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Retail Rep Program

S

scojo_az

n00b
Joined
Feb 13, 2003
Messages
54
How many retail rep programs are there for guys that work at stores such as Best Buy. (Watch the Geek Squad comments, it wasn't my idea :rolleyes: ). I know that there is an Intel rep program, an AMD rep program, a Microsoft program and the HP points rebate thing, but was wondering who else had one that we qualify for.

Thanks,

scojo_az
 
If you work for BBY, then check the employee toolkit, there is a whole list of accomodations that you qualift for.

It varies from department to department, but thats the easy way to tell.
 
You don't like the Geek Squad?


i know and talk to THE MAN that got BBY to get Geek squad...

nothing like working at the best buy that 3/4 of the people at corp go to!






#8 will own you....

oh and www.retailaccess.com is awsome, $150 for the Logitec Bluetooth keyboard :)
 
Don't get me wrong, it's hard to complain about getting another free shirt, but even the customers comment about the "geek" part. What would be wrong with "Tech Squad" or "Tech Team"? It doesn't have the negitive feel that "geek" does. Just my 2 cents.

scojo_az
 
It's tough for me to not laugh at their Geek Squad shirts when they still don't know their ass from a computer part. This is the only product segment in the world of commerce where they people selling the products, know so little about the products they sell. Even the home theater guys know "some" stuff". Not much, but still.
 
At my store, some of the tech guys at the bench really know their stuff. A few of the sales guys do, but many of them know just enough to get by. It's not really their fault, as how much training do they get from the company? Hmmm, diversity awareness training and loss prevention training are mandatory, but there is almost zilch in the way of any product knowledge training. Also, how much time are the employees given to learn about the stuff that they sell? Gee, I guess we better do that on our own time. Can't expect someone to know something when they have never been given the opportunity to learn.

thanks,

scojo_az
 
Originally posted by scojo_az
At my store, some of the tech guys at the bench really know their stuff. A few of the sales guys do, but many of them know just enough to get by. It's not really their fault, as how much training do they get from the company? Hmmm, diversity awareness training and loss prevention training are mandatory, but there is almost zilch in the way of any product knowledge training. Also, how much time are the employees given to learn about the stuff that they sell? Gee, I guess we better do that on our own time. Can't expect someone to know something when they have never been given the opportunity to learn.

thanks,

scojo_az
Click to expand...

I'm not going to turn this into a great debate, but let me make something clear. People who take the time to learn all they can about their job, succeed. I don't give a shit if your in retail selling little old ladies printer cables, or working out in the IT industry. If your attitude is "gee, I guess we better do that on our own time", meaning you wouldn't dare read about the technology on your own time, you will go no where. To get ahead in the tech world, you need to learn on your own....at every level. Those 40 year old men working at Best Buy....selling printers to moms and daughters....have no desire or spirations to succeed, and that's why their still there. It's an attitude like yours that make me laugh at the guys in my local Best Buys (3 stores) because I know they'll never take the time to learn.
 
AMD has a rep program? More detail on this one please.

As for the learning at your own time deal, I agree. Is prolly best to take some time and just learn a few things or two on things that are not being taught at work. This way you will have the upper hand when compared to your co-workers. The thing that bothers me the most by being a salesman is that the company does not let you learn the stuff that you are needing to sell. I work at CUSA as a sales/tech so I know how it goes. It just sucks how they expect you to sell certain things that you have never tried before. I am not talking about Ram, PC, Video Cards, and etc. But more like softwares, products that are not on display, products that are not even powered and etc.

It is like the workers have to spend the little money that they make and purchase those expensive things so that they can explain it to their customers. That just irks me.
 
Some good points Chelica. I guess I should have given a better example.

My test is to go in and ask for a USB hub. Those exact words. 9 times out of 10, I will be taken to the networking section. The idiot saleman will pick up a bunch of network hubs and look on the boxes for USB ports. Then he'll look at me and say, nope, I don't think any of these have are USB compatible. You have a great point about the software....but like you said, the hardware stuff should be a something they know. I've seen quite a few times the salesguy selling an internal IDE CD-RW to someone who has a laptop. It makes me want to shove the CD-RW up is his and ask him if it's compatible.
 
Hahaha, yeah when it comes down to things that you can learn without actually use the product, then it is given that we must go out and actually learn about it. It is pretty stupid if someone asks for a PC133 Ram and you give them a DDR because you have no idea what the difference is between the two.

But there are sales people that knows their stuff, about 40%. The other 60% are either great BSer or are just there because they need someone to stock.

You have no idea how many times I have talked to a pissed off customer because a salesman sold him/her something that they did not asked for. Your example of the USB hub is a good one. Our customer service personel called me out on the speakerset one day. I went up there and the dude was pissed off. He told me that he was sold a network hub instead of a USB hub the day before. So there I am apologizing for the salesperson who was lucky enough to take the day off, the things I get, haha.

One thing that sucks the most about knowing stuff that your co-workers does not is the fact that they will send a crapload of customers to come and talk to you. This will usually involve alot of technical questions on smaller items. You know that they do not send a big computer sale to any other salesman even if they know next to nothing about it. A very cutthroat biz.
 
If you are talking about Best Buy, it doesn't matter who sells what. You don't work for commission but they want you to sell service plans...that place sucks don't ever work there. They got these corny ass pep-talks in the morning, and at the end, the store manager says 'Sell those service plans guys!!' Screw that.
 
Originally posted by djnes
Some good points Chelica. I guess I should have given a better example.

My test is to go in and ask for a USB hub. Those exact words. 9 times out of 10, I will be taken to the networking section. The idiot saleman will pick up a bunch of network hubs and look on the boxes for USB ports. Then he'll look at me and say, nope, I don't think any of these have are USB compatible.
Click to expand...
Hmm, this sounds like a hella fun hobby.
 
Originally posted by djnes
Some good points Chelica. I guess I should have given a better example.

My test is to go in and ask for a USB hub. Those exact words. 9 times out of 10, I will be taken to the networking section. The idiot saleman will pick up a bunch of network hubs and look on the boxes for USB ports. Then he'll look at me and say, nope, I don't think any of these have are USB compatible.
Click to expand...
Hmm, this sounds like a hella fun hobby.

One of the things that is my pet peeve about Best Buy is how they sell a $50 Gold Plated Titanium Coated Uranium Powered Nuclear parallel cable for a printer, when the cheopo $10 cable will do the same job. I man, wtf, how damn good does a LPT cable have to be?

How about finding out the cost of ownership for inkjet printers they sell and at least let the sales guys know or post it. The sales guys always seem to push towards the Lexmark ones just because they cost way less than a Epson, HP or Cannon. They don't tell you that the damn thing will go thru ink like a 1976 3/4 Chevy Suburban will go thru gas on the freeway against the wind.

So, I think, Geek Squad is a fitting name for them. Tech Squad would imply that they might actually know something. This is why people should support their local mom and pop shops, since 9 times out of 10, the owner/employees know that the only advantage they have over Best Buy's lower prices, is knowledge and the ability to help the customer make a decision that will benefit the customer.
 
I'm not going to turn this into a great debate, but let me make something clear. People who take the time to learn all they can about their job, succeed. I don't give a shit if your in retail selling little old ladies printer cables, or working out in the IT industry. If your attitude is "gee, I guess we better do that on our own time", meaning you wouldn't dare read about the technology on your own time, you will go no where. To get ahead in the tech world, you need to learn on your own....at every level. Those 40 year old men working at Best Buy....selling printers to moms and daughters....have no desire or spirations to succeed, and that's why their still there. It's an attitude like yours that make me laugh at the guys in my local Best Buys (3 stores) because I know they'll never take the time to learn.
Click to expand...

djnes,

I would respectfully suggest that you take the time to reread my post and consider your reply before you start making assumptions about "my attitude". Also, I consider myself to be quite a success considering that Best Buy is my weekend job so that I can put myself though grad school and wouldn't be HERE at HardOCP, on my own time, if I didn't keep up with the tech news, eh?

The point I was making, that you did support, is that there is a systemic problem in Best Buy stores hiring unknowledgeable employees, because they are cheap labor. I suggest that this is due to a lack of training. You yourself have evidenced this by commenting on the THREE stores in your area that suffer from many employees that don't know what they are doing.

However, Best Buy, as a company, should have a practice of training their employees to know the products that they sell. It is ridiculous for a company to knowingly hire unknowledgeable employees and not train them. Then, you blame the poor high school kid who was hired yesterday and tossed out on the sales floor today because he doesn’t know what he is doing? WTF? Once again, you can't expect someone to know something when they have never been given the opportunity to learn.

thanks,

scojo_az
 
You make some good points, but here is my counter point. Why in would you go to Best Buy and apply for a job in the computer department if you weren't already into computers and had a basic working knowledge???

And what kind of company is Beest Buy to hire someone who doesn't know anything about the products....maybe that's the primary point of blame. I certainly hope my doctor's office doesn't have the same hiring practice. When I bought my 1.8T Jetta 2 years ago, the saleswoman knew the car in and out...knew the safety ratings, knew the options available, etc. It was a pleasure buying from her.
 
Heh, interesting. Pittsburgh is supposed to be getting a geek squad and I'm the favorite in the store to get the position...heh.
 
You make some good points, but here is my counter point. Why in would you go to Best Buy and apply for a job in the computer department if you weren't already into computers and had a basic working knowledge???
And what kind of company is Beest Buy to hire someone who doesn't know anything about the products....maybe that's the primary point of blame. I certainly hope my doctor's office doesn't have the same hiring practice. When I bought my 1.8T Jetta 2 years ago, the saleswoman knew the car in and out...knew the safety ratings, knew the options available, etc. It was a pleasure buying from her.
Click to expand...

djnes,

For the same reason I would go to McDonalds or Taco Bell and apply for a job. It isn't my love for and vast knowledge of fast food; it's the fact that I need the money to pay bills. It really is that simple. The next time you are at a Best Buy, ask the guys in PCHO (computers) how much they like their jobs. At my store, the department is full of people who would love to go do something else, and will, as soon as they can. The problem is that they have to stay there for a few years to pay for school, pay the bills, pay rent or pay child support. Jobs that don't involve a grill or a backhoe don't grow on trees for people who are still in school and don't have an impressive resume, especially when they have to schedule work around there class schedule.

As for your second question, it seems to be rhetorical in nature. Just in case I'm misreading you, as you did me, Best Buy is a crummy place to work, in my opinion. Check out bestbuysucks.com if you need any further details. Tons of people who hate their jobs, but are stuck there having to toe the line until something better comes along.

The push for cables, PSPs, etc comes from the fact that the store has paper thin margins on most of the high ticket items. They make quite a bit less than $100 on most of the computer sales, which can actually be a good deal for the customer. But, that $30 USB cable costs Best Buy, well, let’s just say I couldn't eat at Taco Bell and get a Pepsi with my meal for what their cost. The same holds true with most of the PSPs. It's a crazy way to run a business, but welcome to the real world of retail. As soon as I get out of school, I'm outta here.

thanks,

scojo_az
 
I guess I should be blaming the economy, as non of it seems to make sense to me. When I was 17, fresh out of high school, I started working in a company while attending Drexel. I was only a tech-writer *shudders* but it beat the hell out of my friends' jobs in retail. I didn't have parents or friends working there. I applied to 30 places, went on 20 some interviews and picked that place. It gave me a huge headstart compared to other friends of mine. I guess the sad thing is those types of jobs don't exist anymore, in this economy. Well anyways, good luck finding your escape from retail. I never hear good things about working in retail.
 
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