Would you guys help a random person save $300.00

[xXI GaMe IXx]

So yesterday while I was at BB trying to demo the 3D Tv, I was waiting in line to get the glasses and the customer in front of me was buying a 3d tv set. He was almost done purchasing when the Bestbuy employee tells him "Hey you need an hdmi cable".

The employee proceeds to show him the Monster cable that he can replace anytime he wants when new technology comes out and how its lighting fast and rated so and so level so the customers looks at his wife and they tell the employee is there any cheaper ones. Bestbuy employee says "well you dont want to buy a corvette and put cheap tires on it".So the couple to buy 2 of them.

So the employee goes to the back to get 1 and I'm standing there with the customer and don't say nothing I don't know why but nothing I can easily have told this guy but didn't. My wife even looked at me like hey tell them but nope I didn't say nothing.Today I woke up feeling like crap because I could have saved someone almost $300.00 .

So I was just wondering would you guys have said something?

[jomari]

ive had this happen a number of times, with different responses to different situations.

at one point you want to assist someone, but at another end you want to mind your own business.

To some degree, id love to help out, but there are moments, similar to yours, that might have drawn me to decline as well.

Maybe its the employees just trying to do their job,
maybe its the circumstance of time,
maybe its just the situation itself, leaving a bad taste in my mouth i dont know...

It happens, so look forward to the next time it does, and make that difference.

[kwrobbins]

I have spoken up in the past and I will always speak up in the future. I hate to see people being ripped off.

[Steel Panther]

I have. Mind you, it wasn't $300, it was only like $60 but... Walmart was selling Guitar Hero: WT for like $60 less than Best Buy. This couple was talking to the sales rep and he walked away so they could "discuss it". I had the price tag from Walmart in my pocket and showed it to them. It was like they were 4 and Christmas morning. Their eyes lit up and they scampered away happy.

[koontz1973]

Done this myself a couple of times. Both times the other person has been very happy that I have saved them money. Both times, I have had the sales person look at me like they want to shoot me. Some people do not mind you butting in, but some people might take offence so do not feel to bad. I just wish large companies would train there staff to look after customers better.

[mrf]

I'm a horrible salesman for electronics. I work at Target and at times I have to help people at the electronics counter.

They always start asking me for recommendations and I can't just come out and say "Hey you can get this same TV $300 cheaper at Amazon, or that HDMI cable is $3 at monoprice." Instead I just end up using the "well for my HT system I bought my components online." It's a nice tightrope to walk trying to keep from saying things to get me in trouble while at the same time not raping their wallets. The only time I recommend our products is when they go clearance.

[nmycon]

well, they were buying a 3DTV, so I don't think paying extra for top of the line HDMI cables (not that it really matters, they have the monster logo on them for bragging rights ) was a huge deal for them

if it was a couple buying the cheapest TV and receiver off clearance, then I would have said something

[progers13]

Originally Posted by mrf

I'm a horrible salesman for electronics. I work at Target and at times I have to help people at the electronics counter.

They always start asking me for recommendations and I can't just come out and say "Hey you can get this same TV $300 cheaper at Amazon, or that HDMI cable is $3 at monoprice." Instead I just end up using the "well for my HT system I bought my components online." It's a nice tightrope to walk trying to keep from saying things to get me in trouble while at the same time not raping their wallets. The only time I recommend our products is when they go clearance.

I have a lot of respect for the salesmen like you. I've also met a few, who have told me to shop elsewhere for better deals. I know it is a difficult line to walk, but that sticks out in the back of my mind. I would certainly buy from someone like that again down the road. Respect and integrity are hard to earn and maintain in that line of work. Once you achieve it, that's how you attract repeat business.

[maygit]

I wouldn't butt in and say anything with the salesman around but if they were on their own, i would slip them the tip.

As a salesman myself, i always sell the least expensive HDMI cable we carry and inform the customer that as long as it is HDMI 1.3, it doesn't matter how much you pay cuz they all work the same. I would route people to online buying but i find that in my area, we are overwhelmed with elder folk who don't buy online and/or would rather just have it now even if it's more expensive. Plus, i work on commission and accessories are a bigger part of my paycheck typically than the products themselves. Only to friends and family do i recommend online buying, or if the customer says they plan to buy online i will recommend monoprice.com where i get all my crap from.

[Nick4Blu_81]

Ive ran into this situation a couple times when Ive been in an electronics department looking at stuff. You over hear a conversation between a customer and a sales person and you think to yourself, WTF did he just say? I find myself leaning towards the minding my own business side of things.

[Rob71]

"well you dont want to buy a corvette and put cheap tires on it"

I would consider that an opening. If a salesman is going to say something like that, effectively lying to his customer, I have no problem butting in with him right there and informing them of several websites where they can research the subject and a couple more where they can buy a much cheaper equivalent product.

[SlmShdy1]

Unfortunately, by the time I get to a customer's house, they have already purchased a $100 HDMI cable from Best Buy. If it's early enough, I tell them to return it and buy their cables online. Even if it is too late to return that cable, I tell them never to spend that much on a cable again and then continue to tell them why. Even when I was working at Circuit City, I would either tell people to buy the cheapest cables available or buy the items online. When it came to retail, honesty was more important than landing a sale.

[Ex Accountant]

Great topic! I don't have the cojones to do it in front of the salesperson, but other than that if they buyer looks approachable, I'll offer my advice. And you shouldn't feel guilty or remorseful. Everyone gets caught off guard sometimes.

[Massacre1]

There is a guy at work who has thousands of dollars in Monster cable's. He also has a BOSE H/T that he thinks is awesome. I'm not going to butt into his business about it though.

It is his money, if he does not research his purchases it is his loss.

[iam1bearcat]

on one hand, you'd like to help someone save money and give a big middle finger (metaphorically of course ) to large companies who rip people off, but also, people shouldn't be so trusting to sales associates and do some work before heading to the store.

i used to work at wal-mart many years ago and whenever i had someone come in and know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what they were asking, it drove me crazy because i'd think, "dude, you could've gone home and googled these questions and got these simple answers in 10 minutes instead of bugging me while helping other people". so at times, if you're gonna go and spend thousands of dollars, you should invest AT LEAST 30 minutes to looking in to the product(s) and customer reviews of related items and learn the basics before wandering into a store and becoming a sucker.

...and then when the PS3's came out, we had to put Sony HDMI cables next to the consoles. those HDMI cables sold for $70 a piece and i remember one night a customer came in and bought a PS3 and needed the HDMI cable. he also wanted to get a game but didn't have enough with the expensive cable, so as we're walking to the register i said, "listen, you don't need THIS HDMI cable. almost any HDMI cable will work just as well" and then showed him some Philips cables that were more than 50% less than the Sony ones. the guy was thrilled because he saved money and was able to get a game. it made me feel good.

but sometimes, if the customer is a d!ck, then maybe they deserve it a little bit. especially if they're rich or something like that. i've had those experiences as well

[Steve]

Originally Posted by maygit

I wouldn't butt in and say anything with the salesman around but if they were on their own, i would slip them the tip.

This is my attitude as well. I've done it on a couple of occasion. The only time I've ever said anything in front of a salesman was when I went with my sister and her husband to BB to buy a TV. The salesman (woman) actually got mad and started raising her voice when I told them it didn't matter which HDMI cable they used. In the end they took my word for it though, and I even gave them a couple of spare ones I had in a drawer at home.

[pchin]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

but sometimes, if the customer is a d!ck, then maybe they deserve it a little bit. especially if they're rich or something like that. i've had those experiences as well

Same here. I would love to help or give hints but people here some are arrogant & if they can afford to buy big expensive LCD, etc who the hell I am telling/advising them to get cheaper cables. I'd rather keep quiet & let them burn their money since they're rich & simply buy without doing reseach or study. They can afford it anyway.

Sad to say most people here don't even know what they are buying....mostly depend on the salesman's advice. And it's a tragic that 90% of the salesmen here are craps & don't know what they are talking about.

[BluBrown]

I give advice and try to save people money whenever I can and some people take it and some people think I'm crazy. As long as I try I feel good about myself whether the individual takes my advice or not. I also print out multiple copies of the $10 off Disney coupons and give the to nice approachable looking people....especially hot moms! They're very appreciative....and I'm getting there children hooked on blu-ray at an early age.

[MrFattBill]

If the customer looks like a cow being led to slaughter I will try and help out as much as I can but if they are cocky and trying to talk the talk then I will let them throw their money away as they wish.

When I was buying my SC-25 there was a guy looking at a Yamaha 665, which is what I was replacing. The salesman went to the back to get my SC-25 and I looked at the guy and offered to sell him my 665 for $100 cheaper and no tax, I still had the box and everything. He said the only reason he was buying was to take advantage of the 3yr no interest financing. He mentioned it to the salesman when he came back and the guy understood saving money and didn't care at all, he doesn't make commission anyway.

I am of the belief that if I can save someone some money then I will do it. When I used to work at Best Buy (a LONG time ago) I would use my employee discount to help people that were buying their first computer get a desk at a discount. I knew all the accessories they were buying were super marked up so I would try to help take some of the sting out of all the money they were getting ready to spend.

Bill

[tlimof]

I usually wait till the salesman leaves and comment something. I sometimes give coupons that I'm not going to use. If I'm looking for something in Best Buy I usually go and look for the sales person I know and ask them, because I know they're not going to rip me off. Sometimes they tell me you should get this online or in another store.
Answering the question yes, definately, I did it before and I would do it again!