Pitiful Bestbuy Story...

[monstrado]

This is my pitiful story that happened today :

I go into Bestbuy and walk around and look at some of the TV's and stuff...then I very casually make my way to the console area of the store.

I get to the GHIII demo and i'm puzzled as to where my Rock Band demo is, I turn around and ask a Representative where the Rock Band demo was and he said, and I quote "Rock Band? Is that a game?", I was completly dumbfounded that this ****** had no idea what Rock Band was.

I said, yeah the game that you can play Drums, Guitar etc...he was like "oooh yeah, it's like a Guitar Hero remake?", I almost lost it...Anyway, he told me the game won't be out for for a little bit and "best buy(s)" don't have demos yet...I didn't want to argue. I left.

[TheTogfather]

This is exactly why when I went to Best Buy and did not see the demo, I did not talk to anybody. I just turned around and left.

[seafisch]

Considering Best Buy sells all sorts of things, it's not surprising that an employee, even one who works in that section, would not be current on video games. Not everyone is an stoked about the game as we are.

I buy video games at Best Buy, but I have never relied on their employees for any sort of video game information. I'd sooner ask Peter Jackson for grooming tips...

[monstrado]

Considering Best Buy sells all sorts of things, it's not surprising that an employee, even one who works in that section, would not be current on video games. Not everyone is an stoked about the game as we are.

I buy video games at Best Buy, but I have never relied on their employees for any sort of video game information. I'd sooner ask Peter Jackson for grooming tips...


no, he was in the game department and looked like a geeek!

[logicalnoise]

no, he was in the game department and looked like a geeek!

if you had asked him about eye of judgment he probably would have gone on for hours.

[ThePaska]

This is exactly why when I went to Best Buy and did not see the demo, I did not talk to anybody. I just turned around and left.

Exactly, it saves you a big headache.

It's too bad your Best Buy didn't have it, but good news is, less than two weeks until Rock Band comes out.

[Eastwood]

Considering Best Buy sells all sorts of things, it's not surprising that an employee, even one who works in that section, would not be current on video games. Not everyone is an stoked about the game as we are.

I buy video games at Best Buy, but I have never relied on their employees for any sort of video game information. I'd sooner ask Peter Jackson for grooming tips...

Best Buy completely sucks. I only go to Best Buy if I want to be insulted, ignored, and kicked in the nuts when I buy my electronics.

[Bakkster]

Considering Best Buy sells all sorts of things, it's not surprising that an employee, even one who works in that section, would not be current on video games. Not everyone is an stoked about the game as we are.

I buy video games at Best Buy, but I have never relied on their employees for any sort of video game information. I'd sooner ask Peter Jackson for grooming tips...

Yeah, I wouldn't expect any retail employee to know specifics about a decidedly niche game, especially one that hasn't been released yet.

I can beat you on poor knowledge, though:
So I'm standing behind the games department supervisor waiting to ask if they had stock of a game (Lego Star Wars II, because it's awesome) and he's talking to this old guy about the Xbox360. He's explaining the difference between the core and Premium.
BB: "The premium has wireless controllers, the core has controllers with wires."
Old Guy: "Wireless, you mean like a TV remote control?"
BB: "Ummmm..... yeah, exactly."
I bust out laughing at this apparent confusion between IR (line-of-sight only) and 2.4GHz (you know, everything else wireless). My girlfriend had to drag me away to keep me from interrupting the poor guy's sales spiel.

[seafisch]

Lego Star Wars II, because it's awesome

Is that the one based on the trilogy that didn't suck? I should clarify - I don't buy all of my videogames at Best Buy, but occasionally they have a good sale or a good price on titles they're trying to clear out. For information, though, I rely on the interwebs.

[Bakkster]

Is that the one based on the trilogy that didn't suck? I should clarify - I don't buy all of my videogames at Best Buy, but occasionally they have a good sale or a good price on titles they're trying to clear out.

Yes, it's the one with Luke, Leia, Han, and that DOESN'T have Jar Jar. Aka, it's the vastly superior version ;)

And to clarify as well, I was only shopping at BB because I had received a gift card.

[Atsumi]

Yeah, I wouldn't expect any retail employee to know specifics about a decidedly niche game, especially one that hasn't been released yet.

I can beat you on poor knowledge, though:
So I'm standing behind the games department supervisor waiting to ask if they had stock of a game (Lego Star Wars II, because it's awesome) and he's talking to this old guy about the Xbox360. He's explaining the difference between the core and Premium.
BB: "The premium has wireless controllers, the core has controllers with wires."
Old Guy: "Wireless, you mean like a TV remote control?"
BB: "Ummmm..... yeah, exactly."
I bust out laughing at this apparent confusion between IR (line-of-sight only) and 2.4GHz (you know, everything else wireless). My girlfriend had to drag me away to keep me from interrupting the poor guy's sales spiel.
Not all non-infrared wireless is 2.4GHz.

Just, FYI.

[Bakkster]

Not all non-infrared wireless is 2.4GHz.

Just, FYI.

I am aware, but the majority of short-range wireless is. It just seems embarrassing for him to compare a 2.4GHz wireless device to a TV remote; instead of Wi-Fi, BlueTooth, or some wireless phones. Hell, it's not even close in the EM spectrum (which I guess would have been a better comparison ;) ).

[monstrado]

I am aware, but the majority of short-range wireless is. It just seems embarrassing for him to compare a 2.4GHz wireless device to a TV remote; instead of Wi-Fi, BlueTooth, or some wireless phones. Hell, it's not even close in the EM spectrum (which I guess would have been a better comparison ;) ).

You should have asked him the DB Gain on the remote ;)

[Bakkster]

You should have asked him the DB Gain on the remote ;)

I think his answer would have been "Decibels are for music, silly!" :D

[Rock_Band_Wii]

That's like calling someone stupid for comparing automatic and manual transmission cars.

[Eastwood]

I am aware, but the majority of short-range wireless is. It just seems embarrassing for him to compare a 2.4GHz wireless device to a TV remote; instead of Wi-Fi, BlueTooth, or some wireless phones. Hell, it's not even close in the EM spectrum (which I guess would have been a better comparison ;) ).

This is also why wireless phones are now up into the 5 and 6 GH ranges... Wireless internet and other devices are causing interference.

[Bakkster]

That's like calling someone stupid for comparing automatic and manual transmission cars.

Only if the manual transmission is on a pedal bicycle.

[ffd611]

Most normal adults don't understand or care to uderstand the diference between IR and 2.4 Ghz wireless. In fact it would almost certainly lead to alot more discussion and unnecesary confusion for the customer. The Best Buy employee was doing the right thing by saying it was like a remote control because the man understood what he was talking about. I personally like best buy because it's one stop shopping for anything I want to look at. I don't care what they know about every obscure game because, like most of you I don't need someone else telling me about video games I'm interested in because I know how to find my own information. It's also unfair to expect every best buy employee to know about every game that is coming out. How about instead of being a dick about it you just let the employee know the basics of what the game is and then if he is asked about it again then he may be able to help someone else.

[Bakkster]

Most normal adults don't understand or care to uderstand the diference between IR and 2.4 Ghz wireless. In fact it would almost certainly lead to alot more discussion and unnecesary confusion for the customer. The Best Buy employee was doing the right thing by saying it was like a remote control because the man understood what he was talking about.

He probably should have said "Kinda, but better because it's not line of sight". Simple, succinct, and still accurate.

[HeXcoda]

Yeah, LSW2 > LSW1. They're both fun, don't get me wrong, and I'm glad they've got a "complete" bundle game out there now, but Han Shot First, dangit.

As for Best Buy, don't expect them to know jack. They sell everything from coffee grinders to car parts, and games for them are just a profit filler. (And oddly, they're better at keeping stock of new product than so-called "game retailers", who focus more on pawnshoppery than sales...)

Still, and this is a rule of thumb for all retail folks... don't BS, okay? If you don't know something, own up to it rather than make some crap up. Odds are good the customer knows more than you do and WILL see through the lies, losing respect for you -- and losing a potential sale as a result. That holds for Best Guy, GameStop, or anyone else.

[Kylekillgannon]

He probably should have said "Kinda, but better because it's not line of sight". Simple, succinct, and still accurate.

That leads down two roads:

The "Line of site?" Road, and the "ooooooooooooh I don't understand what you're saying but I'll just nod and 'oh' to act like I understand" I've dealt with people like this before, and I honestly like it a whole lot better when they don't really get it but nod and smile.

[TomPiltoff]

This is my pitiful story that happened today :

What follows is indeed pitiful, but surely not in the way you intended....


I get to the GHIII demo and i'm puzzled as to where my Rock Band demo is, I turn around and ask a Representative where the Rock Band demo was and he said, and I quote "Rock Band? Is that a game?", I was completly dumbfounded that this ****** had no idea what Rock Band was.

:rolleyes: Yeah, what an idiot for not knowing about every game that comes out for every console. Because, as you know, only gamers work at Best Buy. It certainly wasn't some guy who just needed work.


I said, yeah the game that you can play Drums, Guitar etc...he was like "oooh yeah, it's like a Guitar Hero remake?", I almost lost it...Anyway, he told me the game won't be out for for a little bit and "best buy(s)" don't have demos yet...I didn't want to argue. I left.

Exactly what would you have argued about or "lost it" over? That the guy didn't know what Rock Band is? Or that he, as an obvious non-gamer, made the RIDICULOUS assumption of assuming that two guitar games were related?

Dork.


I can beat you on poor knowledge though:

No you can't, the following story is even worse.


So I'm standing behind the games department supervisor waiting to ask if they had a stock of a game (Lego Star Wars II, because it's awesome) and he's talking to this old guy about the Xbox360. He's explaining the difference between the core and Premium.
BB: "The premium has wireless controllers, the core has controllers with wires."
Old Guy: "Wireless, you mean like a TV remote control?"
BB: "Ummmm..... yeah, exactly."
I bust out laughing at this apparent confusion between IR (line-of-sight only) and 2.4GHz (you know, everything else wireless). My girlfriend had to drag me away to keep me from interrupting the poor guy's sales spiel.

What kind of goon are you? You really expect that Best Buy employee is going to explain the difference between line-of-sight and 2.4GHz to an old man when it would only further confuse him?

It's apparent that the old guy was just using TV remote controls for a reference, as if to say "Wireless? You mean like a TV remote control where I just point it at the screen and push buttons?" and the BB employee wisely said "Yes".

[MartyMcFly]

Nice first post. Why come in here and be a d*ck? Your comments were unneccessary.

[TomPiltoff]

Nice first post. Why come in here and be a d*ck? Your comments were unneccessary.

Because their stories pissed me off.

They speak of those people as if they're stupid. OMG THE BEST BUY GUY THOUGHT ROCK BAND WAS A REMAKE OF GUITAR HERO WHAT A LOSER

and even worse

THE BEST BUY GUY DIDN'T EXPLAIN THE FINER DETAILS OF WIRELESS TO AN OLD MAN LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Bakkster]

THE BEST BUY GUY DIDN'T EXPLAIN THE FINER DETAILS OF WIRELESS TO AN OLD MAN LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Not at all. I just found it odd he would leave the guy to think this was something you had to point at the TV to get it to work. I don't expect him to explain that a TV remote is a beam of IR light, but the 360 controller used radio waves carrying a digital signal in the 2.4GHz band. Even if he had said "Yes, but better" I think that would have been acceptable.

Seems like you're going to be popular on the forums.

[TomPiltoff]

Not at all. I just found it odd he would leave the guy to think this was something you had to point at the TV to get it to work. I don't expect him to explain that a TV remote is a beam of IR light, but the 360 controller used radio waves carrying a digital signal in the 2.4GHz band. Even if he had said "Yes, but better" I think that would have been acceptable.

But you don't see how the employee was just trying to avoid confusion?

I mean, my grandfather has asked me how the internet works and I didn't start by saying 'Well first there's a server, and depending on your bandwidth....' because he would have been confused as hell.


Seems like you're going to be popular on the forums.

Seems like I care.

[Bakkster]

But you don't see how the employee was just trying to avoid confusion?

I mean, my grandfather has asked me how the internet works and I didn't start by saying 'Well first there's a server, and depending on your bandwidth....' because he would have been confused as hell.

That's what I just said. You don't have to explain the technology, but you should give a proper analog. I felt he avoided confusion by giving an incorrect analogy.

[TomPiltoff]

That's what I just said. You don't have to explain the technology, but you should give a proper analog. I felt he avoided confusion by giving an incorrect analogy.

I don't want to make an even bigger issue of it, ok?

:)

[Eastwood]

All I know is if I were a manager of a Worst Buy, I would make sure the guy standing in the game section with the yellow name tag on his blue shirt would know a thing or two about game technology... If he just needed a job and manager just threw him onto the sales floor without any prior knowledge of the technology he will be asked questions about, that is just pure Worst Buy tactics. If he really was just some Joe Blow needing a job and didn't know electronics, there is plenty of work in the back warehouse.

It is what we did at a much better, customer service based company called Office Max. If you didn't know printers, you got sent to the school supplies. Didn't know diddly about office furniture, go stand in the paper isle. Those people mentioned in previous posts were either bad employees blowing smoke up someone's izzazz or had bad managers that either hired incompetent people or placed them in a section that is their weakness.

So everyone is wrong!!! :p

[Bakkster]

I don't want to make an even bigger issue of it, ok?

:)

Nor do I. I just didn't want you to misunderstand me :D


All I know is if I were a manager of a Worst Buy, I would make sure the guy standing in the game section with the yellow name tag on his blue shirt would know a thing or two about game technology... If he just needed a job and manager just threw him onto the sales floor without any prior knowledge of the technology he will be asked questions about, that is just pure Worst Buy tactics.

I think that's what disappointed me most. The guy in my story was the Gaming department manager...

He was also the only one who felt like finding me a copy of Lego Star Wars...

[Jimmik]

I mean, my grandfather has asked me how the internet works and I didn't start by saying 'Well first there's a server, and depending on your bandwidth....' because he would have been confused as hell.


'Well first there are these tubes.....'

[Eastwood]

My hate for Worst Buy runs deep. Give me a beer and a camp fire one day and I'll tell the story... It's a long one...