Why don't people want help with electronics purchases?

[Spiffyfast]

So out of the blue my father decides he wants to get a home theater setup for himself. So I wake up this morning, go upstairs and see him unpacking a yamaha HTIB which if your going the HTIB route not a bad decision, I coulda probably got him something nicer for the same price but not a bad choice. I'm looking around and the guy at best buy sold him 400 dollars worh of monster cable stuff!!!!!!!!!!! he only payed 500 for the HTIB setup but was convinced this would make everything alot better. I was shocked and told him to take it all back and bring me with him to pick the right stuff out. He refused probably b/c hes just as stuborn as me, then he decides he needs to go buy a new tv as well so I tell him he should bring me along to make sure he gets the right peice of equipment and decides he and his fiance can pick something out thatll work fine, I can't even imagine what they are going to bring back..... He knows these types of things are a hobby of mine and won't let me help him out at all, just frusterates the h*ll outta me

 

[Audiosouse]

Ooooouch! Look on the bright side, you'll inherit all that awsome Monster cable!

I wouldn't have asked, just taken it back for him and come home with better equipment. That extra $400 wasted on cable would have bought a much nicer setup!

 

[brian32672]

I'm looking around and the guy at best buy sold him 400 dollars worh of monster cable stuff!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow,now that was a mistake. I could buy wire for a tenth of what Best Buy sells that MC for.

Well, you could show how much he could have saved. Or rather with the savings, he could have bought a much nicer system.

But surely, he would not take it well. Or at least thats what it sounds like.

Another thing?? Why go to Best Buy ?????????????

I just bought a New JBL E250p sub, that they (Best Buy) are charging 473.00 for . I paid Brand New including shipping for 230.00

After that purchase, I will do research before buying from Best Buy.....

Some people have to learn the hard way .

Fortunately for me , my parents are taking most of my advice.
Actually they just called me, for tips on large screen (96") placement and rear surrounds. Basically told them that screen must stay out of direct sunlight. (Not on the wall they originally chose) And that for the rear surrounds, it would be better to have the couch pulled out 3' feet from wall. And put the rears behind them in the corners of the ceiling. Slightly angled towards listening position.

 

[mtrycrafts]

So out of the blue my father decides he wants to get a home theater setup for himself. So I wake up this morning, go upstairs and see him unpacking a yamaha HTIB which if your going the HTIB route not a bad decision, I coulda probably got him something nicer for the same price but not a bad choice. I'm looking around and the guy at best buy sold him 400 dollars worh of monster cable stuff!!!!!!!!!!! he only payed 500 for the HTIB setup but was convinced this would make everything alot better. I was shocked and told him to take it all back and bring me with him to pick the right stuff out. He refused probably b/c hes just as stuborn as me, then he decides he needs to go buy a new tv as well so I tell him he should bring me along to make sure he gets the right peice of equipment and decides he and his fiance can pick something out thatll work fine, I can't even imagine what they are going to bring back..... He knows these types of things are a hobby of mine and won't let me help him out at all, just frusterates the h*ll outta me

Hard to say why people do such things. I suppose they have to do things themselves and reinvent the wheel once again?
Did you ask why he would not exchange it? Maybe that is an admission of a mistake by him?
At the end, just let it be, you tried, you offered, not much more you can do

 

[Rob Babcock]

Yes, you offer the "blue pill" or the "red pill", but you can't make 'em swallow the damned thing.

 

[zipper]

At least he didn't blow $3000 on the same stuff with a Bose label on it


If he doesn't have any experience with HT he just doesn't know the diff...........after you finish your setup you can demonstrate.

 

[Audioholics]

How you tell people is just as important as what you tell people. If you assaulted him with your knowledge, it's likely that in order for him to retain any semblance of pride he practicaly had to refuse your help.

I'm talking from experience of course.

 

[JohnA]

You should hook up the system for him using regular interconnects and wire, return the Monster stuff and give the money back to him. And tell him that you don't let loved ones buy snake oil.

 

[agarwalro]

A spin on a good idea

You should hook up the system for him using regular interconnects and wire, return the Monster stuff and give the money back to him. And tell him that you don't let loved ones buy snake oil.

I have an alternate idea based on this idea. Use regular cables, return Monster stuff and buy him a gift with difference. When he asks what is the ocassion, say its not a gift, its from using his hard earned money that you saved him!!

 

[Doug917]

I've had pretty good luck with helping people out with their electronic purchases. When they tell me something has died, it's usually a good time to step in and make sure they will get a better replacment. I just recently helped my mom get a great DVD changer and saved her $230 doing it. She was replacing a DVD/VCR. I explained to her that it is best to try and separate components as much as possible. I got one heck of a thank you call when she received the player and, of course, the usual "how do I connect it" questions. The people I know work too hard for their money. I hate to see them throw it away on an inferior/snake-oil product.

 

[T2T]

Spiffy,

You're looking at this the wrong way. After all, he is spending YOUR inheritance.

 

[brian32672]

Yes, you offer the "blue pill" or the "red pill", but you can't make 'em swallow the damned thing.

Now that was a good comeback. LOL

 

[brian32672]

Spiffy,

You're looking at this the wrong way. After all, he is spending YOUR inheritance.

This is correct, at least hopefully you will get the Monster Cables.....LOL.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I'm looking around and the guy at best buy sold him 400 dollars worh of monster cable stuff!

Spiffy,
If this was a HTIB, I'm sure it came with all the necessary cables. What could BB have sold him that was even necessary? What Yamaha set did he get? This one? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6314641&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat40200050004&id=1077626340300
or..
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6372338&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat40200050002&id=1077626340478

Too bad they don't sell the htib's with these:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7034611&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03044&id=1099395730320

My guess is that since he most likely knows you're really into home theater, he probably wanted to surprise you, as well as gain your acceptance. If he knows the equipment you're looking into, he knows you're a hard guy to please - as well as a smart shopper. What I would have done would be to help him set everything up with the included cables, then carefully open the Monster brand cables, hook them up, and show him there's no difference in output. Then you could offer to go with him, and possibly upgrade his system to something we'd all give a thumbs up.

 

[rikmeister]

only good thing is you have 30 days to take it back and get your money back.

BB and CC why go somewhere else when you can get a better screwing there.