Incredibly Bad Shopping Experience...

[eRondeau]

I want an M4 Mac Mini so tonight I popped into my local yellow-and-blue Big Box electronics retailer. Walked to the Apple section and a sales rep approached me. I asked if he was their Apple guy... yep. I said I want to buy the new Mac Mini. Blank stare... he'd never heard of such a thing. He said I must mean an iPad Mini. I said nope, it's a desktop Mac. He said oh an iMac... I said nope. He said he'd never heard of a Mac Mini and he was sure they didn't sell them. Meanwhile there was a display model sitting on the table next to him -- which I used to determine they had no units in stock. I said thank you for the assistance, Apple guy. Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

Sorry for wasting everyone's time with this stupid story but I had to share it with someone. Ugh.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I want an M4 Mac Mini so tonight I popped into my local yellow-and-blue Big Box electronics retailer. Walked to the Apple section and a sales rep approached me. I asked if he was their Apple guy... yep. I said I want to buy the new Mac Mini. Blank stare... he'd never heard of such a thing. He said I must mean an iPad Mini. I said nope, it's a desktop Mac. He said oh an iMac... I said nope. He said he'd never heard of a Mac Mini and he was sure they didn't sell them. Meanwhile there was a display model sitting on the table next to him -- which I used to determine they had no units in stock. I said thank you for the assistance, Apple guy. Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

Sorry for wasting everyone's time with this stupid story but I had to share it with someone. Ugh.

So bad. I went to my local franchise of the same persuasion and it was much the same. They at least knew of the minis and the new macbooks, but they didn’t know which model was which. I had to show them ”about this Mac.”

 

[redheeler]

Clearly not used to Apple putting out a good value Mac mini that people actually want 😂

 

[adamlbiscuit]

Don't be too hard on him. The Mac mini line as a whole has only been around since... 2005

 

[colodane]

I have a Best Buy two blocks away, so it would be super convenient. But I think I have darkened their door twice in the past 7 years I've lived here. Both times when I needed some sort of dongle or connector ASAP and didn't want to wait a day for Amazon.

For a new M4 Mini, go directly to APPLE. You will have a terrific buying experience and get a unit custom-built to your specs. I would never consider going elsewhere.

 

[mgscheue]

I'm surprised Apple still has a relationship with that chain. Everything Apple is not.

 

[CharlesShaw]

I understand the frustration, but remember that retail is low income employment and it's growing less and less likely to have a truly knowledgeable employee working in that department, but it does happen now and then. I usually get good service at my local Micro Center, but it's going to be hit or miss at the more general big box stores.

I bought my Kindle Scribe at a store that also sells groceries.

 

[carpetboy]

I want an M4 Mac Mini so tonight I popped into my local yellow-and-blue Big Box electronics retailer. Walked to the Apple section and a sales rep approached me. I asked if he was their Apple guy... yep. I said I want to buy the new Mac Mini. Blank stare... he'd never heard of such a thing. He said I must mean an iPad Mini. I said nope, it's a desktop Mac. He said oh an iMac... I said nope. He said he'd never heard of a Mac Mini and he was sure they didn't sell them. Meanwhile there was a display model sitting on the table next to him -- which I used to determine they had no units in stock. I said thank you for the assistance, Apple guy. Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

Sorry for wasting everyone's time with this stupid story but I had to share it with someone. Ugh.

Sorry for your bad experience. Not all BB's are bad. The store in Chattanooga, TN has provided a great experience for my Apple purchases and followup. The G squad and the Apple in-store rep have been great.

 

[MacCheetah3]

This:

I understand the frustration, but remember that retail is low income employment and it's growing less and less likely to have a truly knowledgeable employee working in that department, but it does happen now and then.

It’s not the worst job, but there are plenty of valid reasons for the high turnover rate. One of many bullet points is most corporations couldn’t care less of your technical qualifications. Are you (decently) friendly, willing to follow policies, and willing to pedal (often aggressively) any product or service we tell you to? If yes, you’re hired.

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

Lol man that’s bad. When BB eliminated physical media that pretty much ended any reason I went there. That was the one thing I bought to keep up my support of brick and mortar electronics store. Computer parts and peripherals I buy directly online or boutique stores. A/V equipment Crutchfield is best for that since I don’t have a truck or SUV for TV. And they usually have better selection of AVR receivers and audiophile speakers etc. Apple stuff I just buy direct from the app.

 

[dreamerstree]

As a former Apple Store Genius team member, we had to reset expectations and correct bad product info from Best Buy so often, it was unbelievable.

 

[nathansz]

I want an M4 Mac Mini so tonight I popped into my local yellow-and-blue Big Box electronics retailer. Walked to the Apple section and a sales rep approached me. I asked if he was their Apple guy... yep. I said I want to buy the new Mac Mini. Blank stare... he'd never heard of such a thing. He said I must mean an iPad Mini. I said nope, it's a desktop Mac. He said oh an iMac... I said nope. He said he'd never heard of a Mac Mini and he was sure they didn't sell them. Meanwhile there was a display model sitting on the table next to him -- which I used to determine they had no units in stock. I said thank you for the assistance, Apple guy. Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

Sorry for wasting everyone's time with this stupid story but I had to share it with someone. Ugh.

you might be expecting a bit much from minimum wage workers

 

[Corefile]

I want an M4 Mac Mini so tonight I popped into my local yellow-and-blue Big Box electronics retailer. Walked to the Apple section and a sales rep approached me. I asked if he was their Apple guy... yep. I said I want to buy the new Mac Mini. Blank stare... he'd never heard of such a thing. He said I must mean an iPad Mini. I said nope, it's a desktop Mac. He said oh an iMac... I said nope. He said he'd never heard of a Mac Mini and he was sure they didn't sell them. Meanwhile there was a display model sitting on the table next to him -- which I used to determine they had no units in stock. I said thank you for the assistance, Apple guy. Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

Sorry for wasting everyone's time with this stupid story but I had to share it with someone. Ugh.

Buy online for instore pick up is usually the way to go with the Buy More. You don't really want to interact with the sales staff unless forced to.

 

[NeonNights]

This:

It’s not the worst job, but there are plenty of valid reasons for the high turnover rate. One of many bullet points is most corporations couldn’t care less of your technical qualifications. Are you (decently) friendly, willing to follow policies, and willing to pedal (often aggressively) any product or service we tell you to? If yes, you’re hired.

I worked at Office Depot while in college and the manager didn't care about my engineering background or knowledge, she just wanted me to upsell and push extended warranties for computers and printers.

I remember giving advice to a couple that was looking for a new computer. They left the store but came back later that day because other stores they visited had poor customer service and the other salespeople lacked product knowledge. Anyways, the nice couple returned to our store because they wanted to buy from me and were disappointed I wasn't on commission. No worries, I was just happy to help them find the right computer to meet their needs. I also had a habit of recommending free software alternatives to customers so they didn't have to spend on pricey anti-virus or MS Office at the time. Customers loved me but I wasn't good for business.

The experience taught me I hated working retail, but it's just as important to figure out what you don't want to do in life.

 

[NeonNights]

you might be expecting a bit much from minimum wage workers

Yea, but I provided a lot better service for $7.25/hr back in the day. Our local McDonald's offers starting wage of $20/hr and the workers still get my order wrong sometimes. Sheesh.

You can argue retail and service jobs historically took advantage of workers but some of us simply took pride in our job (any job we accepted). Of course, the ones with ambition are not going to stick around at Office Depot, BestBuy, or McDonald's so you're left with workers that don't care.

 

[MacCheetah3]

I remember giving advice to a couple that was looking for a new computer. They left the store but came back later that day because other stores they visited had poor customer service and the other salespeople lacked product knowledge. Anyways, the nice couple returned to our store because they wanted to buy from me and were disappointed I wasn't on commission. No worries, I was just happy to help them find the right computer to meet their needs. I also had a habit of recommending free software alternatives to customers so they didn't have to spend on pricey anti-virus or MS Office at the time. Customers loved me but I wasn't good for business.

Yea, but I provided a lot better service for $7.25/hr back in the day.

Same, and nice when people appreciate it. Unfortunately, none of that is commonplace. Even appreciative customers seem less and less.

I worked at Office Depot while in college and the manager didn't care about my engineering background or knowledge, she just wanted me to upsell and push extended warranties for computers and printers.

Ours is pushing the store branded credit card. We’re nagged err told to always bring it up and explain all of the benefits. They’ve even integrated a reminder to us in addition to the frequent customer prompt on the POS. I just pass along the basic “Would you like to sign up for…?” and “You’re pre-approved…” and leave it at that when the customer undoubtedly responds “No."

 

[v0lume4]

Yeah, that's pretty bad.

To be fair, shopping at the Apple Store isn't so great either. It's just a mess. There's no checkout desk (RIP Genius bar). Find a rep, tell them what you need, then be told, "Ok, go wait by the Apple TV counter" (or whatever other area they tell you) and wait X amount of minutes for them to go get the product from the back. Then they come back and you complete the transaction. It's just so weird and they're the only store I've been do that handles business that way. It's like hanging out at a buddy's house and I don't mean that in a good way.

I also was at an Apple Store the other day and had a very specific question about the MBP's, and the rep didn't know an answer, got another rep to help, and then I was told factually incorrect information.

So I guess all of that to say, nobody really knows their own products. But Apple knows theirs better than Best Buy.

 

[v0lume4]

This:

It’s not the worst job, but there are plenty of valid reasons for the high turnover rate. One of many bullet points is most corporations couldn’t care less of your technical qualifications. Are you (decently) friendly, willing to follow policies, and willing to pedal (often aggressively) any product or service we tell you to? If yes, you’re hired.

Reminds me of Apple Stores, actually. Last time I bought an iPhone I had a list of about five questions that I had to answer, "No. No. No" to.

"Do you want Apple Care? Do you want a case? Are you sure?" Ugh.

 

[SnowGlobalist]

I want an M4 Mac Mini so tonight I popped into my local yellow-and-blue Big Box electronics retailer. Walked to the Apple section and a sales rep approached me. I asked if he was their Apple guy... yep. I said I want to buy the new Mac Mini. Blank stare... he'd never heard of such a thing. He said I must mean an iPad Mini. I said nope, it's a desktop Mac. He said oh an iMac... I said nope. He said he'd never heard of a Mac Mini and he was sure they didn't sell them. Meanwhile there was a display model sitting on the table next to him -- which I used to determine they had no units in stock. I said thank you for the assistance, Apple guy. Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

Sorry for wasting everyone's time with this stupid story but I had to share it with someone. Ugh.

I remember in the days of CompUSA and similar stores, this was almost the only Apple shopping experience you could get. This was one of the reasons Apple started its own stores to begin with.

 

[blufrog]

Went to the local Apple store today, and the first guy couldn't be less interested if he tried. Didn't know a damn thing, and was unwilling to find out.

Second guy was very helpful. Very knowledgable and in addition willing to go above and beyond to help answer questions.

 

[sw1tcher]

This is what happens when Apple didn't give the Mac mini an upgrade to the M3 chip, letting it languish for nearly 2 years. Sales guy probably thought it was discontinued. Ask him about the Mac Pro and you might get the same response.

 

[Admiral Fart]

It depends on the store, but he probably wasn’t their “Apple guy” because there is no Apple guy. They have to work in multiple departments because retail margins are razor thin and they‘re not going to pay an employee to hang around the Apple department all day waiting for a customer to come in. The days of getting great customer service from big box stores have been killed by online shopping, and if it bothers you, you should probably just shop online.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I don't buy much of anything in person.... what's the point? Apple has a great website, and you don't have to deal with anyone

 

[raythompsontn]

The store in Chattanooga, TN has provided a great experience for my Apple purchases and followup

The store in Knoxville is terrible. Stock levels are many times at zero and their solution is to order online.

wait X amount of minutes for them to go get the product from the back. Then they come back and you complete the transaction

That is to control inventory and stop thefts of the products. There are a couple of people in the back that have the keys/codes to the locked inventory cabinets. A very specific process must be followed. About all you can buy without waiting is stuff that is on the shelves which is only accessories.

 

[SpotOnT]

I stopped shopping at that store after they ended their customer rewards program and started hassling people about price matches.

I want to support the brick and mortar stores, but I’m not gonna put the energy into fighting with you to honor your own published policies.