This might be more of a lounge or chitchat topic, mods plz feel free to move. I figured Tech Talk haX0rs will find this more relevant than others.

Anyhow, how much are these asshats in Best Buy/ Circuit City and the like make? Keep running into reps with total lack of competency. I will spare you of all the horror stories, but just today a sales rep working in (and possibly supervising) computer department has "never heard about with such brand as Lenovo." Very seldom I will run into enthusiast that actually cares about product on the shelf, like the other day there was a film student from a local community colledge working in the camcorder department. Honestly, Food Lion cashier could come in and just as successfully read basic specs off the retail box and run the register. I honestly hope the only reason these guys arehired is because they are getting minimum wage and possibly the savings are passed on to the customers.

I assume Geek Squad people are more competent, and probably are paid correspondingly, haven't had to deal with them up close so far.

Honestly it is so frustrating, makes me want to get a job there just to put these guys out of their misery.

/rant

11/25/2008 8:45:29 PM

no one working retail really cares about what they do

and this is more of a chit chat thread than a tech talk or lounge thread

11/25/2008 10:01:05 PM

Quote :

"no one working retail really cares about what they do"

if they do, they either

a) have no life, no friends, and their job is the only thing they care about
b) are new to retail and stop caring shortly thereafter

11/25/2008 10:11:27 PM

Friend of mine used to work part time at Geek Squad as an in home rep. He made about $12 a hour doing it - that type of money is not worth caring for.

11/25/2008 10:14:17 PM

I've thought about doing this part time on the weekends as sort of community outreach.

But then I realized that 90% of the time I would be telling the customers to go to another store, or online, so I imagine I wouldn't keep my job too long.

11/25/2008 10:40:19 PM

I worked at circuit city and with firedog a couple years ago or so.. Made about 10 an hour. the training for the people in the departments sucked. Most of the knowledge people have about the product are stuff they figured out on their own. They are mostly just trying to get you to buy whatever computer/equipment that you will also try to buy the service plan with. I just stay away from those stores for any computer related purchases..

11/25/2008 10:41:13 PM

lol yah i remember we would get so happy when we sold a service plan

i sold 3 in one day and i got a gold star next to my name

























in hindsight they treated us like downies... but i enjoyed the freedom of having some money of my own in high school. haven't ever worked in retail again, thank god...

[Edited on November 25, 2008 at 10:52 PM. Reason : .]

11/25/2008 10:52:14 PM

yeah, about $10 an hour


I worked retail for 5 years.

99% of the people who do it do it just because it's a job. I did it because I couldnt find anything better lacking a degree.


I learned everything about the products because I was interested in them, not to sell them. When I go in stores now, I still know more about the products that your average collared shirt - now that's because it's my job to know about EVERYTHING.

11/25/2008 11:06:25 PM

Quote :

"99% of the people who do it do it just because it's a job. I did it because I couldnt find anything better lacking a degree. of the employee discount."

When I worked at BBY 6 years ago or so we got a 5% over store cost discount. Roughly that translated in to 45% off home theater and car audio stuff, and damn near 90% off of cables, etc.

11/26/2008 12:35:01 AM

as a retail employee i think part of the problem is how workers in retail are treated. websites have devastated most retailers and customers expect to pay wal-mart prices with nordstorm's level of service. stores have moved away from commissioned sales (rightfully so imho)but what that equates to is shit for pay and constantly dealing with angry unreasonable customers. for the most part i do enjoy my job but i deal with customers that could use an ass beating on the daily.
just this past week i dealt with
-a guy who wanted to return a cd he bought in dec' 2006
-customer wanted us to match a website that had a reseller rating of 2 and was 200$ cheaper than any other "real" website
- a guy who wanted us to match a best buy offer that was a price mistake.(made a big scene)
- a guy who bought a bunch of high margin items for a "package" deal on his tv then returned all said items.


[Edited on November 26, 2008 at 5:01 AM. Reason : examples ]

11/26/2008 4:50:41 AM

CC and Best Buy used to pay their salespeople commission. The quality of service dropped dramatically after they quit doing that.

I had a guy in one of my classes who said he made over $6k by working 7 days a week in December.

[Edited on November 26, 2008 at 12:03 PM. Reason : l]

11/26/2008 12:03:13 PM

^BB never paid commission.

11/26/2008 12:54:24 PM

I know CC did. I guess I just assumed BB operated the same at that time.

11/26/2008 12:55:52 PM

CC did until about 2002 or '03. BB never paid commission, and they used that as part of their advertising to take market share from CC when they were the new game in town.

11/26/2008 1:44:53 PM

I'm I never worked electronic retail, I'd hate people a lot more than I already do.

11/26/2008 1:51:42 PM

Quote :

"I assume Geek Squad people are more competent"

ahahahahahaha

11/26/2008 2:09:21 PM

Quote :

"BB never paid commission. "

they did actually, in the early 90s.

11/26/2008 2:21:15 PM

^^^wut?

11/26/2008 2:33:54 PM

Quote :

"1990 – Best Buy eliminates commission for standalone sales people, but retains bonuses for management and supervisors"

ok... my bad. either way, they got rid of it a LOT earlier than CC. Then again, they do a lot of things earlier than CC.

11/26/2008 2:54:58 PM

Except go under!

11/26/2008 4:28:02 PM

Quote :

"I assume Geek Squad people are more competent, and probably are paid correspondingly, haven't had to deal with them up close so far. "

The thought of someone rushing home giddy with the excitement of being promoted to the geek squad nakes me lol.
Honey, get the kids. We're all go'in out for pizza!!

11/26/2008 4:33:32 PM

Quote :

"CC and Best Buy used to pay their salespeople commission. The quality of service dropped dramatically after they quit doing that."

that explains the level of indifference these guys/girls have. still doesnt fully account for lack of knowledge. i'd figured if i was looking for an entry-level retail job, i'd at least sell something that i enjoy being around/knowing about. Defenitely do not understand retailers reasoning for eliminating performance-based pay.

Quote :

"The thought of someone rushing home giddy with the excitement of being promoted to the geek squad nakes me lol. Honey, get the kids. We're all go'in out for pizza!."

The only Geek Squad[er] i knew was living in a two-bedroom house in Garner that he owned (obviously, while paying mortgage) at age 21. Tons of electronics in it too. I have hard time seeing that happen on 12 bucks an hour, and his parents weren't rich or anything..

[Edited on November 27, 2008 at 4:56 PM. Reason : .]

11/27/2008 4:55:58 PM

^ BBY and CC "training" comes from internal computer based training courses the company creates and publishes which are required for their associates to take.

Also home prices in Garner are dirt cheap. You might as well call Garner little Mexico. Its ghetto as hell too.

11/27/2008 5:12:45 PM

^^ Ive read (a few months ago, no link) that geek squadders make like ~14 and apple itools make like ~18. Dont quote me though?

11/27/2008 8:36:13 PM

I worked at RadioShack for about 6 months (my last day was this past Tuesday). The pay is mostly commission and spiff based, which works out well if you work hours when people shop. It sucks working the last few hours before closing, when nobody comes in. I made decent money when I started working over the summer and could work mornings. School took those hours.

I was always the guy the other employees came to if they had a question about something. The training stuff really only covers the most basic elements of various electronic devices and was a waste of time for me to complete. I was glad to see that an effort is made though, because a lot of people really have no idea what some devices are, and they're asked to sell them. The people who know what's going on aren't going to stick around if they're not paid enough, and that's why I left. Luckily the manager is very knowledgeable...

Quote :

"BBY and CC "training" comes from internal computer based training courses the company creates and publishes which are required for their associates to take."

RS is no different.

11/27/2008 11:56:11 PM