A Trip to Future Shop...

[57]

I had a few minutes to kill the other day - went into the Future Shop on Yonge, north of Eglinton in the early afternoon. Store was essentially empty. Went to the "HDTV Section" because I wanted to see the "new" stretch modes on the Hitachis that my Hitachi doesn't have.

Salesperson: Can I help you.
Me. I'm hoping you can, I have some questions about HDTV.

SP: Fire away.
Me: This Sony LCD-based RPTV ($7500) has a strange picture, everyone is tall and skinny, why is that.

SP: hmm, I don't know Sir.
Me: Could it be anything to do with the incorrect aspect ratio (stretch mode)?

SP. No Sir, it's probably just that DVD, let me put in another.
Me. Wait, let me adjust the aspect ratio for you with this remote control.

SP. harumph, some customer must've played with the buttons....


Another Salesperson in another area (SP2). Hello sir, can I help you.
Me. Yes, looking to understand more about HDTVs. Am I currently seeing an HD picture?

SP2: Yes sir, this is HD.
Me. hmm, why does it say 480P when I press this button?

SP2: Oh, sir you must be on the wrong input, let me change it to another and then you'll have HD - 180i.
Me. So, you're going to change a 480P signal into an HD signal are you and you say that's 180i.

SP2. Yes sir 180i, just one moment (changes input). There.
Me. How come I can use the stretch modes on this HD signal on this Hitachi which shouldn't allow you to stretch HD?

SP2. Oh sir, all TVs have stretch modes.
Me. Yes, but only Toshibas can stretch HD.

SP2. No sir, you don't understand. These stretch modes always work and they are designed to fix pictures that don't properly fit on your TV.
Me. Well, under which circumstances should I use which mode.

SP2. Sir, you have to experiment - there are no set modes for particular circumstances.
Me. OK, thank you for your time. (salesperson walks away)


Salesperson 3. Sir, may I help you (correct grammar - a good sign).
Me. yes. That salesperson didn't seem to understand stretch modes completely, would you please enlighten me on when to use which mode.

SP 3. Certainly sir, you use the 4:3 stretch on 4:3 images and you use the 16:9 stretch on widescreen images.
Me. Why then are there 5 stretch modes on this Hitachi?

SP3. Well sir, you use 4:3 on 4:3....
Me. Please tell me what's the difference between 16:9 Standard and 16:9 Zoom.

SP3. They are both used on widescreen DVDs (wow, first right answer of the day! if only by luck)
Me. Well, which do I use when.

SP3. You use 16:9 standard on WS DVDs and you use 16:9 Zoom to zoom in on the details.
Me: Oh, I thought the different modes were for different types of DVD for example, do anamorphic DVDs display differently from regular WS DVDS.

SP3. No sir, all DVDs are the same...
Me. Thank you. I went looking at receivers.


Salesperson 4. Can I help you.
Me. Yes, I'd like an A/V receiver that does component video switching.

SP4. All our receivers switch components.
Me. Oh thank you. I left the store having forgotten to see the new stretch modes. I'll have to go back some other time.


I honestly don't know how they stay in business...

Do you have any good stories?

[Bluecruzer]

HAHAHAHAHA...

I'm wondering if Best Buy will be better, I should test that. Their sales people are not on commission.

[Kryspy]

57,

It ever occur to you that some of us in this forum may work at Future Shop? So how does your foot taste ? I agree that our stores are not filled with the sharpest tools in the shed sometimes but those people really are not indicative of the entire chain.

I can guarantee you that my knowlege is equal to yours as far as electronics is concerned. I help out in these forums a fair amount and do not need an excuse to change that.

Kryspy

[james99]

Years ago when i was looking for a receiver with as many s-video inputs as possible i was told that the s-video input was for audio.

This was at The Brick.

[otown47]

I think we can agree that there is questionable "help" available from sales people in all types of stores. Personnel, I think Canadaian Tire is the worst...when you can find someone to help you.

The biggest benefit of large chains is keeping prices down. Before chains like Future Shop the prices for good electronics were a lot higher...today we get good deals.

On a related note, I'm wondering if Canadian prices for electronics should be coming down more given the strength of the dollar....we've gone from $1.50-$1.55 to about $1.35 for a US dollar. Should prices be dropping 10%.

For example, the new Hitachi dzmv380 DVD Camcorder is $1,000 in the US and $1,700 here...what gives ???

[StreetPreacher]

I went into a future shop a few weeks back looking at receivers (they didn't have much selection) and the sales person was actually farily informative. We didn't get into too many details, but he at least told me to be concerned with number of inputs/outputs for my needs (good advice), and also not to select an amp based on watts per channel, as its not neccesarily how much power you have, but how its utilized.

Not the most technical conversation, but I feel confident that there's at least a few employees in the chain that know their stuff.

-Sp

[57]

Originally Posted by Kryspy

It ever occur to you that some of us in this forum may work at Future Shop? So how does your foot taste ?

I'm sorry that I offended. I've been to FS many times to look at stuff and for the occasional purchase. I have found the occasional helpful associate.

I suppose I could have said "large electronics store" instead of mentioning the actual name. The post was intended to be humourous...

The thing that bothers me about the salespeople that I encountered the other day is not that they didn't know what they were talking about, but that they came across as knowing what they were talking about, when they actually didn't. A little training regarding how to answer questions and not to "guess" when they don't know may be in order.

Everyone has to learn their "trade" - you can't know everything right away, but there are ways to approach customers that are far more helpful than giving out incorrect information. If you don't know, bring in a salesperson who does, or say "I don't know" - there's nothing wrong with that and it's better than guessing..

Kryspy, if you can influence your organization, that would be greatly appreciated.

Whenever I encounter a store that provides excellent service, or has knowledgable people, I give them my business and I tell others.

[dawziecat]

Originally Posted by 57

Whenever I encounter a store that provides excellent service, or has knowledgeable people, I give them my business and I tell others.

I am the kind of shopper that wants:

a/ Not to be hassled by people trying to make a sale and
b/ A good price.

F/S do both of these fairly well. I don't expect, nor even desire, that the sales people be especially knowledgeable. As long as they get me to the checkout, that is fine. (I am NOT going to discuss the smoke and mirrors world of cables and high-end audio with ANYBODY! I've "been there, done that" years ago and have my mind quite made up about it.)

Smaller "boutique" stores are my bane. Yes, they frequently have a more "high-end" product and their sales people are, on average, more knowledgeable. Their displays are certainly more effective in demonstrating audio/video hardware. But, they are all over you too. "Browsing" is next to impossible.

I appreciate they are in business to make money and they can't do that without selling me stuff. But they make me uncomfortable in the process. I rarely go in them.

And, the prices are pretty much invariably higher, as is to be expected.

So, I guess I personally pretty much "boycott" the places that "provide excellent service."

[whiteknightx]

This is a very interesting thread.
Personally, I hate futureshop, I think they are the bane of selection. THey have lots of stuff, but if you want a CD player, you have 2 to choose from.
They also crush out of business the small shops that have existed before them. This is not to say I don't shop there, I just don't like it. I only go in for stuff that is advertised for being a really good price.

On the other hand for most people, they love futureshop and their like, and typically come out happy, if misinformed.

When I buy electronics, I used to have a system. I'd do my research, and have some model in mind that I wanted to buy, because of some features that were important to me. If the salesman couldn't ask (or answer!) me the right questions to lead me to the product I had in mind, I'd go somewhere else. My thinking was that If the guy could get me to the right thing I was looking for, hopefully he could point me away from it if there was something that suited me needs better, or was better value, or whatever.

I actually started a small business, building custom PC's because so many of my friends had bought PC's at futureshop and been hosed. I know I can build a better system for 1/2 the price of most of their systems. And it used to pain me greatly when I was in there looking for something, when I would overhear some salesman telling people things that were absolutely not true.

I don't want to paint everyone who works at the megastores with the same brush, but it is really hard to find the guys that do know what they are saying. I don't mind paying a little more from a shop that gives me great service, as long as they know what they are talking about. That being said, I bought some gear from a guy at the brick one afternoon, he spent 4 hours with me demoing systems and components for me, and I rewarded him with a $3800 sale. I don't think it's fair to hold up a good sales guy, and then go and buy from someone else. Everyone is just trying to earn a living.

Whew, that was a mouthful!

[dm_4u]

I had a sales person tell me they were a DVD hardware "expert" and argue that I was wrong and I didn't need 6 audio cables to connect my RP-82 to listen to DVD-Audio discs.

Continuing the humour that this thread has provided...

You really don't need 6 audio cables to listen to DVD-Audio discs...you could just go over to a friends place

[langong]

for me I don't realy care if the s/p knowledgeable or not. I would research on the product that I want to buy and if the specs meet my requirements and the store has the best price , I just come in grab it, pay then leave.

[Jones33]

Originally Posted by whiteknightx

This is a very interesting thread.
Personally, I hate futureshop, I think they are the bane of selection. THey have lots of stuff, but if you want a CD player, you have 2 to choose from.

You could always go to Best Buy.

[Superchunk]

I've noticed that futureshopexposed.com has gone down - looks like big brother got to them.

I hate futureshop as well, but mostly the computer dept. since I actually know a lot about that stuff, so standing there listening to them bull**** people as I wait to buy my DVDs (the only thing i would buy there - that and printers) is very frustrating. I had one guy recently try to steal the helpful guys commission as I came back from browsing the HDTVs to make my purchase. When I was adament that the other guy had helped me (not him - he was saying it was him who had helped me. I suppose I look really stupid) and it was his sale (he was nice hand helpful) the guy got very rude with me and was practically telling me off. Next time I go back I expect to return the favour - at the time I was to shocked.

Another time I was in there recently a customer actually did go off on the computer guys who were trying to charge him $150 to install Windows XP for him, since otherwise he would get virisus that were apparently embedded into MP3s. The kind of crap they spew all the time, but this guy refused to take it. He asked to talk to the manager and when the manager told him they would configure IE for him, and he said he uses Firefox anyway, and the manager said "what's that?" the guy really went off on him. I laughed my ass off.

[JohnnyG]

I can guarantee you that my knowlege is equal to yours as far as electronics is concerned.

OK...you each have 1,000 words to prove that you're more knowledgeable in electronics than the other. Now go to your respective corners and when the bell rings, come out typing!

[JohnnyG]

The biggest benefit of large chains is keeping prices down. Before chains like Future Shop the prices for good electronics were a lot higher...today we get good deals.

Smoke and mirrors, my friend. Sometimes you get good deals, but that can be true of any store. The vast majority of products at Future Shop are priced at the manufacturer's suggested selling price.