Fewer reasons to even go into a Dick, Harvey, or Noel shop

Forums › Off topic › Fewer reasons to even go into a Dick, Harvey, or Noel shop

amiga500

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#165917 24-Feb-2015 16:48

About the only time I go into one of these shops is when they are insanely busy.     At least then you have some chance of browsing around without having to say 'just browsing thanks' multiple times, often to the same salesperson.   (What part of 'just browsing' don't they believe!)     Every time I have to tell them 'just browsing' heightens my resolve not to buy anything!    As for buying anything from DSE or one of the others I'd only do this if the price is incredibly good.    However, with their high overheads such as rent to Westfield, their prices are usually not that great.

Reasons for going into one of those stores:

1.)    When you want handle an item where 'feel' is important such as a keyboard, mouse, or camera.    Then I look online for the best deal or go a retailer that does not push extended warranties etc.

2.)    When it is a smaller item at a incredibly good price and one that they can't up-sell me anything on.

It is a long time since I bought any larger item from one of the tri-opoly shops!     It's not my fault that they need to sell laptop bags, anti-virus, surge protectors, and extended warranties, and other stuff to make their businesses viable.

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#1245729 24-Feb-2015 17:22

I bet I'm a bit older than the op, but I tend to think a bit differently. Yes, I do all the research online, and track down the best price, but I normally like to buy from a store if I can. I guess I just like the instant gratification.

But nothing annoys me more than not being able to find someone who can give me a reasonable amount of time to go through the choices. Sure, sometimes I have to say 'just browsing', but other times I'm waving at sales staff trying to get their attention.

But the biggest problem for me in these stores is that nobody is prepared to actually show you things working. I've recently bought a windows tablet, and you think I could find a store that was happy to show me a video playing on them? I suspect that a lot of tablets are used for streaming, so this should be a big selling point. But no, they are all just stacked up, although turned on, generally, but not set up to do anything.

If these stores thought in terms of demoing stuff, it'll sell itself. In the end I have to rely on online reviews, which means that the sales staff don't need to do anything to sell stuff, except ring it up.

loceff13

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#1245731 24-Feb-2015 17:23

Agreed on going in to look at the 'feel' items.

I won't buy from DSE instore unless it's an item I can't buy from them online, I just wait for one of the many online sales with $20 off $99+ etc to order that seem to happen atleast once a week.

eg last weeks online discounts:

Tuesday 20 off 99+ and more(pictured)
Thursday 10 off 50+
Sat/Sun 20 off 99+ and more(pictured)

Then I can click and collect for free or ship if the rates reasonable.

macuser

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#1245736 24-Feb-2015 17:27

I find buying in store after research online is less stressful than purchasing online

Not a big fan of waiting for the courier to maybe show up, or having to deal with returns to a online seller. Yea it's not that bad, but being able to complete the transaction in store and walk away with the item feels less stressful to me.

MikeB4

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#1245738 24-Feb-2015 17:30

I buy big items from bricks and mortar stores, better to get the feel of the purchase especially TV where I can see it running in different modes and settings. I also take with me a DVD/ BluRay with me so I can test with something I am familiar with. Other large Appliances etc are good to handle. As for
extended warranty or up selling I just say no.

As for triopoly there is Noel Leemings, Dick Smith, Harvey Norman, Smith City/ LV Martin, The Warehouse (yes I know they own Noel Leeming) and various smaller traders.

If we do not support NZ retailers we will have no choices and higher unemployment

tripp

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#1245749 24-Feb-2015 17:49

There are a few reason I still buy in store the big one is the CGA

If I find something I want then I will price it up online, then look at local places and ask for their best deal, if the cost + GST + 15% is the same or less than online then I will get it from the local retailer.

Big purchases however I will normally buy local (over $400) as if you try and import it you get hit with all those other fees (I'm not talking GST I am talking about duty and custom fees).

I think retailers in new zealand are really missing the mark when trying to battle oversea purchasing, they should advertise there after sale service and point out that if you have a problem with an item it's easier to deal with them than trying to send it back overseas to get it fixed/refunded etc. But it seems that some of them just kick up sand saying it's all about price and it's not fair as importing under a set $ amount there is no GST. The day that dick smiths/noels etc charge a fair price for a USB micro cable or HDMI cable is the day I will return to buy those products from them.

jeffnz

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#1245775 24-Feb-2015 18:24

I'm an older guy and also detest being accosted every 5 minutes, they should be trained to recognize when people need help its fairly obvious. I research online as well and will mostly buy from a physical store mainly due to wanting it then and there.

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#1245807 24-Feb-2015 18:58

I generally have trouble finding someone to serve me when I wander into those shops.

In fact, if I'm browsing when I'm in my work clothes (shirt & tie), I often get approached by customers asking for service.

My record was three times wandering around K Mart once

Aside from the shirt & tie (and most retailers have shifted away from that to polo shirts now), I think it's the way I browse when I shop. Something about my walk and the way I scan the aisles I guess.

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nakedmolerat

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#1245815 24-Feb-2015 19:04

I like the title

JimmyH

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#1245819 24-Feb-2015 19:12

The only thing worse that being constantly accosted is being accosted by a salesdroid who doesn't really know what they are talking about, and is intent on pushing what they want to push irrespective of what you say.

Case in point - browsing for a telly at lunchtime the other day (those who browse other threads will know my main set is on its way out).

Salesguy: Can I help you
Me: Just browsing TVs thanks
Salesguy: What are you after?
Me: 50 inches plus, with the best picture possible, ideally with at least one component and one composite input, I don't care about sound, 3D, having a curved screen, of anything to do with whether it's a smart TV or not.
Salesguy: I recommend this set
Me: Does it have at least one component and one composite input
Salesguy: Umm....no, it has a hybrid connector that will do one or the other
Me: Was I perhaps unclear?
Salesguy: But it's one of our best selling TVs and has all these (reaching for remote to pull up the on screen menu) leading edge smart apps
Me: Was I perhaps unclear?
Salesguy: Do you have kids
Me: Why?
Salesguy: Because of all our TVs this one is the best for 3D movies, which the kids will love
Me: Was I perhaps unclear, I care about picture quality and inputs only
Salesguy: But this TV has a great picture (pointing to the garish/lurid cartoon playing)
Me: But the sticker says it's only 50hz
Salesguy: Yes, that's top of the line sir, double the framerate of NZ broadcasts
Me: Does it do 1080p24
Salesguy: But sir, why would you want that? The picture would be terrible. It would be all jerky and horrible. 50Hz is a much better picture, it's TWICE the framerate.
Me: Ummmm.... you do know that that's the theatrical standard almost all blurays are optimised for?
Salesguy: No sir, all blurays are encoded at 60 hertz
Me: I don't think this is going anywhere

(exit stage left, no sale)

Dratsab

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#1245851 24-Feb-2015 19:59

I think a lot of it comes down to luck of timing. On a quiet day I recently went into a DSE here in Wellington and was only asked once if assistance could be given, which I politely declined. They had a 46" Samsung SmartTV which took my interest which had $500 off the retail tag so I called the guy back over. He pointed out they also had a 48" one with the same discount so after doing a bit of research online into accessories such as a wall mount I went back and brought the 48" one a few days later. They knocked a further $100 off the TV as the shop model was the last one they had left and halved the price of the wall mount when I showed the price of one from JB Hifi. All up I got a 48" TV, blu-ray player, wireless keyboard and mouse, and a wall mount for under $1100. Chucked it on the Q-Card at 50 months interest free.

There were no advertised sales at the time. I actually tend to avoid these because I can't be bothered with the big crowds and find it frustrating trying to get service if I see something I want to buy. I think it's still definitely worth popping into these stores from time to time to see what deals are going, even if there aren't any big sales advertised.

mattwnz

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#1245854 24-Feb-2015 20:04

The problem at may brick and mortar stores, is that the staff don't really know what they are selling. I overheard one staff member telling someone interested in an iphone, that there wasn't much different between the iphone 5c, 5s, and 6. The 6 had a bigger screen than the 5s, and the 5c had a plastic back.

Stan

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#1246004 24-Feb-2015 23:11

Having worked in retail for 11 years I have to lay some defence for the some of the salespeople
The base rate in some retailers ie dick smith is extremely low and the management keeps a close eye on their IPS (items per sale) this is why they push extended warranties cables etc if they didn't they would find themselves in the managers office and perhaps without a job.
Also with being approached multiple times get over it stop being so sensitive the salesperson is simply doing their job and attempting to offer you service (its what they are paid to do)

As for retailers not offering good advice it definitely happens far too much if it does happen to you write in complain to the shop get the salesperson name!

richms

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#1246011 24-Feb-2015 23:29

I generally find what I want is not in stock, but they can order it in and it will be in store in a few days time and I can come back and pick it up. Can you deliver it? That will be $55 extra..

Ill think about it. Get phone out, look online, find somewhere else, cheaper, delivered to my house. If they want to compete they have to have stock for me to take away that day. Right now. Otherwise they are wasting my time.

Richard rich.ms

LostBoyNZ

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#1246014 24-Feb-2015 23:30

Yikes. On behalf of sales people in such stores, I apologise! We're not all like that, honest. *shakes head*

JimmyH: The only thing worse that being constantly accosted is being accosted by a salesdroid who doesn't really know what they are talking about, and is intent on pushing what they want to push irrespective of what you say.

Case in point - browsing for a telly at lunchtime the other day (those who browse other threads will know my main set is on its way out).

Salesguy: Can I help you
Me: Just browsing TVs thanks
Salesguy: What are you after?
Me: 50 inches plus, with the best picture possible, ideally with at least one component and one composite input, I don't care about sound, 3D, having a curved screen, of anything to do with whether it's a smart TV or not.
Salesguy: I recommend this set
Me: Does it have at least one component and one composite input
Salesguy: Umm....no, it has a hybrid connector that will do one or the other
Me: Was I perhaps unclear?
Salesguy: But it's one of our best selling TVs and has all these (reaching for remote to pull up the on screen menu) leading edge smart apps
Me: Was I perhaps unclear?
Salesguy: Do you have kids
Me: Why?
Salesguy: Because of all our TVs this one is the best for 3D movies, which the kids will love
Me: Was I perhaps unclear, I care about picture quality and inputs only
Salesguy: But this TV has a great picture (pointing to the garish/lurid cartoon playing)
Me: But the sticker says it's only 50hz
Salesguy: Yes, that's top of the line sir, double the framerate of NZ broadcasts
Me: Does it do 1080p24
Salesguy: But sir, why would you want that? The picture would be terrible. It would be all jerky and horrible. 50Hz is a much better picture, it's TWICE the framerate.
Me: Ummmm.... you do know that that's the theatrical standard almost all blurays are optimised for?
Salesguy: No sir, all blurays are encoded at 60 hertz
Me: I don't think this is going anywhere

(exit stage left, no sale)

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richms

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#1246015 24-Feb-2015 23:33

Actually harveys have been the most helpful IME, getting remotes, letting me mess with menus etc, getting a tape measure to check the size of screens etc. Then finding they dont have it in stock. FFfff so put a notice on the one in the store then. No I dont want this one that has been sitting out for weeks with people using it.

Richard rich.ms

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