Any horror stories, please share them

[kaseaman]

Hey everyone,
I live in AZ and found out a few weeks ago that Ultimate Electronics is now bankrupt and every single Ultiamte Electronic store in my state is being shut down. It kind of sucks because I bought all of my speakers there before I heard about all the horror stories online. I was just wondering if anyone has a horror story at a "chain" retailer. Ill start off with one:
I was looking around a "chain" retailer that sells generally upper end equipment like martin logan and such. Anyways a sales person came up to me when I was wandering araound and asked if I needed some help. I told him no, then he asked me if i was sure, i said yea. He stood there for a while and finally gave me a smart look and told me OK enjoy my store. Then he walked away and under his breath said but not too much. I am a college student and look younger than what I am, so I figured he though I was going to steal, I told my parents and they wanted to do something about it, I told them no, just to tell their friends never to buy anything there ever again.

 

[MacManNM]

Ultimate Electronics is now bankrupt? And that's a bad thing? Those Idiots have been ripping off people for years. I'm glad.

 

[kaseaman]

Yea i know they rip people off, but the sucky thing is my speakers were still on that 60 day price guarantee thing, but i guess it does not matter anymore cause I wont be getting any of my money back now.

 

[sjdgpt]

Hey everyone,
I was looking around a "chain" retailer that sells generally upper end equipment like martin logan and such. Anyways a sales person came up to me when I was wandering araound and asked if I needed some help. I told him no, then he asked me if i was sure, i said yea. He stood there for a while and finally gave me a smart look and told me OK enjoy my store. Then he walked away and under his breath said but not too much. I am a college student and look younger than what I am, so I figured he though I was going to steal, I told my parents and they wanted to do something about it, I told them no, just to tell their friends never to buy anything there ever again.

I was young ..... many years ago. I have also worked a sales floor.

There are better ways for sales dudes to ask if they can help you, AND at the same time, there are better ways for you to answer.

When asked the question "can I help you", the sales dude is trying to size up you (and your wallet and the chance you might open your wallet).



"I am just looking" or another seemingly meaningless answer would make me (the sales dude) suspicious of you. I don't know what you motives may be, and one of my jobs is to protect the store display from harm. Your goal at this moment is to answer some of those unasked questions, and give the sales dude a reason to leave you alone.


An example of what I am talking about....

Young guy in a high end jewelry store.

Clerk asks "can I help you".

Answer.... "just looking at your rings, if I can raise enough money I might want to bring my girlfriend back to look at your diamonds".

Clerk. "If you got any questions, just ask". Clerk smiles and takes a step back.

Clerk knows the guy has a limited budget, could be a customer (if gf says yes), and bugging him is not going to generate a sale... today.

And the young guy gets to shop the diamond display case without a clerk hovering at his elbow.


In the audio store, try a trick I have used.

"Just checking out new speakers. If I find something I am really interested in I will bring back the wife for final consulting".

I am a waste of time.... today. I get showed to a listening room, offered the use of the dvd player etc and the sales dude just disappears.

 

[kaseaman]

Intersting. . . . I just feel that it is kind of rediculous to say that you are just lookinga around means you are going to steal something. I guess you do have a valid point just because I was a kid in a high end store. But i feel that it shows more stupidity than anything, has anyone ever heard the phrase innocent until proved guilty. unless the salesperson saw me doing something stupid in his store, he should not care. I just felt that there was a better way of dealing with that situation.

 

[Darin_SD]

Ultimate is not closing all the stores.

Not all the stores in AZ are closing. Of the 8 in AZ, only 2 are closing. They are closing about 30 stores overall that were under performing stores. Some bad decisions were made over the past few years, including growing too fast and not having the resources available to do it correctly. In addition, the internet and places like Walmart getting into the electronics industry are making it harder for the real electronics retailers out there. Just do some research on the other similar companies out there and you will see what I mean.

kaseaman...When you go into the store and are approached by a sales person, be honest. I would hope that just because of your age or your looks, they wouldn't think you are there to steal stuff, but unfortunately I am sure it happens. If you get treated like that somewhere, the best thing you can do is "vote with your wallet." Tell your friends what happened. It will make the biggest impact in the long run. If you are just checking things out because you like electronics, tell them. If you have questions, let them know. Overall, the majority of the men and women doing this job are doing it because they love the stuff they are selling and they can make a living doing it. I have worked the sales floor before, and the sales people are there to help you and they have a job to do. My experience is that most people are not just looking and really are looking to buy. All they are doing is trying to make a living. Besides, it is great having all those "toys" to play with and getting paid while doing it.

Mac...You are entitled to your own opinion, but I would guess most of the sales staff and not, as you so elequently put it, idiots. They know more than the vast majority of the other audio retailers in the business. If you think they are ripping you off, don't shop there. I would guess that there are many people that feel that it is worth paying a little extra to have someone to answer questions, install the equipment, service the equipment and give them direction on what products are best for their situation regardless if they are buying from Ultimate or any of the many electronics retailers out there, otherwise they would not be in business. I suppose we would all be better off if there was only one place to buy our electronics that way there would be no competition for the price or the services that these retailers offer.

 

[sts9fan]

just out of curiosity

"I told my parents and they wanted to do something about it, I told them no, just to tell their friends never to buy anything there ever again."


What were they wanting to do about this?

 

[Takeereasy]

The worst horror story I'm aware of happened to a new guy on this site. Check out what happened to Placebo by looking for his posts in the speakers and amps sections. He was roped in by a very high pressure sales pitch and dropped $3000 on no name speakers and a $150 receiver. He originally had budgeted enough to get some awesome floorstanding energy Conisseur (I know I spelled it wrong, don't care) speakers, a Harman receiver, and a decent sub. That's what I call a horror story.

 

[kaseaman]

"I told my parents and they wanted to do something about it, I told them no, just to tell their friends never to buy anything there ever again."


What were they wanting to do about this?

They just wanted to go into the store and talk to the manager about it, I felt it was not a big deal because it is not gonna be the last time it happened.

 

[claudermilk]

I guess my worst one was while I was still researching receivers. I dug up one of the few Marantz dealers in the area & went down to check them out. I start out by telling him the model I was interested in (5400) and that was already pushing my budget. I first got the soon-to-be familiar "oh, a bunch of people get THOSE for their bedroom systems" ...yeah, thanks for the veiled insult (You're too poor to shop here). Then after pointing out I had no interest in Sony equipment--as a dead Sony system was why I was in the market--he proceeded to try hard selling a floor model at twice my price point and claimed it was a great deal that I shouldn't pass up. Never was there an offer to actually demo any equipment which was why I went there in the first place.

Not only did I buy the Marantz elsewhere, but I specifically avoided them for further shopping on brands they carried that I was interested in--and will do so in the future.

 

[10010011]

Years ago I was looking for a small set of decent speakers for my computer.

Curcuit City had a set of Bose book shelf speakers on sale. I went in to see them and they had them hooked up to a cheezy receiver, and they sounded like crap. The guy kept pushing me to this pair of Sony speakers (at twice the price) they were hooked up to another receiver and sounded really good in comparison. I asked him to put them both on the same source so I could to a real comparison. He gave me some line of bull about how he can't do that... I told him I felt he was trying to bait and switch me and walked out of the store.

I went directly over to Future Shop (they have long since closed all their US stores) and they had a pair of JBL book shelf speakers on sale for the same price as CC's Bose. They had a stack of boxes near the audio area with one pair open and sitting on the top of the stack, but not hooked up to anything. I asked the salesman if he could hook them up so I could hear them at least once before buying them. He said "Sure!" and grabbed them and took them into the audio area and promptly hooked them up to the the main system so I could compare them to all the other speakers they had.

Needless to say I am still using that pair of JBL's in my office and I will never buy anything from Curcuit City.

 

[zipper]

About a year ago I was looking for some speakers. I originally budgeted about $1000 for just some towers but was open to spending more if something knocked my socks off (big tax return). I was impressed by the rave reviews given to both the Axiom & Paradigm Studio lines, however my only chance to audition either was the Paradigms at a store in Bellevue,WA.

So I drive the 40 miles down to this place (no small feat with the traffic around here) & make my way inside. I proceed to wander around & check out all the goodies, hoping to be left alone for a bit just so I can see what they have. My wish is granted as noone in the store acknowledges my presence other than noticing that there is another human entity breathing their air. After 20-30 mins. I'm ready to hear what I came to hear. Having earlier spotted the room containing an assortment of Paradigms, I go in & start eyeing them a bit closer, hoping that at least one of the two salespersons that have been standing at the counter discussing their dates the previous night will take notice & ,perhaps, take some time to do their job. Well, 5-6 mins. later, knowing they have seen me in this room,by myself, they can't break free.............didn't have any customers......just couldn't bear to leave each other I guess.

Against one wall they have the speakers set up & opposite of those an assortment of Rotel & Marantz gear. So I go over & figure out that a Rotel receiver is producing the low, mellow tunes coming out of a pair of Studio 60's...........precisely what I came to hear. A little fooling around & I discover which CD player is hooked up to the receiver. Having felt a bit intimidated when I arrived, I now felt ignored.......& insulted. Soooooooooo....was it going to be Madonna or Metallica? (I brought a couple CD's)..................Enter Sandman it is, I decided. Needless to say I got the attention I was now looking for.

"Can I help you?", yelled the salesman.

Turning the volume down, I replied," I don't know.......do you have time to?"

I proceeded to tell him I was interested in the Paradigm Studio line. Some conversation takes place & I get the idea that monkeyboy would rather be at a dentist appt. Nothing like being sniffed at by a guy 15-20 years your jr.

"What's the price on these 60's?", I ask.

"$1695"

"I'll give you $1500 cash for a pair.", I tell him, getting the bargaining session going.

"The price is $1695 & I can't move a dime on that.", he says.

"Tell you what......I'll give you that price & you pay the tax."

"Nope.......you may want to look at the Monitor line as they're a bit more in your price range.", says monkeyboy.

"Really?.......What's my price range?", I ask.

I get the eye roll and "Sir, I'll give you a price list & let you decide"

"Forget it.", I say....."I'll go somewhere where they're interested in selling me some speakers...........have a nice day."

Attitude. I can deal with being stonewalled, just spare me your country club demeanor.
I then went home & ordered the Axiom M60's & the rest is, as they say, history. Did I teach the kid anything? I doubt it. In that town they probably get all kinds that walk in & pay list price w/o batting an eye. Maybe not. What the kid didn't realize was that I had about $3000 in my wallet & was willing spend it in his store, benefitting his store & his paycheck. All he had to do was give a little or offer to throw in a little something extra. So instead I spent my money elsewhere & won't go back to that store. If (when) I get the itch to upgrade to the Paradigms or B&W's, I'll get them online.

I went into the place excited & left pissed off...............not the kind of experience that will garner repeat business.

 

[sjdgpt]

From my perspective, and from the start of your post, the sales dude did what we both wanted him to do.

He left you alone to wander the store and poke and prod to your hearts content.


Then you got his attention.

Sure, maybe he should have checked on your needs before you resorted to playing your own tunes.

But you now have his attention.


And the first thing that you ask is he whether he will negotiate the price of the speakers?


Really? 30, 60, 90 seconds into a conversation, and you are already haggling over a price?


There is a science to a good haggling. Visit any Bazar in the Middle East (I've been to Greece), and you will find guys haggling for seemingly hours over the price of a piece of fruit.

There is an art to haggling.

You have to give the other guy a reason to want to give you a deal..... nah, your fruit doesn't look ripe to me ...... I might be interested, but I don't know, maybe I should ask my wife ........ can my child taste the fruit before I buy it? ........ oooh, that is toooo much money ..... would you accept my used shoe a trade? ......... can I pay you next week, after I harvest my chicken crop?

Give and take, everybody feels that he/she took advantage of the other.

30 seconds into a conversation, and you basically threw down the gauntlet and went for the kill on price.


I wonder what would have happened if you had shown a bit more patience and skill.

 

[zipper]

Where did I mention 30, 60, or 90 seconds? I cut to the chase.

I had about a 20 minute discussion with the kid about the other products they carry (not just speakers), other speakers I have heard & was considering, where I was going with my system in the long run, etc..........He was indifferent.

There is an art to being a salesman. You act as though you're helping the customer build the same system you would want, whether it's true or not. You enthusiastically answer all questions about the product line you carry. You sense that a customer has cash burning a hole in his pocket & you figure out a way to help him part with it, hopefully in your store.


I wonder what would have happened had he,even remotely, shown any one of these skills?

 

[anamorphic96]

In your post Zipper you never mentioned once you had talked with him for 20 minutes.

 

[zipper]

Geez.........what's with the scrutiny?

I also never mentioned that I talked with him for 1 min., 4 mins., 12 mins., etc.

I quote, "Some conversation takes place"............

Used that to skip ahead to the relevant part of the story. Forgive me for not being specific. Was just trying to share an experience that I thought fit under the heading of this thread.

 

[rgriffin25]

I am sure that many of us have our own story to share, lets not make zippers nightmare into another by nit-picking his story. After I read his post I sympathized with him. I have been into stores with sales people that could care less if you spend your money there. I have also done business with a few salesmen who cared enough to do their part to make the transaction benefit the both of us.

 

[sjdgpt]

Where did I mention 30, 60, or 90 seconds? I cut to the chase.

I had about a 20 minute discussion with the kid about the other products they carry (not just speakers), other speakers I have heard & was considering, where I was going with my system in the long run, etc..........He was indifferent.

Most of us have been a sales dude at one time of our lives or another.

From the orginal post, it read as if you had a quick, "nice weather we are having, I like your shoes, will you take $1500 for these speakers" type of conversation.

Even 20 minutes is not a lengthy conversation/ investment of time, but it is far greater than what I believed you had invested into a possible transaction.


By the way, there are many stores that have a no negotiating policy. Usually the benefits are extra services and free equipment, rather than price reductions.

 

[rgriffin25]

Horror Stories???

You bring up some valid points, which can be used by others when shopping for new gear. But that is not the point of this thread, If he feels that he was mistreated enough to post it here then so be it. I really don't think he was seeking advice on how to build a rapport with his local Hi-Fi store.

Maybe we should start another thread giving adivce on how to be a successful shopper?

Just my two cents.

 

[Rowdy S13]

Man if I was you I would have screwed with the guy (As I often do). Just act like you have all kinds of money ask to look at all the most expensive stuff then just leave. Normally I just say Im just kinda looking around and that I already have something but am mabey looking to upgrade and that usualy gets the well if you need me my name is... Im perty ok with that cause then I can check out what I came to check out and not be pushed tward something else. Ive been in sales before and I always took the aproch that I would like to reciev and thats that Im here to help you if you need it but im not gonna bother you at the same time though I think its better if they come up to you while youre listening or looking at a product and say something then intrduce themself and THEN ask if you need help doing it that way more often than not will get me to buy something if that was my goal. Just my 2 cents and then some

Sean

BTW I just noticed that the guy who posted before me also said thats my 2 cents I didnt mean to copy him oopps