Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 11

Vent on �

Ok, I have gone to CompUSA twice about visor products, and both times, if I didn't know anything about Handspring or the products, they would have lost Handspring a sale. The first time was a couple of months ago before I knew they were only selling them on the Internet. One of the shift managers outright told me that he wouldn't back the product and hoped that CompUSA never sold them. I can understand this somewhat because he was going on the stories of that happened last year.

But TODAY, I went to a different CompUSA to pick up the back-up module. Since they had them locked up, I flagged down one of the sales guys and asked for the module. He said �Sure�, then immediately stated that he really hated to see the visors come in, since they were in so many different colors his inventory was going to be h*ll. His attitude was very negative.

I personally have been in customer service for almost 10 years, both providing it personally and managing groups that provide it. I just can�t imagine allowing that kind of attitude to show to a customer.


Vent off �

Thanks for reading!

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 18

My spouse and I have referred to CompUSA as "The Evil Place" for a long time. They also practice quite a bit of bait and switch. (Advertised specials NEVER in stock...)
We were upset when ComputerCity went away,as at least the folks there tried to be helpful.

On another note, in our area there is a new BestBuy moving in this Fall. What are THEY like to deal with?

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 8

Best Buy employees are as bad if not worse then CompUsa in my opinion. I went in to best buy today and asked an employee about the Visor Deluxe stylus pack and he promptly informed me that he didn't even what was a visor was. I had to take him over to his display case and point it out to him. Then he said, oh yeah, we just got those in yesterday. Needless to say, he was no help so I asked for a manager. I asked the manager about the styli and he told me he didn't know. He said they had recieved something from handspring today, but he didn't have the time to go check what it was for me. So as you can see, it doesn't really matter where you go. I will mention, however, that I had a very good time with Staples when I went to buy my Visor. I walked right in and talked to the manager who seemed very knowledgable about the Visor. She even reccommended the Backup Module and explained it's functionality. She also opened 4 boxes to show me all of the colors before I chose one. If I were to reccomend anywhere for Handspring products, it would be Staples.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 11

I had a somewhat good experience with Best Buy, after I got to the manager. They wouldn't open the boxes for me to see the colors, but that wasn't really a big deal. The manager didn't know what he had in stock, he was suprised that I found the serial cradles. One of his staff had put them out, but he was very helpful.

Teresa

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 42

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at CompUSA. I work for CompUSA (please, don't throw anything.. I have to finish school somehow =)), and at the store I work at, we try to keep as up to date as possible on new products. Admittedly, thats a tall order in an industry that changes as fast as the computer industry does. I'm considered the store linux and palm geek, so I get the majority of customer questions on both. I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Visors for some time, ever since I found ould we could be carrying them back in early January. Today, I got my Visor Deluxe.. and aside from some minor hiccups with the USB cradle, it's wonderful.

By all means make somebody in the store or regional managment aware of any problems you had at the store....the experience you had is not the norm.

--HP

------------------
That which does not kill me had BETTER do enough damage to keep me from firing back!

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Posts: 37

My experience has been that best buy, circuit city, and compusa are not that knowledgable re HS products. They tend to want to push the palms and winces. I suppose they are practicing "go with what you know" or at least think you know.

However, I can't say enough good things about my experience at the Staples on 96th street in Indianapolis. When I bought my BVD, they hadn't even unpacked them yet. He only saw the graphite at first. I told him if he had a BVD I would buy it, otherwise I would wait. He looked until he found one. And, I bought it .

On another trip to Staples looking for a stylus 5 pack, another clerk was telling me how he thought HS was going to give Palm a run for their money. I informed him that I expect HS to do extremely well. I also told him that HS will force (is forcing) Palm to innovate, and HS also licenses the OS from Palm so Palm will make money from the success of HS.

Sorry to be so long winded. In summary compusa, best buy, circuit city are bad and I think Staples is HS's best retail partner.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Palm Beach, Florida
Posts: 21

On Best Buy...
Beware of Best Buys "open box" sales. These items are often returned merchandise which is put back on the sales floor w/ out examination. Case in point, I bought a CD changer with the express understanding from the pierced sales kid that I could exchange it for a new one if it didn't work. It didn't. Upon returning it to the store I was told by the store manager that I could indeed exchange it for a new one as long as I paid the price difference. I walked.
The changer was back on the shelf a week later.
The only function Best Buy serves is to provide me w/ a low advertised price that I can take elsewhere to match or beat.

[This message has been edited by colecchio (edited 04-07-2000).]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

Best Buy's sales staff are total idiots. When I was looking to buy a Palm IIIc (total piece of crap, but that's another story) I made the mistake of asking one of the mongoloids behind the PDA display if they had the Palm IIIc in stock. He looked at me for a few seconds and said..."that unit is being phased out, they (Palm Computing) are replacing it with this little guy here", as he pointed out the Palm IIIe. I went along and played dumb! I decided to see how far this would go! I said "yeah the IIIe, I've heard of that one, doesn't it have some kind of color screen and plays music?", he said "yep!". He went on "and you can use it to store all your stuff". I'm not sure what he meant by stuff, but I was afraid ask. He might have meant my sock drawer!

Staples on the other hand were excellent. The sales staff actually knew what I was talking about. And they match the lowest price, even Buy.com's.

But stay clear of Best Buy, unless you like talking to a display!



[This message has been edited by foo fighter (edited 04-07-2000).]

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NC, Indiana
Posts: 465

I didn't have quite as good an experience with Staples I'm afraid. When I went last Sunday, there was an older gentleman--around 50 or 60 years of age there. He asked if he could help me, etc, etc. I told him I was interested in one and he told me that he had just put them up 15 minutes before. There was a graphite standard and a graphite deluxe, both operational there. I told him I might be back later that week to get it--and I was. The next day (Sunday) I came over. I was messing with the Visor, and well accidentally tripped the Alarm . Well, I had 4 redshirts come over and shout at the alarm (they didn't suspect we were trying to steal it or anything -- they just told us how much they hate the stupid alarms and how much of a hassle it is). So then they left, and I was ready to purchase. But no one was around, I walked around and the "computer guy" was talking to another fellow about a printer. I waited by the PDAs. Eventually I flagged down a redshirt that got the manager. He came over and asked what I wanted, I told him a blue Deluxe. He was rather rude, and acted like I was wasting his time, I was somewhat offended. He opened up the glass case under the PDA displays and opened up two boxes. I then told him actually that it said what it was on the side, again he only acted annoyed. He went into the back, got a BVD and basically shoved it to me. Then the computer guy came over and apologized for being occupied and asked how he could help me. I told him his manager already got it, and I understood that he was occupied with the other gentleman. He then (politely) tried to sell me a 1-year extension. ($40 for a year extension). I politely declined, and headed for the checkout after I had opened it up and examined it--the box's seal was already broke. I assumed by the manager. So I went into line and paid for it, and a kind younger women at the cash register told me she actually was the one who opened it up. She said she wanted to see what the colors were like, and she got as far as removing the bubble tape but couldn't figure out how to remove the hardcover and stopped there for fear of breaking it. I told her it didn't bother me at all, and it didn't--all she did was look. I went ahead and took the hardcase off and showed her the wonderful blue color then. So all in all it was good--except for the manager--who was in my opinion was rude-especially for being a manager. This is odd because the "lower ranking" red shirts were actually far nicer, polite, and courteous than their manager was-- albeit it they didn't know much about the Visor--they didn't hide it. Kudos to Staples for their kind floor (not management) staff!

Sorry for the large post, I'd like to hear other peoples experiences too!
-Vinny

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Posts: 37

Vinny,

Which Staples? I bought mine at the one on 96th at lunch time. I only dealt with "red shirts" though not a manager.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NC, Indiana
Posts: 465

The Staples in Kokomo, IN.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Posts: 37

That explains it.

OT:

Are you from the City of Firsts or Indianapolis? I'm originally from Kokomo and my family still lives there.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

IndyBVD,
I live in Angola, have you or Vinny ever been up that way?

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Posts: 37

Foo Fighter,

No. I'v been to Ft Wayne several years ago. Isn't there a car museum in Angola. I remember going there with my family many years ago.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

No, your thinking of Auburn. The Auburn Cord-Duesenburg museum is located there as well as the famous Kruse Auction Park. Last year ebay was there auctioning classic autos online.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Posts: 37

Foo Fighter,

You're right. I remember now. (Stupid me, who ever heard of a car called an Albany? )

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NC, Indiana
Posts: 465

quote:

---

Originally posted by IndyBVD:

Are you from the City of Firsts or Indianapolis? I'm originally from Kokomo and my family still lives there.

---

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 90

quote:

---

Originally posted by colecchio:
On Best Buy...
Beware of Best Buys "open box" sales. These items are often returned merchandise which is put back on the sales floor w/ out examination. Case in point, I bought a CD changer with the express understanding from the pierced sales kid that I could exchange it for a new one if it didn't work. It didn't. Upon returning it to the store I was told by the store manager that I could indeed exchange it for a new one as long as I paid the price difference. I walked.
The changer was back on the shelf a week later.
The only function Best Buy serves is to provide me w/ a low advertised price that I can take elsewhere to match or beat.

[This message has been edited by colecchio (edited 04-07-2000).]

---