Reply to: Where does PC World Get These People From?

[darmstadt]

Was the customer BT Cellnet/O2?

Nope, it was Artemis, an ISV.

[Clippy]

Another time though, I was in another PC World as I was building a server for a customer and they had forgotten to order some tapes (SDLT 320.) There was a PC World over the road so I popped in and go the PFY. I asked for tapes for a computer and added helpful hints, like DAT, DDS4, backup, etc. Eventually he said they didn't have any cassette tapes in stock but Maplins might!

From above, the first paragraph were PC World in Newcastle and South Shields, the second was Slough and the third was Lakeside. Make what you will of it.

Was the customer BT Cellnet/O2?

[darmstadt]

I was in PC World last year as I wanted to buy a PDA with English language. I knew exactly the one I wanted and went in and asked about it. They didn't have one in stock there but the chappie looked on his computer and said there was one at another PC World nearby and I could have it a bit cheaper. Jolly good and he gave me the name of the chappie at the other store who would have it all ready for me. I popped over there and it was already at the checkout waiting for me. They had a slight problem writing out the bill as I have a foreign address but that was also pretty smooth and no problems with a VAT receipt either.

Another time though, I was in another PC World as I was building a server for a customer and they had forgotten to order some tapes (SDLT 320.) There was a PC World over the road so I popped in and go the PFY. I asked for tapes for a computer and added helpful hints, like DAT, DDS4, backup, etc. Eventually he said they didn't have any cassette tapes in stock but Maplins might!

The first time I went to PC World was some years back (15?) and bought my first laptop, an Acer with Windows 95, wow!!! Anyway it worked fine for a couple of years and then Win95 went balls up so a re-install was in order. Now the Win95 that was installed was English (although I had installed some German software so there was a mixture) but the recovery CD was Italian! I then had a laptop with UK keyboard, Italian Win95, German and English applications. Luckily Windows is so orientated to idiots that even I could work out how to use it.

From above, the first paragraph were PC World in Newcastle and South Shields, the second was Slough and the third was Lakeside. Make what you will of it.

[threaded]

When I used to work for a major uk retailer we used to hang around in the carpark, wait for a customer to park and enter the store, then whizz over and move the car with the Fork-lift truck before they came out again...it was classic watching the look on their face when they thought they were losing the plot.

To add insult to injury, we would often place it on the bonk over two spaces and then leave a harsh note on their windscreen asking them to be more considerate to other shoppers who may be struggling to find a space!

Ahhh...the good old days

Hmm, makes some sort of sense. Thanks for putting my mind at rest.

[Vito]

I've never been hassled either.

But does remind me that on one occasion when I came out I found my car had been moved to another parking space. Never did work out how that happened.

When I used to work for a major uk retailer we used to hang around in the carpark, wait for a customer to park and enter the store, then whizz over and move the car with the Fork-lift truck before they came out again...it was classic watching the look on their face when they thought they were losing the plot.

To add insult to injury, we would often place it on the bonk over two spaces and then leave a harsh note on their windscreen asking them to be more considerate to other shoppers who may be struggling to find a space!

Ahhh...the good old days

[pisces]

It's not their fault that you didn't understand "If it is for your laptop and you want an internal drive it will take some time to order. However, we do have external devices in stock".

Btw, would you do their job for the same money?

I wouldn't do it for the money I'm on now.

[Jog On]

I agree that they are only trying to make a living but I don't agree with some of their upsell tactics.

I went with my mother to buy a laptop and the sales guy was more than insistent that we 'had' to have Norton Internet Security otherwise she'd be wide open to all the nastyness. I told him we'd probably be OK without it and he basically said 'no- you won't be OK without it, nothing else - I mean nothing - can protect you from the nefarious threats of the internet, it's Norton or a whole world of pain I'm afraid'

I then pretended I was using a Cisco PIX at home (I'd seen one lying around in the storeroom at work) and asked him if I should be worrying as I wasn't using Norton either- he said yes I should most definitely be worrying, because absolutely nothing else will do when it comes to security…

I asked him if a serious corporate hardware firewall was really 'ineffective' compared to Norton Internet security and he held fast, he probably didn't know what a PIX was but he should have recognised the name Cisco at least.

I understand that these guys need to make a living but I don't agree with trying to instill fear into people to make them buy something, especially when it's something like Norton B|oody Internet security, he's probably knocked out loads of them to many unsuspecting shoppers by scaring them into thinking they need it.

They are obviously heavily incentivised/pressured into selling all sorts of tat and given some pretty aweful pitches to use. I declined his 'offer' much to his heavy protesting that I was making a big mistake. I didn't bother telling him I was Cisco certified he probably wouldn't have known what CCNA meant anyway.

[gingerjedi]

Its no good complaining about the level of expertises if you go to a cheap 'box shifting' store, if you want good advice then you need to go to specialist but expect to pay their prices.

[Churchill]

My most recent trip to PC world was when I was after a new internal DVD/RW for my laptop. I couldn't see any and when I asked if they had any was shown a shelf of external hard drives. When I repeated that I was after an internal DVD writer the twat just kept point to the external fecking hard drives

I don't plan on going back.

It's not their fault that you didn't understand "If it is for your laptop and you want an internal drive it will take some time to order. However, we do have external devices in stock".

Btw, would you do their job for the same money?

[pisces]

My most recent trip to PC world was when I was after a new internal DVD/RW for my laptop. I couldn't see any and when I asked if they had any was shown a shelf of external hard drives. When I repeated that I was after an internal DVD writer the twat just kept point to the external fecking hard drives

I don't plan on going back.

[zathras]

A while back I was in Comet

That was your first mistake

One time I was in Comet I asked the numpty on the till for a VAT reciept. He said he could not give one, until I asked his name and the name of his manager as I wanted to get the details right for the complaint to C&E (as it was at the time).

He then proceeded to fill in - A Credit sliip. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut as I could have got a whole lot of stuff for free.

Speaking of PC World. Why is it they are so completely useless when it comes to producing a VAT reciept. I've lost count of the number of times that the numpties have made out the reciept to me personally and not the company

My own experience with PC World Business is abysmal. Not only has the technical knowledge of their staff somewhere between zero and non-existant. But they spent two years chasing me to pay for goods that I paid for when they were picked up, as my company did not have a credit account with them! So they can't even allocate a payment against a purchase!

[Churchill]

You think PC World are bad. A while back I was in Comet and heard the sales woman tell an old couple that they needed a high spec processor or they would slow the internet down.

What annoys me about places like PC world is that people will gladly pay £50 for one of their highly trained staff to run some automated diags bit of software on their PC. I woulod happily do that for £49.99 inc Vat!

They were running an advert about having an upgrade carried out instore for about £50 also. So £50 to open the case, sove in a sound card and close it again. Nice earner.

Tony, there's nothing to stop you setting up in competition.

[BoredBloke]

You think PC World are bad. A while back I was in Comet and heard the sales woman tell an old couple that they needed a high spec processor or they would slow the internet down.

What annoys me about places like PC world is that people will gladly pay £50 for one of their highly trained staff to run some automated diags bit of software on their PC. I woulod happily do that for £49.99 inc Vat!

They were running an advert about having an upgrade carried out instore for about £50 also. So £50 to open the case, sove in a sound card and close it again. Nice earner.

[threaded]

Yep, PC World is ideal if you need something ASAP.

I must be lucky, whenever I have been in there, I have never been hassled by sales staff.

I've never been hassled either.

But does remind me that on one occasion when I came out I found my car had been moved to another parking space. Never did work out how that happened.

[Clippy]

Yep, PC World is ideal if you need something ASAP.

I must be lucky, whenever I have been in there, I have never been hassled by sales staff.