THE WORLD'S DUMBEST STUPIDEST IDIOTIC TV SALESMAN: Circuit City Rant.

[Pennstate]

So I walked into Circuit city today looking to buy a projection TV for <$1500. I dressed up nicely to show that I am serious about purchasing. One CC sales rep in the AV dept walks pass and asked "how can I help you today sir?" I replied "yes, I am looking for a projection TV < $1500 and preferabilly made by Hitachi." So the guy shows me some TVs in that price range. I noticed that HDTVs start at not too much more than $1500. There were two units that caught my interest. A Hitachi 52" for ~$1300 and a Hitachi 43 16:9 HDTV for ~$1800. As all of you may know that CC hooks up all their TVs to their one video feed and the image is very crappy.

Realizing that most of these guys are clueless on AV technology, I refrained from asking him about technical specs questions. So I decided to ask the sales rep whether he could hook up a DVD player to the $1300 hitachi so I can judge the TV better.

CC rep: "No sir, we can't do that. The TV is hooked up to the back and runs the CC video feed. We can't change it."
Me: "What do you mean you can't hook up a dvd player to it. There is a set of inputs right in the front of the TV. How hard would that be?"
CC rep: "I am sorry sir, all the DVD players are hooked up in the back to other TVs (referring to some TVs that have DVD players hooked up) and I can't change them."

Me (surpised, a bit shocked, and getting frustrated): "You guys sell DVD players right?"
CC rep: "Yes"
Me: "Don't you have any DVD player on the shelf taht you can put on the floor and hook it up to the Hitachi at the front inputs?"
CC rep: "I am sorry sir, all our DVD players on the shelf are hooked up and we can't unhook them."
Me (Thinking does this guy even own a tv?): "So how can I judge a $1500 TV's image quality if the video feed is all fuzzy"
CC rep: "I am sorry sir, that is how they are hooked up in the back and we can't change it"
Me (walking away in disbelief at how the hell in the world would someone pay this person a salary to sell AV equipment. How the hell would this guy deserve a commision on things that he sold by chance)

The only reason I went to CC was because they carried Hitachi projection TVs. It absolutely amazes me how inept some of these sales reps are. I went in having low expectations and still, I came out greatly disappointed. :disgust::disgust::disgust::disgust::disgust:

Arrrrrg. End of rant.

 

[jthsmak]

he did just save you $1800...

 

[Angrymarshmello]

That's not his fault he couldn't unhook the DVD players - it's a management thing.

 

[rival]

I went there a few weeks ago to get a HT...i was waiting for this one saleswoman to get done (she seemed like she knew what she was talking about with this other customer) so i walked around the store a bit, and she still wasnt done, so i said fuggit and went near what i was looking at and some guy came up to me, i asked what was the diff in these 2 systems other than $100 and he said 'its got more stuff on the back, and the remote has more buttons' almost verbatim

i bought the system, $630 after all said and done, and i really hated giving that dork the commision

 

[Rent]

All shelf units are attached to the base frame by 2 means -

1) Security alarm cable

2) Whatever video feed cable they have it plugged into

#1 is a compete b!tch to get off, I used to work at a CompUSA and we had these things on PDAs and other units like LCD monitors.

You should ask to talk to a manager and explain that you're ready to purchase a TV RIGHT THERE but you're holding your judgement until you can see the visual quality of the TV while playing a DVD.

That sales rep was an idiot. If you see a person looking at high ticket items like those, you generally do what you can to sell them...

 

[cx32m4]

it's not just CC.
they are there for 2 reasons.
to watch you steal anything and take your money.
I don't bother asking any questions

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

That's not his fault he couldn't unhook the DVD players - it's a management thing.

That's why you ask for the Manager. Whenever you go into a place to spend more than $1000, ask for the Sales or Store Manager. Make sure you know your sh1t.

 

[Pennstate]

<< That's not his fault he couldn't unhook the DVD players - it's a management thing. >>



The guy didn't say anything about the management. He seems clueless or even frighten at the thought of hooking up a dvd player to a TV. BTW, as much as I dislike Bestbuy, at least they would hook up a dvd player to any tv.

 

[Rent]

<<

<< That's not his fault he couldn't unhook the DVD players - it's a management thing. >>



The guy didn't say anything about the management. He seems clueless or even frighten at the thought of hooking up a dvd player to a TV. >>



You probably just got a greenie sales guy. Go back in ready to pick either TV up and talk to a salesperson. You can weed them out by using some technical questions. The smart ones should be able get a DVD on the TV for you

 

[crab]

Hmm when I was looking for HT systems at CC, the salesman asked ME if I'd like him to bring a cd player over and hook it up....Maybe your sales guy didnt know wtf he was doing...

 

[gygheyzeus]

This is why I do all my A/V buying at small mom & pop stores. may not always be the cheapest, but you get unmatched service and knowledge.

 

[Metropolis2000]

Large electronic department stores like CC are about the worst places to go and judge a tv.
The store is very open, has crappy flourescent lighting, lines the tv's up too close together and give you a hard time if you want to "tweak" them. Most manufacturers preset their tv's with the contrast, brightness and sharpness cranked way up. Why? Because retail stores have crappy flourescent lighting, lines the tv's up too close together, etc so they want to "stand out" against the competitors models. As someone mentioned, shop for a tv a store that specializes in tv's. They often calibrate the picture somewhat so you get a better image of what the set will look like. They'll also let you hook up a DVD player, go into the tv's menu and adjust the controls, etc.
If you decide to purchase the set at Circuit City, go in there knowing what you want and negotiate price. I wouldn't feel comfortable about the recommendation from a knucklehead salesman who gave me a hard time about viewing a $1500 item the way I wanted to view it.

 

[Deeko]

I work at Circuit City in the digital camera/cell phone department, so of course I'm biased, but...

The video sales counselors at my store are VERY knowledgeable. The Video manager knows more than anyone I know about that stuff. So to say that you refrained from technical questions because you thought he was an idiot, you erred there. Chances are he knew much more than you. And according to corporate, we aren't allowed to do the things that you asked under normal conditions. But managers are allowed to make the call and allow it, especially on a $1500 TV. So he was just following company policy, but yea he could've asked a manager. you could have suggested that too.

Your name is Pennstate...you aren't far from here. What area Circuit City were you at?

 

[StageLeft]

A couple tips for that guy: White connects to white, red to red, and yellow to yellow. Orange goes to orange. The OUTPUT goes into the INPUT on the tv.

That's about all you need to know