I bought a microwave there last fall and I don’t recall them asking for any information then. I do remember them offering me the service plan. I looked at the cashier and said “I know you have to ask, but I’m buying a $40 microwave.”
She just laughed - I figure it’s not the cashier’s fault that they have to ask, so I might as well be pleasant about it unless the cashier is really, really pushy with it.
I won’t give my phone number, but don’t have any problems giving out my zip code. They can’t contact me directly via the zip code.
[slightly hijacking my own thread]Holy crap! I didn’t realize you were still on the boards, Tortuga! I had a quote from you in my sig for years. :D[/hijack]
Ahem, anyways, I forgot to mention that the cashier did try to get me to buy the service protection plan, for $35- and $15-phones. I guess what really rives me is that I feel like I’m being sqeezed for every dime they can get out of me, and asking me for my personal info just seems rude and unprofessional.
However, after hearing horror stories like what mks57 said about Radio Shack, I guess I can’t be too mad.
Eh.
Adam
I’ve mentioned this before, but BB tried to get me to buy a service plan on an X-box. The cashier went on and on about how it was prone to breakage and dust contamination and all that.
“Oh, my,” I said, looking aghast. “I had no idea they were so fragile. Maybe I better not get it after all.”
Then I smiled sweetly at her. She shut up and rang me up.
Do you have Hustler?
123-456-7890
Because Best Buy’s model is to be fairly low cost. They do this buy pushing things with margin (magazines, extended warrenties) so they can keep the margins low (and sometimes negative) on the things that get you through the door. Just say no, and understand that that word is what has enabled you to buy a computer for $399.
On the other hand, improving customer service almost always costs money. And what ends up happening is that the customers use your well trained and expensive customer service staff to make a purchasing decision, then go buy it online for the cheapest price or head over to Wal-Mart.
However, Best Buy is experimenting with changing its model:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/16/AR2005081601906.html
so you might get what you want eventually. Though I suspect you aren’t a Jill.
Depends on your way of delivering it, of course - but that strikes me as being unnecessarily condescending and rude.
In fact, the cashier does need it:
If you don’t want to provide any information, just say so. Don’t get all patronizing and say “you don’t need that”.
Sorry, had to.
I was once asked if I wanted a warranty on a ten-dollar universal remote. The guy wasn’t surprised when I said no.
I don’t mind giving my zip code, but I won’t give my phone number to stores.
The problem with zip codes is that a lot of times the computer cross references them with your credit card number so that if you give a fake one it may not aprove the sale. I just make shit up. Short shit so the cashier doesn’t have to take too long typing it in.
Name?
Ed Og
Address?
123 Main Street
Baltimore Md, 21222
Phone?
410-867-5309
Only thing accurate there is the zip.
I just love how the only female character they acknowledge is always buying things for others and not for herself. “Jill’s children are the most important thing in her life”. Gag. No wonder I’m always invisible on the (very rare) occasions I go to Best Buy.
Some surprisingly articulate rants by customers and even BB employees here. The peddling of extended warranties / unwanted extras is a recurring theme.
I say “surprisingly articulate” because the site itself looks like some kind of “get-rich-quick” or timecube- type deal, with all its flashing GIFs and banners. I was half expecting to get to punch the monkey.
Once I went into CompUSA and asked ‘Where are the video cards?’ in order to make my trip through the store much shorter.
The salesguy actually said to me ‘You know what a video card is?’
I was sad.
Went into BB, and asked if they had any cases for iAudio players. The salesguy said ‘You mean iPod.’
After trying to explain to him that iAudio is not iPod, and getting nowhere, I left.
Apparently they’re not going to do anything about helping people who actually know their technology.
I’m a Best Buy employee. My store is a Barry/Jill store. They’re service and replacement plans, not extended warranties. Almost everything Dangerosa said is completely accurate. I used to be a cashier, and had to try and peddle about 8 different things in one presentation to a customer. I found it to be unethical. Now I work in appliances.
More than you know.
Fuck that. They need for me to pay for my stuff. That’s it. If they need anything else, they need to start losing customers to less intrusive businesses.
I’m not sure how that’s so very patronizing. If it’s their job to ask it, then it’s just business and they shouldn’t be hurt by how I respond. I owe them nothing. If they are so worried about politeness, don’t rudely ask me for personal information they don’t need.
Actually, I’m somewhat amazed at how easily cowed we are by businesses to feel that we owe them some sort of politeness. It is this very tendency (feeling compelled to conform to social expectations) that they manipulate us with in the first place.
You’re a real prince, you know that?
IT IS their job, but of course they’re hurt. They’re not being rude, they’re trying to keep their fucking job. It sucks when you have a shitty job and people are nasty because they don’t like the fact that MANAGMENT makes a certain rule, and they take it out on the lowest rung of the totem pole.
Thanks for pointing this out and the link. Interesting article. After working retail for a couple of decades I’m glad to see some stores developing a black list of customers who can’t shop there. Those of you who are honest average shoppers wouldn’t believe how the small percentage of assholes are ruining it for you, or how certain practices have become more common which causes changes in policies. Customer service does indeed cost money and it is the consumer who has told stores that low price rules.
I’ve started a thread in GQ about credit card purchases and what kind if information is required? Honest folks. Carry some cash. I’m surprised at how many folks buy something for $4.00 and use there debit card. Then they want to use it as a charge {which costs us a percentage} and balk when we ask for info. In my small privately owned store if you pay cash then we require no information. If you charge or write a check then we need to protect ourselves from the scammers, {and they are plentiful} and we require certain info.
How are you paying? In my store if you pay cash I don’t even need you name. If you pay credit card or check then before you leave with my merchandise I need to verify that piece of paper or plastic actually represents money that I get to buy new product and pay the bills. What do you think is reasonable info for me to verify that?
Right and that* need* thing is a more complicated issue than you think. When I worked at Sears their computer system wouldn’t let you go past certain screens without putting in something. When a customer paid cash and correctly objected to giving any personal info then I would enter any bogus information to complete the sale and get them on their way quickly. When they paid with CC or check I feel asking for certain info is acceptable. If you give me a piece of plastic and want to take a bug screen or computer out of my store then I need to verify that I’m going to be paid.
The politeness suggested was being decent to the human being in front of you who didn’t create the policies you don’t like. I have no problem telling a clerk that I don’t like policy X but I usually add that I know they didn’t make the policy.
I agree with you in principle. You have every right to challenge or question policy. Insurance companies make a habit of denying legitimate claims because they know most people won’t fight them. Best Buy was sued for instructing it’s employees to lie in order to sell extended warranties. If your boss told you to lie and you don’t have the integrity to refuse then it’s your fault as well as theirs.
OTOH there’s no need to be rude or abusive to employees offering add ons unless they can’t take a polite “No thanks”
If you do a search for “Best Buy” and “Jill Store” there will be lots of articles about Best Buys attempts to modify their market. They seem to be at the head of “we’d really rather NOT lose money on people who only buy $39 DVD players on Black Friday” line - but they aren’t alone.
At every step it is up to the consumer to reject this shit. Every time we make it easier for people to collect this intrusive information the more accepted it becomes.