CompUSA employees suck (yes all of them)
I've just returned from spending my lunch break at CompUSA only to complete my unofficial survey of their employees suckedness. Last week I was building a new 3D Box for my home office (unfortunatly I use a lot of PC only apps.) and I had to make several trips to CompUSA. They clearly employ the lowest quality sales and support people available anywhere.
Well for starters I went to look at their RAM selection. Now I have 4 slots on my motherboard and I wanted to get 2gb of DDR 400, PC3200 ram (4 sticks of 512 would be perfect). Of course they dont have what I'm looking for so they try and sell me on what they have (4 sticks of overpriced 256mb ram). I try calmly to explain that its not what I need for 10 minutes before just walking out. I went online and ordered my ram for a great price and had no trouble at all.
I returned 2 days later to purchase the ATI X800 all-in-wonder card (that I had to have that day
). The dooche bag sales rep returns from the managers office/stock room or where ever they keep the high dollar video cards only to give me a 15 minute disertation on how I need to but their extended warranty before handing me the box. After I emphatically told him no for the 4th time he then proceeds to tell me I'll need to add extra cooling to keep this video card from overheating (I have a new mid-tower with 4 fans and a 500 watt power supply so power and cooling are not issues). I just shake my head and go to check out. At the check out the asshole cashier tries again to shove the warranty down my throat and swears I'll go to hell if I dont get it. I decline, and she gives me a look of disgust.
Today I walk into CompUSA for my lunch break with $2000.00 to spend on my monitor and VESA mount. First of all its difficult to get someone to help you with high dollar hardware if you're wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but I'm fully prepared to deal with and overcome this. I go to the LCD monitor section which is right next to the Apple section and start to compare 20"+ LCDs all 3 in their selection. I eventually get an employee who doesnt look like a dumb-ass to come assist me in my search. I explain what I'm trying to do and that I'd like to have the monitor attached to a VESA mounted arm, which I had to explain 3 times to him. After he finally understood what I was talking about after several arm-flailing visual queues he takes me to the plasma screen section and points out the wall mountable devices (not VESA). I find the proper mount myself a couple of rows over and then return to the monitors. Now I'm looking at the Apple 23" and looking to see if this is the set up I need. Dip shit then proceeds to tell me (God strike me down if I am lieing) that I have to drill 4 holes into the back of the $1799.00 Apple monitor
in order for it to work. Yes, Drill Holes. I put the mount back on the shelf where I found it and left empty handed for the umpteenth time.
Now call me a bit old fassioned but I expect either a certain level of knowledge or a certain level of honesty from employees at a place like that. It's ok in my book to not know something but its not ok to make shit up as you go and pass it along as knowledge. I am convinced that CompUSA has now surpassed McDonalds & Blockbuster as having the worst employees available.
Well for starters I went to look at their RAM selection. Now I have 4 slots on my motherboard and I wanted to get 2gb of DDR 400, PC3200 ram (4 sticks of 512 would be perfect). Of course they dont have what I'm looking for so they try and sell me on what they have (4 sticks of overpriced 256mb ram). I try calmly to explain that its not what I need for 10 minutes before just walking out. I went online and ordered my ram for a great price and had no trouble at all.
I returned 2 days later to purchase the ATI X800 all-in-wonder card (that I had to have that day
). The dooche bag sales rep returns from the managers office/stock room or where ever they keep the high dollar video cards only to give me a 15 minute disertation on how I need to but their extended warranty before handing me the box. After I emphatically told him no for the 4th time he then proceeds to tell me I'll need to add extra cooling to keep this video card from overheating (I have a new mid-tower with 4 fans and a 500 watt power supply so power and cooling are not issues). I just shake my head and go to check out. At the check out the asshole cashier tries again to shove the warranty down my throat and swears I'll go to hell if I dont get it. I decline, and she gives me a look of disgust.Today I walk into CompUSA for my lunch break with $2000.00 to spend on my monitor and VESA mount. First of all its difficult to get someone to help you with high dollar hardware if you're wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but I'm fully prepared to deal with and overcome this. I go to the LCD monitor section which is right next to the Apple section and start to compare 20"+ LCDs all 3 in their selection. I eventually get an employee who doesnt look like a dumb-ass to come assist me in my search. I explain what I'm trying to do and that I'd like to have the monitor attached to a VESA mounted arm, which I had to explain 3 times to him. After he finally understood what I was talking about after several arm-flailing visual queues he takes me to the plasma screen section and points out the wall mountable devices (not VESA). I find the proper mount myself a couple of rows over and then return to the monitors. Now I'm looking at the Apple 23" and looking to see if this is the set up I need. Dip shit then proceeds to tell me (God strike me down if I am lieing) that I have to drill 4 holes into the back of the $1799.00 Apple monitor
in order for it to work. Yes, Drill Holes. I put the mount back on the shelf where I found it and left empty handed for the umpteenth time. Now call me a bit old fassioned but I expect either a certain level of knowledge or a certain level of honesty from employees at a place like that. It's ok in my book to not know something but its not ok to make shit up as you go and pass it along as knowledge. I am convinced that CompUSA has now surpassed McDonalds & Blockbuster as having the worst employees available.
Comments
Originally posted by Playmaker
I've just returned from spending my lunch break at CompUSA only to complete my unofficial survey of their employees suckedness.
being a fellow resident of new orleans, i feel your pain... it's either them or the computer shoppe on veterans, which, despite being one of the nation's oldest apple var's, blows just about as badly (when you're in there, look for the complaint letter they have framed because it says something akin to "i have a bad experience every time i visit your store, but this one time, someone was really helpful" (somewhat paraphrased).
it's astonishing there are ANY mac users in this area at all with this kind of sales/support.
Originally posted by rok
being a fellow resident of new orleans, i feel your pain... it's either them or the computer shoppe on veterans, which, despite being one of the nation's oldest apple var's, blows just about as badly (when you're in there, look for the complaint letter they have framed because it says something akin to "i have a bad experience every time i visit your store, but this one time, someone was really helpful" (somewhat paraphrased).
it's astonishing there are ANY mac users in this area at all with this kind of sales/support.
When he told me with a straight face that I had to drill holes in the monitor I was overcome with different thoughts. What if someone were to actually do this, fry the monitor, then try to return it and say that the asshole who helped with the purchase told them it was how it was done. mostly I just looked around to see if there was anyone else who was hearing this. I was astonished at his stupidity.
Yes, I have had a few experiences at the Computer Shoppe on Vets... boy that guy is just a fireball of charisma huh? I'm assuming the late 40's-looking guy with the mustache is the owner. I have a really hard time trying to understand how that place stays open. Perhaps he's a multi millionare who takes pleasure in giving bad service and having the most antiquated store in the state. Have you ever looked at the software on the shelves? its like from the OS 8 days, it's rediculous.
Is anyone from Apple listening? BUILD AN APPLE STORE HERE! The current Apple resellers here aren't doing anything but assuring micro$oft a healthy user base.
Originally posted by Playmaker
I have a really hard time trying to understand how that place stays open. Perhaps he's a multi millionare who takes pleasure in giving bad service and having the most antiquated store in the state.
oh i figured that one out a long time ago. two words: service contract. if you have a mac on the fritz, and don't think to call apple directly, it's them or compusa. and there ARE enough people in the new orleans area to keep them afloat just off that alone. plus, they have, shall we say, "connections" to groups of local mac users (i will not name directly here), who then make sure any large purchases of apple hardware goes through them.
seriously, apple opens ONE FRIGGIN' STORE here, and you'll see the "liquidation - going out of business sign" in their window the next day.
Originally posted by Playmaker
Have you ever looked at the software on the shelves? its like from the OS 8 days, it's rediculous.
i personally am amused at them selling carmageddon FULL PRICE with a straight face.
Let's just say they don't really care that you get what you want, as long as you buy their warranty plans, what were they called again?... TAP, that was it...
Though I store did have a nice competent Apple Representative, and some awesome tech managers that in my eyes knew everything. But then, that is only 3 of the many others that worked there...
It did take me about an hour to purchase that notebook, however, and I was pretty pissed by the time I walked out. The big line the salesjerk kept trying to tell me was that I'd accidentally close my notebook lid with a pen/screwdriver on the keyboard, thus mashing my screen. Me telling him that I'd never ever ever ever ever ever ever do this didn't work--he assured me that he sees this happen all the time! After that experience, I don't buy much from them anymore, but I still like to look around.
Best Buy people are also big wankers when it comes to extended warranties. They treat you like an idiot when you say no. Like I want a $50 warranty on a $225 item.
Originally posted by Wingnut
These days Circuit City have been the best. They ask you once and never ask again.
This happens to me in CompUSA too, but in their store in downtown Chicago.
Elsewhere... err, not so good.
Originally posted by Macrat
I remember going in to one looking for a particular video card. I ask one of the sales clerks, and he did almost like one of those Best Buy commercials where they open a hatch in the floor behind the counter and disappear down a ladder.
Almost. As in, he went into the back room?
Originally posted by Wingnut
I feel your pain. I bought a Demo laptop from them for a huge discount ($900 for a $1300 retail Centrino system). They wanted to sell me the extended warranty so badly. I kept telling them NO over and over and over. Eventually, they actually dropped the price of the notebook another $200, as long as I bought their $200 service plan. I took them up on their offer (Like I care how my $900 was entered in their accounting records). It was incredible. Never has holding out on a warranty ever ended that way for me!
You know, you're allowed to return that warranty. It's law that they have to let you return it. They may tell you otherwise, but read the packet they gave you. That's what I would do (I've done it before, even though it said that it was a "bundle" on the receipt. Screw that.