Incredible Corruption

Just don't ask them for thermal paste, as all their sales persons will gather round like flies trying to figure out what this mysterious high-tech electronic consumable is and keep them from irritating the other customers.
 
Borrels said:
Just don't ask them for thermal paste, as all their sales persons will gather round like flies trying to figure out what this mysterious high-tech electronic consumable is and keep them from irritating the other customers.
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Took a couple to finally tell me they do not stock tv cards (I want a USB 1 for my laptop).
 
the most annoying part about IC (and many other stores) is that the cashier will capture a sales-rep code, even though none of the sales people have a clue or willingness to assist. Most of them are lazy/have no spark and I make a point in calling the manager to get the rep-code removed. (BTW: the same happened to me at Sportsman Warehouse and the cashier was highly pissed once I got her to remove the sales-rep from the till-slip).
 
LOL! I used to work at Incredible... Very corrupt, and sales staff feel it more than anyone else there, believe me..

Firstly, you are forced to harass clients and if not can get fired. People now have a stigma not to go to IC because of this "harassment" enforced by higher management who don't listen to the staff about what customers really want. Then, the poor guys have to deal with the customers who hate to be "harassed" when they actually want to know something about a product, but have in the last 2 minutes rejected 10 sales people.

I agree that at least 90% of the staff know nothing about PC's. They know the selling price and are encouraged (again by higher management) to sell what has a higher GP. They earn comission only (no basic) and so it's in their best interest to sell what will make the company money, and in turn fatten their wallet at the end of the month. I don't condone this and is one of the MANY reasons I left IC.

In actual fact, as a sales person you concerntrate 10% on sales, the rest, as a sales person, you are forced to do daily stock takes of the entire store, merchandise the store, create & print all specials and post them (for which you as the sales person do not get paid for).

My advice to really screw the guys over (should you have a bad experience but still want to buy), is if there is a really good special on, and the sales rep is pathetic in service delivery, insist @ the tills his rep code is recorded on the product because then he actually owes the Corrupt Incredible bosses money :)

Additionally, if you virtually sell the PC yourself, the policy is that the sales must go to the "house" and so the point of insisting now rep code assigned to sale is legitimate as pointed above. If the sales person did a great job, I think he deserves the rep code.
 
the_don46 said:
LOL! I used to work at Incredible... Very corrupt, and sales staff feel it more than anyone else there, believe me..

Firstly, you are forced to harass clients and if not can get fired. People now have a stigma not to go to IC because of this "harassment" enforced by higher management who don't listen to the staff about what customers really want. Then, the poor guys have to deal with the customers who hate to be "harassed" when they actually want to know something about a product, but have in the last 2 minutes rejected 10 sales people.

I agree that at least 90% of the staff know nothing about PC's. They know the selling price and are encouraged (again by higher management) to sell what has a higher GP. They earn comission only (no basic) and so it's in their best interest to sell what will make the company money, and in turn fatten their wallet at the end of the month. I don't condone this and is one of the MANY reasons I left IC.

In actual fact, as a sales person you concerntrate 10% on sales, the rest, as a sales person, you are forced to do daily stock takes of the entire store, merchandise the store, create & print all specials and post them (for which you as the sales person do not get paid for).

My advice to really screw the guys over (should you have a bad experience but still want to buy), is if there is a really good special on, and the sales rep is pathetic in service delivery, insist @ the tills his rep code is recorded on the product because then he actually owes the Corrupt Incredible bosses money :)

Additionally, if you virtually sell the PC yourself, the policy is that the sales must go to the "house" and so the point of insisting now rep code assigned to sale is legitimate as pointed above. If the sales person did a great job, I think he deserves the rep code.
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Thanks for the insight, i feel a little guilty as i presumed that they did have a basic salary.

Being forced onto customers is sad and i can very often see the hesitation when they do their jobs too, especially when i start picking their brains.
I had a sales rep argue with me over who gets the commission when i phoned to enquire at the store in Claremont.
It was days prior to actually going there and obviously didn't remember his name.

When he saw me walking to the tills, he asked who sold that to me and started shouting at the salesman who served me.
He then got cocky with me and i burst out shouting at him telling him nobody talks like that to a customer and that he was incompetent.

The manger did nothing but stare, but i made one thing sure, he did not get a cent of commission from me, i insisted that the nice guy i called over and actually knew what he was talking about got the comish.
I never shop in the Claremont store since the incident happened 2 years ago and regret not taking the matter further.

The other day i walked past and saw a manager sticker on the little sod that was so rude.

They really are living up to their reputation in Claremont, so i go to Blue Route.
 
@ the_don46, that's all fine and well, but a business is all about making money - which comes from the customer. As a customer you aren't really interested(and should not be affected) by what goes on behind the scenes.

On the few occasions that I've actually bought stuff from them(probably all sale items, trade-in etc.) I walked in knowing what I wanted, got the item and left. On one occasion a sales guy didn't know what a VGA was, I seriously pity anyone who walks in there with no knowledge of what they are about to buy. It's interesting how they seem to hire people who have no knowledge and zero interest in the products that they sell, but having said that there are few good sales persons that I've dealt with - but they are few and far between.

the_don46, how does their hiring process work? Surely it wouldn't be that hard to recruit people who have a clue?
I thinks it's quite pathetic for a company that dominates the retail market to have such(generally) useless staff.
 
AstroTurf said:
Sold my inlaw a desktop computer with Windows 7 Starter edition on :mad:
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Unfortunate one!

Although you now have options with Windows Anytime Upgrade - you can go from Starter Edition to Home Premium, unfortunately at a rather hefty fee :(

IC simply amazes me when it comes to the pricing of their accessories, I remember 2 years back, buying my LCD at PC Zone for R2499, and then seeing it at IC for R4500!!
 
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KhoisanX said:
the_don46, how does their hiring process work? Surely it wouldn't be that hard to recruit people who have a clue?
I thinks it's quite pathetic for a company that dominates the retail market to have such(generally) useless staff.
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For me, I started my life in IT as a junior technician and ended up repairing Packard Bell PC's so the management knew me very well and felt sorry for the K@K salary I earned. They encouraged me to join IC and make more money which happened. They also encouraged me to try educate the other sales staff a bit on PC's.

This next point please don't take offence (anyone) but this is how it was. If you white you don't get a job, I did because of my experience. However my employment had to be approved by IC H/O in JHB. Anyone else who fits the right demographic, regardless of knowledge is employed (most of the time). I hope this answers your question and doesn't offend anyone.
 
IC had a lot of potential in the early days.

They could have been a Futureshop (Canada) or Best Buy (USA) of the world, but they screwed it up.
 
Jola said:
IC had a lot of potential in the early days.

They could have been a Futureshop (Canada) or Best Buy (USA) of the world, but they screwed it up.
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All because of greed... When I worked there a monthly gp nationwide was around R50m in sales across the branches! They in it for the profits...

Things only go on special if the supplier gives them a rebate so the discount you get is reimbursed to H/O.. Sales staff are the only one's who loose out on specials.
 
What's the legal standing in ZA, can you insist on buying a new pc/laptop without having windows pre-installed?

I often pop into IC to make up my mind when scoping out a new purchase 'cos they have physical stock, then proceed to buy the item online wherever I can find it cheapest. So sue me..
 
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AstroTurf said:
Sold my inlaw a desktop computer with Windows 7 Starter edition on :mad:
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Because obviously it is unreasonable for people to do some research of their own, when they plan to invest thousands of rands into a PC system.

RIGHT?!

Still today, people are hopelessly ignorant when it comes to PC's and I feel no remorse whatsoever.
 
Apparently, there is a refund clause in the Windows EULA. Theoretically, you should be able to get the price of Windows refunded after you buy. The big trick would be in convincing the relevant OEM that they MUST honor the EULA. I'm going to go read the EULA and confirm this and post the relevant excerpt when I find it.
 
Here's a link for Microsoft EULA's:
http://www.microsoft.com/About/Legal/EN/US/IntellectualProperty/UseTerms/Default.aspx

here's the clause:

"By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept them, do not use the software. Instead, contact the manufacturer or installer to determine its return policy. You must comply with that policy, which might limit your rights or require you to return the entire system on which the software is installed."

That is for an OEM Windows 7 Home Premium version that is pre-installed on a PC.
 
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