What do you prefer...

[Scouzer]

I'm a commissioned sales person. I make about $30/hr at Futureshop...which is basically Best Buy. Same company, except we have commission.

I am 1000x more knowledgeable than those idiots at Best Buy and I am obviously very willing to help. Hourly people don't really give a shat...

However, I know the fact commissioned salespeople can get on your nerves if you are just looking to buy something and get out. But you also need to recognize you are the minority...the majority of people looking to buy a computer at a big box store are MORONS!!! They NEED the help or they buy dumb sh!t and return it...

So what would you prefer most stores to be? Well-paid commissioned staff, or poorly paid hourly staff?

Yes, I'm biased.

 

[Hyudra]

More high end stuff, I would expect some kinda service.

 

[Scouzer]

The way it works at Futureshop is on low end stuff, being the entire Entertainment department, they are only hourly. Games, DVDs, Xboxes, etc. There is no pressure to find your DVD

But in any other department...Home Theatre, Cell Phones, Computers, Appliances there are about 3 all commission guys to every 1 hourly guy. The hourly guy is usually just some guy who doesn't know much more than to point to products. The commissioned guys help with bigger purchases.

 

[Azndude51]

I hate them both, hourly guys like those at BB are usually dumb@sses and commissioned people usually try to screw you into buying crap you don't need. I generally like commisioned though since they're usually more helpful and I know when they try to screw me.

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: Azndude51
I hate them both, hourly guys like those at BB are usually dumb@sses and commissioned people usually try to screw you into buying crap you don't need. I generally like commisioned though since they're usually more helpful and I know when they try to screw me.

This is exactly why I try to buy things online as much as possible.

 

[Scouzer]

You can only be screwed if you are too dumb to know what you don't need

 

[Mickey Eye]

A commisioned guy once forced out of a deal because the ****** wouldn't quit trying to get me to add stuff to the order. On the other hand the majority of hourlies don't know ******. These days I tend to either buy online or if I know of a good deal, do all the research I can before going into the shop and getting in and out as fast as possible. Coincidentally commisioned guys seem to have more trouble if your paying in cash or atleast in full... it's if you need finance or credit that they can really get into you.

I'd go with hourlies simply because I tend to know what I'm after. But if I need help, and sometimes I do, I'd hope there was another guy there that could actually help me.

 

[rmrf]

If I need information on something, and actual help, I go to stores that I know have commissioned salespeople.

If I need to pick up a spool of cdroms, I go to best buy.

 

[McCarthy]

I like informed salesmen, but it varies so much with commissioned sales people it's really a toss up. Most know just enough to be dangerous.

Mostly I just hang out until a few customers leave, then make some sign I'm ready to talk. When more people come in I "need to read this brochure, go help them first". That tends to kill the pushy behavior - and the less stressed someone is to keep up with customers the less nonsense they make up.

 

[BillyBatson]

HOURLY!!!!
i am an hourly in the eletronics department at costco and even i know we shouldn't get commision, we would be selling left and right, lying, pushing higher cost products, and selling things ppl don't need, all for the money

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: McCarthy
I like informed salesmen, but it varies so much with commissioned sales people it's really a toss up. Most know just enough to be dangerous.

Mostly I just hang out until a few customers leave, then make some sign I'm ready to talk. When more people come in I "need to read this brochure, go help them first". That tends to kill the pushy behavior - and the less stressed someone is to keep up with customers the less nonsense they make up.

Untrue.

I don't give a flying poonanni shat about any other customers other than the one I'm with. The only time I do if I'm juggling two people who I've already helped both and I want both to be happy.

To reply to BillyBatson...all of our computers are roughly the same margin...its in my interests to give my customers the best computer for their money. I make like $7 on a $600 computer or $15 on a $1600...so the difference is definitely not enough to push people up high. Also, Costco pays well enough you may be right, hourly is fine. Most stores pay in the 7-9 range which just attracts teenagers looking for some easy cash.

My manager keeps pushing me to downsell...try to get them to shoot high...but I don't believe in it.

And about the financing Micky Eye...I know at my store it doesn't make a difference at all. It doesn't even show up in my stats if I got you a Futureshop card...so whatever...

 

[theknight571]

It doesn't really matter to me how the salesperson is paid.

To me, if they're pushy or try to slip something by me, they are crooked and should be shot on site.

I had a new car sales guy try to slip $4,000 worth of "accessories and services" past me when I went in to sign the deal... after we had negoatiated the price/trade etc. (This did have a good ending though... I was so pissed I was going to walk out, but instead I asked to talk to his manager. I explained what was going on and he took out the $4,000 plus an extra $2,000 for my "trouble")

If they're there to help me and "gently" guide me and/or answer all of my questions then they are doing their job and I don't complain too much.

 

[Scouzer]

I've never, ever considered trying to slip charges past a customer.

That's fvcking dirty.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Some guy tried to tell me he wasn't on commission but he was trying to push a $99 warranty on me.

 

[Zebo]

Mwave.com ... newegg.com etc. I have zero tolerance for sales weezels commision or not..

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

I don't like salespeople (no offense to the OP) because I am the type who does my research online from a variety of sources, rather than depending on an obviously biased commentary by a salesperson. When I go to buy something, I know exactly what I'm after. Salespeople make me feel like I'm being watched and it makes me uncomfortable. I hate feeling like "oh crap I just made eye contact, now he's going to walk over here and try to "help" me."

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Azndude51
I hate them both,

i also vote for none

i don't need them, just put the stuff on a shelf with a price tag and i'll buy what i want, i don't want to talk to some stinky human about the stuff they are selling

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
I don't like salespeople (no offense to the OP) because I am the type who does my research online from a variety of sources, rather than depending on an obviously biased commentary by a salesperson. When I go to buy something, I know exactly what I'm after. Salespeople make me feel like I'm being watched and it makes me uncomfortable. I hate feeling like "oh crap I just made eye contact, now he's going to walk over here and try to "help" me."

Well said. As most people in the computer forum we'll do the research.. so OP is prolly asking at the wrong venue. No offense either but I usually know more than sales persons before entering store.

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Mwave.com ... newegg.com etc. I have zero tolerance for sales weezels commision or not..

I'm sure you only meant the weezels, or do you have an inbred hatred for all sales people?

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1

Originally posted by: Zebo
Mwave.com ... newegg.com etc. I have zero tolerance for sales weezels commision or not..

I'm sure you only meant the weezels, or do you have an inbred hatred for all sales people?

No not at all - some are extremly knowlegeable. Guy I buy my running shoes from is like that. knows every shoe he sells and how it applies to your foot type. I pay a premium to shop at his little store even though I could get same shoe on-line for 25% less.

 

[EvilYoda]

Even though many of us here might do a lot of online research before ever stepping foot inside a store with the intention to buy a product, most people aren't like that. Having been a commissioned salesperson selling higher-end products, I would much rather deal with someone that knows their stuff and can answer my questions and put up with a little nagging. The optimal situation would be to find someone like me...I didn't push people. If they wanted time, I gave them time...it wasn't going to ruin my day.

Hearing some of the random garbage that come out of your average big-box retailer's salespeople, it makes me sad that customers don't know better than to turn around and leave.

As for DVDs...I've actually always dreamt of a high-end a/v store that also has DVDs with a movie buff always on hand, suggesting movies that I've never seen. But yeah, that's not going to happen

 

[Zebo]

Hearing some of the random garbage that come out of your average big-box retailer's salespeople, it makes me sad that customers don't know better than to turn around and leave.

No doubt about that - and even the 25% of informed descering customers are left with nowhere to shop for many things to due simple economics the cheap skates or idiot customers dictated.

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

non...for the love of pete NON!!!!!!!!!! I refuse to ge to radio shaq unless I absolutely need a piece that normal electronics stores don't have

 

[KarenMarie]

i like whatever salesperson/manager has the authority to make/take a deal on the price. end of story.

 

[jjones]

Commissioned salesperson every time. Generally they are more knowledgable and will be able to make better recommendations for the solution to your needs. Of course, I don't count car salesmen amongst this group.