Very useful article posted at the Consumerist:
Future Shop is a Canadian consumer electronics retail chain. Charlie used to work there, and has now passed along the 7 most common lies he heard salesmen use on unsuspecting customers. Whether you have a Future Shop in your area or not, you’ll find these lies familiar.
1) “The Service Plan covers everything” In fact, it doesn’t cover most things. Don’t believe any salesman who says it covers physical damage, spills, cosmetic damage, etc. Also, after you have you machine replaced (after 3 repairs), the Service Plan stops working. The salesman will act like the replacement is a benefit, really it’s so Future Shop can wash their hands of your buggy hardware.
2) “I’m going to give you a discount“
More often than not my co-workers would lie about high priced items, claiming to take off hundreds of dollars on cables or warranties to trick uninformed shoppers. Always shop around and find out how much things are worth, and watch what the items scan in at instead of taking his word.3) “This model is a Future Shop exclusive“
Danger Will Robinson. “Exclusives” are always a repackaged retail product, usually with a slight cosmetic change, but bumped up several hundred dollars. As my manager put it: “They move the speakers from the bottom to the sides, repaint it and we mark it up”. Salesmen make about triple commission on these models, so there’s strong incentive to push them.4) “Setup will avoid hours of work“
This only applies to computers, but it’s good to know. Most salesmen try to push this on technophobes, saying that it’s a complicated procedure involving special tools. Really, they click through the Vista install, run regedit to stop some software and burn a backup disk. Oh, and it’s automated. Unless your time is worth about 30 dollars an hour do it yourself.5) “You’re saving on x“
With some products there are legitimate discounts available for bundling, and managers have the authority to offer real discounts on unbundled product. However, avoid bundles like “Pay 350 dollars for setup and get free Office and Antivirus”. You end up saving about 20 dollars on Office and Antivirus, but you’re paying 80 dollars for useless setup still. If you’re going for a discount refuse to tack on anything you don’t want, and try to push the salesman. It’ll hurt his numbers to help you, but he won’t want to lose a big sale.6) “You need Monster Cables/Setup/x to make this work well“
Monster Cables are a scam, so avoid them like the plague. They make the salesman about 25 dollars per cable, and leave you with very expensive copper. Similarly, some salesmen say computers won’t work well without setup, which less technically-inclined customers tend to believe.7) “You have to buy x“
Legally, the store is obligated to sell you any available (nondisplay) product at the advertised price. Many stores “pre-setup” their laptops to avoid making customers wait for setup. Salesmen see this as an excuse to force the setup on you. Legally (at least in my store), if the customer didn’t want setup we had to give them the laptop at the sticker price, with setup. If the salesman is too pushy ask for a manager, who will know the rules a lot better.
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You made some Good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree.
All you people are such tools. Exclusives pay .5% more…and are not marked up…It’s not the stores fault you buy shit computers such as acers, emachines, etc. You get what you pay for. And I will also admit that there are some “Product Experts” that know fack all and there are some snakes. If you act like a baby, you will be treated like a baby, if you act like a piece of shit, you will be treated like a piece of shit, if you act like a retard, someones gonna hit you. Hard. So suck it up, stop buying CHEAP shit and stop whining when you break you shit.
Future Shop is a Canadian consumer electronics retail chain. Charlie used to work there, and has now passed along the 7 most common lies he heard salesmen use on unsuspecting customers. Whether you have a Future Shop in your area or not, you’ll find these lies familiar.
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My boyfriend wants to buy a Sony led 42″ but my father tell me we should buy a Toshiba. Can you guys tell me which one is the best? thnx Cindy
cindy, that’s far too generic, if you’re buying at futureshop find out the manager or department manager’s name and if you don’t think the salesperson that asks if you need help is knowledgeable simply ask to speak to the manager and he/she will be there to give you all the information you need and will not be biased in anyway because managers want customers to return to the store to make money in the long run, not push a quick sale to get you out of the store.
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They are soooo smart!!!!!! let alone CUTE!!!!!! I bought a camera last night, and I cannoot get that guy out of my mind. He is the most handsome guy I have ever seen. I asked him to assemble my camera, not because I could not do it myself, but because I wanted to stay some more minutes in his company. He did a superb job! I dont care how much I spent, of the quality of the product. I will keep the memory of those moments for ever, and that already pays off!!!!!! TE AMO salesman!!!!!!
Ashley; get over yourself and go back to the sixties. I’m a woman and the fact that you’re trying so hard to make an “equality” issue over something so trivial is what gives women and women’s rights activists a bad rep.
But yeah, the future shop in my area is filled with the worst liars for salesmen you can imagine. The lies I’ve heard come out of their months are amazing! There is maybe one or two of them that are honest and informative, but the rest just spew out whatever diarrhea that they squeeze out of their bums and try to force-feed it to you on a platter. Someone said something like “Future Shop strives for excellence and liars are punished oh so severely” is full of bull himself. If the store (at least, my local one) was oh-so concerned about it, the situation would be oh-so much better. They don’t care as long as they get the sales.
I had one salesman today, when I was trying to buy my new laptop, try and FORCE me to let him “set up my laptop over night” and I’d be charged a 100$ fee, telling me it was 100% necessary and I’d never be able to do it myself, because it is a “very long, difficult and complex process” and if it was done at the store, they’d get rid of the “annoying” anti-virus pop-ups, and it would run “at least three times faster because of it, and only THEY could get rid of it because they had special tools”. I regret to say that I’m not even exaggerating — he /actually/ claimed it would run THREE TIMES FASTER! I’m not an idiot, don’t lie to me. If he suggested it, I would’ve been fine and like, “whatever, no, shut up” — but it was the fact that even though we kept saying “no”, he kept insisting that it was necessary and they HAD to do it in store (even though I knew for a fact that it wasn’t and it didn’t). He was so persistent on it and REFUSED to let us say no to it, because it was 100% needed. He even claimed that I’d be able to use the newest microsoft office program on it, but failed to mention that it would be a TRIAL version — which I was aware of because we’ve gotten computers and laptops from them in the past couple years and I’m 100% aware that they don’t give the actual program.
He contradicted himself on a few different “facts” a handful of times, and to get him to shut up and let us bring it straight home, we had to call an ACTUAL computer technician friend of ours to pretty much tell him he was an idiot and he could do it himself for us.
^ Do not fall for that tactic, please! You’re wasting 100$ on something you can figure out yourself. The steps are easy as frig. If I can do it, you can do it! If you need help, ask a tech-knowledgeable friend — or search it up on google.
This doesn’t include some of the other absolutely ridiculous lies I’ve heard from their salespeople. Like the last time, trying to tell me that acers, hps ‚toshibas and macs are all equality as good and all rarely find themselves in repair shops, and that they all have the EXACT same percentage of incidents. That’s bull if I’ve ever heard it.
Though it is possible to get legit salesmen at future shop, they seem to be too rare and too far apart. 7 lies? In most cases, EVERY word is a lie.
Hey guys,
Ive read all the responses and frankly as a seasonal employee sad to hear the crap everyone has to put up with. Personally when I sell I keep both parties in mind both futureshop and the customers. If the person buying the computer has one in mind and i see that they will run into problems because of the brand or model or w.e the case is ill push the service plan and very often the customer comes back next season thanking me because a blown power cord is 100 bucks alone. If they are sure they dont want it i just ask debt or credit process the sale and send them on their way. But trust some people dont know jack about computers and benifit from the installs ect. or else they fail at home and bring it back as a return. In the computer department i have full faith in everything i sell except the laptop cases and printer cables which i inform the customer get it from somewhere else. AND YES there are alot of shit heads at my workplace who rip people off but i do my best for those who deal with me because my rep is more important than any dollar figure… unless its a million dolllars lol
I work at futureshop and you guys obviously had bad expieriences.. but for the most part the salesmen try to get you the best product for your buck.. and we have to push the service plan its not because we need the extra 10 dollars commission we get from it some people dont feel comfortable without the service plan some people dont want it and i havent once tried to change there mind once they have said no and im in the top 20 percent of sales in the company, it seems bad in here because your alot less likely to post on a site if you were happy with the service.. theres probably some salesmen that lie about alot of things to get a bit more commision but in general the salesmen dont at least at my future shop
Gems form the internet…
well i actually work at future shop, and yes i have told people about the more expensive monster cables but i also tell them that they will do just fine with the 50$ cheaper cables, cause honestly they will and i tell them i really dont need the extra 8 bucks and ive had most of the same people come back. just the other day i had an older lady looking for an ipod shuffle im completley out 8 other future shops were sold out i called 11 stores in my city that carry apple products sold out. so i told her i have the day off tomorrow i am going shopping at walmart etc.. if i find one for your grandson i will put it on hold in your name, and give you a call. i think most people know were on commision and people will sell them the one that benefits the worker but as fs workers no you make almost next to nothing on apple products and like 30$ on bose systems. i tell them from personal experiance you know yeh i like the bose but if your not that big into music and just want it for one room go with the apple docking station a lot cheaper with good sound still. so im going for the customers really because in all honesty they do come back and you will make your money. but when you push something for your own benefit a lot of the times the know.
futureshop sucks avoid it like a disease.
My daughter and I agreed on the same thing we bought a laptop today and had them set it up. We did pay a little more but got some extras thrown in, you need to know how to bargain and the sales person is always the first to help.…we had more than enough service. Let them setup your computer properly, even I know how to but figured I wanted the quality I paid for, let them do it. We live In Montreal and had wonderful service from Future Shop at the Pepsi Forum near Atwater Downtown.
Monster Cables — Not worth the price.
Product Service plans — Worth it on Computers and TV’s
“The Setup” — Beneficial, but not mandatory.
Price Protection — Absolutely awesome. Future Shop stands behind their price for the duration of the return policy, and you should definitely use this.
Lying Sales Associates — Rarely flatout lie, some mislead, most are honest. If a product is returned they lose the commission.
Future Shop as a company does not scam its customers.
Think about the last time you had a good experience… at any retailer you have been to… Did you go on a forum and start a thread about how great your experience was? Probably not. It’s natural you want to vent if you have had a bad experience. You are bound to have good and bad experiences in life, experience is how we learn and grow as people. The best course of action is to find a sales associate you can trust, somebody that doesn’t steer you wrong and gives you their truly honest opinion on a product or service. Remember we live in a free market and you are free to shop at other retailers. If you are reading this you also have the means of researching the products or services you are interested in before you make your purchase decision.
Final words:
You will always benefit from independent research, learn about what you are looking to buy, find a sales associate you can trust, service plans are sometimes a wise decision, but be sure to read all exclusions and ask all the questions you need to feel comfortable before the end of the return policy.
Thank You
If you guys want an honest salesperson, talk to the entertainment guys. : )We’re not on commission anyway. (other than the $9 I make on PSP)
Maybe i’m too young an naive, but I rather enjoy helping out customers. It’s kind of upsetting that it seems so many people come in pre-judging me based on previous experiences.
Either way, I still try my best to keep you guys satisfied. Even if some customers do get rather rude just because i’m a sales person.
What makes this job a treat is when I get those nice customers that treat me with the same kind of respect that I treat everyone else with. That really makes my day.
Maybe if any of you accidentally stumble into my store, I can make it a decent experience for you next time!
This stuff is laughable.
There is NO scam. READ the fine print and if you do you’ll see no scam. How can you honestly believe that the largest electronics retailer in Canada has been scamming everyone? I have never seen any reputable or official complaints about the store; I only see posts on the internet by unreasonable, uninformed consumers.
If you would only take some time to read through all of Futureshop’s policies and maybe did a little research on the product you want to buy first your shopping experience will be much better. Then if you do get stuck with one of the sleazy salesmen you won’t get walked all over.
Since when did people start believing that all salesmen are totally honest? Take some responsibility as a consumer.
Notice I used the word salesman. It is 2012… Get over it Ashley. The only thing that gives feminism a bad name is the feminists themselves. Don’t be a Femenazi.
Ummm.…aren’t you doing the same thing by calling anyone who posts a complaint on the internet “unreasonable, uninformed consumers.”? I have heard that from certain electronic sales people as well. As if a complaint isn’t legitimate because only unhappy customers take the time to post.
As an FS employee, who also works in entertainment on a non-commission base, I would like to point out how ridiculous this article is. The Sales team sell products based on actual knowledge-not lies. If they do lie, it is simply that person being a bad salesman, and not something any manager would ever endorse. Returns and open boxes eat into their margins, too.
Futureshop is not a ‘fake it ’til you make it’ company. If a customer is unhappy and returns something, that also takes the money that the salesman has apparently scammed you out of. PSP commission is also a very small % of the plan.
Connect pro– I agree that it’s a waste of time and money, and I don’t think we should be trying to sell it — in truth, a lot of our associates don’t bother. On that note, there are people, ( a small number) who do call saying things like “I shouldn’t have to plug my xbox in, your associate said it was wireless.” or “The HDMI cable doesn’t fit in the usb slot.”
Buying a psp is not like paying for air. The psp lasts as long as the term you purchased, and items, ie:consoles can be replaced several times on the same plan, as long as it is the same serial number as purchased.
In short, the article is total bullocks, as are a lot of the trolls posting. I believe we’ve all had irritating circumstances with multiple retailers, and FS is by no means perfect, there’s just a lot of holes in the statements many people have posted here.
SHUT THE FK UP ASHLEY
U BLONG IN THE KITCHEN BITCH
I laugh at this whole forum. Its stupid and pointless. If you believe everything you are told withoput double checking the facts then your just as irresponsible as some of the sleezy SALEMEN out there. Yes the guys in the store are paid on commission, so what .. Do you ppl work for free? I didn’t think so. Morale of the story, do your own research before you make any business/buying decision.
I can tell you that most of the issues listed here are not policy and are done because the sales people were slimy and not doing their job right. I will point out that most issues at futureshop can be avoided by BEING AN INFORMED CONSUMER. Do your homework.
Here are the responses to the “List”
1) The service place NEVER covers everything. And no sales person doing their job will tell you that. IF you believe it covers everything, you deserve to have your money stolen from you. It NEVER NEVER NEVER is covered if you physically break it, spill water on it, or anything BUT a defect. This is EXTREMELY helpful as most cheap point-and-shoot cameras will have lens malfunctions after 2 or 3 years which is covered, leaving you with a new replacement free of charge. The ONLY stipulation in the coverage is that it doesn’t cover CONSUMABLES. Meaning batteries, bulbs etc. This includes your laptop battery or TV bulb.
2) “I’m going to give you a discount”. IS this any worse than customers saying “So what discount can you give me?”. The price is the price, but employees are able to give discounts on the listed price if you are buying a bunch of things. This is how they help you and encourage you to buy more. Unless your a mindless drone who cant make up their own mind or say “No” to buying more, YOU SHOULDN’T BE SHOPPING. ITS ALWAYS YOUR DECISIONS AT THE END. Their prices are not over and above anywhere else (except for some small things but thats just margins). You are the customer and have the choice to browse and shop around. Even saying that, they will price match any other price you find as long as its in stock and is in Canada.
3) Futureshop Exclusive
– Futureshop exclusives are NOT single models but packages. For example, Canon will offer futureshop a deal on products if they bundle them together, which allows FS To make the bundle cheaper for customers. THOSE ARE FUTURESHOP EXCLUSIVES. And at the end of the day.…. again.…. you can shop around and choose the best deal for you. If your going to be mind controlled because someone says its exclusive, then you need to wake up and think for yourself.
4) Setup avoids hours of work..
Its true that its an easy process to setup a laptop or other computer stuff. Unless your not a tech person. MANY PEOPLE HAVE NO CLUE how to setup a computer, let alone be able to search for the answer on the internet. Some people are simply to ignorant or lazy to do it themselves, and are willing to fork over money to have it done for them. YES ITS EASY TO DO, BUT IF YOU DONT KNOW HOW TO DO IT, ITS WORTH IT AND CONVENIENT.
5) Your saving X
OMG.…… this is how marketing works folks. If you are too stupid or lazy to look at how much you are really saving with a deal, and take everything marketers say to you at face value, you probably have already sent your bank info to the prince of Nairobi hoping he will share his millions with you. Every product has margins and markup which can be fiddled with. Its simply moving numbers around, but the savings it says are still true. It may not be as big as savings as the product was last week, but thats for you the informed customer to find out. Its simple math folks.
6) Monster Cables are a scam
– No they are not they are simply FUTURESHOP’s brand of cables. Same with DYNEX and a few others. The reason they make employees so much commission is because they make the product themselves and therefore have more margins to work with hence better commissions for employees. If your argument is that employees will intentionally push these cables because of the money, well yes! because there isn’t much of a difference between the monster HDMI Cables and other brands. NOT EVEN IN PRICE. Obviously employees shouldn’t push products intentionally because of the commissions they hold, but thats a problem with individual slimy employees, not the company. And this is something an employee would get fired for very fast!
7) Legally the store has to sell you any available product at the listed price. Except that they can easily say the product isn’t available even though it is in the back room. IF it is on the shelf, then yes, they must sell it to you. As for the preloading laptops, its still a service they are doing and if you want one without the setup then they can do that for you. Just because they did the service before they sold it to you doesn’t mean you dont have to pay for it. Just before christmas a customer asked to buy the boxing day deals they had, because they were in the building in the warehouse but obviously not for sale until boxing day. HE pulled the “your legally entitled to sell it to me”.….. umm. NO THEY ARE NOT.
At the end of the day, if your too lazy to do your research or think with your own brain and decide if what your looking at is a good deal or not, stick to amazon online and dont go to retail stores.
There will always be slimy salespeople. In retail we try and weed them out but its difficult. All i can suggest is you find a sales person you trust at a store and stick with them. CRM And customer loyalty are big like that.