My stepdad, sister, and I all chipped in to buy my mom a new computer as a Mother’s Day/birthday gift. I was charged with the mission of collecting the money and buying said computer. I tried to order it online and pick it up at the store (as I love to do), but the online warehouse was sold out of that particular model so I had to call the store…Best Buy.
Where do they get their employees? Do they search the country looking for the most socially challenged person they can find and give them a job? I think so.
I called the store this morning to see if they still had the desktop package that was featured at a very nice price online. The guy sounded like Shaggy and kept repeating what I said but as a question. Fucking annoying. He finds what I need though and puts in on hold for me. I am very grateful and tell Shaggy so.
I’m happy.
I go to the store after work to pick up the package and go up to the first blue shirt I see in the computer section and explain that I called that morning and they have put aside a desktop package for me. I tell him my name and what make the computer is.
Blank stare.
Blinking.
Blank stare.
I repeat that I called that morning, had a package set aside for me, blah blah blah…
Blank stare.
Blinking.
Pushing glasses up on nose.
Blinking.
He finally speaks and says, “May I ask what you’re going to be using the computer for?”
I say no.
Blinking.
Blank stare.
I ask if I should go ask someone else to help me. He quickly says no and tells me that I’m going to have to buy more memory for the computer because Vista needs a lot of memory to work. I tell him that I’m here to buy a computer package I put on hold. Nothing else.
Blank stare.
More blinking.
Rolls eyes.
Who the fuck does he think he’s rolling his eyes at, I think.
I tell him that I know he has to suggest these accessories, but I’m not going to buy them so please just go get the package.
He laughs and says that I need a security package because Vista is really insecure.
What’s so funny?
I tell him that I got it all worked out and he looks me up and down and has the nerve to ask, “You don’t look like you know what you’re doing.”
My turn to have a blank stare.
I recover from his bullshit and ask for a manager. The manager comes up and I say that I just want to pick up the computer package I put on hold this morning and THAT’S IT. I continue to explain that I don’t need to be told that I need to buy additional items for a brand new computer and that if I feel the need to purchase more memory or a security system, I will choose to do so when it suits me.
Blank stare guy says, “I tried to tell her that we know more than her….”
I interrupt and say to the manager cause I’m done with Mr. Blank Stare, “Do you want me to buy this computer here or Circuit City or Radioshack, what?”
The manager gets the computer. He upgrades the shitty printer that usually comes with the package to a Canon photo printer to make up for the frustration. I thank him. I pay. I load the package into my car. All in about 10 minutes.
I was in the store a total of 45 minutes. Time wasted=35 minutes with Blank Stare.
I like Best Buy. I usually buy my electronics there. But, I will never buy another computer in the store. I will order it online and pick the shit up so that I don’t have to deal with the ‘salespeople’. I don’t even know if they’re on commission or not, but damn.
Anyhow, that’s my story. I hope my mom likes this computer. It’s very nice and her current one is ancient. Any ideas on how I should wrap something like this? Or should we get the system up and running, and put a bow on top of it? We want it to be a huge surprise.