Why are PB Tech so awful?

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#1187944 3-Dec-2014 14:06

BlueShift:
KiwiNZ: The last time I was in PB Tech Wellington my thoughts would be that it is not entirely the management fault, they staff they had on were not exactly ummm how should I put this, they were not top shelf by quite a long way.

How is that not management's fault? They are the ones hiring 'not top shelf' staff, and/or paying rates that ensure they only get 'not top shelf' staff.

Staff have a responsibility to their employer, their customers and themselves, they are adults and work is a far cry from pre-school

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BlakJak

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#1188009 3-Dec-2014 15:03

A couple of observations

1) Been dealing with PBTech since they were a single, Penrose-based branch, never had a major issue with them (when dealing in person, mostly Penrose but also Queen St on occaision)
2) Web orders are filled out of Penrose so if the problem were systemic at a branch level, Penrose would also suck; in my experience they don't, so one hopes that the OP's experience is exceptional
3) Sometimes, bad stuff does happen; sometimes individual employees do suck and it takes a long time to 'manage them out'.
4) As companies grow, hierarchy builds and the general cloo level of the front line tends to drop. I wonder if PB are in the beginnings of suffering in this space. The race-to-the-bottom does lead to companies trying to do more, with less, and ensure they can offer stuff dirt-cheap to customers and effectively out-bid their competition. Or for a slightly different angle, sometimes it's better to pay a bit more for service that is that little bit better.

But that said I still shop at PB.

PS: swear filter for-teh-lose :/

No signature to see here, move along...

Geektastic

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#1188021 3-Dec-2014 15:17

So far I have had excellent delivery and service from the place I get about 90% of my gear...The Apple Store!

Those guys make life so easy for us captive Fruitarians.

Mighty Ape good and Elive also good.

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#1188054 3-Dec-2014 15:37

Geektastic: So far I have had excellent delivery and service from the place I get about 90% of my gear...The Apple Store!

Those guys make life so easy for us captive Fruitarians.

If you pay Apple prices you should expect "excellent delivery and service"

Sideface

BlueShift

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#1188089 3-Dec-2014 16:20

KiwiNZ:
BlueShift:
KiwiNZ: The last time I was in PB Tech Wellington my thoughts would be that it is not entirely the management fault, they staff they had on were not exactly ummm how should I put this, they were not top shelf by quite a long way.

How is that not management's fault? They are the ones hiring 'not top shelf' staff, and/or paying rates that ensure they only get 'not top shelf' staff.

Staff have a responsibility to their employer, their customers and themselves, they are adults and work is a far cry from pre-school

Absolutely.

Meanwhile, in the actual workplace - if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys, and if you don't articulate and model appropriate attitude to your staff, they will tend towards the path of least resistance, which may well give an appearance of not giving a toss. Even a model employee can get the will to live sucked out of them by working for a David Brent.

I have no personal knowledge of the management, staff or working conditions of any PB Tech store. But I've been around the block a couple of times.

Glassboy

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#1188236 3-Dec-2014 20:17

Geektastic: So far I have had excellent delivery and service from the place I get about 90% of my gear...The Apple Store!

Those guys make life so easy for us captive Fruitarians.

Well it a specialist geriatric product. It's bad karma to be mean to old people.

Lias

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#1188258 3-Dec-2014 20:48

Used to buy a bit of stuff from PBTech Hamilton as I got a pretty decent discount from them through work (who spent a fair bit of coin).

RMA's were usually a bit painful, but no huge issues. I do know a couple of the former tech's however and they don't have very complimentary things to say about the management or internal processes however, of either Hamilton or the Penrose mothership.

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richms

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#1188267 3-Dec-2014 21:11

Web sales aren't penrose anymore. Also the service center is gone from there and it's just a counter like other branches. The old BBQ factory building is unstaffed when I last looked.

Richard rich.ms

Geektastic

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#1188310 3-Dec-2014 22:53

Sideface:
Geektastic: So far I have had excellent delivery and service from the place I get about 90% of my gear...The Apple Store!

Those guys make life so easy for us captive Fruitarians.

If you pay Apple prices you should expect "excellent delivery and service"

I agree - but I am very happy to do that.

What I am not happy to do is pay Apple prices and NOT get great service. That really winds me up.

Geektastic

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#1188313 3-Dec-2014 22:56

BlueShift:
KiwiNZ:
BlueShift:
KiwiNZ: The last time I was in PB Tech Wellington my thoughts would be that it is not entirely the management fault, they staff they had on were not exactly ummm how should I put this, they were not top shelf by quite a long way.

How is that not management's fault? They are the ones hiring 'not top shelf' staff, and/or paying rates that ensure they only get 'not top shelf' staff.

Staff have a responsibility to their employer, their customers and themselves, they are adults and work is a far cry from pre-school

Absolutely.

Meanwhile, in the actual workplace - if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys, and if you don't articulate and model appropriate attitude to your staff, they will tend towards the path of least resistance, which may well give an appearance of not giving a toss. Even a model employee can get the will to live sucked out of them by working for a David Brent.

I have no personal knowledge of the management, staff or working conditions of any PB Tech store. But I've been around the block a couple of times.

I would LOVE to work for David Brent! Can you imagine the hilarity that would ensue?!

Remember, as the Brentmeister said: eagles may fly high, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!

matisyahu

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#1188360 3-Dec-2014 23:52

I tend to avoid them because they'll claim that something is in stock then later they come back and say, "na, it isn't in stock even though our website says it is" and the fact that their is a load of negative feedback on pricespy - one or two complaints you can overlook but not the amount I saw.

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

rphenix

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#1188515 4-Dec-2014 10:20

BlakJak: A couple of observations

1) Been dealing with PBTech since they were a single, Penrose-based branch, never had a major issue with them (when dealing in person, mostly Penrose but also Queen St on occaision)
2) Web orders are filled out of Penrose so if the problem were systemic at a branch level, Penrose would also suck; in my experience they don't, so one hopes that the OP's experience is exceptional
3) Sometimes, bad stuff does happen; sometimes individual employees do suck and it takes a long time to 'manage them out'.
4) As companies grow, hierarchy builds and the general cloo level of the front line tends to drop. I wonder if PB are in the beginnings of suffering in this space. The race-to-the-bottom does lead to companies trying to do more, with less, and ensure they can offer stuff dirt-cheap to customers and effectively out-bid their competition. Or for a slightly different angle, sometimes it's better to pay a bit more for service that is that little bit better.

But that said I still shop at PB.

PS: swear filter for-teh-lose :/

Penrose isn't the distribution point anymore its now Manukau where all the wholesale orders are processed.

BlakJak

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#1188578 4-Dec-2014 12:03

rphenix:
BlakJak: A couple of observations

1) Been dealing with PBTech since they were a single, Penrose-based branch, never had a major issue with them (when dealing in person, mostly Penrose but also Queen St on occaision)
2) Web orders are filled out of Penrose so if the problem were systemic at a branch level, Penrose would also suck; in my experience they don't, so one hopes that the OP's experience is exceptional
3) Sometimes, bad stuff does happen; sometimes individual employees do suck and it takes a long time to 'manage them out'.
4) As companies grow, hierarchy builds and the general cloo level of the front line tends to drop. I wonder if PB are in the beginnings of suffering in this space. The race-to-the-bottom does lead to companies trying to do more, with less, and ensure they can offer stuff dirt-cheap to customers and effectively out-bid their competition. Or for a slightly different angle, sometimes it's better to pay a bit more for service that is that little bit better.

But that said I still shop at PB.

PS: swear filter for-teh-lose :/

Penrose isn't the distribution point anymore its now Manukau where all the wholesale orders are processed.

Useful to know.

One thing that frustrated me about PB Tech was that you couldn't have a corporate account with them that applied at all branches. I assumed that if you wanted to buy on account your account was also valid at Penrose. Perhaps not.

No signature to see here, move along...

bisr

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#1188760 4-Dec-2014 15:58

I also have to say that I have bought for myself and clients thousands and thousands of dollars worth of gear from PBTech. Everything always goes smoothly including returns when I get it directly from North Shore branch where I have a great relationship with senior staff. I regularly have to go into Penrose and Queen Street branches as well, but I don't know anyone there really.

As for web orders, I've never had a shipping or purchase problem ever. Was a little tiresome when I wanted to get a refund in the Penrose branch on an OCZ SSD once as I refused a replacement as I wasn't willing to have another bad drive - however that is understandable as legally they weren't obligated to do anything but honour the warranty conditions which were replacement only. Frankly I was grateful they did the "right thing" as I just used the credit to buy a Samsung Pro SSD from the same store.

Even though I basically have no friendliness at Penrose, they always seem to do the "right thing" when it comes to refunds.

I mainly shop computer stuff at Playtech and PBTech. Depends who is cheaper. Friendly with staff at both. Playtech a smaller player, but extremely functional and efficient, and the best smartphone prices in NZ. Computer Lounge only sometimes via the web, but I have never experienced anything but good things from them either.

When it comes to delays in orders on mega sales I really think you have to give more leeway. It's not the end of the world and they gave you a complete refund. It's just subject line of this thread that is way to extreme for me - it should be "PBTech let me down this one time, it was frustrating - here's the details..."

bisr

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#1188762 4-Dec-2014 15:59

One thing that frustrated me about PB Tech was that you couldn't have a corporate account with them that applied at all branches. I assumed that if you wanted to buy on account your account was also valid at Penrose. Perhaps not.

It's true. That is a systematic screw-up with PBTech. Accounts should be linked between all branches, for sure.

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