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[OT] Staples as a Source for Buying Computers--Market Driven at theConsumer's Expense?

J

Jose

Flightless Bird
Re: Staples as a Source for Buying Computers--Market Driven at theConsumer's Expense?

On Jan 7, 10:56 am, "W. eWatson" <wolftra...@invalid.com> wrote:
> David C. Holley wrote:
> > While I can see whole dollar prices as possibly being indicitive of a
> > discontinued item, I find it unlikely that other odd prices such as .97,
> > .92, .68 have any significant meaning. Staples uses a pricing model that
> > looks at the true cost of a product from acquisition to warehouse to
> > delivery to the retail stores with such issues as transportation, storage,
> > handling, etc. It goes beyond just looking at the cost to purchase the
> > product and the selling price of the product. As such, the odd prices are
> > most likely generated from a pricing algorithim and accepted as is unless
> > the analyst decides to adjust them.

>
> > "Jose" <jose_e...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >news:c21fd80c-231f-41ba-9f49-34b0ac3731e3@21g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...
> > On Jan 6, 11:09 am, "W. eWatson" <wolftra...@invalid.com> wrote:
> >> I bought a new HP computer at Staples, and recently started into
> >> creating a set of rescue disks. It was mystifying. I resorted to
> >> Newsgroups and here. Last night, I Googled HP and noticed a chat. I
> >> tried it. It was busted. I noticed something about contact them for
> >> support. I called. I found out I had a year of free support any time.

>
> >> I have no recollection of Staples telling me anything about this, other
> >> than I had a year of parts replacement. Today I went over and looked at
> >> their PCs, and found none mentioned free HP support, but did offer, for
> >> a price, their care. BTW, I did dig out a support phone number (I don't
> >> think they mentioned free) from HP's minimal getting started booklet,
> >> which seems very h/w oriented. HP answered my questions satisfactorily..

>
> >> So to me this looks like Staples as less than honest about what one gets
> >> with computers bought there.

>
> > In that case, the first recommendation I have is to come up with
> > (borrow/copy/create) a genuine bootable XP installation CD (if your
> > new system came with XP).  You may find that a lot handier later if
> > your system doesn't boot some day.

>
> > Not telling you about something is not the same as not being honest.

>
> > There are good bargains to be had at these stores - especially in the
> > electronics department.

>
> > A "trick" for shopping these places (Staples, Office Depot especially)
> > is to pay special attention to the price.  If the price does not end
> > in .99, that item is discontinued and reduced for quick sale.
> > Reasonable offers accepted.

>
> > If you see a price ending in .97, .92, .68 etc. - make them an offer.
> > 25-50% of the display price (or less) even.

>
> > If the sales person doesn't know anything what you are talking about,
> > speak to the manager.  Somebody put that goofy price on there and
> > knows what it means.  They know what you're talking about.  If the
> > manager doesn't know, find the correct manager or call the next day
> > and talk to them on the phone.

>
> > It may be a display item with a few miles on it or be scratched, they
> > may not have the right box or power cord, but you will get it cheap.
> > Computer, TVs, printers, cameras, etc.  They usually have the same
> > warranty.  It not, you can always walk.

>
> > Make an offer!

>
> I'm skipping over several messages just to see my response a few minutes
> ago. Particularly note my mention of the mgr, and my claim their
> approach has nothing to do with me, but has to do with the information
> available to the customer.  Other than that I am going to report this to
> Consumer Reports.


Good idea I reckon - all of the HP warranty and service information is
clearly stated in the HP documentation - 24/7, toll free, chat, etc.
I guess you found that okay though.

You can also look up retailer information on the free pages of the
Better Business Bureau (www.bbs.org) and determine if the have earned/
received a BBB accreditation and read an overall grade (A+ - F),
reliability reports and customer experiences even if they are not
accredited.

You can drill down to your particular retailer.

Oops - Staples has no BBS accreditation!
 
D

David C. Holley

Flightless Bird
Re: [OT] Staples as a Source for Buying Computers--Market Driven at the Consumer's Expense?

That could have been due to product planning. *BUT* holding off on the
merchandising a specific product is completely different from not explicity
discussing the service included with HP.

It honestly sounds like you're expecting a sales experience which Staples
doesn't offer. An analogy would be someone wanting the experience of buying
a car from a dealership where the sales person knows and discusses all of
the benefits and features of a car versus buying a car on craigslist.

"W. eWatson" <wolftracks@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:hi500n$ei0$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> David C. Holley wrote:
>> "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:-ORib4QvjKHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> <snipped>
>>>
>>> W. eWatson wrote:
>>>> Thanks, but I have built every computer I have, except for a
>>>> laptop, for the last 15 years. The sales guy hustled me right to
>>>> the Computer Care program and extended warranty, and I told him no.
>>>> He actually pushed it a bit wondering why I would ignore such a
>>>> good offer. I know the guy fairly well. He's the mgr of the store.
>>>> I politely told him to go read Consumer Reports on extended
>>>> coverage. In case, he hadn't I brought a copy of their advice
>>>> back to him. I'm glad I did this, because 1. It reminded that my
>>>> credit card matches the warranty by extending it to match the
>>>> mfger, add in one year, 2. They also advise that if a salesman
>>>> pushes these item, they would be interested in it. I pointed that
>>>> out to him, but said, "No fear. I won't do it to you." I've changed
>>>> my mind on that per what I've posted here. I won't name the local
>>>> store. There may have been a 3, but I've now forgotten it. You
>>>> might try Google to find their advice.
>>>> Nevertheless, I think I know what I'm doing despite overlooking the
>>>> "one year support".
>>> That's good - but your *warning* was incomplete in my opinion - so I
>>> added to it.
>>>
>>> I know that in my local big box stores - just because a salesperson
>>> pushes an item - it does not necessarily reflect interest of the type
>>> you would want. The person pushing it often does not know much about
>>> the item, may have not actually ever used it, could have started work
>>> yesterday.
>>>
>>> My point is still that most people should not buy their computers from
>>> big box stores and should also not take them there for repairs.

>>
>> Fundamentally, it comes down to the tried and true philosophy of a person
>> figuring out what his/she needs are and then buying a product to match
>> the needs. I've only ever bought direct from HP or DELL, but if for some
>> reason I had to buy from a retailer I'd still figure out what I needed
>> first. Just like buying a car, a house or insurance. You don't just walk
>> into a store and pick a machine like you're picking up a packet of pens.
>>
>>> --
>>> Shenan Stanley
>>> MS-MVP
>>> --
>>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>>>

>>
>>

> I agree, but there's another story that I'm not going to go deeply into. I
> had been there several times looking and asking about the PC over a 3 week
> period. Most of the time, the last 2 weeks, I was asking when they were
> going to get another one. I finally put it to the manager about the
> run-around. He was surprised, then went into the backroom and came back
> with one.
>
> My argument here is about the observation that they say not one wit on
> their sales material about HP free tech support. It doesn't matter what I
> did or didn't do. I would be willing to be if I went to Best Buy, they
> would have it their sales description. The are 30 miles from here.
 
D

David C. Holley

Flightless Bird
Re: Staples as a Source for Buying Computers--Market Driven at the Consumer's Expense?

"Jose" <jose_ease@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c1738145-975c-4d62-8ca0-ae421e324e9a@m16g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
On Jan 7, 10:56 am, "W. eWatson" <wolftra...@invalid.com> wrote:
> David C. Holley wrote:
> > While I can see whole dollar prices as possibly being indicitive of a
> > discontinued item, I find it unlikely that other odd prices such as .97,
> > .92, .68 have any significant meaning. Staples uses a pricing model that
> > looks at the true cost of a product from acquisition to warehouse to
> > delivery to the retail stores with such issues as transportation,
> > storage,
> > handling, etc. It goes beyond just looking at the cost to purchase the
> > product and the selling price of the product. As such, the odd prices
> > are
> > most likely generated from a pricing algorithim and accepted as is
> > unless
> > the analyst decides to adjust them.

>
> > "Jose" <jose_e...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >news:c21fd80c-231f-41ba-9f49-34b0ac3731e3@21g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...
> > On Jan 6, 11:09 am, "W. eWatson" <wolftra...@invalid.com> wrote:
> >> I bought a new HP computer at Staples, and recently started into
> >> creating a set of rescue disks. It was mystifying. I resorted to
> >> Newsgroups and here. Last night, I Googled HP and noticed a chat. I
> >> tried it. It was busted. I noticed something about contact them for
> >> support. I called. I found out I had a year of free support any time.

>
> >> I have no recollection of Staples telling me anything about this, other
> >> than I had a year of parts replacement. Today I went over and looked at
> >> their PCs, and found none mentioned free HP support, but did offer, for
> >> a price, their care. BTW, I did dig out a support phone number (I don't
> >> think they mentioned free) from HP's minimal getting started booklet,
> >> which seems very h/w oriented. HP answered my questions satisfactorily.

>
> >> So to me this looks like Staples as less than honest about what one
> >> gets
> >> with computers bought there.

>
> > In that case, the first recommendation I have is to come up with
> > (borrow/copy/create) a genuine bootable XP installation CD (if your
> > new system came with XP). You may find that a lot handier later if
> > your system doesn't boot some day.

>
> > Not telling you about something is not the same as not being honest.

>
> > There are good bargains to be had at these stores - especially in the
> > electronics department.

>
> > A "trick" for shopping these places (Staples, Office Depot especially)
> > is to pay special attention to the price. If the price does not end
> > in .99, that item is discontinued and reduced for quick sale.
> > Reasonable offers accepted.

>
> > If you see a price ending in .97, .92, .68 etc. - make them an offer.
> > 25-50% of the display price (or less) even.

>
> > If the sales person doesn't know anything what you are talking about,
> > speak to the manager. Somebody put that goofy price on there and
> > knows what it means. They know what you're talking about. If the
> > manager doesn't know, find the correct manager or call the next day
> > and talk to them on the phone.

>
> > It may be a display item with a few miles on it or be scratched, they
> > may not have the right box or power cord, but you will get it cheap.
> > Computer, TVs, printers, cameras, etc. They usually have the same
> > warranty. It not, you can always walk.

>
> > Make an offer!

>
> I'm skipping over several messages just to see my response a few minutes
> ago. Particularly note my mention of the mgr, and my claim their
> approach has nothing to do with me, but has to do with the information
> available to the customer. Other than that I am going to report this to
> Consumer Reports.


>Good idea I reckon - all of the HP warranty and service information is
>clearly stated in the HP documentation - 24/7, toll free, chat, etc.
>I guess you found that okay though.


>You can also look up retailer information on the free pages of the
>Better Business Bureau (www.bbs.org) and determine if the have earned/
>received a BBB accreditation and read an overall grade (A+ - F),
>reliability reports and customer experiences even if they are not
>accredited.


>You can drill down to your particular retailer.


>Oops - Staples has no BBS accreditation!



For that matter he might as well include the fact that Staples never
explicity informed him of the URL to the HP website.
 
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