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Customers (rant)

speedywalk

Apr 3, 2005, 3:00 PM
If there are customers that read this forum, and I know there are, why do you (customers in general) find it necessarry to ask if there are better deals online? All this does is two things:

  1. Alienates the salesman. We don't want to waste our time with somebody that will not put money in our pocket. If you come straight out and say you're thinking about it, we'll be more than happy to answer a few questions for you--don't do it at the "end" of a sale. This leads to:
  2. This makes you look like an idiot. Comparitive shopping is your job, not mine. I'm not going to tell you "yeah sure! Go ahead, they've got the same phone online for $50 less. I loved helping you walk through every phone in the store for an hour and hav
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texaswireless

Apr 4, 2005, 9:40 PM
Since the disclaimer was directed at me I will respond.

How about you do the following:

Explain the value or purchasing in a store and (possibly, depending on who owns your store) supporting a local business. (since you probably don't know) Explain that buying local keeps the money in the community and helps support a sales staff that is here for them whenever any question may arise (if they think you are going to hand them a 1-800 number then why should they buy from you?). It is a subtle guilt trip, but it works most every time.

Explain that online sales are generally for people who know EXACTLY what they want and don't need sales assistance. Explain if there is any additional cost it is made up by savings on their bill from ha...
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dca

Apr 5, 2005, 10:44 AM
I'm still gonna' buy online and save the money. I'm still gonna' indiscrimately choose between calling a 1800# or visiting the store regardless of where I purchase from when I have issues.

Somebody like 'texaswireless' or his employees is someone I would schmooz for information so I can make an informed decision on which model I would buy on the web or where ever I get the best discount... At least I got to hold the handset in my hands, and that's what he's there for.

I said it before, you don't like where this is going scrape the little carrier logo off the phone or start only selling high-end exclusive handsets online and let the sh!tbox handsets go to the stores. If the Cingy or Tmo logo is on the phone, that's who I'm gonna'...
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texaswireless

Apr 5, 2005, 12:32 PM
I had a great reply all typed up and BAM, a website error.

Here it is in simple terms:

1) You have never been impressed with a sales presentation and been given a reason to buy from a particular store, so you have no loyalty

2) No one has ever shown you what your time is worth

You can jump carriers all you want to get the BEST deal (in your mind) but if you add up all the time you have wasted I can guarantee it cost you more to stroke and shop than the money you saved (unless of course you make minimum wage). You will NEVER know more than a good quality sales professional, because you don't have access to the same resources and training we have. Just like I will never know more than you do about your job.

You may think you...
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dca

Apr 5, 2005, 1:11 PM
So in other words, your little competition book has a 'possible reply to section'. When a potential customer owns up and says he'd rather buy from www.cingular.com vs your establishment because of the $50 or $100 price difference on a handset. Blam, he gets hit with either a guilt trip or the 'what makes me better than my competition' speech.

I don't need to know a good quality sales professional... I need to know where to go or who to call when I flush my handset down the toilet. Guess what, I'm gonna' talk to whoever is closer when it happens. 1-866-cingular or a cingular store or Mom&Pop wireless.

You've closed people like me? Are you selling used cars? It's a wireless phone!

note: the name www.Cingular.com was only use...
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jkrivjansky

Apr 5, 2005, 1:58 PM
dca said:
I don't need to know a good quality sales professional... I need to know where to go or who to call when I flush my handset down the toilet. Guess what, I'm gonna' talk to whoever is closer when it happens. 1-866-cingular or a cingular store or Mom&Pop wireless.


It seems more and more the immediate response to this even when customers come intot eh store is to just hand them a card to call their ins provider. No matter if it's been flushed, the screen just stopped working, whatever. If a phone is brought in they just pass it off because it's not a sale.

I'm in no way saying every rep does this. I'm saying it seems to be an increasing occourance.
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texaswireless

Apr 5, 2005, 3:30 PM
jkrivjansky said:
dca said:
I don't need to know a good quality sales professional... I need to know where to go or who to call when I flush my handset down the toilet. Guess what, I'm gonna' talk to whoever is closer when it happens. 1-866-cingular or a cingular store or Mom&Pop wireless.


It seems more and more the immediate response to this even when customers come intot eh store is to just hand them a card to call their ins provider. No matter if it's been flushed, the screen just stopped working, whatever. If a phone is brought in they just pass it off because it's not a sale.

I'm in no way saying every rep does this. I'm saying it seems to be an increasing occourance.
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Cigee

Apr 6, 2005, 10:47 AM
Ah jeez, your back. Please explain to me why you feel a need to play the god of customer service. You come in here and suggest that we all suck at customer service because occasionally we rant about a customer or two. Some people are genuinly stuck in their ways and a lack of "texas wireless" customer service is not the reason he decides not to buy in a store. He can get it cheaper in another way and then he can bug the crap out of the stores that he didn't buy from because technically he is a customer. It is a cheap way to go about things but for some people it works. Guess what? As much as I bitch about it, I am the first to help that customer. Why? Because they will send their friends to me by the time I am done with them. I sol...
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 1:00 PM
Some of you are children in here.

Guess what, I have absolutely no intention of leaving. I may tell people to quit there job if they don't like it, but then again why would anyone feel the need to stay employed in a situation like that. If they are as educated and intelligent as they think they are, then quit and do something you will enjoy. If you can't get another job you would enjoy then whose fault is that, certainly not your current employer. Our industry will be better off and life is too short to not enjoy your work.

The beginning and end were absolutely worthless but the middle part of your post was actually quite excellent and proved my point about this type of customer. If you sell like you say I would be willing to bet ...
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Cigee

Apr 6, 2005, 3:03 PM
Alright, I'm going to be civil now becuase you have asked a genrally good question that required me to think and not get annoyed. First off let me defend a couple things because I have to, because I am a stubborn girl. I am 25, not a child and most people in here are not children. We are simply cellular employees who choose to rant everyonce in a while because it is normal and you have to admit, rather entertaining. Just because we talk about the bad things that occur at our job does not mean that we all hate our jobs and want to quit. Now, don't get me wrong there some rather ridiculous posters in here that are actually named after their pure hated for whatever company and on that note I agree with you. Quit your job, get a new one or...
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 3:08 PM
And if you kept going to store after store after store and kept running into poor sales reps what would you do then? If no one gave you enough confidence in their answers would you just buy from the best of the worst?

BTW, nail on the head with your reply. You feel the exact same way I do about people on here. I know there are good ones, as I am finding on this thread. Unfortunately, many of the bad ones are screaming the loudest.
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Cigee

Apr 6, 2005, 3:25 PM
I agree that would suck but fortunately not EVERYONE hires bad sales people. And the bad sales people out there that aren't fired yet are flying under the radar and they will be found eventually. Now as far getting one of the screw ball employees, I see it like this. I won't give up on a store because some guy is hung over one day and doesn't feel like helping me to his fullest potential. I won't knock the whole store because guess what? We all have bad days. Now if it happens more then once at the same store, I will consult management. Thats an extreme. Fortunately that hasn't happened to me. I'm a waitress as well (if you didn't already catch that) and I can't stand people who say... got crap service at so and so restaurant so I a...
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 3:45 PM
I did have that experience when shopping for several items in the last few months. I wanted to buy a 62" HDTV and a camcorder. I could not find anyone at 4 different Circuit Citys and 2 different Best Buys who knew what they were talking about. I wasn't asking difficult questions, wanted to know about hooking my computer up to the TV so I could utilize downloaded movies, etc. I also wanted to better understand which camcorder format was best for my situation. I wasn't willing to buy either unit for their "retail" price since they didn't sell me. I ended up buying my camcorder online and the TV at CC AFTER they dropped the price significantly (told the manager about my experience, and that she was still making $300 on a $3000 sale vs. n...
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Cigee

Apr 6, 2005, 3:58 PM
True professionals are few and far between. Know your product before you try to sell it, it's that simple.

Now I would like to say that I have argued with you a time or two because you complained about employee on customer rants. I see no problem with them and the responses you will get by critisizing postees in this forum for it will indeed be negative because we ALL do it. Thats one man going against a stressed out army. I do, however like the inquisitive side of you and you do seem to be relaxing a bit so, yay. Now, what DO you do for a living?
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 4:02 PM
I own a store in Lubbock, TX. I previously ran upwards of 20 stores in North Texas for a very large agent based on the West coast. Hated my boss because he consistently lied to me so I decided to open my own location(s).
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Cigee

Apr 6, 2005, 4:05 PM
So you are in phone sales? I was under the impression that you were not...that you were an advocate for pissed off customers that read this site. (and I'm not meaning that as an insult)
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 4:29 PM
Nope, just sales :-)

Been doing it since 1992 when I turned 18. I love every minute of it. I find it challenging and personally satisfying.

I am an advocate for good service and professional representation. No more, no less. I think many people in this and other industries could perform much better if they had more personal interest to do so.

Believe me, I have had my share of store items thrown at me because someone did not like my answers, or in my younger days I said something to intentionally provoke a customers anger. I am glad I have moved to a different philosophy with sales and customers that has proven to be both ethical and EXTREMELY profitable.
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Cigee

Apr 6, 2005, 4:58 PM
I thouroughly enjoy my job as well. If it weren't for the customers that drive me crazy or practically scream how ignorant they really are, my job would be a bore, thankfully it is not. You have to admit that you would love to participate in some of our rants. C'mon, you have to have caught yourself laughing a time or two.
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 5:05 PM
I absolutely have. I have some pretty funny ones as well. I just would feel bad if the thread degraded into poor taste as many do here.

I guess I will give some of my experiences a shot on here and see where they go.
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Cigee

Apr 6, 2005, 5:08 PM
Woohoo...well glad to see we can be civil and I look forward to them. Im off now so everyone have a fantabulous day!
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jkrivjansky

Apr 6, 2005, 11:33 AM
Actually you have missed the point of the original post.

Customers have obviously NOT lost faith in the system. They've learned there is not a person to ask questions of on a web site. So they come intot he stores to ask all their questions.

Speedy and others like him offer to answer all their questions. Offer to give them all the neccesary info to make their descision. And then the customer buys the cheaper way.

Where is the incentive there to provide good customer service? Why invest time and effort only to have the customer give their money to another "salesman"

If I came into your store and spent an hour of your time then left to purches the same product next door how would you react? A month later I send my friend...
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Cigee

Apr 6, 2005, 11:38 AM
😁 Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap. Well said.
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cingcing

Apr 6, 2005, 1:19 PM
If I was a cingular customer instead of an employee, I would DEFINETLY buy my phones online. You can get any one of 5 or 6 phones for free we have ONE in the store. This is not the customers fault. This is our dumbass companys fault it is NOT the customers taking money out of our pockets. Customers are just being customers you know, SHOPPING!! No amount of customer service would make me spend $100 more on a phone, sorry. And I don't expect our customers to either, but, when I see a customer walk into my store with a box that was shipped out to them, they are immediately reffered to customer care. Wheather I can help them or not I need to be selling because I need to be eating. I don't mind customers buying phones online but don't come runnin...
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 2:16 PM
Are you a clerk or are you a professional?

I'm sorry but this is a rant from someone who is a weak sales rep looking for a way out when they don't sell enough. How come, since you are answering questions, you haven't found out about where they have shopped and what handset they have seen? How come you haven't already handled that situation before it came up?

If you get to the end of the sale and they say, thanks, I am going online, you have failed in your job. If you brought up that issue in the first place, and there are MANY ways to bring it up, you could have overcome or just simply matched the price (I just showed in a different post that the average discount is not $100, but only $35).

Pat each other on the back all you like...
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jkrivjansky

Apr 6, 2005, 4:04 PM
texaswireless said:
Are you a clerk or are you a professional?



I didn't need to read past this question. I am an agent who has to deal with sales reps who do not want to do their job correctly. I was top sales every month when I worked retail. Every day I rang more than any two other employees. But I'm not here to "flash my credentials" or enter a proverbial pi**ing contest.

My job now is to handle calls for insurance claims on phones. More and more I get calls because of sales people who don't want to do their jobs. But what I do has absolutely zero weight with this discussion. But thanks for showing an interest.

The issue here is how customers act. Since you are an apparent sales god ho...
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 4:22 PM
Please, I would love to see any legitimate question posed to me for which I have posted a response but avoided answering the question. I am sure there were several that I simply choose to not respond since they are pointless. I do not have "last word" syndrome.

I love the fact that while you decided to rip me, you actually agreed with me. Funny how that happens.

Now, as I searched for a question, I noticed your assumption that these customers come in for price and price only and will not consider any alternative other than price. I looks at though we have a philosophical difference. You think some issues cannot be overcome, I do not. Does that pretty much nail down your theory there?

Yes, I am an owner. As an owner of one sto...
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jkrivjansky

Apr 6, 2005, 4:41 PM
texaswireless said:
Please, I would love to see any legitimate question posed to me for which I have posted a response but avoided answering the question. I am sure there were several that I simply choose to not respond since they are pointless. I do not have "last word" syndrome.


Good Afternoon.
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texaswireless

Apr 5, 2005, 3:15 PM
Well, you are under the illusion that you can actually save $50 to $100 on a handset from the website. Very rarely are you able to save that much on their "monthly" specials. Like I said, they have occasional specials that may offer those amounts, but they are few and far between.

We don't have a "possible reply to section" as you have reasoned (not sure what reasoning you used, but you got there). The book shows you what the competition has, their prices and if the rep is good, he already showed you why our store is better BEFORE the book was opened. As a customer you can simply come to the conclusion yourself.

Sorry to use a sales term with you, but you seemed to be so in tune with how we do business that a basic sales term shoul...
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cingcing

Apr 6, 2005, 1:49 PM
I posted this earlier but it was under a reply to a post yesterday.

If I was a cingular customer instead of an employee, I would DEFINETLY buy my phones online. You can get any one of 5 or 6 phones for free we have ONE in the store. This is not the customers fault. This is our dumbass companys fault it is NOT the customers taking money out of our pockets. Customers are just being customers you know, SHOPPING!! No amount of customer service would make me spend $100 more on a phone, sorry. And I don't expect our customers to either, but, when I see a customer walk into my store with a box that was shipped out to them, they are immediately reffered to customer care. Wheather I can help them or not I need to be selling because I need to be ea...
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 2:08 PM
Are you allowed to negotiate prices where you work?

The majority of handsets online that are less usually are only $20 to $30 less. That isn't that much of a discount.

Current online pricing differences:

SE Z500 - Free vs. $49.99
MOT V220 - $29.99 vs. $79.99
MOT V551 - $79.99 vs. $99.99
Samsung X427M - Free vs. $19.99

The SE and MOT V220 are short term specials only, so the amount of customers who will see it and can take advantage of it are small. The rest are only $20 in savings. (comparisons based on North Texas Cingular market).
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ralph_on_me

Apr 6, 2005, 2:23 PM
Coming down $20 is sometimes do-able, but i'm glad that free SE is for a short time only since we would lose $2 off selling one for free.

Our store keeps a profit matrix showing what's being made off of each sale according to phone model and contract terms (act, upg, ft). Generally if the store doesn't make about $50 off the sale, it's not a good one. Coming down in prices to match internet pricing (when possible) could also lead you to selling out of a particular model which someone else would've paid the store pricing for. We usually keep our inventory low to keep depreciation losses low.
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 2:30 PM
See my other post in this thread, but that is exactly where I was coming from.

Oh my lord, I can't believe it. This actually is starting to form into an intelligent conversation on this subject instead of a bunch of name-calling.

Thanks for the reply.
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cingcing

Apr 6, 2005, 2:35 PM
Pacific bell market here,

V220 $79.99 vs $29.99
z500 $69.99 after $50 mail in rebate vs free
x427 $29.99 after $50 mail in rebate vs free
v551 $99.99 after $50 mail in rebate vs $79.99
c1300 $29.99 after $50 mail in rebate vs $29.99

As I work in a corporate store I am unable to "negotiate prices" I have to play by the rules.

Whatever the length of these promotions, there will undoubtedly be other promo's after these expire. This company is not stupid they know it is way cheaper to sell a phone online than in the store. They don't have to pay me, the light bill, rent ect. ect.
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UOQuack

Apr 12, 2005, 3:15 PM
texaswireless said:
Since the disclaimer was directed at me I will respond.

How about you do the following:

Explain the value or purchasing in a store and (possibly, depending on who owns your store) supporting a local business. (since you probably don't know) Explain that buying local keeps the money in the community and helps support a sales staff that is here for them whenever any question may arise (if they think you are going to hand them a 1-800 number then why should they buy from you?). It is a subtle guilt trip, but it works most every time.

Explain that online sales are generally for people who know EXACTLY what they want and don't need sales assistance. Explain if there is any additional cost it is
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vzw_achiever

Apr 12, 2005, 7:01 PM
Fabulous stuff, all around. The concept of going into a store and relying on a salesman to tell me what's best is completely alien to me. I can't think of a single product over $50 that I wouldn't thoroughly research on my own before purchasing. Most consumers don't care to take the time to do that for themselves, and so I think the salesman does deserve the commission and the customer SHOULD buy from them. Just my opinion.
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speedywalk

Apr 6, 2005, 2:19 PM
Here's the original thrust of my argument. I work in a direct retail store, not a dealer. We offer the standard plans with the standard phone pricing. As a direct store, we cannot "pricematch," just as most any carrier's dealer stores cannot. My issue is that (not an attack at the dealer stores by any stretch, all of you out there) in our particular town the dealer stores will say anything to get a sale. Thus we get their customer issues to clean up. But since they can manipulate phone pricing, they will try to undercut our price by an average of $30-$40 per phone.

Thus the customer will go to the dealer stoer and make their purchase, get something completely screwed up, come back to us and complain because their bill isn't how we...
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 2:28 PM
I hear you, trust me.

Luckily we have an excellent relationship with the RSO (company owned location) here. That has been garnered for one two main reasons:

1. I communicate with the store managers of the RSO, and they call me if a customer comes in with an issue from my store

2. Very rarely, if ever, do we have customer issues that go to the RSO. If the issue is legit when they call, I immediately take care of the customer (sometimes over the phone) to their satisfaction.

As an agent I do not believe in degrading the RSO locations, nor do I believe trashing the competition is constructive either. Fortunately it goes both ways. We are indeed lucky we can examine a potential sale and if the revenue is right price match othe...
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cingcing

Apr 6, 2005, 2:58 PM
Texas, I'm glad to hear that you are confident, and from what you say competent as well.

But, the only one I heard calling anyone any names was you. (weak "clearks" making excuses)

It's good to know that you take care of the problems you create for "RSO's", you are obviously highly motivated and customer service oriented.

But, you kind of sound like a broken record. Like someone who has been brainwashed or something, it's kinda scary.

Have you ever done any multi-level-marketing?

I am NOT atticking indirect I know all indirect are not the same. But I've had indirect dealers in the mall pull my customers aside when they see one of our bags and ask how much they paid for the phone. Undercut me by whatever they have to, then pro...
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texaswireless

Apr 6, 2005, 3:02 PM
Ouch,

That pulling aside thing is underhanded.

No MLMs here.

If someone took the "weak clerks" thing as name calling vs. lack of ability I apologize. The name calling I referenced has been where people choose to curse and belittle someone because they are just attempting to be rude and cruel. While I may be deciding to "punch back" a little in some of my posts I will never move to name calling such as I mentioned above.
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