Why are people so stupid when buying a computer?

[Macro2]

Person (lady) comes to you and says I need a decent computer and don't have a lot of money. Red flag goes up and says...do I want to be responsible for building a computer for this person? Huh No....
OK next best thing. Find a decent ready built computer they can configure and buy. OK.
Found a Compaq, business computer. Athlon 2200+ (free upgrade from 2000+), Asus nForce1 board, 256 megs DDR, XP home, 40 gig 7200 HD, 48x CD-ROM, NIC, (told her to add a CD-RW later with a $20 AR liteon on sale somewhere). $589 With 3 years service included. Printed it out told her to order it.

She already had a computer (Pentium) with a 17" monitor. All the necessary software on disk. I said to save money just use the monitor, speakers etc.
She agreed. Since money was tight.

A week passes...get a call, I said, did you get your computer? She said I get it next week. I said Oh, cough, what did you get? She says, well, so and so came into town (computer expert) and said get a Gateway. So she a ordered a S300, 2.0 Gig. CELERON. Intel extreme graphics, 40 gig 5400 "woodpecker" HD, NIC etc. She said she upgraded to 256 mb DDR, has a burner etc. AND a 15" flatscreen LCD. Total cost $1000+

So she gets a computer that's significatly SLOWER, worse video, a smaller screen than she already had all for 400+ more. For that she could have got a 17" LCD.

Moral of the story is, "don't bother".

 

[John]

Obviously the other guy is a better salesman.

 

[Adul]

dumb lady, u tell her she got ripped off

 

[Jolyon33]

Hell yeah, sit her down and patiently explain to her just where and how she got screwed. Then tell her never to bother you with computer questions again and laugh maniacally as you walk out the door!!!

 

[Davegod]

most people dont even want to understand anything, even try and tell them 2000mhz is better than 1000mhz, theyll look past your left ear with a blank-but-slightly-confused-looking expression while nodding. They not only dont want to know, they presume its all massively technical, and that therefore they must be confused even about the simplest of things. In the middle of explaining the very basics - i.e. "dont frickin buy ANYTHING until i've critiqued it first" - mention its raining/sunny/cloudy outside, and watch 'em ponder the incompresensible technicality of it for a good half-minuite.

Usually the best way is to say there's brands and quality like any other industry, and point out there's pretty serious amounts of cash involved so take some time. most people just dont think the normal rules of buying exist with computers, i.e.
- that the salesman knows nothing;
- the salesman gets paid more the more he sells;
- the salesman does not care about you at all;
- there's a range of brands & prices for different quality;
- quality doesnt only apply to speed;
- statistics tell a lot of lies especially when told by someone trying to part you with your cash;
- just like food, clothing, etc, things go out of date and really arent much use anymore.

 

[apoppin]

n/m

Excuse me . . . I'm a little confused . . . I was expecting this in OT, not GH.

 

[Davegod]

...

 

[Macro2]

RE:"Excuse me . . . I'm a little confused . . . I was expecting this in OT, not GH."

Humm, you could be right but it was a comparison of two hardware systems, no? OK, some psycology involved but what about those who buy raw Mhz numbers or brand names?

 

[Macro2]

RE:"most people dont even want to understand anything, even try and tell them 2000mhz is better than 1000mhz"

I honestly think that when you say something like, "save some money now, add a CD-RW (or RAM, not in this case) later, on sale for $20", you lose them. Most people have no concept of adding a peripheral. They see a computer as a "unit". Not a sum of parts. These large OEMs thrive on this.

Mac

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Macro2
RE:"Excuse me . . . I'm a little confused . . . I was expecting this in OT, not GH."

Humm, you could be right but it was a comparison of two hardware systems, no? OK, some psycology involved but what about those who buy raw Mhz numbers or brand names?

Well, I had a "smart" comment all typed out and then realized I was not in OT. :Q
This is really not discussing a comparison of two systems but rather the "stupidity" of people in buying computers.

 

[Macro2]

RE:"Well, I had a "smart" comment all typed out and then realized I was not in OT.
This is really not discussing a comparison of two systems but rather the "stupidity" of people in buying computers."

Well, maybe you're on to something. A new topic "Stupid Computer Tricks" is a good idea. hehee

PS...the reason General hardware gets a lot of OT posts is because it's basically first in the list of Topics. Therefore more popular by default. If Anand moved it down the list it wouldn't be as big of a problem. No?

Mac

 

[Woodchuck2000]

The simple fact is that people like to be sweet talked as far as PCs go. Going into a shop, someone talks to you, answers questions (correctness and accuracy are irrelevant to the average consumer - just getting an answer matters) sorts everything out, and you walk out feeling good with a shiny new PC.

Calling a company on the phone, trying to negotiate a deal is something different entirely - it can be quite intimidating for people, especially when they don't really understand what they want or need.

By their standards, people aren't stupid when buying PCs - they end up with something that'll do what they want, and lets be honest - the chances of this lady noticing the difference between the systems is approximately nil. I understand that it's frustrating for you - I'd feel the same, but then bitching about her is a little extreme.

 

[wyvrn]

Same thing happens to me sometimes. People call me for computer prices, and they must be too low. People go elsewhere and get sold a weaker machine for double the money. I just laugh at them now, I don't reallly want the stupid customers anyway.

 

[CurtCold]

Most people just want something to get on the net, surf and send email. It really doesn't matter to them wheather or not it's Intel, AMD 5400, 7200, DDR, or SD ram. For those people most anything will do.

For the few that game, or understand differences in hardware, they want the best bang for their buck. Trying to explain Mhz, GHz, or kbs to some people is soooo damn frustrating. Then there are the few that "pretend" to understand. The world is full of all kinds of people.

 

[KF]

Most people do not know how to evaluate the advice they are given. Suppose you were given some advice on a topic utterly foreign to you. Would you believe it?

You gave good advice, and that is all anybody can ask.

"Freedom of choice is what you have. Freedom from choice is what you want."

 

[mrzed]

KF has it right. You can't expect people to be able to evaluate the relative merits of conflicting advice if they know nothing about the subject. I really couldn't tell the difference between someone who has taken a 3rd year molecular biology course and a nobel-prize winner.

 

[fluxquantum]

Originally posted by: KF
Most people do not know how to evaluate the advice they are given. Suppose you were given some advice on a topic utterly foreign to you. Would you believe it?

You gave good advice, and that is all anybody can ask.

"Freedom of choice is what you have. Freedom from choice is what you want."

so true

 

[Kingofcomputer]

Could be that 15" LCD costs $600.

 

[Siddhartha]

I use to recommend complete systems, cpu, motherboard, RAM, video card, etc based on their budget, needs, and with head room for growth of interests. Now I say, after listening to what they need and budget, "go check out Dell's website I am sure you can find what you need there". I try to nudge them away from getting a P4 system with SDRAM or getting a Celeron based system. But I don't get my knickers in a twist when they don't follow my advice.

Most consumers computer needs are met nicely by a $700 Dell system

 

[compudog]

I build and sell systems on the side and like to think my advice is worthy. I had a former customer call me looking for a computer and the only real "feature" she was interested in was a complete, plug and go package that HAD to have an LCD. I asked her if she checked the Dell website and she said "Yes, I really like this model..." So I went to the site myself and compared the features and components and called her back and told her to go with the Dell. There was no way I could even come close to thier price and still give her what she was expecting. Even though a custom built PC from me would have had better components, more upgradability and much better (local) service (me.) Some times, it's not even worth the effort. The day after Christmas, she called me to say her computer (from Dell) was having this problem and that problem. I asked her if she called Dell and she said, "No, I thought I'd check with you first." Grrrrr... :|

 

[LED]

Why are people so stupid when buying a computer?

Same lady gives you :
1 8 oz pkg broad no-egg noodles -- (8 oz)
3 tbsps butter
2 tbsps unbleached flour
1 c skim milk -- scalded
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 10 oz pkgs frozen spinach -- cooked/drained
1/2 lb Swiss cheese -- shredded

Tells you to make dinner and knows it as 2nd nature...so what do you do?

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: LED

Why are people so stupid when buying a computer?

Same lady gives you :
1 8 oz pkg broad no-egg noodles -- (8 oz)
3 tbsps butter
2 tbsps unbleached flour
1 c skim milk -- scalded
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 10 oz pkgs frozen spinach -- cooked/drained
1/2 lb Swiss cheese -- shredded

Tells you to make dinner and knows it as 2nd nature...so what do you do?

Put the butter, flour, milk, salt, paprika, pepper and nutmeg in a pan and mix them together, add the spinach. Cook the noodles, then stick the noodles on a plate, cover with spinach and sauce type stuff, sprinkle on cheese.

Or you ask her what you're meant to do and try and get an honest opinion, and follow her advice,and if you go off to another cook, you go back to her and see what she thinks of the other cooks recipe.

 

[LED]

LOL @ Lonya's bytes...good thing everything was measured and either way you still need help so who you gonna trust...?