I used to love Best Buy. They’ve always had a great selection of CD’s, DVD’s, and video games. But lately the ambience at our local store has been different. Things seem to be going downhill as far as customer service is concerned.
Case in point: Greta and I were there the other day, just browsing and having fun together. We headed over to the Nintendo section and this kid salesman approaches Greta. He asks her if she watches a lot of DVD’s. “No, not really,” she says. Did he even notice she was in the video game section? He didn’t even seem to acknowledge her reply. He proceeds to extol the virtues of Netflix.com and asks if she wants to sign up. No, thanks.
Then we go look at stereo speakers and we’re approached by not one but two different kids trying to help us. These kids had a little more brains than Einstein #1 and they let us be.
Then we go look at cell phone accessories. I had no intentions of buying anything. Nonetheless another kiddie salesman approaches me, offering his help. Perhaps he didn’t think I was competent enough to ask him for help myself so he offered his services to me. “Nope, just browsing,” I tell him. “Okay, if you have any questions, don’t hesistate to ask me, my name is so-and-so. And by the way, I don’t work on commision.”
Why did he add that? Because if I thought he was on commision I would immediately think he was the devil incarnate, trying to sell me crap I didn’t need? Like their worthless extended service plans? Save a few special cases ,(laptops being an execption in my opinion) these ‘extended warranties’ are nothing but cash cows for stores like Best Buy. That’s how these kids make their commisions. I know, because that’s exactly how things worked at CompUSA. Salesmen would calm the customer by telling them they didn’t work on commisions. Then they proceeded to push the extended service plans as hard as they could, as if the customer couldn’t live without it. The profit the company made on these plans were amazing because nine times out of ten the system the covered worked perfectly for the life of the extended warranty. Meanwhile, CompUSA (and I’m sure Best Buy does it, too) gives the salesman a hefty commision for selling the customer a bunch of hot air and nonsense. But hey, they aren’t working on commision! He keeps telling me how important it is that I get this 38 year extended service plan for $8318 more but since he isn’t working on commision he must be doing this with my best interests in mind. Phew, what a great guy.
Give me a break. And don’t tell me you’re not working on commision. The average bear (which I am one) is smarter than that, Joe Best Buy Salesman.
Okay, that felt good. Glad to get that off my chest. I thank the five of you who regularly read this for reading it.