Why don't salespeople know about the stuff they sell?

[Jonty]

OK, I'm browsing the laptops today in a national chain of electrical dealers (TV, hi-fi, cameras, computers etc). I won't say their name although you can PM me if you want it, LOL!

I was interested in a couple of laptops but noticed that on the descriptions they hadn't put whether they were mobile processors or whether they were 'desktop' processors to keep the price down.

Me: Yeah, it doesn't state if these laptops contain mobile or desktop processors?
Salesman (looking at me in a strange way, lol): Erm.. why, do you want to remove the processor at some point. He seemed to be taking it literally!

I then had to explain to him, gently, the difference between a mobile and desktop processor!

Brand spanking new store, lots of chrome, but no one had bothered to see if the people working there were up to it. Don't get me wrong, I work for a national chain of stores too, if I am asked something I don't know I will go and find someone who does.

[Warthog]

haha....yeah they try to 0wner me in audio too...funny stuff.

LOL

Come on, you hire Johnny off the street for $5/hr and you expect him to know something? Please.

ROTFLMAO

Dave

[daveleau]

I worked for a long time at a national chain (US) and was amazed at the lack of knowledge there. The reason is the pay that they provide. Of the only three knowledgable people I ever knew there (myself included), we all left for more money and left the department with noone. They all had no idea about system specs as simple as what RAM does versus what a Hard dive does. It was painful to listen to them trying to sell people stuff.

[Ritalin Kid]

Think about it.. I mean why would anyone who knew what they were doing want to work for only a little more than minimum wage? Knowledge = $$$ and the people who have the knowledge know it, which is something places like Best Buy/Office Max/CompUSA are going to pay alot for when all they really need is sales/laborers..

I don't think I would ever be able to conciously waste my knowledge in a place like that.

[originel]

there is a chain store here in dallas (also in houston and CA) called Fry's Electronics. it's a wonderful store, one of my favorite stores, but i have to say the staff is clueless. personally though i think that this ends up actually being a good thing (be patient as i explain). At this store you can buy any computer component available and so if you do not already know whatever you need to know about these components, you shouldn't be shopping for them in the first place. (Now i realize that laptops are special cases, but if i were you i would look online first for all the specs because you KNOW that the help won't know). For example, someone wants to upgrade their processorto the newest one. They ask someone what the best cpu is (always a newbie question) or what cpu would i need for x-brand computer. do you really think that this person would be able to succesfully install a new processor? i say its just natural selection at work here.

Buahahah, I had the Jeep dealer tell me that the V6s they put in Wranglers were really good motors and their ride has improved greatly since they switched to independant front suspension. I just smiled and nodded. Well, the suspension is coil now instead of leaf, but it's not IFS like a truck. V6? Wrangler? Riiigght. Wait till 2004 when it's true buddy. I6 power!!

My buddy took a job at Sears (after being fired from here for doing something he didn't do) and he's quite impressed with the lack of knowledge of the people that have been working there for years. Of course, he's also amazed at how little a lot of the customers know. This is how is stores get away with sub-standard knowledge: They're selling to people that don't know either.

-Whir

[ClubMed]

I've had situations like that, I ask the seller a question and he looks at the box and tries to find an answer while I'm standing next to him waiting.

If the reading the box is all it takes then I can do that myself thanks.