Forums | MacLife

Most big box retailers don't have staff who even understand PC systems. I wouldn't expect them to be any different when selling Apple hardware.

Cynic wrote:

...

This is the case with most BB employees. I really don't get the credentials they go by when hiring people ... but it's not working ..

typical responses:
You can do that? Get that one alot
Why would you want  that? (in regards to a GPS unit and an apple TV)
Why do you want that? ... VGA TV tuner  (play tv on a monitor) and apple TV
I have never heard of that. VGA TV tuner and apple TV

wtf ... they hire a complete idiot (ie my best's friend's fiancee's best friend) who knows absolutely nothing about anything relating to technology ... hell she doesn't know jack smurf about DVD's (where she is stationed) FYI she was the one who asked why would I want a GPS

but they won't hire someone like my other friend who could explain just about everything in the store..

I'll be surprised if the Apple mini-store in my local BB lasts more than a few months. I looked and noticed that they still don't stock any Mac software in the rest of the store.

And, of course, it is Worst Buy.

The one by my house didn't even have the newest macs, they had the 2006 models.

My local BB is now the ONLY place to buy Macs in my city (population 600,000) now that the CompUSA is closed. The Apple rep that worked at Comp now works at BB as well. He said that the local stores, especially the ones in cities without Apple stores, are pushing hard to get corporate to work closer with Apple to expand the Apple sections. He said to keep coming in and making requests so that the higher-ups will see the demand. The more people make a noise, the more likely they will accommodate us.

mrreet2001 wrote:

Cynic wrote:

...

This is the case with most BB employees. I really don't get the credentials they go by when hiring people ... but it's not working ..

typical responses:
You can do that? Get that one alot
Why would you want  that? (in regards to a GPS unit and an apple TV)
Why do you want that? ... VGA TV tuner  (play tv on a monitor) and apple TV
I have never heard of that. VGA TV tuner and apple TV

Unless their follow up response was to steer you away from the product, they easily could have genuinely been asking you a question.

There are a LOT of idiots that work for Best Buy, but especially if you're in an area with a college, you'll find lots of college students work there too (there are 4 computer/electrical engineer students that work at the one I work at). So your experience is going to be hit or miss depending on who's working when you go.

But there's no corporate policy telling the employees to lie/screw over the customers about product information. Really, Best Buy actually genuinely tries to promote an atmosphere of helpfulness. The problem is for ~$9/hr you're not going to find enough people that go out of their way to know things so that you have a great experience 100% of the time. And sadly, this mediocrity is actually good enough to handle ~90% of the customers.

The main reason Apple Stores are so much better is because there's a small set of product they have to know and display.

mo' ron wrote:

mrreet2001 wrote:

Cynic wrote:

...

This is the case with most BB employees. I really don't get the credentials they go by when hiring people ... but it's not working ..

LOT of idiots that work for Best Buy, but especially if you're in an area with a college, you'll find lots of college students work there too (there are 4 computer/electrical engineer students that work at the one I work at). So your experience is going to be hit or miss depending on who's working when you go.

But there's no corporate policy telling the employees to lie/screw over the customers about product information. Really, Best Buy actually genuinely tries to promote an atmosphere of helpfulness. The problem is for ~$9/hr you're not going to find enough people that go out of their way to know things so that you have a great experience 100% of the time. And sadly, this mediocrity is actually good enough to handle ~90% of the customers.

I guess my point is that there should be a technical requirement in the hiring process ... I don't know for sure but IMHO there can't be .. otherwise people like my friend would work their and not retards like the girl I was talking about.

Oh and my local best buy is about 15 min from a fairly large state university.

Pariah wrote:

snoopy wrote:

The Apple Rep that Apple hired for ComUSA is now at Best Buy in my area.

Unless things have changed, that "Apple Rep" is some contractor from an IT temp agency and as likely as not knows no more about Macs than any other Joe Polo shirt shmuck.
I have run into several of those guys at different CompUSAs none of them had a clue about Macs.

According to the "story" I heard, he was actually hired by Apple.  He was at compusa for quite something (thinking about 3 to 5 years) as the apple guy.  This one actually has a clue (quiz often). He  actually owns and uses a mac, also member of the local mac club.

Not a bad idea save for the utter lack of Macintosh compatible software at most Best Buys.

The people in my Best Buy's Apple Store are actually pretty knowledgeable. The only bad thing is the display has gotten destroyed. They don't have any of the new MB(P)'s in stock (or on display), and what they do have is completely disgusting and damaged.

Unfortunately, the closest Apple Store is 2 hours away. There's a rip-off Apple store nearby, but Best Buy is probably better. Personally, I'll just stick with going to the regular Apple Store, despite the distance.

mrreet2001 wrote:

wtf ... they hire a complete idiot (ie my best's friend's fiancee's best friend) who knows absolutely nothing about anything relating to technology

Because people that understand technology a) don't want to work at Best Buy, and or b) can get more money working someplace else.