To those who sell computers......

[aphex]

Don't you just love it when your customers insist that they know more about computers than you do?

two perfect examples today....

1) A customer insisted he didnt need my help in explaining all the different processors/speeds to his parents (who were in the market for a new system) because he "knew all about computers". I began to back away when i heard the term 'Gigamegahertz' mentioned and he began to speak about how Windows ME was the greatest OS ever. I wish i was making this up, but unfortunately, im not.

2) Another customer (older lady, round 60 maybe) was explaining to me how she was a certified compaq tech, and could fix any laptops and desktops. Under that assumption i began asking some questions about the backlighting on LCD's, since we see quite a few of them returned with faulty backlights (Serious questions, i honestly wanted to know)... Her responce? "Oh... Didnt realize they had backlights... I'll have to look that up in my manuals when i get home" 😉


Ahhh, the joys of retail....

 

[Zim Hosein]

1) A customer insisted he didnt need my help in explaining all the different processors/speeds to his parents (who were in the market for a new system) because he "knew all about computers". I began to back away when i heard the term 'Gigamegahertz' mentioned and he began to speak about how Windows ME was the greatest OS ever. I wish i was making this up, but unfortunately, im not.

Sounds like that kid hates his parents! 😛

 

[djheater]

Your mistake is working retail. 😉

I think it was Arthur C. Clarke who said, "any technology sufficiently advanced is indestinguishable from magic" (or something like that)

Further, since computers are to many like 'magic' there are those who don't want to be left out, at any cost, and even those who don't want to be included at any cost. You'll find some who say, "i don't know ANYTHING about computers" and be absolutley unwilling to learn as well, and those like you've mentioned who will say anything to appear as though they're in the know.

Lesson:

People are fvcking nuts. Avoid talking to them whenever possible.

 

[EvilYoda]

Yeah, I had a customer call the store today (A/V store...so not computers, I guess 😛) asking about how good of a system I could get for $400...and he kept asking about how a high wattage rating would make a good receiver, and having a triple comb filter would make a good TV...and not surprisingly, he was quite shocked when I responded to "and Bose is really good, right?" with "nope".

But I also had a guy really interested (should be back tomorrow) in a Yamaha LPX500, Denon 3803, Denon 2200 and Stewart Firehawk. So that made my day. 🙂

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: djheater
People are fvcking nuts. Avoid talking to them whenever possible.

 

[amdskip]

At least your store sells some halfway decent computers. All we sell is POS HP bloated down computers for $500.

 

[Paulson]

I know in the computer business I work for (just the boss and I) we have people who think they know how to do things all the time...

It's kind of funny though, I had a really nice customer, who screwed up his registry and I was going to have to do a format/reinstall... well, I told him to make a list of what things he needed backed up/installed... things like that... so he writes down every program on his desktop (my computer, internet explorer, outlook express) haha... it was great 🙂

 

[jpeyton]

My solution when talking to people about technology is simple: be humble, and come down to their level.

I don't bring up details they will never care about; I don't mention terms they will not need to know; I let them ask the questions and I try to give the simplest answer possible.

If a person insists they know something that I don't (a rarity), I humor them until I can casually prove my point (through demonstration).

 

[EyeMWing]

When I encounter that kind of situation, I promptly refer them to my competition. I don't have time to be fscked with by these nitwits, and sadly, they'll get raped even more down there ($80/hour labor, they still sell K6's as their flagships)

If you know more than me, why the hell are you paying me $50/hour to build you a system in one hour? Because I order parts in bulk and get them cheaper? Do you see a crate of Athlons here? I sure as hell don't.

Interestingly, the people that actually make more than $50 an hour NEVER have such issues - either because they don't need to justify paying me since their time is literally more valuable than mine, or their luxury car and suit does enough to convince me that they're a better human being than I. I'm honestly not sure, and I don't care so long as they keep up the patronage.

 

[SaigonK]

Originally posted by: aphex
Don't you just love it when your customers insist that they know more about computers than you do? two perfect examples today.... 1) A customer insisted he didnt need my help in explaining all the different processors/speeds to his parents (who were in the market for a new system) because he "knew all about computers". I began to back away when i heard the term 'Gigamegahertz' mentioned and he began to speak about how Windows ME was the greatest OS ever. I wish i was making this up, but unfortunately, im not. 2) Another customer (older lady, round 60 maybe) was explaining to me how she was a certified compaq tech, and could fix any laptops and desktops. Under that assumption i began asking some questions about the backlighting on LCD's, since we see quite a few of them returned with faulty backlights (Serious questions, i honestly wanted to know)... Her responce? "Oh... Didnt realize they had backlights... I'll have to look that up in my manuals when i get home" 😉 Ahhh, the joys of retail....

HAHAHAHAH!

I know so many people who are "certified" and they dont know a damn thing!
I once interviewed a person for our desktop group, I asked her where you could go in Control panel to see what static IP someone might have...she said..and I quote...
"If I only had my book in front of me, then i would know the answer.."

Now that was ridiculous!