Witnessing misinformation about DTV transition in Best Buy

[I_Hate_SCs]

Mods: I'm not sure if this belongs on this board, the 'cursing out coworkers' one, or the main SC one. Please move accordingly if this belongs elsewhere.

I happened to stop by Best Buy earlier today and witnessed the following conversation between a customer and a sucky employee in front of the digital converter box display:

SE= Sucky Employee
C= Customer
Me= Me

SE: So how old is your flatscreen TV?
C: I got it in late '06.
SE: Do you have digital cable?
C: I don't have digital cable, but I have the cable hooked up directly to the TV. I can get the local networks in HD, but I am afraid I'll need to get a converter box so I won't lose my signal next month.
SE: You'll need a converter box to continue to see HD after February 17 because you have analog cable. The cable will not work after the 17th because its analog.

At this point, I call the BS and step in...

Me: Excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Actually, you won't need to do anything. You will forever receive the networks in HD as long as you keep your cable and they don't change anything. Even then, hook up any antenna to your HDTV and you'll get the same HD channels for free.
SE: She has analog cable sir, DTV is digital.
Me: Yes, that is true, but it's apples and oranges. The whole DTV switch only affects people who use antennas to receive signals. Cable and satellite customers are unaffected and the older analog channels will remain analog after the 17th on the cable. (turning to the customer) Ma'am, are you sure you get the DTV broadcast networks on your TV?
CU: Yes, I hooked up my TV, did a channel scan, and it picked up the broadcast networks in HD as well as standard def.
Me: Well if you get this converter box, you'll surely get the DTV networks, except it'll be converted to standard definition on your TV, and you will have to use an antenna to even get it. These don't work with cable boxes.
CU: Then why even sell them?
Me: These boxes are here for people with older TVs who don't want to buy a new flatscreen TV. The box converts the clearer DTV signal to the older, lesser quality so the older TV can tune in the channels. I don't know why you being told this false information.
SE: (getting angry) Even if he is right, if your TV was purchased before early 2007, it is only HD-ready. To view HD, you would have to purchase a new TV with a built-in DTV tuner or get the converter box.
Me: Um, no. Ma'am, the HD channels you are seeing, they are very clear and are widescreen, right?
CU: Only on primetime programs like American Idol or channel 9 news (the local CBS station with HD local newscasts). Others are blurrier. I know its as clear as the HD channels here on these TVs.
Me: Then you can use your TV for years to come.
CU: Thank you so much, do you work here?
Me: No, but I used to work at the Bullseye store, and I am surprised they are telling you lies here just to get a sale.

At this point, the sucky employee just walked away and shook his head, obviously knowing he lost his new TV purchase commission. I probably was viewed as an extreme SC in his eyes, but who cares. I wouldn't flat-out lie to a customer like that where it could result in her buying a new TV even if she was an SC. I'm sure management encouraged the higher sales for the employees. I'd sure hate to work in the electronics dept now because of the confusion around the DTV transition, especially if you are told to lie to get more sales!

[Lingering Grin]

Oh man, you have no idea how many times I've had to explain that to people, some friends, some family, some complete strangers.

I only know of TWO people that are getting those converters.

and only one of them needs it!


1. is my uncle, he needs one, he doesn't have cable or satellite, because the only thing he watches is the local news.

2. My dad is getting one, even though he has the fancy Plasma TV, Digital Cable, and all the bells and whistles... why is he getting one then? Simple... we live in Florida, if a hurricane comes through and blows out the cable, he can still hook up some old rabbit ears to any TV he wants and get the news.



Personally, I don't think that guy was JUST lying to her, (He was definitely lying a little bit), but I think it was also that HE was incredibly poorly informed.

[I_Hate_SCs]

2. My dad is getting one, even though he has the fancy Plasma TV, Digital Cable, and all the bells and whistles... why is he getting one then? Simple... we live in Florida, if a hurricane comes through and blows out the cable, he can still hook up some old rabbit ears to any TV he wants and get the news.

Personally, I don't think that guy was JUST lying to her, (He was definitely lying a little bit), but I think it was also that HE was incredibly poorly informed.

True, I guess the employee is poorly informed too, but I'm sure the notion of selling another TV drove the misinformation even more! Your dad could hook up his plasma TV to the same antenna and get the same thing the converter box would get!

[Lingering Grin]

True, I guess the employee is poorly informed too, but I'm sure the notion of selling another TV drove the misinformation even more! Your dad could hook up his plasma TV to the same antenna and get the same thing the converter box would get!

yeah, but the 47" Plasma pulls a lot more power from a portable generator than an old 15" TV

If he plugged in the Plasma, he wouldn't be able to turn the hot water heater on... dunno bout you, be he'd rather have a hot shower, than a pretty picture

[I_Hate_SCs]

yeah, but the 47" Plasma pulls a lot more power from a portable generator than an old 15" TV

If he plugged in the Plasma, he wouldn't be able to turn the hot water heater on... dunno bout you, be he'd rather have a hot shower, than a pretty picture

Yeah, I didn't think of it that way!

[Shpepper]

I got lucky at Best Buy when I went to get my converter. I already knew I needed it and they didn't try to upsell me to anything else.



I just wish I wuold make the stupid box work. I only want one channel

[wraiths_crono]

I must say I am guilty also, except it was not about TV, it was about: High speed internet.

Was at Fry's Electronics and browsing for a new router, where I heard a similar lie-for-sale about how the customer would need a modem, a router, and a range extender OR ELSE his DSL would not work.

I butted in and asked the customer if they had quest dsl: answer YES.....
I recommended the call quest and ask to buy a 2wire 2700 modem/wireless-router {explained all it did and what not come one I worked for 2WIRE and know their success rate}
agent was mad, and even tried to force me to leave (but his manager stopped him bwa ha ha)

[Big-box-retail-blues]

He didn't lose any comission because best buy hasn't been on comission since 1984. He was misinformed by the people in charge of training him properly. Call corporate and tell them that your local Best Buy is doing its employees a diservice.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Me: No, but I used to work at the Bullseye store, and I am surprised they are telling you lies here just to get a sale.

Why? This is Best Buy we're talking about here!

He didn't lose any comission because best buy hasn't been on comission since 1984. He was misinformed by the people in charge of training him properly. Call corporate and tell them that your local Best Buy is doing its employees a diservice.

True he didn't lose commission, but he still looks better to his manager selling a new TV, plus whatever accessories he can sucker the customer into buying, than he does selling a $50 converter box.

I tend not to attribute to malice what can be attributed to stupidity, but it's a tough call here. Probably at least a little of both. My former manager "Harry" used to be a manager at Best Buy, and from what he told us corporate was very cutthroat about sales and if his store wasn't making its sales targets, he'd be put on the spot in the weekly conference call and made to explain why that was and what he was doing to generate more sales.

[Rapscallion]

Mods: I'm not sure if this belongs on this board, the 'cursing out coworkers' one, or the main SC one. Please move accordingly if this belongs elsewhere.

More of a sighting.

Rapscallion

[Mike Taylor]

He didn't lose any commission because best buy hasn't been on commission since 1984. He was misinformed by the people in charge of training him properly. Call corporate and tell them that your local Best Buy is doing its employees a disservice.

I second this. See, these are the guys that give blue shirts like me a bad name.

True he didn't lose commission, but he still looks better to his manager selling a new TV, plus whatever accessories he can sucker the customer into buying, than he does selling a $50 converter box.

It still makes him a dick in my book.

I tend not to attribute to malice what can be attributed to stupidity, but it's a tough call here. Probably at least a little of both. My former manager "Harry" used to be a manager at Best Buy, and from what he told us corporate was very cutthroat about sales and if his store wasn't making its sales targets, he'd be put on the spot in the weekly conference call and made to explain why that was and what he was doing to generate more sales.

How long ago was "Harry" with the company? A lot these policies have changed over the years. It's still about sales, but there's ways to pull those off and not be like Slimy Sam from the Used Car Lot down the street.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

How long ago was "Harry" with the company? A lot these policies have changed over the years. It's still about sales, but there's ways to pull those off and not be like Slimy Sam from the Used Car Lot down the street.

He left sometime before September 2004.

[Mike Taylor]

He left sometime before September 2004.

Ah. Sounds about right for that time period.

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

This thread reminds me of the time I was working in HBA, and I witnessed my CW in electronics explaining the difference between widescreen and fullscreen to an elderly lady. I paraphrase:

"With widescreen, you get the little black bands across the top and bottom of the tv. With fullscreen, you can see it without the black bands."

The old lady said, "Oh, I don't want the black bands."

Oh how I wanted to step in. If I had not been a worker, but a customer, I would have asked her if she remembered when Lawrence of Arabia came out in theatres, and they had to have a really, really big wide screen, and how when it comes on tv, they cut off at least a third of it so you can see it on tv.

But there are times when you have to keep your mouth shut. When all they want to watch are pieces of crap movies, hell, watch it in Zoom 2. Who cares. But if it was something good, or even something like Dark NIght, my dear CW, someone needs to explain things to you, the Electronics Specialist!!!

[Jack7957]

My brother works for one of the major cable companies doing installs and has had several people try to use the $40 government 'coupon' towards the digital cable box. He has to explain that it's not the type of converter box intended for the coupon.