Okay, how come I know more about a PDA than a Best Buy Geek Squad guy?!

[Deja Q]

Sigh. I was at best buy today.

Keep in mind that, many months ago, I tried applying for a job and couldn't get it because, as told to me, B.B. only hires the best techs for the Geek Squad. (uh, look at my employment record folks so why am I asking for a piddle-paying job?...)

Well, this is funny. The guy I talked to not only tries to put in the memory card BACKWARDS, he also thought that the backup flash ROM was the memory card! :wow:

Sigh. This stuff only gives *'s comments about American workers being uneducated credibility.

Maybe I'm being harsh and he wasn't the resident PDA expert. That's okay too, but I thought it was funny all the same - a Geek Squad employee not knowing how to use a computer product they sell and support... (My main issue is getting the battery replaced while the extended warranty is still in effect. I'm sure Best Buy will wiggle out of it, just as they bamboozled me with the laserdisc player I bought in 1995... (floor model that I took in 4 times within their 'lemon law' period, but they LIED about the 4th repair. But at least they're not slimy when it comes to scanner replacement, for that the warranty is actually worth the dough spent.))

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Sadly....they didn't hire a computer expert to do the job.

They paid Joe Schmoe who basically is required to stock shelves and move product to do the job.

[dorktv]

2. How much does this person get paid?

The quality of workmenship does seem to be related to the level of pay.


And you were overqualified. A LOT of companies will not hire anyone who has good qualifications.

[Deja Q]

3. Hmmm, why won't companies hire good people?

Do they WANT to go under?!

If this is logic, I've abended with a syntax error... (abended is a past-tense term of 'abend')

[dorktv]

6. $

[Liberal Veteran]

4. Yes and no.

The person probably makes a little over minimum wage.

And yes you are right about overqualified people not getting work. When I was watching people leaving my last company as it was outsourced to India, I heard tale after tale after tale of being told they would not get the job because they were overqualified.

[wtmusic]

5. Yeah, but he knows more about the service warranty

:D

[Deja Q]

7. I also noted that their legal sheet I had to sign stated that I might have

to pay money for the service. :wow:

Even though the fricking warranty should cover it, because they all give that speech every time. :eyes: How even incidental damage is covered (the pamphlet doesn't agree with what they are TOLD to say and I am discerning as to what I buy the warranty on. These days it's only for scanners and it's paid off every time.)

But time will tell. While I hate CompUSA's return policies and slightly higher prices, depending on the outcome of my issue at BB I may never shop there again and be a CompUSA customer for good. They sell higher-end hardware anyway and have a better extended warranty program. (the techs I talked to, overall, also KNOW something about the products they sell too and are honest when they don't know.)

[wtmusic]

10. Check out zones.com

I buy all my computer stuff online now. Great service, great advice. It shows up at your door a few days later.

[NashVegas]

8. Electronics Stores Ain't What They Used to Be

Remember when you could go into buy a stereo and everyone on the floor knew their shit? Those guys were on commission, and a good commission at that. Those days are long gone.

[7th_Sephiroth]

9. another reason is the personality

i know MCSE's and people with other technical degrees and they all act like thier shit dont stink, thier pompous and annoying, get a fanct paper with fancy lettering on it and people suddenly think they are better than the rest

[Deja Q]

13. See #12, plus this:

:-)

So I'm pompous and annoying. But #12 fairly explains why anybody in front of the counter would feel this way to those behind it. I am not behind the counter and if I was, I'd be a real fool not to know the product I'm hired to work on. Good grief. Best Buy/Geek Squad have huge dorky signs saying how these people who wear the tacky logo know their stuff and remain physically fit and so on. (and that's not parody, they REALLY DO throw in that line. Gee, you'd think that one's technical ability would be more important than the size of his waistline! :eyes: Obviously not in our image-dominated society...)

And, yes, it's hard to say this in the context of all the other posts. They hire any twink or twonk and not give them any training and pay them crap. I ultimately don't blame the workers, it's the company and the downfall of America that is the real problem here.

[miss_kitty]

11. you probably know more about a PDA than a 'Best' Buy 'Geek'

because he can't afford one on the slave wages they pay him/her

you know, one thing i have learned about ALL this computer stuff is the more you use it the more you learn. unless you are a moran. When i got this box, end of Jan, 2003, i knew nothing-like not even how to get the ruler back in 'Word.' Now i would definately not call myself an expert, but i know enough to be dangerous make decisions about what i want it to do etc...

so the faux geek you got at 'Best' Buy won't know shit about a PDA until he can get one to mess with himself.

[Deja Q]

12. I've seen all the posts and I'm still amazed companies won't hire people

who know even rdimentary knowledge about the products they're supposed to work with.

(and to respond to another reply, this is not arrogance. This is what a customer would expect: That the person behind the counter who is supposed to know this stuff know at least something about it. Apparently this is too much to ask in *'s America. Indeed, maybe I should go repair brakes for a living, what with me not knowing how to torque the wheels back on properly... whoops, forgive me as I just displayed rudimentary knowledge. Maybe I do have a future in neocon america...)

[miss_kitty]

14. yeah i've been burned like that before, but guess what

if a company like that does hire people like us who know our shit (say you in computers and me in fraud investigating or landscaping) instead of their usual moran, it totally fs them up. you know too much, you won't toe the company line on product or procedure....a real geek at 'Best' Buy would prolly be miserable....