Ignorant staff

prowla

Don't you hate it when staff in shops don't know what they are talking about?

Yesterday I went into a shop and asked one of the staff if they had a MIDI Thru Box and and he called over an assistant who knew about the MIDI stuff to help me.

So, when I asked him, the assistant's face went slightly vague and he said they didn't have them, but perhaps I could explain what I was trying to do...

I was sensing doubt, so I just asked him to look up on his system to see if they did stock them.

Once he found one on the internet, he then went into the spiel that they could order one for me if I liked, to which I responded thanks, but I wasn't local.

Then I asked him if they did a 12 Step.

The quizzical look and inflexion to the voice reappeared as the assistant asked me what one of those was.

So, rather than explain, I asked if he would look that up too.

Oh, we have had other Keith McMillen equipment, so we could order that too, was the reply.

Again, I said that I wasn't local and was just dropping in on spec.

I'm finding this happens fairly often - I go into a shop and ask for something and the assistant just plain doesn't know what it is.

CabbageCat

Well, you win then I guess.

axisus

That's weekend staff for you. To be honest I'm usually quite forgiving, young 'uns have got to start somewhere. I do most of my shopping for 'stuff' online these days. It can be a pain waiting for a few days, but at least you can get exactly what you want.

EricTheWeary

I can't quite decide if this should be in Parody or wether the OP is angry that a shop assistant didn't know much about a product they don't stock but was still trying to be helpful about. I'll see if further responses clarify it for me. 

richardhomer

The annoying part about things like this, is it is the reason most people go to a 'bricks and mortar' store - to tap into their expertise. If they haven't got as much knowledge as the customer, it kind of defeats the whole objective.....

Even more annoying is a basic lack of manners - or showing no indication that they actually care about you in any way. I accept pay isn't great in retail - but that's not their customers' fault.

I can tolerate a lack of technical knowledge - but I would expect them to find someone who knows what they're talking about.

Bridgehouse

Serves you right for asking for weird stuff in Morrisons.

Handsome_Chris

@prowla , what is a 12 step?  All I am getting is info about addiction recovery.

Prowla, is there something that you would like to share with the group?  You will not be judged, this is a safe space.*



* Note: You will be judged and mocked as this is not a safe space. 

prowla

Handsome_Chris said:

@prowla , what is a 12 step?  All I am getting is info about addiction recovery.

Prowla, is there something that you would like to share with the group?  You will not be judged, this is a safe space.*



* Note: You will be judged and mocked as this is not a safe space. 

Curiously, a 12 Step actually has 13...

prowla

EricTheWeary said:

I can't quite decide if this should be in Parody or wether the OP is angry that a shop assistant didn't know much about a product they don't stock but was still trying to be helpful about. I'll see if further responses clarify it for me. 

Well, both really...

The assistant in this case was supposed to be their MIDI specialist.

This isn't an isolated occurrence though; I've been into another shop and asked for patch leads with pancake jacks (after the "I've never heard of those" response, another member staff pointed out a jar containing them).

I've been to an electronics shop and asked for a Speakon connector (in that one, the assistant said "Did you mean a speakER connector, sir???").

I do wonder what the point is of going to shops, sometimes.

In fact, some of the assistants delight in helpfully telling you to look online for things; I'm sure they do think they're being helpful, but heck, it's no wonder that the high street is in decline!

Sambostar

I find it's the same when I visit the local GP, difference is that they are supposed to be on £70k a year as opposed to 12 so I feel like I have some point to moan, especially considering I pay their salary out of my own pocket.

ToneControl

Sambostar said:

I find it's the same when I visit the local GP, difference is that they are supposed to be on £70k a year as opposed to 12 so I feel like I have some point to moan, especially considering I pay their salary out of my own pocket.

some of my GPs now look stuff up on the internet and print it out for me

A brilliant tactic to counter internet medical researchers (just joking)

No, I'm not actually complaining, they're just showing me they have the latest on the topic, and give more background than they can chat through

holnrew

It's not their fault they're undertrained and underpaid. If they aren't told what some things are, do you expect them to read up about it in their spare time?

kin

Thing is, most people don't want to pay for expertise...they want an expert to tell them all about it  and then buy the same thing cheaper online.

Is an expert in anything going to work for buttons ( not many people making good money working in a shop, whatever the product.)

Countless times I've seen threads on here bemoaning the lack of local stores where they can try things out, its our fault things are the way they are

ToneControl

holnrew said:

It's not their fault they're undertrained and underpaid. If they aren't told what some things are, do you expect them to read up about it in their spare time?

I've been told to do just that many times 
It's quite common in what are cynically called "professional" jobs

prowla

holnrew said:

It's not their fault they're undertrained and underpaid. If they aren't told what some things are, do you expect them to read up about it in their spare time?

Well, I would expect them to have some understanding of the products, rather than just being able to operate a cash register.

I've always viewed working in a music store as being a bit of a vocational job and that the people there would be musicians with an interest in their chosen specialisation.

monquixote

The worst shop I ever experienced was Turnkey (which is now closed)

This is almost verbatim a conversation I had in there once:

Me: Do you have an XYZ123?
Assistant: No we do not sell them
Me: Are you sure, I thought you did?
Assistant: No, we have never sold them
Me: They are on your website
Assistant: We used to sell them, but we stopped a year ago
Me: They are currently your special offer of the month
Assistant: Yes we had them in stock, but we sold out 
Me: (looking over his shoulder) Is that a big stack of them on the shelf behind you?
Assistant: Ah yes the XYZ123, they are very good you should definitely buy one.

boogieman

Wasn't Turnkey also Soho Soundhouse at one time? Dreadful place, the sales staff were some of the rudest, ignorant pillocks I've met. Small wonder the place went under. 

TheBlueWolf

So I'm just getting started for the days trade at my bakery when this nutter  walks in and starts blathering on about a MIDI Thru Box......

prowla

TheBlueWolf said:

So I'm just getting started for the days trade at my bakery when this nutter  walks in and starts blathering on about a MIDI Thru Box......

I want one and I've got the dough!

BRISTOL86

TheBlueWolf said:

So I'm just getting started for the days trade at my bakery when this nutter  walks in and starts blathering on about a MIDI Thru Box......

What a doughnut. 

roundthebend

Bricks n Mortar shops are not the place to go for advice and information. Of course, you might get some, but the internet is a rich resource for that.
The benefit of them is being able to get the thing you want immediately, and being able to try before you buy, plus a little reassurance that you can take it back without the hassle of packing it up for posting.