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

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#1246044 25-Feb-2015 07:36

Everyone one uses a distributer and centralized inventory, holding stock in each location would be very expensive and mean higher cost for YOU the consumer. I am prepared to wait a couple of days if it means they can offer me a better price.

I wonder how many of those who complain about being approached by Sales staff also complain that they cannot get help or someone to talk to them the instant they want it.

Batman

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#1246063 25-Feb-2015 07:57

i only buy big ticket items from these places.

if it breaks i go back to my norman or mr leeming and they will sort it out.

i go a lot but only buy on special as i am on a tight budget.

imagine buying a $1000 oven online from somewhere, arrives, broken. ring up - ok sure, please send it back to us to have a look. WHAT did u say?

reven

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#1246096 25-Feb-2015 08:30

on Saturday I bought a 3d printer from warehousestationery. SO glad I bought it from a store and not online, stupid thing wouldn't work and all my googling revealed it was a common problem and suggested I pull it apart to fix it (after just unboxing it).

So I took it straight back to the store and got a refund.

So for big, breakable things, that I have no experience in, I'll go to a physical store, assuming they are similarly priced or price match (which TWS did which was great). But yeah, sales people bug me in those stores, and often don't know what theyre talking about. At christmas I bought a 32" smart tv for my son, the sales lady insisted it wasn't smart even though in had the words "SMART TV" in big letters.

Me: I want this smart tv
Her: That's not a smart tv
Me: Errr it says smart TV, look this is the info online
Her: Um, how do I explain this to you [this comment pissed me off]
Me: [I pushed the button on the back of the tv and went to Smart Hub] See it's a smart tv, I want to buy it
Her: But its not smart, you need a wifi adapter.
Me: There's a ethernet port
Her: But without wifi its not a smart tv...
Me: [sigh] I just want to buy this tv.

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#1246106 25-Feb-2015 08:48

LOL I think she wanted to sell you another one but won't give in to her misplaced opening pitch

Dingbatt

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#1246107 25-Feb-2015 08:49

I find it interesting that the OP is happy to 'shop-front' hardware that he needs to physically examine before buying online but fails to acknowledge that the are overheads involved in the retailer providing that shop front. Him doing that in effect drives up the cost to people shopping at bricks and mortar stores. I find the attentiveness of the staff at my local HN and NL a good balance between 'there if I need them' and 'just looking, thanks'.

Recently in the purchase of my Sony Smartwatch 3 I showed the staff member what I could import the device for. I acknowledged they had some overheads and he offered a deal that in effect was only $20 more than I could bring it in for. $20 is not much for the protection of a local warranty and the CGA.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

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#1246108 25-Feb-2015 08:49

Staff are not required to have in depth technical knowledge of all their products, remember they have other things they need to know. I will use as an example my wife, she is the Wellington Regional manager for a large multinational IT company, she sells everything from Cellphones through Servers Switches, Carrier hardware, Data Centres etc etc etc. Does she know all the technical specs of all those devices? no does she need to? no.
She can however identify an opportunity and turn it into a sale and add value. She can compile a package including finance, support, arrange configs, stock acquisition, shipping installation. She can write in-depth RFP and RFI responses and win business. When things go wrong as they can she is very good at problem resolution. But can she fix a PC etc not really she used to be able to but has shelved those abilities.

So like my wife these folks are required to have a 'overview knowledge' of their ALL products, what is available, delivery, finance, support etc etc. Just because they may not know straight away what widget goes where or the power abilities of a USB port does not make them stupid.

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#1246109 25-Feb-2015 08:51

The staff usually do just fine.

We are a different beast, the complete exception.

The overwhelming minority in their lives.

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#1246127 25-Feb-2015 09:06

joker97: The staff usually do just fine.

We are a different beast, the complete exception.

The overwhelming minority in their lives.

This. By the time I go near a store I have already done days if not weeks of research as to the pros and cons, alternatives, things to look out for etc. So chances are Joe salesman isn't really going to offer me much help beyond putting it in the car.

I would only buy from a store like this if the particular model I wanted was on a super duper sale and I couldn't get it cheaper elsewhere, or if I needed something immediately.

Though after doing all my research I inevitably want something that isn't the super common consumer model, so end up going to a specialty store anyway.

I am a fan of the anticipation of waiting for the courier - it is always exciting.

Walking into a chain electronics store and saying "I want a laptop!" blows my mind.

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#1246128 25-Feb-2015 09:06

mattwnz: 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.

I'd say that pretty much sums up the difference between a 5s and 6. Sure there's the a8 vs a7 cpu and other technical bits but your average lay person isn't going to understand or be interested in knowing that.

5c and 5s is more of a technologically leap. I would have mentioned the Finger print feature, maybe not the 64 bit processor.

MikeB4

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#1246131 25-Feb-2015 09:14

mattwnz: 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.

For the majority of users the staff member is correct there is not much difference between the models and they all run the same software at about the same performance. Apple say that every model is a reinvention of the cellphone but for most it is not.

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#1246136 25-Feb-2015 09:22

they are there to sell stuff, not give an Anandtech review

Dunnersfella

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#1246279 25-Feb-2015 12:08

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)

With all due respect.
Battling witts with sales people will leave both parties looking like idiots.
And as an aside, if you don't care about 3D, but would like 100Hz or higher, you'll be getting it, whether you want it or not.

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#1246322 25-Feb-2015 12:42

A few things come to mind reading this thread...

I once worked in retail. I enjoyed it when it was busy, when it was slow it did my head in.
One of the things that amused me was it was company policy to approach all customers within the first 30seconds of them being in the store.
The thinking was this was polite acknowledgement of the customer, and it also did wonders for reducing theft/shoplifting also, by conveying that they had been seen.

The reality of course was completely different on the other side of the equation.
The store had a reputation for appearing pushy and in your face.
It always cracked me up thinking that some consultancy firm was making money selling this technique to companies.

The sales person, much like the checkout operator is actually often the customers only human interaction point with the store.
I think it's a cop out to say that these guys don't get paid enough to be good. Companies are going to suffer in these internet enabled times if they don't have good public relations capable staff.

Also it's funny to see others finding sales people pushing the best selling items.
I found that at an electrical wholesaler pushing the wrong type of DVB-T capable aerials to customers/trades people simply because that's what everybody bought.
The traditional concept of the store person being the most informed is actually out the window now. In many cases the customer knows more about the product than the sales person nowadays.

Dstarzero

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#1246346 25-Feb-2015 13:04

I think there are still merits to buying stuff from a store. 2 weeks ago I got the LG G watch R for $130 when I talked to the salesman even if it was sold out online. the week before that Noel Leeming had a special on 4k monitors which were quickly running out, when I asked online they said the estimated delivery date is March 3, but when I went to the shop and talked to the salesperson, he offered to either put my order as a priority so I can get it within a week or get the floor model which was a year old for a further discount. I asked for the priority order and got my monitor the next day.

Had I ordered online, I would probably still be waiting for both products today.

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#1246352 25-Feb-2015 13:09

The belief that Pricespy / Priceme will give you the cheapest price isn't quite right... to be fair.
I've found it common practice for retail staff to look up Pricespy as soon as they're asked for a deal... it's actually one of the bookmarks on their phones or PC's.
Once they find the low price they often beat it, so you can buy it from them on the spot.

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