- (After going through the pitch with a nice Print/Scan/Copy/Fax that weighs about as much as I do and retrieving it from the top level on a not-so-sturdy ladder, lugging it to the front of the store…upon asking if she needed a USB cable for it…) “But that doesn’t fit in my computer.” “Yes it does, I sold you your computer…it is this one, here. It goes here.” “No it doesn’t, it doesn’t fit.” (Demonstrating its fitting) “…Oh, THAT end goes in the computer? I had it backwards. I don’t need this printer, then.” (Facepalming, walking away to restock the printer, silently, she follows me…) “Well I’m SORRY. I just spent so much time going back and forth with it, I thought…” “You should have spent more time in preschool learning your shapes.”
- “My monitor gave me a virus!”
- “What do you mean I got a virus? I have Norton/McAfee!”
- “You know the computer from the ad?” “Uh…we have like twelve. Can you be more specific?”
- “There are all these people standing around!” “They are cashiers. They don’t have anyone to ring out…nor do they have any knowledge or experience to help you with what you need…”
- “Do you have the iPad yet?”
- (After passing the sign that clearly states, “No Animals EXCEPT Service Animals Permitted, Thank You,”) “Why am I getting all these dirty looks? It’s JUST a dog. Sheesh! What, do you people hate animals? What’s your problem?” “No one here hates animals, however we have a clearly stated policy; some employees and customers have animal allergies…and just because you think he is a fashion accessory does not mean he should be around MILLIONS of dollars of electronics.”
- “I need a cable to take my laptop to my TV.” “Sure, what connectors does your TV have?” “What?” (Sweatdrop) “What type of inputs are in the back of your TV?/How old is it/What brand is it?” “Don’t know/Newer/Don’t know.” “Newer to me and newer to you are probably two VERY different time frames.” “Three years?” “Old. But I need to know those things first…” (Irritated that I don’t have ESP for electronics and don’t just know, he continues to argue) “I didn’t know there were different connectors, that’s stupid.” “Sir…Even not knowing, it isn’t stupid. Technology changes. That’s like saying the fact that Ford has a Taurus now in contrast to a Model T is ridiculous….”
- “You’re gonna give me a good deal, right?” “Everything is priced as marked.” “But YOU’re gonna give me a deal, right?” “I have no power over the prices. I can and will not change them. I’m not commissioned, so I don’t get any more or less if you buy this or not.” “…I don’t believe you.” “That’s fine; it doesn’t change my paycheck. Think what you like, I won’t bend backwards to change your mind.”
Now, don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy a pleasant interaction. It is nice to see people happily leaving my store with the things they need to get up and running, not feeling as if they have been pressured and/or mislead. I like to see/hear return customers ask for me by name. I can say that I have never lied to a customer to get them to buy something…after all, I am not commissioned. The only thing I get out of my job aside from my hourly wage is a POSSIBLE bonus if my entire store hits over 103% profit margin…so yes, I want us to be profitable, but not badly enough to mislead people. On that same note, I’m not bothered if people think I’m full of shit when I lay out our non-commissioned statement because, I mean, why get mad over it? Their mind is made up, it isn’t like I could change it, and even if I could, it isn’t like it would do anything for me.
Going non-commissioned is something a handful of people think was a mistake for Best Buy because of the fact that many of their salespeople are like, “Fuck it, I don’t get anything out of this, so why bother?” In my opinion, that’s a bad attitude, because you do get a paycheck. My thoughts are that since Best Buy decided to remove the commissioned part of their sales is that they should have raised the average hourly rate…but of course that’s asking too much.
Oh, and I might be a supervisor of my department, soon. Hah.
helixy