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Circuit City. Never Again
- Thread starter Tripqzon
- Start date
beans
Got arth-a-ritis
I noticed what may or may not be a tactic when trying to sell you speakers. Has anyone else noticed that as soon as you narrow down your choice and start leaning toward a certain model, it is at that point time for the salesman to say, "I just bought a pair of these myself and listen to them at home. I really love these!"
outlawmws
On the Run
That is the immediate precursor to "The Close" where the try to get you commit, "Can I get a set out of stock for you?" or “Can Help you get these into your cart or the register?” Everything else in sales is preparatory to “The Close”, where the mark (You) commits to the sale.
gladiator335
MRTI
I usually have couple of questions handy. If I'm in a computer section and clerk approaches me I usually ask how many RPM this particular PC hard drive is or if it is stereo section I make wide eyes and ask what is the difference between RMS, music power and peak power. Usually they don't bother me again...
dew042
Honky Tonk Hero
Considering the rumors of CC's pending sale to a video rental chain are rampant -- yeah, they are circling the crapper.
I'll preface by saying I work for Geek Squad, but I have a pretty good understanding of the overall business model after spending 4 years in a BB store. I think most of us around here are a pretty small niche in the consumer market. We research products online, we know what we want and in the end we price shop a lot. For most things, a well educated consumer will use an internet retailer since the cost will be less. In fact, as a group, I contend we are low profit consumers across the board. Why should stores market themselves to a small niche market that renders low profits? When is the last time you bought a $50 cable in a B&M store? Accesories like this are the drivers that create profits that sustain these companies. The competition for low prices on the big ticket items drives a razor thing margin -- blame the Walmart age for that.
I think we ask a lot of retail stores given those facts. The sales people are there to assist the consumers who have no idea what they want or need, and in the end, care more about system integration more than quality. Most consumers are unwilling to pay for quality and the bottom line drives their purchases. As a group I think we have very different values, that's just the way the business is run.
dew.
I'll preface by saying I work for Geek Squad, but I have a pretty good understanding of the overall business model after spending 4 years in a BB store. I think most of us around here are a pretty small niche in the consumer market. We research products online, we know what we want and in the end we price shop a lot. For most things, a well educated consumer will use an internet retailer since the cost will be less. In fact, as a group, I contend we are low profit consumers across the board. Why should stores market themselves to a small niche market that renders low profits? When is the last time you bought a $50 cable in a B&M store? Accesories like this are the drivers that create profits that sustain these companies. The competition for low prices on the big ticket items drives a razor thing margin -- blame the Walmart age for that.
I think we ask a lot of retail stores given those facts. The sales people are there to assist the consumers who have no idea what they want or need, and in the end, care more about system integration more than quality. Most consumers are unwilling to pay for quality and the bottom line drives their purchases. As a group I think we have very different values, that's just the way the business is run.
dew.
70salesguy
Only 99 easy payments!
Honesty and ethics
I know times are a lot different now, but "back in the day" when I was 70salesguy, I never tried this tactic.
If the customer asked what I had at home, I would answer truthfully. Part of the reason, other than the obvious ethics issue was that the truth doesn't change and if the same guy came back later and I didn't recognize him, I would be answering the same way every time.
I would only volunteer the information about what I had at home if the customer was looking closely at the same gear that I had or gear that was "in the family". That is, if they were looking at a Pioneer Receiver or separate, I might volunteer that I was running a SA-9100 / TX-9100 combo.
If they were looking at a JBL product, I would mention that I had L100's at home.
Honesty worked well for me then, I think it would work as well today! :yes:
I know times are a lot different now, but "back in the day" when I was 70salesguy, I never tried this tactic.
If the customer asked what I had at home, I would answer truthfully. Part of the reason, other than the obvious ethics issue was that the truth doesn't change and if the same guy came back later and I didn't recognize him, I would be answering the same way every time.
I would only volunteer the information about what I had at home if the customer was looking closely at the same gear that I had or gear that was "in the family". That is, if they were looking at a Pioneer Receiver or separate, I might volunteer that I was running a SA-9100 / TX-9100 combo.
If they were looking at a JBL product, I would mention that I had L100's at home.
Honesty worked well for me then, I think it would work as well today! :yes:
Splatter Pak
High-End Scrounger
The last time I was in the local CC and BB, the CC was nearly empty and I was never asked if I wanted help. Their wares left me unimpressed. The BB was more active, and I was looking for a PS2/USB adapter: $40!! WTF? I would not miss either store, and if they go down the tubes:
Splat
Splat
Last time I was at Best Buy (over a year ago) I was looking for a HT receiver (for movies, not audio!). I found an open-box-buy that was very obviously mismarked, with a sticker probably meant for something else. When I went to check out, the cashier noticed the error and called back to see what the price was while I played dumb. She couldn't find one salesperson that knew what the price should be, or anything about the product other than a "ugh...ugh....I dunno". She just looked at me with frustration and said "well, their loss then, they should know this stuff, right?" and just rang it up as marked. Pretty sad. And everytime I have neede their help with something, the facts they gave me were wrong. "This receiver puts out 1000 watts!".
My last electronics purchase, a Digital Converter Box, was at Circuit City. Shortly after walking into the store a clerk approached me and asked if I needed help. I asked to see the Digital Converter Boxes and the clerk showed me where they were. I bought the Box and left. I pretty good experience overall.
I have walked into Circuit City on several other occasions and noticed that I will not have to wait a long time before a salesperson will approach me to ask if they can help me. I do not get annoyed. I know that what they do is what they have been instructed to do. Many stores use “mystery shoppers” to evaluate their store employees. A missed greeting or other slip of protocol can mean a lost job. Working retail often times is no picnic. I try to keep this in mind when I shop.
I have walked into Circuit City on several other occasions and noticed that I will not have to wait a long time before a salesperson will approach me to ask if they can help me. I do not get annoyed. I know that what they do is what they have been instructed to do. Many stores use “mystery shoppers” to evaluate their store employees. A missed greeting or other slip of protocol can mean a lost job. Working retail often times is no picnic. I try to keep this in mind when I shop.
PioneerGuy85
needs more Fluroscan
Paul, there's a reason they call it Circuit Shitty 
PioneerGuy85
needs more Fluroscan
Oh, and I have a story to share, which may shed light on this problem.
When I worked at Pep Boys, my immediate boss and the DM expected me to push "the item of the month" at the register. They regularly got on to my case about it, that I was to ALWAYS ask EVERY customer, NO MATTER WHAT! They didn't care if it was regular customers I was dealing with, most of which had explicitly asked me not to push the stuff on them (and I didn't, which is why they kept getting on my case about it)
I nearly got fired one day when I snapped at my boss. He pulled me from the register with a line of people after another manager stepped in and took me outside, he was THAT pissed. After he proceeded to straight-out yell at me, I explained that I had no intention of pushing the IOTM on regular customers who have ASKED ME NOT TO. At that point, he lit a cigarette and told me to go back to the register. Never did fire me, or even write me up. I worked there until the 2 days before I moved down here, which was another 6 months.
I suspect nothing is any different with the Circuit City situation. "Approach EVERY CUSTOMER YOU CAN and ask them if you can help them. Keep an eye on them, ask them again every X minutes - NO MATTER WHAT"
The upper management is quite adamant about it. Such is why I am no longer in retail.
When I worked at Pep Boys, my immediate boss and the DM expected me to push "the item of the month" at the register. They regularly got on to my case about it, that I was to ALWAYS ask EVERY customer, NO MATTER WHAT! They didn't care if it was regular customers I was dealing with, most of which had explicitly asked me not to push the stuff on them (and I didn't, which is why they kept getting on my case about it)
I nearly got fired one day when I snapped at my boss. He pulled me from the register with a line of people after another manager stepped in and took me outside, he was THAT pissed. After he proceeded to straight-out yell at me, I explained that I had no intention of pushing the IOTM on regular customers who have ASKED ME NOT TO. At that point, he lit a cigarette and told me to go back to the register. Never did fire me, or even write me up. I worked there until the 2 days before I moved down here, which was another 6 months.
I suspect nothing is any different with the Circuit City situation. "Approach EVERY CUSTOMER YOU CAN and ask them if you can help them. Keep an eye on them, ask them again every X minutes - NO MATTER WHAT"
The upper management is quite adamant about it. Such is why I am no longer in retail.
I don't mind being asked if I need help when I enter the store. There are times when I'm in a hurry and don't mind being led to the item I came to purchase. But to bug a potential customer every 2 minutes or so is ridiculous, down right irritating and good cause for me not to return.
If i'm not in a hurry , I will stop and talk to the salesperson .
They have probably been told to ask the customers if they need any help.
I'm sure they feel bad about doing it over and over, wouldn't you.
Are they on commission ? If so just stopping and talking to them about nothing will make them happy right!
CC getting rid of experienced employee's (cost cutting) a few years back hurt them alot IMHO.........
Just my $0.02 ....
Barney
They have probably been told to ask the customers if they need any help.
I'm sure they feel bad about doing it over and over, wouldn't you.
Are they on commission ? If so just stopping and talking to them about nothing will make them happy right!
CC getting rid of experienced employee's (cost cutting) a few years back hurt them alot IMHO.........
Just my $0.02 ....
Barney
dread31
Addicted Member
The last time I went into a Best Buy I was wearing a McIntosh ballcap that the Mac dealer gave me when I bought my MA6900.
A clerk, (A dude.), asked me if I owned any Mac gear. I said, "Yep.". Then as I walked away I heard him purr, "Oooo, sexy.". I turned to see him looking at me in a way that gave me the creeps. IYKWIM. Two of his co-workers were standing behind him rolling their eyes and shaking their heads.
I never went back.
Dave
A clerk, (A dude.), asked me if I owned any Mac gear. I said, "Yep.". Then as I walked away I heard him purr, "Oooo, sexy.". I turned to see him looking at me in a way that gave me the creeps. IYKWIM. Two of his co-workers were standing behind him rolling their eyes and shaking their heads.
I never went back.
Dave
