But if you buy our warranty, it will cover the normal wear and tear of use and sorts. And you'll use it because the laser will wear out... If a CD is skipping, it's most likely the laser. I go through 3 of these CD players a year! Of course, I listen to more music than people but... Yeah so your laser is going to wear out eventually. It'll just go kaput. Then you won't be able to listen to your CD's anymore. The worn out laser will probably ruin the discs because it will burn a line... So when a disc starts skipping, its probably time to bring it in and trade it out."

I was kinda just standing there, boggled by his stupidity. I was already planning on buying the warranty, since it was only $9... But he annoyed the crap out of me... When I tried to pay with BB Rewards coupon things(I had $85 worth from our HDTV purchase), the guy didn't know how to ring them up. So he called the manager, who brought us over to the customer service counter, and tried to sell us the warranty AGAIN. I, no joke, said, "Shut up, give me the warranty, ring it up, and please let me escape from the horrible stupidity of your staff." He stopped talking and I walked out... ^_^ yay!

 

[earthling30]

Ever heard of video in a bag? Well I was going to buy just the small LCD to play it with my console DVD player, the salesman told me that it wouldn't work. It had the standard RCA jacks (Left, Right, Video, and s video input jack). They just wanted me to buy the whole setup for $500 and just the LCD screen cost only $150. HMMMMM, I just bought the LCD screen without the extended warr. He didn't like that too much. It's been over a year and it's still running strong YAY, oh yeah, did I mention that I didn't buy the Warr.

 

[flexy]

>>>
Are sales people in BB, CC, Fry's, etc. just completely ignorant about what they sell, or are they lying intentionally?
>>>

you make the elemental mistake of confusing us computer geeks with a salesman

A salesmen will ALWAYS try to sell yoy the MORE expensive thing, even if the cheaper one (or on sale one) is BETTER. The expensive one is always the BEST.

From a certain point of view it's right, the salesguy probably only 'does his job'.....so...as angry i get reading all this ((and amused too) i kinda understand the salesperson or shop-owner too.

If you were a shop-owner making your living from selling stuff....would'nt you rather wanna make the big deal selling the $3000 machine to someone which sits there for a while or sell the $599 machine ?

Man..its capitalism and (in essence) also what keeps our economy going

And...btw. have some mercy with the average walmart employee and dont expect them to have the same knowledge like us people who know almost anything and beforehand why and where we get it ?

And....yes....i totally can see that it's funny to go into a bunch a shops and ask for a 'bluetooth dongle'...LOL

 

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: Jeff7
I only really had experience with one salesperson before - I usually buy my own parts, and do so online.
Was at Walmart; she said that she'll only use Intel processors, because AMD makes junk that will either not work with any programs, or else their CPU's just fail in a few months. I said that the 4 AMD PC's I had at home would beg to differ.

That's really sad that some people can be so uneducated about these sorts of things. I guess it takes dancing blue men in spacesuits to make a "really reliable" processor.

If Intel gave out tickets to the Blue Man Group with their processors, I'd be sold! It's by far the best show in Vegas

 

[earthling30]

Originally posted by: flexy
...........From a certain point of view it's right, the salesguy probably only 'does his job'.....so...as angry i get reading all this ((and amused too) i kinda understand the salesperson or shop-owner too.
If you were a shop-owner making your living from selling stuff....would'nt you rather wanna make the big deal selling the $3000 machine to someone which sits there for a while or sell the $599 machine ?
............

I used to be a auto service salesman and if my customer didn't want any extra thrills ,they didn't get it. If the customers car needed something such as brakes, tires, etc. after our inspection, we then notified the customer and nine times out of ten the way we approached them, the customer knew they needed the parts to insure the safety of themself and/or their family. Sure I've been on both sides, I've also seen my former boss act like some of these idi0ts, lying, and talking-talking-talking just to make a sale and it would make me cringe. I would have to leave the sales floor for a moment just to get my cool from hearing his BS. So to speak I didn't last too long with him. Not that I couldn't sell anything, there wasn't to many days that I didn't have most of the sales just from being honest. I had a lot more return customers that way from very satisfied customers.

I know that this doesn't have anything to with PC's but it's a good example of a salesman.