Experienced Currys Hard Sell Tactics Today
Discussion
Took my mother in to buy an OLED TV today. With my other half too.
Looked around, got fed some amazing BS
"The word on the street is that Sony is the make to buy right now"
"OLED isn't all it's cracked up to be, its the processing circuitry that makes all the difference"
Anyhoo, after ignoring this (politely) we settled on an ex display OLED at £1k. 55".
He then asked me what devices would be connected, so I susiciously responded, "Youview and a Bluray player, nothing 4K".
"Well sir, HDMI had been updated and you'll need new cables for 4k"
"No I won't, she doesn't have any 4K sources, and you still don't need a new cable".
"Yes you do sir", "you don't", "Yes you definitely do", "You definitely don't", "you do", "Mate, stop arguing with me if you want to sell us a TV!, regardless I would not buy any cables here anyway, they are too expensive".
He backed off.
Then we got onto the repair warranty deal. "blach blah blah, you have an expert at hand"
My Mother, "I already have one, you are speaking to him" ( :-) )
He kept pushing.
"My mother doesn't' want that thanks, it comes with a 5 year warranty right?", "yes but what if you accidentally....", "she's got accidental damage insurance on her contents insur....", "PLEASE, CAN YOU LET ME FINISH!!" (yes, he shouted at me).
My reply, and it was "terse", was along the lines of "stop arguing with me NOW, or we walk out".
He apologised, and then completed the transaction.
God only knows how many people fall for all fo this. Appaling behaviour and I'll never shop in there for a TV. If it was my purchase I'd have walked out long before. The lad was a total bellend.
Looked around, got fed some amazing BS
"The word on the street is that Sony is the make to buy right now"
"OLED isn't all it's cracked up to be, its the processing circuitry that makes all the difference"
Anyhoo, after ignoring this (politely) we settled on an ex display OLED at £1k. 55".
He then asked me what devices would be connected, so I susiciously responded, "Youview and a Bluray player, nothing 4K".
"Well sir, HDMI had been updated and you'll need new cables for 4k"
"No I won't, she doesn't have any 4K sources, and you still don't need a new cable".
"Yes you do sir", "you don't", "Yes you definitely do", "You definitely don't", "you do", "Mate, stop arguing with me if you want to sell us a TV!, regardless I would not buy any cables here anyway, they are too expensive".
He backed off.
Then we got onto the repair warranty deal. "blach blah blah, you have an expert at hand"
My Mother, "I already have one, you are speaking to him" ( :-) )
He kept pushing.
"My mother doesn't' want that thanks, it comes with a 5 year warranty right?", "yes but what if you accidentally....", "she's got accidental damage insurance on her contents insur....", "PLEASE, CAN YOU LET ME FINISH!!" (yes, he shouted at me).
My reply, and it was "terse", was along the lines of "stop arguing with me NOW, or we walk out".
He apologised, and then completed the transaction.
God only knows how many people fall for all fo this. Appaling behaviour and I'll never shop in there for a TV. If it was my purchase I'd have walked out long before. The lad was a total bellend.
brickwall said:
It's always fun to call out and name the different sales tactics as they use them. Then ask them what they're going to try next.
I've done that a few times. Once had a door knocker for one of the energy companies collar me. i was actually looking at switching at the time so listened to him and then said that I would think about itHe followed with a leading close
Then tried an assumptive close
Then an urgent close
I told him what his closing technique was after each one and then asked him what he was going to try next
One of the main reasons I avoid the highstreet and shop online is because I don't want to be pounced on and harrassed the moment I step foot into a shop.
The salestaff in Currys won't know the product either, ask them how many nits a HDR10 tv they sell has and they will look at you like thinking 'wtf' when it's similar to going into a car dealership and asking how much power a car has.
For the past decade it's been easy to research online so you don't need to listen to the bs sales patter, you won't be recommended a product in a shop because it's the best out the range they have you will recommend it because it has the highest markup or they want to shift a particular model as it's about to be superseded.
The salestaff in Currys won't know the product either, ask them how many nits a HDR10 tv they sell has and they will look at you like thinking 'wtf' when it's similar to going into a car dealership and asking how much power a car has.
For the past decade it's been easy to research online so you don't need to listen to the bs sales patter, you won't be recommended a product in a shop because it's the best out the range they have you will recommend it because it has the highest markup or they want to shift a particular model as it's about to be superseded.
I went with my mum a few weeks back to Currys to buy her a new LG TV (just a fairly basic £400 one). I think I had a fairly new inexperienced salesman because he started on the patter about HDMI cables and I fixed him with such a withering look that he actually broke off halfway, paused, and then said "I guess you know all about that?" and I just said "yes". After that we just paid and carried it out the store. 
untakenname said:
One of the main reasons I avoid the highstreet and shop online is because I don't want to be pounced on and harrassed the moment I step foot into a shop.
The salestaff in Currys won't know the product either, ask them how many nits a HDR10 tv they sell has and they will look at you like thinking 'wtf' when it's similar to going into a car dealership and asking how much power a car has.
For the past decade it's been easy to research online so you don't need to listen to the bs sales patter, you won't be recommended a product in a shop because it's the best out the range they have you will recommend it because it has the highest markup or they want to shift a particular model as it's about to be superseded.
Oh I knew what I was after. Didn't stop the BS though. I smirked through most of it until he got rude.The salestaff in Currys won't know the product either, ask them how many nits a HDR10 tv they sell has and they will look at you like thinking 'wtf' when it's similar to going into a car dealership and asking how much power a car has.
For the past decade it's been easy to research online so you don't need to listen to the bs sales patter, you won't be recommended a product in a shop because it's the best out the range they have you will recommend it because it has the highest markup or they want to shift a particular model as it's about to be superseded.
I've had this too, very annoying.
It's sad really, the way the stores are managed, the staff are just doing as they're told to be fair to them, and it's probably only a matter of time before they disappear from the 'high street' their overheads must be massive?
Sales techniques like this are driving the customer away to online shops where you can get the exact same product delivered to your door no fuss whatsoever for the same price or less in most cases.
They may as well close all their stores and trade online only.
It would be nice if the shops and staff actually added to the buying experience rather than detracting from it.
It's sad really, the way the stores are managed, the staff are just doing as they're told to be fair to them, and it's probably only a matter of time before they disappear from the 'high street' their overheads must be massive?
Sales techniques like this are driving the customer away to online shops where you can get the exact same product delivered to your door no fuss whatsoever for the same price or less in most cases.
They may as well close all their stores and trade online only.
It would be nice if the shops and staff actually added to the buying experience rather than detracting from it.
Sounds pretty rude.
To be honest I've used Currys a few times and never had much of an issue.
Once you are pretty clear you aren't interested in whatever they are selling it's no issues.
Bought quite a bit from Currys recently, mouse (HyperX), keyboard (Corsair K70 rgb), Hyper X alpha headset , and laptop for the Mrs , Vax hoover, microwave, kettle, toaster, etc.
Probably spent over £2k, they have been consistently the cheapest or within a couple of quid of the cheapest , and the service has been good and never been "pressured" for a protection package thing.
In fact when we bought the Hoover, microwave etc, I managed to blag a free protection thing!
To be honest I've used Currys a few times and never had much of an issue.
Once you are pretty clear you aren't interested in whatever they are selling it's no issues.
Bought quite a bit from Currys recently, mouse (HyperX), keyboard (Corsair K70 rgb), Hyper X alpha headset , and laptop for the Mrs , Vax hoover, microwave, kettle, toaster, etc.
Probably spent over £2k, they have been consistently the cheapest or within a couple of quid of the cheapest , and the service has been good and never been "pressured" for a protection package thing.
In fact when we bought the Hoover, microwave etc, I managed to blag a free protection thing!
Not Currys, but hard sell related.
I am looking for a new front door at the moment want to replace existing but due to house configuration side panel is same size as door.
Everest stayed for about 3 hours, thought the days of this had long passed.
Each time, would call back to someone else to see if he could get me a better offer, what if you have a board on the drive, how about we take away the old door and recycle we can give you a discount if you agree to go ahead today.
Ok we have a lot of work going on in this area we can do you a one time special offer if this other salesman visits you tomorrow.
All of this, and nothing in writing for the final quote.
Then I tried Anglian windows not as bad but same approach of order today and it's this price, but it goes up in two days, and not a quote in writing.
Shysters.
Would go with a local shop; there are three near me, one visited and never quoted, another won't return my calls tried going into the shop and emailing but they where very busy (their words) and fobbed me off with a brochure, third only had a young kid in the store, who took my details but seemed more intent on finishing off his breakfast at his desk than taking my details.
I am looking for a new front door at the moment want to replace existing but due to house configuration side panel is same size as door.
Everest stayed for about 3 hours, thought the days of this had long passed.
Each time, would call back to someone else to see if he could get me a better offer, what if you have a board on the drive, how about we take away the old door and recycle we can give you a discount if you agree to go ahead today.
Ok we have a lot of work going on in this area we can do you a one time special offer if this other salesman visits you tomorrow.
All of this, and nothing in writing for the final quote.
Then I tried Anglian windows not as bad but same approach of order today and it's this price, but it goes up in two days, and not a quote in writing.
Shysters.
Would go with a local shop; there are three near me, one visited and never quoted, another won't return my calls tried going into the shop and emailing but they where very busy (their words) and fobbed me off with a brochure, third only had a young kid in the store, who took my details but seemed more intent on finishing off his breakfast at his desk than taking my details.
B17NNS said:
It’s that feeling when you know you’re being straight up lied too isn’t it. A bit like reading cable reviews in WhatHifi
What? I buy all my cables after reading those reviews, it's the only reason my hifi sounds good. The way in which my Monster Van Den Chord carbon nanootube encrusted, solid silver, one-way cables duct the electrons through their hollow gold cores is indescribable. Well worth the £250 a metre.Glasgowrob said:
Richer sounds all the way
staffedby enthusiasts who know their stuff and genuinely seem to care
Trust me on this, RS Staff are told what to sell and are incentivised massively to sell their own products firststaffedby enthusiasts who know their stuff and genuinely seem to care
they are generally quite knowledgeable, but after a 4 month stint working for them most of the staff have only
basic knowledge, with one or two real experts per store...
I bought a new TV several years ago from Currys because they were as cheap as online and convenient. Perfect. However, then came the hard sell on HDMI and despite me telling him I'd recently chased HDMI and CAT5e he insisted he went through the sales pitch and then I got a sarcastic "I hope you've used the right ones" which I ignored and walked to the till.
I always do my "due diligence" before buying anything and what frustrates me most is that and an hour on the internet and you can know more than the average Currys staff member, why can't they do the same? Just cut the BS and stop embracing themselves.
I always do my "due diligence" before buying anything and what frustrates me most is that and an hour on the internet and you can know more than the average Currys staff member, why can't they do the same? Just cut the BS and stop embracing themselves.
tdm34 said:
Glasgowrob said:
Richer sounds all the way
staffedby enthusiasts who know their stuff and genuinely seem to care
Trust me on this, RS Staff are told what to sell and are incentivised massively to sell their own products firststaffedby enthusiasts who know their stuff and genuinely seem to care
they are generally quite knowledgeable, but after a 4 month stint working for them most of the staff have only
basic knowledge, with one or two real experts per store...
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