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Best Buy: 20% Of Customers Are Wrong
Mr Show writes "Ars Technica has an article up discussing Best Buy's strategies to drive off the deal hunters. It's a good follow up to the Slashdot story from back in July, and offers some details on what they're actually trying to do."
I would've expected it to be much higher. "What do you mean I can't play Playstation games on my Xbox?"
I'd guess that I look like a Barry to them, but next time I walk into best buy, I'm wearing a name tag "Buzz", just so they don't get it wrong. When I was working in the service industry, I used to tell my trainees "The Customer isn't always right, but it's not my job to tell them that."
The force that blew the Big Bang continues to accelerate.
"They can wreak enormous economic havoc," says Mr. Anderson.
I think this explains alot...
...do we still hate Circuit City over the DIVX debacle, or can we forgive them now?
That article was pretty good, but you might want to think about getting our extended warranty plan for it. Everybody who reads that article gets it.
Well, there was one guy here who didn't get it, I heard something happened with his ears after he read the article and he was left helpless and with some HUGE bills. The bills were bigger than just getting the warranty and even more than a new article would have cost.
We were trained to recognize the people who would refuse extended warranties. They're like Barry's, but we call them Dingle Barry's since they're really like unwanted poop that clings to us. If you tell me one more time you're refusing the warranty, I'm going to get on my radio and "start combing out the 'barry's" so to speak.
Best Buy doesn't want you shopping there, unless you buy compulsively and get the extended warranty just beause the salesman suggests you do so.
Damn dude, you are bad! I can see you in the store now, crowd of Best Buy employees (Besties as we call them) standing around you, shouting, insulting your wardrobe, ridiculing your taste in fine bargain house electronics. You stand, resolute, solid, refusing to give ground, waving your coupon and your rebate form with an air of intelligent superiority.
Buy on dude, buy on!
I just went shopping for a computer at BestBuy with my dad last night. He selected one (going against my advice that he avoid intel and buy amd), and sent the clerk to get the box. The clerk returns with the shopping cart, containing the computer, a UPS, and a copy of Norton Antivirus. Here is the actual conversation that followed:
Clerk: I just added these for you.
Dad: Why?
Clerk: This is a UPS. It will protect you against power surges and lightning. And this will protect you against all those viruses.
Dad: I already have a surge protector.
Clerk: Surge protectors are useless against power surges.
[A moment of silence, no doubt induced by the store's mind-numbing window dressing]
Me: Just the computer will be fine.
Clerk: Okay, but if lightning hits it tonight and you bring it back to us tomorrow, we won't take it.
Dad: That's fine. I'll buy another one.
We proceed to checkout, where we are told that not purchasing a service plan puts our souls in danger of perdition, etc. My father has agreed to let me build his next computer.
Man, Dell makes a living off being that girl that drops by 5 minutes after your girlfriend dumps you. And you wake up the next morning with a headache, an empty wallet, and a big smile.
What you say is true, however I see no evidence that he is a dog fucker.
Customer: Hi, I'd like to buy this TV.
Salesguy: I won't sell it to you.
Customer: What? Why not? Isn't it the TV you advertised in this morning's paper as being on sale?
Salesguy: Yes, you see, that TV there is just a ploy to get you into the store. I'm not allowed to sell it to you, I'm supposed to convince you that this TV is just a "basic" model and this other TV we have here for $300 is much better.
Customer: I guess I'll just need to take my business elsewhere, then,
Salesguy: Good idea!
"You spoony bard!" -Tellah
'Problem' customer: "Oh yeah! Well I'm gonna make your life miserable Best Buy! You say you don't want us 'problem' customers, huh? Fine! I'm gonna suck up your abuse and shop here EXCLUSIVELY!!"
Best Buy Guy (Sounding like Mr. Burns): "Excellent"
After writing my previous response, I realize that the Simpsons sum it up nicely:
... [taps once more]
Back at Moe's Tavern, Moe begins to put the crayon in Homer's nose.
Moe: All right, tell me when I hit the sweet spot.
Homer: Deeper, you pusillanimous pilsner pusher!
Moe: All right, all right. [with a small hammer and chisel,
taps the crayon further up Homer's nose]
Homer: De-fense! [woof-woof] De-fense! [woof-woof]
Moe: Eh, that's pretty dumb. But, uh
Homer: Extended warranty? How can I lose?
Moe: Perfect.
"No fair, you changed the outcome by measuring it!" - Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth
Very, very good system. I think they should start actively harrasing their unprofitable custommers and sue the journalists that are writing about it. It's only the logical next step. Best Buy is obviously aiming for the kind of recognition the Church of Scientology already achieved.
I doubt that we will ever figure out - and I suspect that even if we did figure out we couldn't do much about it
You mean you'd go to all the trouble of getting a bad haircut, wearing some retarded boring chinos and ugly polo shirt with sneakers that are so white they induce blindness, and pretend to be some dull, moneyed suburbanite just to save a few dollars and get better service...? Why not just shop at a decent place to begin with, and save yourself the debasement?
I am a suburban mother stuck in a high income man's body that's an early adopter. What does that make me? It's so confusing...
Have to go drop off the kids on my way to my Wall Street job in my brand new hovercar.
Later.
The perfect sig is a lot like silence, only louder
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! Did I just see the phrases "college student" and "disposable income" in the same sentence?
-- i am jack's amusing sig file
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"...if they weren't trying to shove a warranty down our throats on every little item we buy."
Yeah, but for a $75.00 extended warranty, they'll replace your $50.00 DVD player if it breaks. I'm suprised they don't offer scratch warranties on thier CD's.
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What they meant to say is "Despite customer feedback, you'll now earn rewards for every $125 of purchases."
I've hit Karma 50 and gotten a Score:5, Troll... I win!
Ummm... The Swiftboat Veterans?
"Give me your phone number, starting with the area code first."
You: 662-352-0151
I've also given 66 dot 35 dot 250 dot 151
Clerk: Your phone number
Me: That is the number I use for voice communications
Clerk: No, your telephone number
Me: I don't use 20th century technology, get with the times.
There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
So the phrase "Reasonable hand-drawn facsimile" means nothing to you?
Are the salespeople good looking? Hell, even if they're not 90% of
It has always been one rule for the consumers and another for business.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Speaking of adventures in buying memory...
I few years back I went to the local CompUSA because they had a great deal of memory, and my custom built PC was in need of a little upgrade. I went up to the "hardware" counter with my sales circular in hand and showed the salesperson exactly what I wanted. The salesperson asked me for the brand and model number of my PC. I told her that the PC was a custom built, "white box" PC, so it didn't have any brand or model number. She responded by telling me that she couldn't sell me the memory without the brand or model number of the PC because she wanted to make sure it worked in my computer. I laughed and told her that this was the first time a store didn't want to take my money when it was offered. I don't think that she was amused because she wouldn't relent.
Finally, I told her not to worry, I PROMISE that the memory will work in my PC. Finally, she let me buy the memory, despite what she said was "her better judgment".
To make a long story even longer, the memory worked!
------
www.moneybythenumbers.com
I've been to a best buy that wouldn't take cash unless I provided a picture ID.
Just hold up the $20 bill (or whatever) in front of your face and say, "Hi, I'm Andrew Jackson and I'm legal tender for all debts, public and private!"
In my local supermarket, they've put anti-theft devices on one wheel of each shopping cart. It makes the wheel lock up if you remove the shopping cart from the parking lot.
My favorite part about it is they sign they have posted letting people know about this feature. The sign prominently says that this is "for the convenience of the customer". Yeah, it's a great convenience for me --- for years I've been wishing they'd put an anti-theft gizmo on the shopping cart wheels; it's been such an inconvenience without it. Those marketing folks just have to squeeze their crap in wherever they can, huh?
Standing in line to buy a Bread CD? "In Soviet Russia...."
My God man, just imagine what you could accomplish if you used your powers for evil instead of good!
I have a friend who got screwed by a company that refused to replace a defective high power transmitting tube. From that day, whenever he was EVER buying a tube, he would call the Sales Manager up from that company to tell him how their shit attitude had cost them yet ANOTHER sale! A bunch of us signed on with him too. After a year or two, (and several hundred tube sales lost; these suckers cost thousands by the way) the Manager said: ENOUGH! What can I do to re-gain your trust? That company now provides the best service of all tube companies. The moral of the story? Don't just hit 'em in the pocketbook - TELL THEM you are!
+5 for orwell awesomeness.
This P.I.G. will walk on the water, This P.I.G. will walk on the sea, This P.I.G. will walk whereever he wants.
I'm not surprised, if a company is public about "devil customers" imagine how they must treat their employees.
Who thinks it would be hilarious to dress up like Best Buy employees, hang out in a store, go up to confused looking customers, and give completely stupid answers? "yes sir, this computer is registered as a weapon under federal laws regulating supercomputers, so you'll need to show us a gun license to make a purchase."
1. Remove groceries from cart.
2. Lift cart over your head, wheels up & walk across painted line/transmitting antenna.
3. Place groceries back into cart.
They buy products, apply for rebates, return the purchases, then buy them back at returned-merchandise discounts.
;( and turn your demands down ! You always resemble our son of a beach to us(TM) !
How dare they ! Listen up you evil terrorist hoarders, you shouldn't take advantage of our offers ! You should just say "no thanks, I'd rather pay full price for the good you just offered at half price ! If you really want I'll pay double for half more" and feel good and proud cause you don't know, but you just helped the national economy by being a massive loser.
They load up on "loss leaders," severely discounted merchandise designed to boost store traffic, then flip the goods at a profit on eBay.
How DARE you make a profit ? These products are supposed to show that we can afford to lose some money and help you, that's how compassionate we are with scum like you ! Ohhh, but noooo you don't want to return us the favor by paying more for paper and ink cartridge of that $30 printer you just bought ! How dare you make a connection between printer ink and paper prices, that's how selfish and untrustfull you really are !
They slap down rock-bottom price quotes from Web sites and demand that Best Buy make good on its lowest-price pledge.
That's only because we're soooo deeply compassionate we just can't say NO to you
"They can wreak enormous economic havoc," says Mr. Anderson.
And spread diseases, cholera, terrorism and all other 69 unspeakable sins ! Told you the evils and the porno are on the internets !
Bloody wonderful
I wish there were a +6 option to give you
:)
Mod this up to doubleplusgood!
Since grocery stores run on thin profit margins, that would explain why most spring for the One-bad-wheel model, which retails for $75.
10% discount if the cart doesn't go straight.
It would be cool if it didn't suck.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."