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zinnithCalliope practically died on me yesterday afternoon. What's a girl to do? I headed for the electronics stores in search for a new best friend. What I got was an interesting experience of the service business from the customer's viewpoint.
Being an economically minded consumer, I checked out the stores and their offers on the net before I went on my little shopping spree. I found a couple of laptops that suited my needs and that I could afford.
My first choice was the Acer Aspire 5738Z because of the pretty blue shell. (Yes, I am shallow.) So off to store #1 I go and head for the laptop department. The Salesman in the blue shirt is busy helping another customer so I look around for a bit and wait. And wait. And wait a little longer. Oh, great, they're finished! Hey, Mr Salesman, where are you going? Oh, to speak to the couple who just came through the door when I've been standing here in plain sight for ten minutes, obviously waiting for you to help me. Well, I am a little shy so maybe I wasn't clear enough. I guess I'll wait a little longer then. And wait and wait and wait...
Finally he's finished with the new customers, so I go right up to him before he has the time to disappear again.
Zin: Hi! My laptop just died so I need to get a new one pronto. I checked out this Acer and it looks like it would be perfect for me.
Salesman: Yes, that's a great machine, I have one myself. *launches into a long spiel about how great the computer is*
Zin: That sounds just fine. I'll take that one, please!
Salesman: Oh, sorry. We're all sold out of this model. We'll get some in next week, I think.
Zin: (Huh? You couldn't have said that before?) Ooookay... Well, I really can't be without a computer for a week.
Salesman: But we have this one in stock, it's a lot better and you get blah blah blah! *points to a much more expensive model*
Zin: No, I don't want that one, I have no use for those features and it costs too much. I'll just head over to store #2 then. Thanks for your help.
Salesman: But...but...
*Zin leaves*
So I head over to store #2, a little disappointed that I won't get the pretty blue laptop, but beauty isn't everything, right?
Enter store #2. The laptop department is right inside the doors and the first thing I see when I step inside is a free salesman in a rather ugly orange shirt.
Zin: Hi, I'm looking for a new laptop!
Salesman: Okay.
*long silence*
Zin: Um... yeah. So, I was interested in this Asus X5DIJ, I saw it on the 'net.
Salesman: It's that one. *points*
*another long silence*
Zin: Yes, I can see that. So, what can you tell me about it? What comes with it?
Salesman: A powercord.
Zin: Oooookay... I was thinking more about which programs?
Salesman: You don't want that one, you want the X5DAB instead. *points at slightly more expensive model* It has Vista Premium instead of Basic. That's a lot better and you get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when that comes out.
Zin: Oh, so Vista will be phased out entirely?
Salesman: Yep. Vista sucks.
After a lot of calculating I decide to take the one with Vista Premium because of the free upgrade. (Vista does suck, I have to give him that...)
Since I didn't have almost 7000 SEK to hand over out of the blue, I decided to purchase by instalments. (And how glad am I to have a steady job so I'm actually able to do that? Very glad, or I'd be computerless right now.) So the salesman goes to check my credit and it's approved. He prints out the contract, doesn't check what comes out of the printer and finishes the application. Then it's time for me to sign the contract, get my laptop and be on my merry way.
Salesman: Uh-oh...
Zin: (That's never good to hear) What's wrong?
Salesman: Oh, it's not a problem, it just that it didn't print right. *shows me a completely unreadable contract*
Zin: I'm not signing that. Can you print out another?
Salesman: Sure, I'll fix that.
He starts clicking on his computer. And he keeps clicking. Turns out he can't find my contract. He goes to ask a colleague. She can't find it either. I look around a little while I'm waiting. They go to ask a third colleague. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm cursed and never will get my computer. At last they come back, keep clicking around while not finding the damn contract.
Salesman: I'm afraid we'll have to fill out a contract by hand.
Zin: (Why didn't you suggest that half an hour ago?) That sounds like good idea.
So we go to the registers, I fill out the contract. This takes three minutes. Then, finally, I can take my computer home.
I'm so glad I don't have to do this more often.
But all's well that ends well and now I have a new pretty laptop that works like it's supposed to. Yay!
Being an economically minded consumer, I checked out the stores and their offers on the net before I went on my little shopping spree. I found a couple of laptops that suited my needs and that I could afford.
My first choice was the Acer Aspire 5738Z because of the pretty blue shell. (Yes, I am shallow.) So off to store #1 I go and head for the laptop department. The Salesman in the blue shirt is busy helping another customer so I look around for a bit and wait. And wait. And wait a little longer. Oh, great, they're finished! Hey, Mr Salesman, where are you going? Oh, to speak to the couple who just came through the door when I've been standing here in plain sight for ten minutes, obviously waiting for you to help me. Well, I am a little shy so maybe I wasn't clear enough. I guess I'll wait a little longer then. And wait and wait and wait...
Finally he's finished with the new customers, so I go right up to him before he has the time to disappear again.
Zin: Hi! My laptop just died so I need to get a new one pronto. I checked out this Acer and it looks like it would be perfect for me.
Salesman: Yes, that's a great machine, I have one myself. *launches into a long spiel about how great the computer is*
Zin: That sounds just fine. I'll take that one, please!
Salesman: Oh, sorry. We're all sold out of this model. We'll get some in next week, I think.
Zin: (Huh? You couldn't have said that before?) Ooookay... Well, I really can't be without a computer for a week.
Salesman: But we have this one in stock, it's a lot better and you get blah blah blah! *points to a much more expensive model*
Zin: No, I don't want that one, I have no use for those features and it costs too much. I'll just head over to store #2 then. Thanks for your help.
Salesman: But...but...
*Zin leaves*
So I head over to store #2, a little disappointed that I won't get the pretty blue laptop, but beauty isn't everything, right?
Enter store #2. The laptop department is right inside the doors and the first thing I see when I step inside is a free salesman in a rather ugly orange shirt.
Zin: Hi, I'm looking for a new laptop!
Salesman: Okay.
*long silence*
Zin: Um... yeah. So, I was interested in this Asus X5DIJ, I saw it on the 'net.
Salesman: It's that one. *points*
*another long silence*
Zin: Yes, I can see that. So, what can you tell me about it? What comes with it?
Salesman: A powercord.
Zin: Oooookay... I was thinking more about which programs?
Salesman: You don't want that one, you want the X5DAB instead. *points at slightly more expensive model* It has Vista Premium instead of Basic. That's a lot better and you get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when that comes out.
Zin: Oh, so Vista will be phased out entirely?
Salesman: Yep. Vista sucks.
After a lot of calculating I decide to take the one with Vista Premium because of the free upgrade. (Vista does suck, I have to give him that...)
Since I didn't have almost 7000 SEK to hand over out of the blue, I decided to purchase by instalments. (And how glad am I to have a steady job so I'm actually able to do that? Very glad, or I'd be computerless right now.) So the salesman goes to check my credit and it's approved. He prints out the contract, doesn't check what comes out of the printer and finishes the application. Then it's time for me to sign the contract, get my laptop and be on my merry way.
Salesman: Uh-oh...
Zin: (That's never good to hear) What's wrong?
Salesman: Oh, it's not a problem, it just that it didn't print right. *shows me a completely unreadable contract*
Zin: I'm not signing that. Can you print out another?
Salesman: Sure, I'll fix that.
He starts clicking on his computer. And he keeps clicking. Turns out he can't find my contract. He goes to ask a colleague. She can't find it either. I look around a little while I'm waiting. They go to ask a third colleague. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm cursed and never will get my computer. At last they come back, keep clicking around while not finding the damn contract.
Salesman: I'm afraid we'll have to fill out a contract by hand.
Zin: (Why didn't you suggest that half an hour ago?) That sounds like good idea.
So we go to the registers, I fill out the contract. This takes three minutes. Then, finally, I can take my computer home.
I'm so glad I don't have to do this more often.
But all's well that ends well and now I have a new pretty laptop that works like it's supposed to. Yay!
