Failed to buy a Sat Nav

[suityou01]

Went out this morning to a well known motoring shop on a retail park near me to try and buy a sat nav. Asked at the customer services desk if someone could assist me. Got a filthy look for waking them up, they "tannoyed" for help, and I waited around at the sat nav section for 10 minutes like a tit until I got fed up and walked out.

Tried numerous electrical retailers, and got close to buying one in Argos, buuuuuuut, the options were

Basic Unit £X
Basic + Speech = bit more
Basic + Speech + Traffic = bit more still
Basic + Speech + Bluetooth = bit more still (but no traffic)

I ask, wheres the "all of the above option". There wasn't one.

Wasted an entire morning tuliping around, with saturday assistants that could not give a tulip.

So there you go people, even when people do venture out with hard earned cash, it is not possible to get the customer service you need to part with the sheckles in the first place.

[b0redom]

Just bought a TomTom 740 Live. Does all the stuff you want. V. impressed.

[Board Game Geek]

Suityou posted : So there you go people, even when people do venture out with hard earned cash, it is not possible to get the customer service you need to part with the sheckles in the first place.

Indeed, it's shocking out there in retail land, and a lot of it is down to the training (or lack of) the retail assistants receive.

Product training is minimal ("Here's the box, open up it and read the manual").

I can only surmise that what little training they do receive is focussed on upselling ("Sell them warranty at every turn").

The moral of the story is do your research on the internet on Product X, like many other people do already, and then buy online (often cheaper).

I cannot see the future of shops selling white goods being very rosy, tbh.

[expat]

Indeed, it's shocking out there in retail land, and a lot of it is down to the training (or lack of) the retail assistants receive.

Product training is minimal ("Here's the box, open up it and read the manual").

If that. I've asked about a product sometimes, and had the assistant take it from my hands and see whether the answer is to be found written on the outside of the box. Thanks mate, that's what I need the personal touch for.

[Pondlife]

If that. I've asked about a product sometimes, and had the assistant take it from my hands and see whether the answer is to be found written on the outside of the box. Thanks mate, that's what I need the personal touch for.

Or even worse...

I can read the little white fe<king card myself, thanks.

[BrowneIssue]

The moral of the story is do your research on the internet on Product X, like many other people do already, and then buy online (often cheaper).

And then have the supplier go bust while you are waiting the six weeks for delivery ... but having already paid in full.

Or, if it does turn up, it's broken.

3rd option: do your research online, but buy from a bricks and mortar supplier. By credit card (if you still have one).

[suityou01]

Just bought a TomTom 740 Live. Does all the stuff you want. V. impressed.

Agree, this is just what I am looking for. Googled it, and found one on Comet for £300. Nice little product overview with ticks and crosses for the less patient of us, and the web price applies even if you collect in store, so I ordered it on line and pick it up in 30 mins.

This is the same store where the saturday girl chewing her pigtails just shrugged at me.

Retailers beware, saturday staff are killing your business. Its only by the grace of a friendly CUKer that you got a sale.

Thanks b0redom.

[Alf W]

Why do you need assistance to buy a Sat Nav? Just pick one that says it does all the things you want on the box.

[BolshieBastard]

And then have the supplier go bust while you are waiting the six weeks for delivery ... but having already paid in full.

Or, if it does turn up, it's broken.

3rd option: do your research online, but buy from a bricks and mortar supplier. By credit card (if you still have one).

And then find out the credit card issuer will drag out giving you a refund and put obstacles in your path.

Im trying to get £300 refunded to my RBS credit card for a dodgey new pc I bought on line.

RBS are saying I must provide an independent report of what's wrong with the pc, what have I done to resolve the dispute with the retailer blah, blah, blah.

I've told them under the Sale of Goods act as the fault was there when delivered ie within 6 months of purchase, I dont have to provide any report since the SoG Act states such a fault is deemed inherent in the goods.

Dont expect to get any refund quickly!

[xoggoth]

I don't know why but that well known motoring shop specialises in never having what I want, except when I don't want it anymore.