The BESTBUY "Perfect Sale"

[nageov3t]

it's your right not to shop at any store where you feel like the sales people harass you.

personally, I've never gotten the hard sell at Best Buy. usually one "no, it's not going to happen" and the sales person stops trying to push me. maybe it's just because I'm a physically intimidating badass 😛

 

[michaels]

Wal-Mart's service plans are cheap. I bought one for my Elite for 50 bucks, and it begins after the manufacturers warranty ends. And electronics, computer, systems etc up to 600 I believe is 50 bucks for 2 years.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
I've taken a new route when dealing with salespeople:

Salesperson: Can I interest you in...
Me: No, and if you ask me again I will hit you so hard your great-grandkids will be born with a black eye. Are we clear?

So far I've had very good luck at getting them to leave me alone.

I'd love to get a customer like you.

😎 I say it very politely. Just don't want there to be the feeling that they're going to sell to me. I decide what I need, then I go somewhere and buy it. If I need help I'll directly ask for it. Otherwise do not speak to me.

Best case scenario, you'd still be trespassed and removed from the store.

Never happened yet. When you're angry and overtly rude it may happen, but I only go there if they do. Say it with a smile and a little laugh; let them understand that it's simply a line in the sand that they're not to 'handle' you. People don't seem the least put off when I say it or anything similar. They just let me run the show and get my money to move on to the next mark.

The problem with people today is that they want a slow escalation. I don't have that kind of time. If you try it 'nicely' it goes just like the OP posted:

sales: do you wanna
me: no thank you
sales: you really should
me: I said no thank you
sales: can I tell you more about it
me: not necessary, I don't want it
sales: are you sure you understand it?
etc, etc

You don't own my time and have no right to make me go through that. My way establishes an absolute wall in the first exchange; we're done talking absolutely and no power on earth will change it. People 'get it' when I phrase it that way. It works.

If a guy came at me like that, I'd be a smartass to him. I have no problem slinging it back in a way that's not going to get me in trouble. Just cause you go into a retail store doesn't mean you get to treat people like sh!t. You do it when I'm on the sales floor, and you're going to have a manager escorting you off the premises. If you refuse, the cops are about 2 miles down the road.

And guess what? You shopping at a company's store does give them the right to make you go through it. Don't want to? Shop at another store.

I totally disagree. Trying to handle me is stealing my time and causing me pain. You don't have the right to do that. Ever. My going into a store doesn't transfer those rights to someone else, I retain them.

Obviously if anyone ever told me to leave because of it I would. That's not a problem. Thing is, it's never happened. In my opinion most employees don't want to be bastards about this stuff, but they need the money. They usually seem thankful that they've got a way out of the corporate bs. Most employees I've ever been around would LOVE for every customer to just come in and buy their stuff and never ever have to say one word to them. People like me are a relief to them, not a problem.

But its ok to cause pain/discomfort to the associate?

responsibility of the company if they force such sales tactics.

 

[pontifex]

can you guys stop the goddamn nested quotes?

 

[Kev]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: Exterous
I think people should keep in mind that when dealing with the sales people that often their job/hours scheduled/raise depends on them following their sales guidelines. If you don't like it - fine but don't be a dick to them for them doing their job (Unless they're being a dick about pushing it)

WRONGO! Being that way is the best possible course of action for motivating change in the industry. Make jobs so insanely unlivable that no one will do them and eventually just maybe corps will realize that they aren't in charge of their own dicks and will stop all the lunacy.

It's NEVER ok to do something morally repugnant just because you're paid to do it. The salespeople have CHOSEN to be assholes in order to make money so they have to put up with absolutely everything that comes with it. If they don't like it they can move on to a real job.

Sorry, sales/advertising/marketing is a pet peeve of mine. I don't believe in it at all. I will not be sold to and get VERY angry when people try.

You won't change the industry by being a prick to the sales person. To say that you will make someones job horrible to make a change you want is incredibly selfish - just don't shop there. Trust me, if your attitude is to make someone's job 'unlivable' that store will be better off without you as a customer. There are not nearly enough people who think like you do to change the industry. And, frankly - moral repugnance is a personal view. I'm not saying I agree with being rude and excessively pushy - but not everyone shares the view that offering a warranty is repugnant (I am guessing that is what you are referring to)

Most salespeople I know are not assholes and have not chosen to be assholes. But generalize away if you want.

As for getting angry - there is no reason to get angry when people just try (as long as they are polite about it). Learn some patience and have some consideration - some of us live in an area where we can't find another job that is steady and pays the bills. I don't like being in retail/customer service (mostly because of people like you it sounds like) but there are no jobs that pay over $8.50 an hour in my field of choice and I have bills to pay

No, no, I realize that. And I don't get angry unless they ignore me and try to push stuff on me. I just establish the relationship early is all. I've just worked for too many companies and experienced it on the other end too many times to let it happen. The customer is always in charge, not the employee. If someone is ok being sold to, go for it. If they tell you to back off then do it, job requirements or no.

For instance, calling tech support for cable modem stuff. I worked the industry from inception so I know the routines. So when I get on the phone with them and they're scripting me I tell them not to do that. I let them know that I had their job in the past and I will not go that route. I take charge and get the problems fixed. It's not only easier that way, it's the morally correct thing to do.

Sales is the same thing. I know you have no power, and that's ok. But realize the power is mine, not your bosses. I will dictate how my shopping goes. As long as that's accepted, everything goes super fast and easy and everyone makes out. It's when someone tries to push the issue and retain power that problems arise.

Perhaps I mistook your tone then. There are more polite ways to establish a tone too 🙂 As for the tech support thing - I've met many more than one person who has claimed to 'know all about this stuff' and try to get me to skip over 'the basic stuff' only to find out they had a phone cable plugged into the ethernet port or something like that. I am not saying that is the case for you - just that there is no way to know who you are and what you know in the time frame of the sale or tech call

I would say that ties into the sales person trying to maintain control as a number of people say they know all about it or their 'tech guy' told them what it was is very high and the number of people who actually know about the item in question is very low. That makes you - someone whom I will assume know about electronics - very hard to distinguish from the rest of the pack. A lot about retail is about playing the numbers and the technologically well versed are not well represented

Agreed, and I understand that. I've been there. But the bottom line is that the customer always has the power, even if they use it incorrectly. When you try to take that power, even for good purposes, you've committed a wrongful act. In my opinion.

There's a difference between letting them walk you through basic steps, and reading you the script line for line. I'll jump the basic hoops. I'll power cycle, etc. But when I already understand the problem and call with an exact explanation of it, the cause, and the solution I'd just rather they went ahead and fixed it...especially when 9 out of 10 times they know what's wrong as well as I do and they're just having to jump hoops. By exercising my own power I relieve them of the burden of following poor procedures.

WOW You should write a book about sticking it to the man!

WOW seriously just WOW!

 

[Bumrush99]

Get a grip people, its funny how a lot of you are ready to pounce on the salespeople for doing their job, while also taking advantage of the instant rebates that companies that Best Buy now offer that take 6% margin notebooks down to negative -20% margin so the customers that can't figure out how to fill out a rebate can stop complaining.

The hardware business is joke, margins have been erording for years now, and the only way to stay in business is to upsell the services and accesories. Why do you think Best Buy has more isle space for CD's and DVD's than anything else?

 

[TheKub]

Originally posted by: adairusmc
... but that is the beauty of it - it is concealed and they have no idea and absolutely zero chance of preventing it.

Great. I predict metal detectors at your friendly neighborhood Best Buy in the future.

There must be some punishment for carrying onto private property where they are prohibited.

Besides if you whip out your gun because you are being ?detained? and decide you are in the right to shoot you?re way out you would be stone cold wrong. And there would be an entire store of witnesses to testify that you were in no imminent danger. Then its good-bye guns, good-bye freedom, and hello Bubba.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: TheKub

Originally posted by: adairusmc
... but that is the beauty of it - it is concealed and they have no idea and absolutely zero chance of preventing it.

Great. I predict metal detectors at your friendly neighborhood Best Buy in the future.

There must be some punishment for carrying onto private property where they are prohibited.

Nope. They can ask you to leave, they cannot make it illegal to carry there (only the government can do that, and they almost never do). And I'd give my left foot to take away even that.

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
why i don't shop there. i've seen employees trying to sell old women $50 gaming mice😛

d00d when u get to their age you will need all the precision u can get...

 

[Deeko]

Nobody follows the "ideal" method of selling service though. I used to work at Circuit City, and while we were never instructed to out-and-out lie to the customer (my kiosk doesn't work, let me get a manager, what is that), we are certainly trained to plant the seed early and not take no for an answer. In the old days of commission, we had write-up sheets where you actually mapped out the differences between the extended warranty and the manufacturers warranty. We had to save the write up, too, and it was expected that our folder had as many write ups as sales. That was annoying.

Then again, I was 17 and making $25/hr, so I didn't complain.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

I only go onto someone elses property to receive a good or service. That is the only good or service I go there for. If there was any other way to obtain that good or service without having to deal with a company, I would. I can't call gorilla and buy a single bottle of glue. They only deal with companies who sell it for them. Ok fine, if they want to make that arrangement then I have no choice. By removing that choice from me the company has effectively invited me to deal with them in exactly the same manner as I would have dealt with the supplier - ie, just give me what I want and leave me alone. I will do anything necessary to see that it happens in that manner.

Actually, no. There are plenty of other places where you can order a bottle of Gorilla Glue without ever interacting with an employee. For example:
http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-...es-50004/dp/B0001GAYRC

You are not entitled to shop at a store. You are given the priviledge. By choosing to have the convenience of getting your merchandise when you need it, you also choose to abide by the lawful rules that the store sets forth.

I don't shop at Kohls anymore because of the credit card hounding. It's pretty simple.

EDIT: Holy crap I keep on switching around employee and customer. I gotta stop posting and playing Civ 4 at the same time.

I get your point, but unfortunately it's far more complex than that - I was being simplistic for brevity. You are correct that at the very bottom line it's just up to me to choose someone I can deal with the best I can. I have done that. When I go into a store I make it clear that; A) I'm in control, and B) my first response is the only one I'm going to give and failure to accept it as such will result in consequences. IF anyone ever has a problem with that they can tell me to leave. I'm 35 years old, so far no one ever has.

I have had people actually try to drive a sale after I've drawn my line. Not often, but it happens. Do I actually hit them? No, of course not. But I make such an INCREDIBLE scene that all commerce effectively stops and nearly the total resources of the business are suddenly devoted to solving the problem. After that happens once at any given store it basically never happens again. Simple operant conditioning, and it works...even on corporations. The benefit of this way of doing things over yours is that I would still be shopping at Kohls (or wherever I wanted) and they would be providing better service to their customers. Everybody wins my way. Everybody loses your way.

Gotta love that entitlement attitude. If you made a scene like that, any manager with a pair of balls should have you out the door. It's funny that you're such an adamant supporter of the right to bear arms, but you willingly encroach on private property rights and those of business owners and would like to see them destroyed.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269

Originally posted by: johngute
if i was hounded this much about a service plan, i'd walk away and buy else where.

If you didn't buy the three accessories then that may be exactly what they want you to do. Businesses like Best Buy don't make their money on selling you computers.

Yup. If they can't sell a service plan or accessories, they'd just as soon send you out the door empty handed. I know a couple people who've worked there, and especially for hot items, or sale items, if you didn't indicate your interest in a service plan or accessory, they wouldn't be able to find one for you "in the back."

 

[edro]

I like the service plans...

Of course, my items have a tendency to break a few months before it expires.

 

[Platypus]

I've only experienced this once at a best buy and it truly got almost as far as her manager coming over... I only go into stores like that if I'm obscenely desperate for the product right then.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: edro
I like the service plans...

Of course, my items have a tendency to break a few months before it expires.

I see this attitude a lot, and it baffles me. I don't have a service plan on our washer and dryer (18 years old, never a problem), our lawnmower (5 years), our vacuum (8 years), any PC components, our TV (5 years), our refrigerator (15 years), our dishwasher (8 years) or our DVD player (2 years). Not one of those things have failed in a way that would have been covered by any extended warranty.

Should I have paid out over a thousand dollars for service plans, just to "make sure" the items broke before expiration so I would be able to get them fixed for free (maybe... sometimes it's not 100% coverage)? I'm much better off having the money in my own pocket and not having to hassle with getting repairs, even if they would be covered.

I don't see the logic, other than for very expensive and failure-prone items like plasma TVs.

 

[Viper GTS]

Seems like most of you need to learn how to get "No" across the first time. I usually don't even have to say it, just a simple head shake & they don't mention it again.

I do have to admit though my last major BB purchase I actually did buy the PSP. I had already had them pricematch an insanely low Fry's price (which knocked the price on the PSP down quite a bit since it's based on sale price), & the PSP did include one bulb replacement on RPTV's. Four years and one DLP bulb for $249, so I was happy to spend the money.

All this talk of physically attacking people is absurd. If you don't like the service you're getting just leave.

Viper GTS

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: edro
I like the service plans...

Of course, my items have a tendency to break a few months before it expires.

I see this attitude a lot, and it baffles me. I don't have a service plan on our washer and dryer (18 years old, never a problem), our lawnmower (5 years), our vacuum (8 years), any PC components, our TV (5 years), our refrigerator (15 years), our dishwasher (8 years) or our DVD player (2 years). Not one of those things have failed in a way that would have been covered by any extended warranty.

Should I have paid out over a thousand dollars for service plans, just to "make sure" the items broke before expiration so I would be able to get them fixed for free (maybe... sometimes it's not 100% coverage)? I'm much better off having the money in my own pocket and not having to hassle with getting repairs, even if they would be covered.

I don't see the logic, other than for very expensive and failure-prone items like plasma TVs.

He's talking about fraud. With some places, if you break the item, they won't have it in stock any more to give you a replacement. In this case, you'll typically get a newer model for free (and in the case of laptops and computers, a much better model).

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: Captante
I shop in BB all the time & this stuff has never happened to me once.

ya, they dont bug me too much either... usually im walking around looking for assistance with no employees in sight. of course, i dont buy puters from best buy or the like either.

 

[lokiju]

I never get all that pressure like people say from them, I don't usually buy high dollar items from them either but just last weekend I bought a $1,300 fridge and he asked if we'd be interested in the plan. I said "no thanks" and he moved on.

😕

 

[mrCide]

i was pestered twice about that. once when i bought a set of speakers, klipsch, they insisted i buy it. i'm like yeah? whats the manuf warranty? '5 years' 'and youre trying to sell me a warranty why? no thanks.'

other time when i bought a tv at circuit city. i was getting an ok deal since i was using some coupons, and she pestered me about warranty and the stupid bulb. i'm just like yeah whatever, called up the next day and 'returned' it over the phone.

they DO push it on you even you say no several times. they WILL lie about things too. i found out for the klipsch warranty, its not 'extended' and the klipsch warranty actually outlasted the warranty they were offering me. it blew my mind. 'well they dont cover this and that' .. just shut the fuck up ive dealt with klipsch service and theyre fantastic, unlike the horror stories ive heard from people trying to get replacements with your store. in that case i again didnt yell at the guy cause i was getting a nice deal (he kept quoting me prices for the wrong set of speakers so he 'price matched' himself when he realized it)

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: videogames101
wow

thats official?

There is no way that an official company communication would include the typo, "Know here is a side by side comparison...". Either that, or Management there is even dumber than usual.

ZV

 

[bsobel]

But honestly, on thigns under $50 i do buy the plan, it's only like $10 for a very hassle-free replacment, i've got replacements twice on sub-$50 headsets i've broken, and not by accident 🙂

Your bad at math.

 

[UpgradeFailure]

Originally posted by: bsobel

But honestly, on thigns under $50 i do buy the plan, it's only like $10 for a very hassle-free replacment, i've got replacements twice on sub-$50 headsets i've broken, and not by accident 🙂

Your bad at math.

Grammar FTW.

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

I totally agree, and I don't have a problem with a short, simple offer to make people aware that it exists. I do have a problem when it's a sales pitch instead of an informational statement, and when my very first answer isn't accepted as absolute. That's all this is about.

Your arguments are confusing to me. You say in one instance that you threaten bodily harm ("Salesperson: Can I interest you in...
Me: No, and if you ask me again I will hit you so hard your great-grandkids will be born with a black eye. Are we clear? ")to someone and follow up with "when my very first answer isn't accepted as absolute" yet you later claim that you would never hit somone. So....you want us to take your lie as an absolute?

 

[will889]

I don't know what the big deal is. I have been hit with the PSP a few times but usually they only ask once or twice and try to explain it. I usually smile and just say "no thank you but thanks for explaining it", and they're appreciative that I allowed them to explain the plan, after that I just go on and purchase the item. Only one time did I have an asst manager come over and try for a third time to sell it to me and what I did was tell him that I understood the OEM warranty pretty well since I have been a reseller myself with a shop and he left me alone after that, but again I thanked him for offering it. It really didn't take but 10-20 seconds each time to turn the plans down and it wasn't a big deal. People skills can come in handy -- it's always better to treat people well in life even if you realize that they are trying to sell you something you don't want.