Another interesting visit to Curry's/ PC World

[chum_2000_uk]

Went to buy a new 32" TV yesterday, and the nearest big electrical store to me is a Curry's/ PC World Superstore. Last few times I've visited I've been left scratching my head at the complete BS that some (most!?) of their sales staff come out with.

Was hoping to get them to price match a TV I'd seen advertised on the Richer Sounds website - a Samsung UE32F5000. Turns out they didn't have any stock left anyway, but out of interest and for future reference I asked the sales guy if they could price match RS and this was his response:

"No sir, unfortunately we don't price match Richer Sounds. You see sir, they sell european models, rather than UK models, so you wouldn't be able to tune in the freeview channels here in the UK."

This was my response to him "wow." as I walked away and proceeded to find the nearest exit.

After a call to the nearest Richer Sounds to see if they had any in stock, then a 25 minute journey in the car, I picked up a new Samsung UE32F5000. I didn't even bother asking their sales staff about the freeview tuner nonsense… after all, I didn't want to sound like a complete moron and get laughed out of the store.

Long story short, after another 45 minute drive to get home, the TV was unwrapped, stand assembled, all freeview channels tuned in, and a grand total of ten minutes later I was watching some show about buying properties in Norfolk on BBC One HD - happy in the knowledge that I'd not handed my money over to a complete bunch of clowns.

Curry's/ PC World is now on my "avoid at all costs" list. Not before time.

 

[jmbrailsford]

Hi,

funnily enough I was in our local Currys last week and both staff who approached me, one a girl around 20yrs old and a guy about the same age both had great knowledge on the three or 4 sets I was looking at, put it this way I couldn't catch them out with any techie questions on both 1080p and 4k sets, so kudos to them both.

In fact in all my years of hifi/Av etc these are probably the two most informed I have met in a national chain.

Mike.

 

[Chris Muriel]

It would be interesting to know which 2 Currys branches were involved in these 2 posts - one good, one poor.

 

[chum_2000_uk]

Hi,

funnily enough I was in our local Currys last week and both staff who approached me, one a girl around 20yrs old and a guy about the same age both had great knowledge on the three or 4 sets I was looking at, put it this way I couldn't catch them out with any techie questions on both 1080p and 4k sets, so kudos to them both.

In fact in all my years of hifi/Av etc these are probably the two most informed I have met in a national chain.

Mike.

Good to hear that not all the stores are full of incompetent sales staff. Since I moved to the area a few years ago, I've been in this store around 4 times looking for advice and guidance with the view to potentially purchase from them.

The first time was very positive - I was looking at MacBook Pro's, and the fella I spoke to was clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about Mac's. He showed me a lot of nifty features of the operating system, and although I decided to go 2nd hand and get one from the classifieds here, it was his advice that really made my mind up that I definitely wanted to go that route.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th time I wanted advice about DSLR's/ lenses, tablets (in particular the Nexus 7 and iPad mini) and then this TV. Each time, I was either given absolute BS, or in the case of the tablet, basically the guy made it quite clear that he really couldn't be bothered to make any effort to try and help me out - basically he begrudgingly came over when I asked for help, gave a series of one word responses and then lost all interest and was looking for a way out.

I mean, hell, I'd like to think I'm a pretty approachable guy and quite sociable… I also used to work in an electrical store when I was in college and uni, so I do understand that you can't know everything about the stuff you're selling - I really don't expect the earth when I'm asking sales staff things… I can quite easily find out most things myself by looking online (in fact I'd rather do that most of the time, as I know the average sales person will give you any old answer instead of admitting they are not sure about something).

It would be interesting to know which 2 Currys branches were involved in these 2 posts - one good, one poor.

It was the Poole store, Dorset.

 

[Loopthrough]

Good to hear that not all the stores are full of incompetent sales staff. Since I moved to the area a few years ago, I've been in this store around 4 times looking for advice and guidance with the view to potentially purchase from them.

The first time was very positive - I was looking at MacBook Pro's, and the fella I spoke to was clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about Mac's. He showed me a lot of nifty features of the operating system, and although I decided to go 2nd hand and get one from the classifieds here, it was his advice that really made my mind up that I definitely wanted to go that route.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th time I wanted advice about DSLR's/ lenses, tablets (in particular the Nexus 7 and iPad mini) and then this TV. Each time, I was either given absolute BS, or in the case of the tablet, basically the guy made it quite clear that he really couldn't be bothered to make any effort to try and help me out - basically he begrudgingly came over when I asked for help, gave a series of one word responses and then lost all interest and was looking for a way out.

I mean, hell, I'd like to think I'm a pretty approachable guy and quite sociable… I also used to work in an electrical store when I was in college and uni, so I do understand that you can't know everything about the stuff you're selling - I really don't expect the earth when I'm asking sales staff things… I can quite easily find out most things myself by looking online (in fact I'd rather do that most of the time, as I know the average sales person will give you any old answer instead of admitting they are not sure about something).



It was the Poole store, Dorset.

Don't forget to ask them to do a little dance for you! They should be good at that at least.

 

[chum_2000_uk]

Don't forget to ask them to do a little dance for you! They should be good at that at least.

Ha ha! Incredible! Surprised they didn't get him to squeeze his chest together and start singing my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard…

 

[mike7]

Some customers are just as potty. I saw a couple looking at tvs in John Lewis. The assistant set the tv they were interested in to give a good balanced picture. They asked him to make it brighter 'like all the others' so back it went into dynamic mode. They were pleased with that and I guess that is how it will stay. Some enterprising manufacturer just needs to make a tv with an on/off switch, a channel change button and a knob labeled 'very bright' and 'even brighter'. Who needs 4k?

 

[chum_2000_uk]

Some customers are just as potty. I saw a couple looking at tvs in John Lewis. The assistant set the tv they were interested in to give a good balanced picture. They asked him to make it brighter 'like all the others' so back it went into dynamic mode. They were pleased with that and I guess that is how it will stay. Some enterprising manufacturer just needs to make a tv with an on/off switch, a channel change button and a knob labeled 'very bright' and 'even brighter'. Who needs 4k?

I guess it's like anything though isn't it, if you have never learnt of a different way, you just don't know any better. Not all customers are going to be as well informed as many of the people who peruse these forums.

People are often like magpies, instantly attracted to bright and shiny things. So until they get educated and realise that by having the TV so bright, and with all the "super pixel plus digital black level detail enhancer extreme 4k upscale modes" enabled, they are losing picture quality, they'll just carry on blissfully unaware.

To be honest, sometimes when it comes to AV gear I wish I was like that - blissfully unaware of what's good and bad, and not really that bothered. Knowledge of these kinds of things makes decisions so much more time consuming and difficult. The amount of hours I've spent in years gone by researching specs, reviews and hunting for the lowest prices etc etc, doesn't bear thinking about!

 

[LSPC]

Think it depends who you get in the Poole store, the guy who seems to be the SONY rep/sales advisor knows his stuff and doesn't feed you any BS or try to sell you anything. But agree most are numpty's wouldn't buy a sausage from them but good to view then go to JL/RS

 

[Greg Hook]

Some customers are just as potty. I saw a couple looking at tvs in John Lewis. The assistant set the tv they were interested in to give a good balanced picture. They asked him to make it brighter 'like all the others' so back it went into dynamic mode. They were pleased with that and I guess that is how it will stay. Some enterprising manufacturer just needs to make a tv with an on/off switch, a channel change button and a knob labeled 'very bright' and 'even brighter'. Who needs 4k?

Some people just like a really hideously bright picture. Everytime I visit my Mum my eyes are left burning, I occasionally correct it but it's quickly readjusted to the poor previous setting.

 

[gunark]

I had an exasperating Currys incident when taking my mum to get a smart BD player that would allow her to watch on demand Tv. Decided on the sammy F6500 so went to pick one up, and mum asked the guy about it with her TV, a 2007 Samsung 720p plasma. He said that it would not work with her TV as it's too old and she would need a newer one. I asked why, as it has HDMI and wasn't using 3D or anything but he was insistent. Left the store totally baffled, ordered it cheaper from amazon, works fine.

I realise he might have been trying to pull a fast one but really, it didn't even make sense...

 

[LV426]

For every informed customer (like chum_2000_uk and gunark)
that walks away as a result of the untruths these people use, there will be probably 10 more who do not - sadly. And that, precisely, is how DSG stay in business.

My Mrs. had friends round a while back to watch "The Sound of Music" (in my absence!) with my projector/surround setup. One of them was so impressed they wanted to do something similar at their own home. ("Can you get the same result using a soundbar?")

Now - anyone care to guess WHO they were (and, for all I know, ARE still) going to ask for advice? Yep. Currys.

 

[Scooby2000]

Currys now have picture perfect, you can buy the bluray with a new set for 20 quid, well worth having by the looks of it, hope to get a free one to try tomorrow.

Its a mixed bag with Currys staff, do bare in mind they get paid very little, with next to no holiday pay and 0 sick pay before being too critical, hard to keep a smile on your face for 9 hours knowing your getting very little in return.

 

[Stuart Wright]

Why would you buy a disk, when you can get the information we produced in our Picture Perfect campaign for free?
Picture Perfect | AVForums

 

[Scooby2000]

Why would you buy a disk, when you can get the information we produced in our Picture Perfect campaign for free?
Picture Perfect | AVForums

As big as AVF is Stuart few people on the street know about it, I tell people every and only a handful have said they knew AVForums.
I think its great they're doing it, its produced by the guy that did the DVE disc, Joe Kane?
With the name Picture perfect I thought it might be a tie in with AVF (pm'd Phil ages ago about it).

 

[Scooby2000]

Well got a copy (for free) its quite good IMO, the basic recommended set up option is a little light, not as good as the guide on here, the advanced though goes into a lot of detail and provides some good patterns.

The basic set up guide could lead to some confusion, could do with some of the explanations added to the advanced, otherwise I think this is a step in the right direction for Currys. I'll be doing my best to ensure all vision sales staff watch the advanced set up guide in my store and advise other stores follow.
Next step will be to get demo rooms to educate the masses a bit more.

Given the price of DVE and Spears I think this is a good buy if getting a set.

 

[WhiskeyOmega]

It's swings and roundabouts. I went to a richer sounds store asking about amps. The rubbish the sales guy was saying had me out the store without a purchase and also trying too hard to get me to purchase a model I really didn't want.

He even told me after buying a multi zoned oppo 103d that it will be blacklisted. I quickly went down to Sevenoaks who knew about everything I wanted to know. Will certainly be buying my new Denon from them.

When I bought my LG 55la970w from curry's the guys there were more then helpful even after a mix up on installation which is just human error

 

[Richer Sounds]

It's swings and roundabouts. I went to a richer sounds store asking about amps. The rubbish the sales guy was saying had me out the store without a purchase and also trying too hard to get me to purchase a model I really didn't want.

He even told me after buying a multi zoned oppo 103d that it will be blacklisted. I quickly went down to Sevenoaks who knew about everything I wanted to know. Will certainly be buying my new Denon from them.

When I bought my LG 55la970w from curry's the guys there were more then helpful even after a mix up on installation which is just human error

Hi there,

I have just noticed this thread I was most concerned to read of the problems that you experienced at one of our stores and would like to take the opportunity to offer my sincere apologies.

In order that I may investigate further, and attempt to resolve this to your satisfaction asap, could you message me a contact telephone number for yourself?

Once again, I offer my apologies, i look forward to hearing from you soon.

Many Thanks

John Clayton
Operations Director
Richer Sounds

 

[Jota180]

^^ That's the kind of response I like to see from businesses!

 

[woppy101]

That's why I only buy from richer sounds and Costco

 

[Jota180]

Companies have one chance with me if things go wrong. I can accept sometimes items can break/not work, whatever, but the response from the company is everything in that moment. I've had companies dragging their heels, kicking and screaming and will never do business with them again even if they are the cheapest.

On the other hand I'll keep going back to any company that handles these situations promptly and correctly.

 

[Greg Hook]

Companies have one chance with me if things go wrong. I can accept sometimes items can break/not work, whatever, but the response from the company is everything in that moment. I've had companies dragging their heels, kicking and screaming and will never do business with them again even if they are the cheapest.

On the other hand I'll keep going back to any company that handles these situations promptly and correctly.

That's how I am. I mostly buy from Amazon these days as their customer service is top notch. For PC stuff I tend to pick Corsair, Crucial and Logitech as their CS is also awesome.

AriaPC on the other hand was shocking. It took a ridiculous amount of time and many chase emails from myself to replace a faulty motherboard. So they are off my list. It's only when you have a problem do you know just how good or bad a company is.

 

[wolfram7]

Having worked at McDonalds were staff were expected to "upsell" to maximise the size of the total sale, I was pleasantly surprised when the staff at Richer Sounds attempted to "downsell" pointing out that some of the differences between products I had expressed an interest in were marginal. Only when there was a significant difference in quality that was demonstrated in store did they encourage me towards the pricier of my options. My new TV began to show some backlight bleed after about a week and instead of a third degree interrogation, they offered a replacement straight away without even consulting the manager. They seem to put the "care" into customer care.
I know that as a business they need to be just as interested in shifting boxes as Currys etc., but their attitude to customers should make them far more likely to get repeat business.
Let's hear it for the specialist dealers. Perhaps they should run franchises within department stores and "educate the ignorant masses" as observed by Mike7.

 

[Dorset Dave]

Two highlights of my conversation with a Curry's member of staff regarding 4k tv.
It is a good time to buy as not many people know about it. When it becomes really popular the prices will shoot up again.
For the best picture use only HDMI GOLD cables at £50 a pop! There was a box full of them next to the display.

 

[wolfram7]

Two highlights of my conversation with a Curry's member of staff regarding 4k tv.
It is a good time to buy as not many people know about it. When it becomes really popular the prices will shoot up again.
For the best picture use only HDMI GOLD cables at £50 a pop! There was a box full of them next to the display.

"Prices will shoot up" in the same way as flat screens, plasma TVs and digital watches!!!!