I go to the AT&T Cingular wireless stroe across the street from my shop. They have a “dummy” 650 on display.
This happens:
Tom: “Would you have 650’s in stock? I’d like to buy one and keep my current AT&T Cingular number along with getting a wireless data plan.”
Guy: “No.”
Tom: “Whan will you get more 650’s?”
Guy: “We don’t know.”
Tom: “Can you order a Treo 650 for me?”
Guy: “No.”
Tom: “OK, so, just to review: You have this example on display with the various plans, but you have none, don;t know if you are recieving any and cannot order one for me. Is that correct?”
Guy: “Yes, that’s right.”
Tom: “Well, if I wanted to purchase a Treo 650 how would I go about doing so?”
Guy: “You may want to call information at 411 on your cellular phone and ask.”
Tom: “Hmmm, does that strike you as odd?”
Guy: “Ahh, yeah, well, we don;t carry these really…”
You should have asked him when the phone would be in a couple more times, then he should have caved and said, “Uh, probably 4-6 weeks,” and then when the phone doesn’t show up in 12 weeks, you could post about that, too.
If that person worked for me, they would be in search of another job.
If that person worked for you, you’re probably the guy who made him put up a display for a phone that you don’t have yet, and you haven’t told him when to expect any phones, and you’ve probably told him there’s no mechanism to order phones yet.
No, If that person worked for me I would train them in some basic sales skills. Like;
I’m sorry sir, this is a new and exciting model we have here at XXX Inc. We havn’t been informed as to ship date of this item yet, but let me show you all of the features this phone could do. If you are interested in purchasing this I will call to see if we have any updated delivery times yet. If I can’t get the information while you wait I will take your name and phone number and call you back when I have a better answer for you.
You are correct though, I would fire the employee for being apathetic, and fire the manager for allowing it.
I understand selling and the retail business, clearly you don’t.
Don’t even waste your time, just go the Cingular website and order it. You will not have to interact with people like that and they will Fed Ex it to you, way easier than that nightmare
Yes Tom I would have to say that is bad, but typical. It is better however than what I was told last night at a LBS.
I was looking for DA 10spd replacement chain pins for the 7800 chain. Sales guy looks through the chain section to no avail, asks the mechanic in back who has to be a solid 20 years old, he says the 9spd pin is exactly the same, here are the two you need, oh and that will be $7.
Hmmm, well researching this I find Shimano makes not one, but two different ten speed pins depending on the chain (7800 or 7801/6600)
Are all of these pins interchangeable in the real world, who knows, I do not want to eat pavement to find out. Easier to just buy a new chain.
Not only is this bad customer service, but possibly dangerous. So is it better to get the response that was given to you or me?
Nowdays you need to be an expert about everything you plan to buy just so you do not have to ask for help. Looks like you will have to buy online insted of support your local phone shop now:)
how about this one (you have to guess what I am talking about )
F: “Hi, my wife purchased this article for $425 but she can’t use it and would like to know if she can use it for this other article which is also $425, even though it’s not available right now”
“No, If that person worked for me I would train them in some basic sales skills. Like”’
You must not be in the SF Bay area. Can’t find somebody like that for under $20 an hr. I have been attempting to hire just one person 40k+ no degree required, able to pass a basic state citification test, valid driver’s license, plays well with others and have had zero success. The job market is better then every no matter what anybody says.
how about this one (you have to guess what I am talking about )
F: “Hi, my wife purchased this article for $425 but she can’t use it and would like to know if she can use it for this other article which is also $425, even though it’s not available right now”
I had a similar experience when I washed my phone with my jeans the other week. I needed a phone fast, so I went to the mall. The guy said that I needed to buy a new phone and new plan, plus pay some outrageous cancelation fee for the current contract. This would also change my number.
Instead, I waited two more days, talked to our company’s wireless rep and he warranteed the phone for me. I just paid for a new battery.
I think the first guy was assuming the SIM card was no longer good, so he may not have been completely trying to screw me over.
The last time I bought anything more than a gu packet at my nearest LBS:
Gopher: Hi, I was in here yesterday and I bought these brand new Speedplay Zero’s ($200) and a pair of Nike Pogio’s ($150 with tax), (my father also spent close to fifty bucks on misc accesories that night) I took them home and I figured out that I don’t have the right wrench to put them on.
Shop Manager: Hmmmm, did you buy the bike here?
Gopher: No I had to buy it out of town because you guys didn’t used to stock/carry QR.
Shop Manager: Well, since we’ve got the right tool to do it, I’ll put them on for four dollars. (Might have been six, I don’t remember for sure.)
Gopher: What ever man.
I paid it and that’s the last time I’ve bought anything more than a spare tube there.
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