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☖ Forums → Discussion Forum → CompUSA and Fry's Electronics can eat me
CompUSA and Fry's Electronics can eat me
2005-03-16, 8:49 PM #1
So I went out Monday night to drop my car off at the shop, and my friend picked me up. We went to Outback Steakhouse afterwards, and he decides that he wants to go to CompUSA. Being as I don't have a choice, I go too. Well, after walking into a deserted store, I remember that I need a new Playstation 2 control. Seems my other 2 met the side of my house, a tree, and the pavement outback. So I go pick one up and head up to the front registar. I stand there with my credit card in my hand, at the registar with the light on. There are 2 guys at customer service helping some lady. 2 employees for one customer. Now, they see me there, but rather than saying "Hey we'll be right with you" or "Just a moment" they just flat out ignore me. After like 5 minutes I just said "**** this" and left the stuff my friend and I were going to purchase on the counter. We then went to Fry's Electronics.

Fry's is like Best Buy, but not as cool. The only thing is that they are like 10 times larger than Best Buy, and all the stuff has a price listed directly on it, so you can't get the wrong price. Well, I knew that I'd get the remote there. While there, it dawned on me that I need to get a new plugging system for my amp. So I go over to there mobile installation area, while holding the PS2 control, and try to get some help. Well, the guy doesn't help. In fact, he doesn't even acknowledge me. I walk over and play with the TVs, the CD players, the amps, subwoofers, etc. Nothing. I walk up and try, it fails. I finally stood in the doorway entrance to the equipment and leaned against the doorway with my arm crossed, nothing. Finally I said "Screw this crap" and left.

I spent $435 today for equipment. And I am not done yet.
I can't think of anything to put here right now.
2005-03-16, 8:56 PM #2
comp-usa is not the best store, anyone could tell you that.

However, i'm surprised that Fry's would do that.

The closest one to me in in fountain Valley, CA, and they have excellent service.
2005-03-16, 8:57 PM #3
I kind of know the feeling.
I stood at the camera desk of my local Harvey Norman store (furniture/electronics etc) for 5 to 8 minutes, and no-one even bothered to come over and see if I needed anything. I went out and bought the camera online.. just to spite them :o
I visited the projector area of the same store on a different occasion, and had pretty much the same experience. I went to another store, found the projector I wanted, was actually served by an employee, and walked away with $3600 worth of stuff. I probably should have gone back to the first store and rubbed their noses in it (just like in Pretty Woman.. i guess)
"You want the truth?! You can't handle the truth!! No truth-handler you!! Bah!! I deride your truth-handling ability!!"
2005-03-16, 9:04 PM #4
I'm going to send them a letter and let them know.
I can't think of anything to put here right now.
2005-03-16, 9:08 PM #5
also, to be fair, you sometimes have to be a bit more active when you pursue service. Sometimes, i have to bang on the counter to get their attention.

see, most salesmen assume that you are just looking and they expect you to come to them if you need service. (The only exception is when salesmen are working commission--- thats when they wil come to you.)
2005-03-16, 9:12 PM #6
Pagewizard, the thing was, I WAS trying to get his attention. I approached him, I played with stuff, etc. There were a couple other people who just walk past something, turn there head and he was on them faster than a drunken cheerleader in a frat house. I did the same thing, and they just didn't care. A buddy of mine told me to start pushing the subwoofers across the ground until someone acknowledged me. If they want me to buy there ****, and are ignoring me, then screw them.

I walked into Best Buy's Mobile electronics today and was greeted within FIFTEEN seconds.
I can't think of anything to put here right now.
2005-03-16, 9:17 PM #7
Quote:
Originally posted by THRAWN
Pagewizard, the thing was, I WAS trying to get his attention. I approached him, I played with stuff, etc.



...did you try talking to him? That usually does the trick when nothing else would.

If he ignores you then, talk to the manager.

Once, I was in a department store buying stuff, and there was this cashier reading a book on the job. I approached her, and said "Good book?" She said yeah, but i got her attention. I was tempted to tell her 'You're fired." ( b/c there are usually plainclothes managers walking around the stores a lot checking up on employees to be sure they are not slacking off on the job.) However, I felt lenient that day, so I didn't pull that s***.
2005-03-16, 9:21 PM #8
Tried it. That's why I said screw it. I'm going to write a letter and mail it to both places.
I can't think of anything to put here right now.
2005-03-16, 9:23 PM #9
I'm surprised you aren't just going to go bash something in their store.
2005-03-16, 9:28 PM #10
...why would I do that?
I can't think of anything to put here right now.
2005-03-16, 9:28 PM #11
... You don't know what you're talking about (as usual) Page.

You're absolutely right. You recieved piss-poor service. In any retail environment it's the JOB of the employee to seek out the customer and at least ASK if they need help. There is no room for assumptions. Even in a non-commissioned environment (like Best Buy) sales associates are expected to be walking around looking for customers to help within their zoned areas. At Best Buy (I know because I work for the company, though not in sales) you can be at least written up, and at worst fired for ignoring a customer. I've seen the latter happen more than once.

You should have gone to both stores customer service desks and requested to speak to the Manager on Duty. Get some lazy bastards fired. It's not your job to have to ask for help unless you've already been asked once and you opted to "just look" at that point, the sales associate will likely respect your space and not bother you again until you ask for help. If they expect you to spend money, you should expect them to be jumping to help you.
-=I'm the wang of this here site, and it's HUGE! So just imagine how big I am.=-
1337Yectiwan
The OSC Empire
10 of 14 -- 27 Lives On
2005-03-16, 9:35 PM #12
Quote:
Originally posted by Yecti
... You don't know what you're talking about (as usual) Page.

You're absolutely right. You recieved piss-poor service. In any retail environment it's the JOB of the employee to seek out the customer and at least ASK if they need help. There is no room for assumptions. Even in a non-commissioned environment (like Best Buy) sales associates are expected to be walking around looking for customers to help within their zoned areas. At Best Buy (I know because I work for the company, though not in sales) you can be at least written up, and at worst fired for ignoring a customer. I've seen the latter happen more than once.



Youv'e never been to long beach, then, b/c our young working population is mostly made up of schmucks that just stand around on the job. Who could blame them for half-a**ing their jobs when all they get is minimum wage? I wouldn't go out of my way to work hard if all i got was $6.50 an hour no matter how hard i worked.

I've been to places that give you great service, but more often than not, you have to find salesmen.
2005-03-16, 9:42 PM #13
Yecti has it right. Send the letter, and why don't you call while you're at it. That sort of service is unacceptable, and if the managers of the two stores knew the kind of business they were losing (just mention the money you spent that day, implying it could be spent there), they will probably do something for you to reconcile your treatment.
2005-03-16, 9:43 PM #14
Minimum wage is $5.15 an hour.
2005-03-16, 9:43 PM #15
The best way to get attention in a computer store or a higher end electronics area is to wear a suit.

The Future Shop in the business park where I work is horrible. I can go in wearing jeans and a tshirt and get absolutely no service, or I can go in wearing a dress shirt and pair of slacks and have 5 employees drooling over me.

But again, some people just aren't motivated some nights. I work at a Walmart and there are some nights I go in planning to hide in the corner sorting through the same 5 alarm clocks for 7 hours.
2005-03-16, 9:48 PM #16
Quote:
Originally posted by Rob
Minimum wage is $5.15 an hour.


http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm

CA minimum wage is $6.75 an hour.

It may look good, but you're really getting screwed b/c they take a lot of it out as taxes (:mad: ) and everything out here is more expensive, so you hardly get s*** for your money.
2005-03-16, 9:49 PM #17
Hmm, didn't know each state could decide it's own minimum wage.

Thought it was a federal gov't thing.
2005-03-16, 9:49 PM #18
Quote:
Originally posted by Yecti
...It's not your job to have to ask for help unless you've already been asked once and you opted to "just look" at that point, the sales associate will likely respect your space and not bother you again until you ask for help. If they expect you to spend money, you should expect them to be jumping to help you.


I did just that today. When I went to Best Buy, I got on their PC and at first I wasn't interested in buying anything when asked. I knew I had to get a new radio but didn't know what. When I saw the 5 Alpine's pop up, I chased the dude back down realizing they had what I wanted. After that, he gave me his undivided attention.

What really got me though was some of the other people getting service at Fry's. They were frigging gang banger types, wearing all the stuff you'd expect. My friend said "Probably think they might try and steel something." Not sure what good that'd do when the stuff is bolted down. If you see a customer standing in your area for 15 minutes with other electronic equipment in his hand, and playing with stuff, trying to figure it out, you should get the idea to walk over and say hello.

The federal government does have a set minimum wage, but a state can regulate it. The federal government said $5.15, but in Texas they can say $6.00. They just can't go below $5.15.

And one more thing, I also need to get a new alarm system, top of the line Viper is what I am looking at. $320 system, it'll alert me when it goes off by beeping my key. Best Buy has it. Fry's? Not sure, they wouldn't tell me.
I can't think of anything to put here right now.
2005-03-16, 9:57 PM #19
just be glad you don't live in Kansas.

$2.65

"The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act." meaning, they don't have set minimyum wage. Tthe poor b*****ds there really get it up the a**.
2005-03-16, 10:03 PM #20
LAME...

Something like minimum wage really should be regulated by the federal government. It should also be a livable wage, for a single person. Anything below $8 really isn't a livable wage in my opinion.
2005-03-16, 10:04 PM #21
Quote:
Originally posted by Pagewizard_YKS
Youv'e never been to long beach, then, b/c our young working population is mostly made up of schmucks that just stand around on the job. Who could blame them for half-a**ing their jobs when all they get is minimum wage? I wouldn't go out of my way to work hard if all i got was $6.50 an hour no matter how hard i worked.

I've been to places that give you great service, but more often than not, you have to find salesmen.


Then you have some crappy managers working at those stores.
Pissed Off?
2005-03-16, 10:04 PM #22
It seems like whenever you want them, they ignore you, and whenever you don't want them, they keep bothering you.

Everytime I go to radioshack, the salesmen are all over me like annoying parasites. As a rule I've gotten used that whatever they say is the opposite of reality. I was looking at a mixer (radio shack brand), and the guy keeps on and on about how great this mixer is and how well built it is and how good it sounds... But radio shack mixers are well known to be the worst on the planet. They break after a few weeks of use, they sound horrible, they create distortion...

Then there's the stores that just piss me off before I even see their personel - such as Wal Mart. The other day, I was looking for rechargable AA batteries. After searching the giant floor forever and encountering a damn crying baby at every other idle, I finaly found the electronics dept. The girl at the counter was busy on the phone but she did the sale anyways - and as I requested an additional 20$ to be withdrawn from my account, she accidently pressed a wrong button and gave me a 20$ refund. Normally I'd give the 20 back, but they just piss me off so much, I was glad to keep it and not say a word.
The music industry is a cruel and shallow money trench where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.
2005-03-16, 10:07 PM #23
Good deal, Flex.
2005-03-16, 10:09 PM #24
I don't get it... you stand at the counter for 5 minutes waiting to be served?

Don't you lot have the expression "oi mate" in your dictionary? When "oi" fails, "OI MATE" usually works wonders.
2005-03-16, 10:21 PM #25
Quote:
I am bringing to your attention about the service I received March 14th. I came in to purchase a Playstation 2 control. After choosing the control, I noticed the mobile electronics area. Recently I began to upgrade my car stereo system. I began browsing the items on display, and found a few things I wanted to ask questions about. However, Bradley Cox would not help me. I spent 15 minutes trying to get his attention, ranging from general approach asking for assistance, to playing with the different equipment. On more than one occasion he walked into the room where you keep the amplifiers, looked at me then left again, without even saying a word, or he approached someone else. The final thing I did was just stood in the doorway with my arms crossed, waiting for him to come over and ask if I needed help. This was after I approached him and was not acknowledged, and after he walked in and left. After this happened, I spoke to my friend and said I was ready, purchased the control and left. I chose to wait several days to write this, to be sure I was not just upset that night and would not care by the next day.
***
I went to Best Buy today and purchased a new stereo for my car, and some other equipment. I was greeted within 15 seconds of entering the mobile electronics department, and the employee on duty was very helpful. I ended up spending over $435 for my new stereo, add that on top of the $300 I spent on my speakers, over $200 for my amplifier, and I still need to purchase my subwoofers, and one more amplifier. When you add the amount I’ve spent, that is just under $1000 worth of electronic equipment and I have more I still need to purchase.
***
I do not know if you sell car alarms at Fry’s Electronics, as I could not find any on my own or with assistance. I decided to purchase a top of the line Viper car alarm from Best Buy, which will cost over $320. Once I add the subwoofers into this, that is over $1500 worth of electronic equipment I chose to purchase this from somewhere else, rather than your store.
***
Finally I have decided that I will no longer shop with your store for expensive equipment. I will only purchase DVD movies from your place when I need to. I was getting ready to upgrade my computer, but decided that I will take my business elsewhere for my expensive electronic equipment.
***
I feel that I should bring this to your attention because this employee fails to realize the amount of money he has cost your store. I know that $1500 is little compared to the day to day income your store generates. After working in retail, I am going to guess your store generates at least $250,000 per day in capital. Perhaps in your opinion that $1500 is not much, but stop and realize that if he does this to one customer who is trying to get his attention, imagine the other people he is ignoring and costing your store. That will add up well past $1500.
I can't think of anything to put here right now.
2005-03-16, 10:21 PM #26
Hahahahaha.

When I say "OI MATE" I often get looks that are weird.
2005-03-16, 10:41 PM #27
I have 3 Fry's Electronics within driving range. They all have horrible customer service (I've gotten a floor manager 3 times in the past 3 years due to being back-sassed by one employee or another) and Fry's does this lame thing where all returned merchandise is reshelved without quality testing at full price. I once returned a motherboard that had 2 non-functional PCI slots. They took it without complaint while I went and got another of the same board. The scary thing is, the board I had just returned was already back on the shelf when I got there; I made sure not to grab it again. =P

However, I love their selection and prices so I put up with it. Any time I don't wanna put up with jerks I go to my local Best Buy. The only sad part there is many of the employees are people I graduated high school with. -_-

Fry's San Diego is the best prices and store layout, but is a long drive for me, San Marcos is the prettiest but is always sold out of what I want to buy, Anaheim is horrible, I'll never go back to that one... the nearby Carls Jr. is really high-tech though...

QM
2005-03-17, 4:07 AM #28
Quote:
Originally posted by Pagewizard_YKS
just be glad you don't live in Kansas.

$2.65

"The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act." meaning, they don't have set minimyum wage. Tthe poor b*****ds there really get it up the a**.


That's for Waitresses. Minimum wage is 5.50--trust me, I lived there, I know.

Beware the Ides of March...or something.
D E A T H
2005-03-17, 6:23 AM #29
Quote:
Originally posted by Pagewizard_YKS
just be glad you don't live in Kansas.

$2.65

"The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act." meaning, they don't have set minimyum wage. Tthe poor b*****ds there really get it up the a**.


I live in Kansas, minimum wage is around 5.65 an hour, like yoshi said, 2.65 is for waiters and waitresses. They're expected to pick up the difference in tips, if they don't, they get paid the difference so they make just as much as (if not more than) someone on minimum wage.
2005-03-17, 9:16 AM #30
That site also doesn't list a minimum wage for arizona, but it's $5.15 or $5.25, and $2 something for waitresses and such.
2005-03-17, 1:28 PM #31
Frys does not work like best buy. It is not a larger version of Best buy. It is merely a larger store.

Best buy bombards you with "Can I help you sir?" "do you need any help?" "Find everytin allright?" "Anything you folks need help finding?"

I was there two days ago, browsing hte movie section, and it was soo annoying that people kept cooming up. One guy, trying to be all proactive and crap, said something like "Hey there, can I help you find anything? Are you ok?" I was seriously like 'GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME, I"M BROWSING, LEAVE ME ALONE' because I was just looking to spend some cash and I wanted to see all my options. I browsed for a good 30 minutes, just one of those days of browsing. Ok I didn't say that, but I did say " Uhh, no, I'm good." And the guy closest to me says "aren't we always ok?"

FRY'S on the other hand...
I've had to wait in LINE for a half hour to get help from the guy at the computer console in the aisle. THey have a very government/communistesque system for helping people. It's a "you come to us" deal. So seriously, DON'T expect them to help you/come to you, it's just the way they work.

My family bought a DVD player, and a TV once, 600 bucks worth of stuff. When they wouldn't take back a videogame a few years back, the only way my dad could convince them was to say "I just bought 600 bucks worth of TV stuff, and I'll return all of it if you're not going to exchange this game."

They're very bad about stuff sometimes, they're ok about stuff sometimes, but they usually have agood selection. And yes, they do just put stuff back on the shelf and other cheap crap like that. :P
I'm just saying, Don't expect much.
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2005-03-17, 1:40 PM #32
I just skimmed the thread, but I'll say this: Yes, store employees should ask you how you're doing, but if you're having trouble, it's your responsibility to ask, especially if you've already turned down the help. You don't go play with items and look curious to get attention. You're not a girl trying to get a guy to notice you, you're trying to buy electronics. der huuur
Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.

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