Best Buy = stressful experience LOL

[JaceTheAce]

A recent visit at Best Buy reminded me once again why I boycott them. Occasionally I will visit the store because it's the ONLY audio/video store in this town of 50,000 people (rural-dying-a-slow-death-outmigration-crisis-North Dakota) and I want to see/feel/touch the latest products, although not by any means full of "higher-end brands".

I went to Best Buy to see a few upscaling DVD players and to look at getting a spare cheapo Yamaha receiver for my bedroom. In the 30 minutes I was in the store I counted, knowing I'd get a lot of it, EIGHT (8) salesman asking the Best Buy Corporate required saying "Are you finding everything okay?"... "YES, I am just browsing, thank you"....then the additional required "Okay, just let me know if you have any questions".

So here I am trying to avoid eye contact and weave in and out through various departments incognito as to not be bothered. With the 8th salesman asking me, I replied "You know, I have been bothered with that question 7 times already. If I need anything from you, I can ask. Thank you for your concern, however I do not want to be bothered every 30 seconds I turn to a different area of the store." The young 19 year old kid was shocked that I said that... given that this is supposed to be 'friendly' North Dakota.

UUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

End of rant.

 

[JonBaker99]

Having worked major consumer electronics retail before (Not at Best Buy), it's nice that at least you had people asking to help. Better too much service than having no one around when you had a question or need assistance.

 

[bandit]

Yikes-

From a fellow North Dakotan - our options are limited. I've learned to like to shop the web for the very reasons you mention. Are you in GF?

Bandit.

 

[ForMiseri]

FlipSide

Here in good old Wilkes-Barre, PA I have found the opposite problem. I went there to pick up a cassette deck to transfer my old cassettes to disc. After calling first to verify if the unit had arrived, this was into the third week that it did not arrive from Scranton, PA (20 mi. up the road) O finally got a hold of the salesman assuring me that it had come in that day. Great! Thought I, and in I went. An hour and a half later I finally left with the deck. First I could find no one to wait on me. I then found the salesman who was of course helping someone else. He then tells another salesman to go and get it. Of course he could not find it. Nothing like standing and waiting. A month or so later I was forced to pick up cables there. Not by choice either. Not much else near home here either. Another 2 hour excursion into the waiting hell. At this point I will never go back into the place again.

 

[nova]

Too bad,... my loacal BB (Northern Utah) is pretty good. I get welcomed at the door, there are usually plenty of sales people around, not too intrusive, two or three ask if you need help, and if they can't help a manager shows up within minutes. The A/V equipment section is pretty sad (like most), but the rest of the store is pretty good. I usually only buy stuff there that they beat on a price match (like a video card that they sold me for $40 less than I could get anywhere including online) or DVD's that are on sale, or the $9.99 Superbits.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Geez Jace,
You really need to get out more!

They dont bite.
LOL

I expect service like that, even if I am just looking. That's their job.... to pamper me!! If nobody approaches me to ask they can assist me, I feel insulted.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I don't feel 'pampered' at BB- I feel harrassed! Why are there one hundred blue shirts wandering around interrupting me while only two of them are at the registers? And why does one check you out while two or three stand five feet away talking about the party they went to last night?

BB is a necessary evil at best.

 

[FierceTIMbo17]

You said you were walking around to different departments well its company policy they must contact you within 30 seconds of entering their area, they are just doing their job its better than somewhere like walmart where they dont know what a dvd player is. They dont get comission either they are just trying to help/do their job

 

[Sheep]

You said you were walking around to different departments well its company policy they must contact you within 30 seconds of entering their area, they are just doing their job its better than somewhere like walmart where they dont know what a dvd player is. They dont get comission either they are just trying to help/do their job

He's right, it's the company policy.

SheepStar

 

[muncybob]

We have a Best Buy about ready to open up a new store only 100 yds or so away from Circuit City. I'm, kinda, sorta, maybe looking forward to the new store. Other than it and CC all we have is a "high end" shop with an attitude. So I guess for me to go and actually see equipment in person I either have to put up with the young un's and the party scene attitude with the "we have the best stuff on earth" sales pitch or the "I know what I'm talking about and you don't unless you agree with me" folk at the "high end" shop who also seem to have the "best stuff on earth". Fortunatley there is a good small independent shop about 45 minutes from here with good equipment and no pressure sales people that will let you sit there as long as you want....just wish their prices could be a bit more reasonable.

 

[mikeyj92]

I don't feel 'pampered' at BB- I feel harrassed! Why are there one hundred blue shirts wandering around interrupting me while only two of them are at the registers? And why does one check you out while two or three stand five feet away talking about the party they went to last night?

BB is a necessary evil at best.

This I totally agree with. I have a fairly new BB near me and I like to go in to "touch" what I am interested in (sounds so freaky-shwing!) and I don't mind 2 or 3 employees inquiring, but when it gets up to 7 or 8 of them inquiring, it gets more than annoying. Company policy or not, MOST of the people in the store are browsing, this is well known, and they will ask for help when they need it.

Also, I totally concur in the fact that, at this new BB, there are tons of blue shirts walking around, but never more than 2 people working the check out lanes, which are snaked like the entrance to a roller coaster and usually at least 4 to 6 people deep.

Another thing...why am I harrassed upon paying for my stuff at the checkout (after waiting for 12+ minutes in line) with magazine subscription bull $hit? Is this necessary? Seriously? Do people go to BB to get magazines?

They really need to adjust their policy to be much less intrusive to the customer.

/end rant

 

[Blundaar]

Best Buy has upscaling DVD players? Amazing

 

[BMXTRIX]

Best Buy has upscaling DVD players? Amazing

What's more amazing is when you find that sales employee who knows the difference between an upscaling DVD player and an actual HD-DVD player.

I personally take BB/CC for what they are. They sell to the masses and the reason they ask every few minutes if you need help is to offer it. They did their homework before making that type of policy and you better believe that a lot of people are in there to purchase, not to window shop. So, those who are thinking of buying generally have someone available to them in rather short order. Granted, if you have to wait for the register for more than a couple of minutes it is not a good sign. That probably is company policy as well - they should have people that can work the registers when the line gets long, but I imagine they have to be 'told' to work the registers, and aren't.

Meh, I like the stores. I don't care about the service, but BB/CC gives me the chance to look at hundreds of grand in gear and actually play with it all a bit if I want. I actually went into a store once where they yelled at me for opening a $100 tripod because I wanted to see how nice it was before spending my money. They told me to buy it if I wanted to do that. WHATEVER! Much better attitude from the BB/CC crowd.

 

[df4801]

Quit your whining, you bunch of babies.
I cant stand the constant complainers, nothing is ever good enough for them.

If people didnt ask you if you needed help, you would be on here still complaining, "No one will help me at Best Buy, I hate them!"

Maybe BB should ask each customer as they enter the store, "how many times should we ask if you need help today?". That way they could make everyone happy.

I have some advice for you. You have a choice in this country. If you dont like the store.... Then DONT GO! But please quit your crying.

 

[JaceTheAce]

Yikes-

From a fellow North Dakotan - our options are limited. I've learned to like to shop the web for the very reasons you mention. Are you in GF?

Bandit.

Yes I am in GF Are you? I only shop online anyway...much less hassle.

 

[JaceTheAce]

Geez Jace,
You really need to get out more!

They dont bite.
LOL

I expect service like that, even if I am just looking. That's their job.... to pamper me!! If nobody approaches me to ask they can assist me, I feel insulted.

Get out more? LOL! I am from San Diego, CA...I think I had plenty of times to get out. I've been in this $hithole place for 2 years and I graduate nexy May. I'm getting the hell out so I can move back to a civilized city.

BTW, I just added a "location disclaimer" in the Location line. I am not a sheltered North Dakotan, I promise, I promise!

 

[mikeyj92]

Quit your whining, you bunch of babies.

I'm not whining, I'm expressing my frustration over what I feel is overly redundant "store policy" and an annoying attempt to sell magazines with each purchase.

I cant stand the constant complainers, nothing is ever good enough for them.

I prefer to see it as "the squeaky wheel gets the grease". If you don't voice it, it doesn't get heard.

If people didnt ask you if you needed help, you would be on here still complaining, "No one will help me at Best Buy, I hate them!"

I, like most others, are perfectly capable at talking, and thus, asking for help when WE need it.

Maybe BB should ask each customer as they enter the store, "how many times should we ask if you need help today?". That way they could make everyone happy.

No, because that would be one more time I'm bothered by their employees on top of the other times I would be about to endure as I browse at my leisure.

I have some advice for you. You have a choice in this country. If you dont like the store.... Then DONT GO! But please quit your crying.

This is ironic as you are crying about our "crying". At least our gripe has merit.

 

[bandit]

Jace -

Fargo here - but I get up that way quite a bit.

I didn't think you were crying.

 

[JaceTheAce]

Jace -

Fargo here - but I get up that way quite a bit.

I didn't think you were crying.

Cool let me know when you stop by... you can come by and see my set-up, as low-budget as it is

 

[gmichael]

I feel that, "may I help you with anything?" rates right up there with, "would you like fries with that?" But it doesn't bother me. I take it for what it is. Some team of bean counters in the company's HQ have decided that for every 100 or so times this question is asked, somebody buys something. From a customer's point of view, I'd prefer that the Sales Personel just make themselves findable. (is that a word?) But from a Sales point of view, maybe it helps pay the bills. I just say, "no thank you." and move on. Sometimes I like to play with them. I'll ask them what makes Monster Cable the best to see what they tell me. Or if I see one walking up to me, I'll beat them to the line and ask them if I can help them. You can almost see the gears turning in their heads trying to figure out why I asked them. Another fun thing. Be ready as you walk in the door for the guy who's going to say, "welcome to Best Buy etc." Give them a greeting first. Be nice though. Everyone has to make a living.