Shopping Experience - Best Buy Will No Longer Get My Business

Awhile ago, I needed a new printer. Nothing fancy, just something for my home office. I'd settled on an HP all-in-one. But when I went into Best Buy, not once did any of the blue-shirted customer service reps offer to assist me, but that's just as well. That's not what I found to be rude. Rather, once I'd picked a printer, I had to get an employee to either retrieve my selection from the back room or from one of the mountainous stacks above the display shelves. But after approaching three different blue shirts, I noticed a trend: they run away from you.

Yes, you heard me right. Every single employee I approached made eye contact and then bolted. Gee, sorry to have bothered you, I thought. Finally, I approached a GeekSquad member in his button-up shirt and tie. I thought for sure he would help. But alas, it wasn't meant to be. He saw me approach and, I kid you not, walked around the counter he was positioned behind and power walked away! If you can't rely on the GeekSquad, who can you? I did get my printer eventually, but only after a uncountable amount of sighs and obvious irritated looks from a blue shirt. Well, excuse me for buying your stuff!

Another incident happened while shopping online. My boyfriend was purchasing a camera. His credit card was charged and the product was shipped. All seemed well, but once he opened the package, the wrong camera was inside. After numerous customer service calls, he was finally told to go to his local store and that they'd be "more than happy to exchange it or refund it" for him. He went to his local store alright and the employee rolled her eyes–again in irritation. "We don't do that here," she said after he explained his request. There was no offer to help him in any other way and no explanation of just why that one store doesn't do what the company customer service said they do. Nothing.

So what's the point of all this ranting and raving? Well, it got me thinking about what would have made my Best Buy shopping experience–or any shopping experience–better. For starters, employees would have asked me if I needed any help while browsing the printers, and once I'd made a decision, they would have been courteous and helpful. I understand that most of the time employees at these kinds of stores are part-time workers, often young and trying to get through school. I really do understand that. But rudeness won't be tolerated, for any reason.

I also think a prerequisite for working at a technology store is to have some working knowledge of tech or be willing to learn. How else can you help customers? Those are some of my ideas, now I want to hear some of yours. Do you have any customer service nightmares? Were you treated rudely or like a nuisance? What would it take to improve the service at Best Buy and other stores? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section!