What's a Roku?

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semigeek

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#166294 8-Mar-2015 18:12

I was in Harvey Norman today, and was wondering if they sold Roku's or intended to get them in, as I wanted to check one out in person, so I asked a sales guy if they had any or were going to get them, and he goes "What's a Roku?" So after explaining what it was to him, he said oh I will take you to the computer section and someone there may know. So off we went to the computer section and again I asked about them, and the salesperson there goes "What's a Roku, never heard of them?"

I pretty much knew beforehand that they wouldn't have any, but I thought they may have been considering them or something like them with the arrival of Netflix soon. I would have thought that working in a tech store and being youngish that you would know what a Roku is.

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#1253492 8-Mar-2015 18:17

working in a tech store does not mean you care for tech
working in a tech store that does not sell a product does not mean you will know what it is.
working in a tech store that does sell a product does not mean you will know what it is.

freitasm

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#1253500 8-Mar-2015 18:28

Working on anything doesn't mean you really care for the trade.

Many years ago I worked for a large system integrator (16 years with them). I was in the telco practice, so I assumed everyone in the team knew telco stuff - I mean the broad landscape.

Mobile was new stuff - 2G was just out, GPRS was the biggest change ever promising "fast always-on mobile data". Vodafone was entering New Zealand, we all knew things were changing. I thought so, until one of the guys in the team looked at and asked "Mauricio, you know these things.What is O2 in [some UK football team's tshirts]?"

I was "What? It's a mobile company. Our UK subsidiary provides services to them and you don't know?"

Reality is people don't care. And when 5pm comes they go home and don't want to know anything related to what they do.

semigeek

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#1253503 8-Mar-2015 18:47

True, people don't care sometimes as long as they get paid at the end of the week or fortnight, but you would think working in tech, you would have some interest. A lot of people out there are probably getting sold stuff that the salesperson doesn't really know much about, yet when they get home, they find out what they were sold doesn't work how they wanted.

Jase2985

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#1253507 8-Mar-2015 19:01

correct

but they wouldnt have many workers if they hired on the basis of liking, enjoying and knowing about what they are selling

semigeek

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#1253512 8-Mar-2015 19:12

Jase2985: correct

but they wouldnt have many workers if they hired on the basis of liking, enjoying and knowing about what they are selling

Funny that, as one of their (Harvey Norman) employment criteria which is in bold must be a waste of time then.

A lot of people know and enjoy tech, it should be a prerequisite that you know something about what you are going to be selling, even without training.

In the Salesperson role you will:

Sell the Electrical department’s Audio Visual Products and Services, including the latest range of music systems, televisions, home theatre systems and much more!
Achieve sales, gross profit and other targets set by the Proprietor
Keep yourself at the forefront of product ranges and technology through supplied training
Provide outstanding customer service and build lasting relationships with your customers
Merchandise and ticket products and ensure a great shopping experience
Work full time on a roster including weekends as required by the Business.

Jase2985

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#1253516 8-Mar-2015 19:19

yea but ultimately that doesn't mean a lot considering roku isnt a supplied product

ive been there many times and the sales person knew the square root of 0.

Some were good but they were the minority

semigeek

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#1253519 8-Mar-2015 19:20

Jase2985: yea but ultimately that doesn't mean a lot considering roku isnt a supplied product

No, but it applies to anything.

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Dunnersfella

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#1253525 8-Mar-2015 19:48

So if you went to the TV / toasters section first... and they don't sell media boxes, then, well, don't be surprised that they don't know about it.
The person in the computer department (where the media boxes are sold) should have a broad knowledge of the items in other stores around the country. But if no one else stocks... then why spend the time learning about it? Unless... like you, they're looking to buy one for themselves?

The rules of retail sales are...
Learn what you sell, learn what your direct competitors sell.
When it comes to following broad trends, leave that up to the people who buy the products and select the range at head office.

HOWEVER - if the sales person has said "I don't know about Roku, but there is this one guy here who IS into that sort of thing, I'll get him for you"... then, it would have been a better result for you.

For the record.
The local retail stores will no doubt have a plethora of devices that will do Netflix for you. Apple TV / WD TV / BluRay players / BluRay home theatre systems / laptops / cell phones / tablets / desk tops / smart TV's.

Glassboy

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#1253531 8-Mar-2015 20:12

freitasm: Working on anything doesn't mean you really care for the trade.

Many years ago I worked for a large system integrator (16 years with them). I was in the telco practice, so I assumed everyone in the team knew telco stuff - I mean the broad landscape.

Mobile was new stuff - 2G was just out, GPRS was the biggest change ever promising "fast always-on mobile data". Vodafone was entering New Zealand, we all knew things were changing. I thought so, until one of the guys in the team looked at and asked "Mauricio, you know these things.What is O2 in [some UK football team's tshirts]?"

I was "What? It's a mobile company. Our UK subsidiary provides services to them and you don't know?"

Reality is people don't care. And when 5pm comes they go home and don't want to know anything related to what they do.

The may not have known who O2 was, but some of them sure did know a lot about PBXs.

freitasm

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#1253557 8-Mar-2015 20:40

Sure. But the one I am talking about should've known.

On your comment though, it was not only "PBX" but the whole thing. Signaling, standards, artchitecture. The team was pretty good.

lxsw20

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#1253562 8-Mar-2015 20:49

semigeek:
Jase2985: correct

but they wouldnt have many workers if they hired on the basis of liking, enjoying and knowing about what they are selling

Funny that, as one of their (Harvey Norman) employment criteria which is in bold must be a waste of time then.

A lot of people know and enjoy tech, it should be a prerequisite that you know something about what you are going to be selling, even without training.

In the Salesperson role you will:

Sell the Electrical department’s Audio Visual Products and Services, including the latest range of music systems, televisions, home theatre systems and much more!
Achieve sales, gross profit and other targets set by the Proprietor
Keep yourself at the forefront of product ranges and technology through supplied training
Provide outstanding customer service and build lasting relationships with your customers
Merchandise and ticket products and ensure a great shopping experience
Work full time on a roster including weekends as required by the Business.

I don't see them getting training on goods you can only get in NZ as a grey import somehow.

MikeB4

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#1253567 8-Mar-2015 20:54

I have a family member that knows USB, DSL etc back to front and every other way but knows squat about mobile. In a lot of cases it's about knowing what is needed to be known.

Geektastic

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#1253634 8-Mar-2015 22:50

semigeek: I was in Harvey Norman today, and was wondering if they sold Roku's or intended to get them in, as I wanted to check one out in person, so I asked a sales guy if they had any or were going to get them, and he goes "What's a Roku?" So after explaining what it was to him, he said oh I will take you to the computer section and someone there may know. So off we went to the computer section and again I asked about them, and the salesperson there goes "What's a Roku, never heard of them?"

I pretty much knew beforehand that they wouldn't have any, but I thought they may have been considering them or something like them with the arrival of Netflix soon. I would have thought that working in a tech store and being youngish that you would know what a Roku is.

"Good morning, sir. Can I help you?"

"I very much doubt it, but let's at least give it a try, shall we?"

33coupe

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#1253637 8-Mar-2015 23:09

I have been to Harvey Norman a few times and come unstuck.

I asked if they had a media player. After being sent to two different people / departments I was told they didn't sell them. I did manage to see one in an cabinet on my way out.

Apparently they don't sell blank sim cards either, even though I bought one approx a month ago from them.

One girl also forgot to give me $10 change until I reminded her.

xpd

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#1253685 9-Mar-2015 08:59

DSE was one of the worst offenders back in the 90's -
"Hi, Im after a xxxx diode"
"A what ?"
"D-I-O-D-E"
"Uhh.... Ill just ask someone who will know" or "Oh theyre over there" and waves to a section of the store but has no clue what they are etc....

Had similar issue in Noel Leeming Computer City in Manukau around 1998/99 (been that long ?) - needed a NIC urgently, so went in there into the computer section (was labelled as such, computers and software etc all around this particular sales guy)
"I need a network card"
*blank look*
"Network cards ? Where are they ?"
"uhh... no good asking me, I dont work in this section" and then wanders off deeper into the computer section.
I goto the counter and ask the girl there - she at least has the brains to look it up in the computer system and finds one.

Stores dont care about product knowledge these days, theyre more about hiring people who can act as if they know their stuff and can turn a quick buck.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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