Best Buy is now offering a computer protection plan that covers everything. Accidents, viruses, whatever. But the cost is what some may call, greedy. Want to buy a $579 laptop? That'll be $599 extra for the Premium plan. It's ridiculous. I went into Best Buy just looking around for a new computer and the sales associate there has the audacity to try and sell me a plan that costs more than a computer? **** that!
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Geek Squad's Black Tie Protection.....
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Well, yes, but it's quite possibly more of an incentive scheme for (probably quite low-paid) staff.
Cheers
Since you didn't mention any of the benefits, I thought 5 would post a link to Geek Squad Black Tie Protection. I'm not saying $599 is justifiable but it does have many advantages including virus and spyware protection so you don't have to bother with renewing it or it expiring.
This is true for the sale of the item itself, but they DO get a commission for any service contracts they sell with it. That's why they're always pushing for it.
No. They don't. I have a cousin who works there. No commission, no spiffs, nothing.. Oh, except they'll get written up/fired if they don't consistently offer.
essentially what it is, is the cost to fully replace it should something happen.
When you first buy your computer, your basically buying two without the guarentee of getting that second one. Should you screw up so royally that you get that second computer, i guess you actually get what you paid for. If you dont screw up your computer, well they just doubled profits didnt they?
When you first buy your computer, your basically buying two without the guarentee of getting that second one. Should you screw up so royally that you get that second computer, i guess you actually get what you paid for. If you dont screw up your computer, well they just doubled profits didnt they?
OP: You could have offered to buy two of the same notebooks and said that "If the first one breaks for any reason, I'll just un-box the second one. If my first one doesn't break, I'll just sell/return the second. That easy, right?"
I dunno - I have a buddy of mine that works there, and he swears that he gets commission on the service contracts. I just talked to him tonight to verify, and he said yes.
Maybe it's a regional thing? I'm in Socal.
He's kind of an idiot though, so who knows? Heh!
Sorry, but your buddy's wrong. I'm the computers supervisor at a Best Buy and we are totally non-commissioned storewide, doesn't matter if it's products or services.I dunno - I have a buddy of mine that works there, and he swears that he gets commission on the service contracts. I just talked to him tonight to verify, and he said yes.
Maybe it's a regional thing? I'm in Socal.
He's kind of an idiot though, so who knows? Heh!
I will admit, however that the Premium BTP plans are pretty steep and wont appeal to most users. Those who do opt for the Premium plan actually get quite a bit for that price, including stuff like normal wear and tear, accidental damage, spills etc, in-home repair, a full year of antivirus/antispyware installed, priority service in-store, 5GB of online backup, annual maintenance, free virus or spyware removal/repair of OS and if you never have the unit replaced you get triple the money you spent back in RewardZone points.
Our normal one-three year accidental plan is still a pretty good deal. I recently made one of my Mac customer's day because he got a brand new $1499 black MacBook on a plan he only spent $99 for. (His died after his kid spilled a Mountain Dew on the keyboard)
Maybe you're at a whacko store but I can tell you with 100% certainty that my local Best Buy DOES pay commissions on PSP/BTP etc. Sales doesn't make a commission on actual product sales (eg, they sell a TV and they're only making hourly) but they do get a %age (pretty hefty) on the PSP (product service plan).
Where are you located? As long as I've been with the company it's been a key differentiator between BBY and stores like Circuit City that we don't have a commission-based sales model. The majority of my customers come to buy computers from me because they know that I won't "steer" them towards something more expensive than they need.
As a matter of full-disclosure, supervisors and managers earn monthly and quarterly bonuses but it's based on a huge number of different store metrics, including a high score from our CSI or Customer Satisfaction Index. CSI uses mystery shops, exit interviews and online customer feedback to make sure people actually enjoy shopping with us.
Still no commission of any sort though.
Oh... just saw that you're in the Seattle area. I'll check with the GM tomorrow and see if Washington State is the exception to the rule.
Circuit City is non-commissioned as well.
Really the only dedicated electronics retailer that I know of that still does commission is RadioShack.
I used to make killer money when I worked for them.
Really the only dedicated electronics retailer that I know of that still does commission is RadioShack.
I used to make killer money when I worked for them.