Currys - appalling service

olias

Just recently went to currys with about £900 to spend on a new TV, freeview recorder and digital camera (insurance payout)

after wandering round and round the TV dept trying to catch a member of staff (they always seem to be busy rushing off somewhere, but never seem to be actually doing anything!) I eventually cornered two staff stood gossiping. I asked to speak to someone with expert knowledge of TV's. Well the guy knew nothing. Claimed Samsung were the best make on the market, then claimed LG were made by Samsung, then stated LG were cr4p (he obviously forgot what he'd just said!) He knew nothing about any of the technical specifications and what they meant. I eventually escaped his clutches and decided myself on a good old Sony Bravia

Next I asked about discounts as I was buying 3 big ticket items and spending nearly £1000. I was first fobbed off with a 'head office have banned all discounts and we no longer have discretion instore to offer them' I asked to speak to a manager who stated the same, saying even managers were no longer allowed to give discounts and claiming they only made 5% profit on TV's (yeh, right!). After a lot of arguing on my part he eventually gave me a £50 discount and a free £20 memory card for the camera (listed on the receipt as 'discount at managers discretion!)

To top it all, despite the TV having a 'take me home today from stock' sticker on it and their computer showing 2 available, they could not find one. I was left like a numpty waiting at the checkout for nearly 20 minutes (having already paid!) nobody kept me informed about what was happening, despite at least a dozen members of staff, including the manager and the Tv guy, and another who had served me, all standing around the store gossiping with each other.

I was eventually offered the display model (at full price!) which needless to sayI declined. I instead insisted that one was delivered as soon as it came in stock. I even had to argue for them to waive the delivery fee.

All in all, a shower of !!!!!! - no customer service, no product knowledge, faulty stock control and a serious don't give a !!!!!! attitude!:mad:

(Oh, and by the way, I had to go there as the insurance don't give you cash these days, it's a 'gift card' from currys to the value of your claim.)

Olias

PinkLipgloss

Olias,

Sounds like a typical "currys experience". I'd never shop there - its a pity you had to endure it - if I were you I'd be changing insurance companies!

Lipgloss

ice_babe

I work for currys and its correct, we have been told by head office not to discount tvs. We can discount other items but are targeted on discount and have to keep it below 1.5% overall for the day.

Widelats

i had similar experience buying a laptop, none in stock so got a display model - no discount and pixels missing off the screen, never currys again.

About TV's and all other electrics, LG make all of Sonys products, all of Samsungs, etc etc, there are only a few companys they do not make for. LG stands for "Lifes' Good" it used to be called Gold Star, they are a massive firm based in Asia and the thing is if you buy LG you get near enough the same model as the more expensive versions, consider this next time you buy electricals.

KILL_BILL

they didnt actually check to see whether they had any in stock before you paid

whats a load of crap

olias

ice_babe wrote: »

I work for currys and its correct, we have been told by head office not to discount tvs. We can discount other items but are targeted on discount and have to keep it below 1.5% overall for the day.

And I thought there was a recession and shops were trying to encourage buyers in?:rotfl:

(this is aimed at the head office muppets, not you icey!)

olias

KILL_BILL wrote: »

they didnt actually check to see whether they had any in stock before you paid

whats a load of crap

No, thats the point, there state of the art stock control computer said they did have two available, but after paying (and a 20 minute search) they couldn't find any.

But you are right KB, they were a load of crap!

Olias

ThinkingOfLinking

Hmmm, Currys are rubbish. I think it's disgusting though that they knew you were spending serious money and still couldn't be bothered...they were rubbish with me when I was trying to enquire about netbooks a few weeks ago.

I understand why Insurance companies only pay out in giftcards but I think they should allow you to choose where for, eg Amazon or John Lewis (Amazon is great, delivers and you can earn Nectar points!)

Takoda

Curry's stock levels are cr&p. They advertise TVs at a good price to get you interested then they have no stock of the item.

Jakg

To be fair they really are NOT allowed to offer discount on TV's - they are allowed 1% discount per day, and as insurance replacement vouchers are already sold for less than face value, and so they are really REALLY not allowed to discount as they are making even less. To get annoyed because your having to pay full price makes no sense - you don't try to haggle in Tesco's, do you?

I will agree, however, Curry's attitude to Stock Levels is !!!!!.

sagat

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

I understand why Insurance companies only pay out in giftcards but I think they should allow you to choose where for, eg Amazon or John Lewis (Amazon is great, delivers and you can earn Nectar points!)

as someone who works in insurance, I can tell you they dont want to give you freedom to buy from where you like. They want you to buy something from a store which uses the same insurance company to underwrite your new product.