A longer version of this post was published in the early days of this blog when readers were as scarce as frogs flipping up Fifth Avenue.
Ever get the feeling too many salespeople consider customer’s questions to be intrusions into their real job – which is to grab our cash at top speed and shove us out of the way for the next customer’s money? Recently I came across such a salesclerk when I bought a digital camera.
Research indicated my computer operating system wasn’t compatible with the camera’s software so I needed a memory card reader (a small drive to get the digital photos into the computer). I telephoned the store with the best camera deal and asked if they could recommend a reader in the mid price range. Cheapo readers, it seems, had an annoying tendency to emit burning smells and melt.
Downtown I went and, after purchasing my camera, I checked in at the camera reader counter where a scowling, white haired oldster giving off bristly vibes was stationed. When I told him the camera department had recommended a particular reader, he whipped around, snatched a reader package off a wall peg, slapped it on the counter, scribbled out a sales slip, slapped THAT on the counter and turned away — DONE. Oh boy. Before I had a second to even glance at the specs to check that it was definitely going to work with my computer, Old Bristly was finito with the whole deal. But with the cashier way at the other end of the counter it appeared I had time to check the reader info while standing in line waiting to pay. Reading fast, I couldn’t see anything about the reader being Mac compatible. And past experience had shown if it didn’t say it was Mac compatible, it often wasn’t.
Reluctantly, I returned to Old Sour-Face. Annoyed to see me again, he brusquely pointed out fine print that said the reader was indeed compatible with Mac. Okay, back in line to pay, still reading. The reader had a USB 2.1 connection. My Mac is 1.1. Still, I Had to be positive this faster device would work (even if slower) on my set-up. Inner groan. I had to face the Grinch again or chance buying the wrong thing. Back I went and, in the neutral tone I employ in dealing with cantankerous creatures who seem to yearn for confrontation, I apologized for bothering him (as if). Blazing more angry sparks in my direction, he snapped that the USB would indeed work on my system.
By this time I had lost my place in line twice, I was tired and hungry (it was well past dinnertime) and I had a long subway ride home. In line again, I finally reached the cashier. As her hand shot out for my money I noticed that the memory card reader didn’t list the specific memory cards that I seemed to recall worked with my new camera. Blast. If I paid now and bought the wrong thing, it would be another long schlep back. So steeling myself for round three with the white haired dragon, back I went.
He shot me a furious glance as he continued with another customer who appeared to be as equally in the dark about card readers as I. Finally he turned to me, his expression and body language shouting, “Oh god, is this idiot EVER gonna leave me alone!” Still refusing to enter his hostile space, (I wanted a card reader, not a fight) I again apologized for the interruption (again, as if) and pointed out that the memory cards compatible with my camera did not appear to be listed on this particular reader.
“No!” he barked, his face turning an angry scarlet. “This reader doesn’t work with that camera! Why didn’t you tell me that in the first place?” And he snatched my sales slip back.
Swell. At that point though, my annoyance was over-powered by relief. Blessed escape was on the horizon. And once free on the street, I at least had the satisfaction of knowing I hadn’t purchased the wrong item, which would have cost me further time and energy to return. And in my book, saving time and energy is no less important than saving money.
Have you met up with any difficult salespeople lately?
More on the Sales Front:
- Apple Stores – Balancing Acts between the Old and the New
- An About Face on CVS Self-service Checkout
- You get what you pay for…Baloney!
- In Praise of Material Things
- Hocus Pocus Food Prices and Packaging
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