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-- CompUSA... (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=1354)

Hi All,
I think the folks got something here.
I were able to pick up a brocure for the
Palm IIIc palmtop at my local PX Post Exchange. Is the Visor going to be sold throught the Military (AAFES) Exchanges?

Byron

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Originally posted by fubar:
Here's a thought.... since Hellion Prime seems to be the only knowledgeable and helpful CompUSA or Best Buy sales person in the country, how about we start our own human cloning experiment and when we've made a few dozen copies, we'll open our own store and clean up...!! How about it H_P...???

Failing that, *vote*with*your*wallets* and buy it direct from HS...!! Patience is a virtue.

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I was thinking HS should fund it... after all we'll be selling their product!
I don't think their current retail channels are doing much to enhance the Visor owning experience. At least when we had problems getting stuff from HS, we could make allowances for them being new. CompUSA and Best Buy have been around long enough to have run out of excuses.

So since we are all discussing CompUSA. Does anyone know if they sell the Serial version of the Visor Deluxe? And if so, does it include both the USB and the Serial cables? I have NT at my office, and want to get both cradles. But I know if I ask the CompUSA sales person, he won't know, or will make it up.
I would buy from HS direct. But my Palm III died about a week ago, and I am already going through withdrawls........

Ryan
[email protected]

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Originally posted by rclayton:
So since we are all discussing CompUSA. Does anyone know if they sell the Serial version of the Visor Deluxe? And if so, does it include both the USB and the Serial cables? I have NT at my office, and want to get both cradles. But I know if I ask the CompUSA sales person, he won't know, or will make it up.
I would buy from HS direct. But my Palm III died about a week ago, and I am already going through withdrawls........

Ryan
[email protected]

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Thanks HP....I sort of understood what you said. You sell the serial cables seperate.....I guess I will have to check what price they want for those. If I buy the serial from HS, it is $20 extra, and includes both cradles, as I said.

Ryan

quote:

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Originally posted by rclayton:
Thanks HP....I sort of understood what you said. You sell the serial cables seperate.....I guess I will have to check what price they want for those. If I buy the serial from HS, it is $20 extra, and includes both cradles, as I said.

Ryan

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My 11 year old son said that Staples now has the Handspring, he and I walked in, and they had one Visor, and 3 Visor deluxes, (all graphite!) another couple was looking at them too, not only did I buy my deluxe, but I 'sold' the other couple on the deluxe, the salesman only had to unlock the case! He DID say we would need batteries, but I pointed out that the HS CAME with batteries, and they should last 1-2 months. He was clueless!

...stop...press...stop...press....

SHOCKER...!
This just in. 11 year old child knows more than computer retail sales person.... More on this breaking story later.

A few days ago, I visited the CompUSA in Dearborn, MI in hopes of finding a blue VDx. The woman working there was telling a customer "The Handspring technology is only a year old, so you really have no idea how long it's going to last. With the extended warranty, it would cover anything that happens, and it's only $99".
I couldn't help myself. The idiocy was just too great to ignore. I said "The original PalmPilot was introduced over 5 years ago. And liquid crystal 'technology' has been around for decades. Besides, it only costs $100 to replace a cracked screen anyway, and the stylus pack that comes with the warranty won't work with the Visor."
The customer opted to take his chances without the warranty, and the CompUSA woman decided that I didn't need any help.

So, I ended up finding a Best Buy store that had one. ;-)

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Originally posted by Twinkie:
A few days ago, I visited the CompUSA in Dearborn, MI in hopes of finding a blue VDx. The woman working there was telling a customer "The Handspring technology is only a year old, so you really have no idea how long it's going to last. With the extended warranty, it would cover anything that happens, and it's only $99".
I couldn't help myself. The idiocy was just too great to ignore. I said "The original PalmPilot was introduced over 5 years ago. And liquid crystal 'technology' has been around for decades. Besides, it only costs $100 to replace a cracked screen anyway, and the stylus pack that comes with the warranty won't work with the Visor."
The customer opted to take his chances without the warranty, and the CompUSA woman decided that I didn't need any help.

So, I ended up finding a Best Buy store that had one. ;-)

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I'm beginning to wonder if I work at the only CompUSA in the nation that actually has a clue. *shakes head* Weird.

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Originally posted by Twinkie:
I dunno. I worked at CompUSA about 7 years ago, and at the time, the people I worked with were VERY knowledgeable.
I guess it's because around the Detroit area now, if you can spell "Windows", you can be a System Engineer making $50,000 a year. ;-)

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Not nearly as much. Microsoft Rebels aren't very popular around here. ;-)

I live a few miles West of Novi, in South Lyon. It's about 40 minutes from Troy.

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~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-
Twinkie

[This message has been edited by Twinkie (edited 04-24-2000).]

My experience at the Westminster, CO, CompUSA was mixed. I found out about the Visor from my dad, and then from the Web. It's a good thing I did, because the store had nothing on display in their PDA section, not even boxed up. After looking through the wince and palm machines, I finally asked a salesdroid, who told me, "Oh, yeah, those are behind the counter in our business section". Most customers wouldn't even know the thing existed.

Once I got to the right section, though, the guy there was very helpful. He brought out several boxes and let me compare models, and seemed at least mildly knowledgeable about the whole thing.

Indianapolis CompUSA Experience:

1. Call product line: "Yes, we have 10 Stowaways keyboards in stock!" . . . Great, I'm on my way!

2. Get there, give them the SKU#, wait 30 minutes... "Man, I don't know where they might be and no one seems to..." Ask if there's anything else he can do - "Nothing." Okay, thanks for your trouble.

3. Get home, call hotline again (maybe I was mistaken!).... "We definitely have at least ten in Castleton.... ask them to REALLY look!" I get connected to the customer service rep at the store - she says they have them in stock. I tell her the story. She says come back and tell them to look in the "laptop lockbox." I do just that. The guy in charge of notebooks and PDAs laughs and says, "We've had people coming in for days asking about this product, and we just don't have it. I can't sell you something we don't have!" Okay, I say, are you sure? (Laughs again) "I'm positive, I don't know why the computer says we have them..." Alright, screw it, I go up to the customer service girl's desk, tell her the story, and SHE takes the time to look for two minutes, finds twelve in stock and hooks me and another guy that overheard my conversation up with the keyboard.

4. Bottom line - Maybe it's just a few bad apples, but these sales reps need to take the time to help you out, especially when you've done your research and know the thing's there!

I don't have a CompUSA near me, but most retailers I have been to have been equally inept! When I attempted to purchase a Palm IIIc from Best Buy, they told me that the IIIc had been discontinued and replaced by the IIIe! But it got even better. When I, jokingly, made the statement that the IIIe had a color screen and could play MP3 music......he agreed with me!!!

Circuit City was a somewhat better, When I bought my PocketPC (let's not start another argument!) the sales attendant was great, not to mention cute! She told me they would be arriving in the afternoon at 4:00 PM. I came at that time, and they were only slightly late. She was as good as here word, and she unloaded my unit off the truck, in person!

Unfortunately, she is one in a thousand. Most salespeople are complete idiots!

Hey Foo,

So was the first entry on your new PokitPC her phone number????!!!!!

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Have Visor Will Travel!

I went to the CompUSA in Santa Clara, CA. They claim that all VDx come with the plastic/metal stylus, while the Visor Std does not. I used that claim to my advantage when the VDx I bought there came with the cheap plastic stylus. I made the guy give me the plastic/metal stylus from the display model!

They also sell a $20, 2 year replacement warranty. Their claim is that if anything goes wrong within 2 years, they will
give me a brand new unit. Not bad odds to me. I damaged my previous Palm within 2 months, and had to get a refurb unit from Palm, Inc. (with worn buttons and contacts).

They did not have the premium stylus 5 pack, and they ran out of ice serial cradles. Could have been a better experience, but I am up andrunning as of 4/7/00.

Remember, you can use their ignorance to your advantage!

JK

[This message has been edited by JohnKes (edited 05-03-2000).]

WOW.. I agree. I bought my Visor Deluxe on the web in December. I wanted to buy the stylus pack and possibly a different case.

CompUSA in Attleboro. MA
Same day three differnt clerks, three differnt answers regarding stylus pack.
1. Not in stock
2. In stock (in backroom)
3. We're not going to be carrying them.

Best Buy in Attleboro. (7 iron away from CompUSA)

Will be carrying, but not in stock even though it was in their flyer. Basically was told to buy a Palm because its better and more people use it. I did'nt waste my time arguing.

Staples in MA.
Their display was up. Clerk was very eager and he had just heard about the Visor and was very intrigued and wanted to learn about it. They could not keep them on the shelf.
They were going tobe having formal training from Visor in about a week.


I spent over an hour going through my Visor with him. He took pride in his job. This made all the differnce.

SORRY ........long winded.