Re: Why oh why
I was visiting a Dixons (same group for those who aren't as old as me) and had a lovely conversation with a sales chap about a flatscreen tv. I said I need just that and nothing else and it needs to be in stock. Normally I wouldn't have touched them with a barge pole but I needed the thing next day almost for a spare bedroom that someone who would be bed bound would be using. He was attempting to sell me a TV but something I didn't want, couldn't have and was outside the budget anyway. I stood there whilst I was told that for that little bit extra cash I could have a television that was a fair few inches larger. I told him that I would then have to pay a builder to make the alcove where it was going bigger and that wouldn't be cheap. So having agreed that I do only want a 40 inch HD as opposed to the 50 inch (they obviously had loads of that they couldn't shift) he tried to up-sell me peripherals. This was where I became seriously unhappy. I was told that my existing aerial lead wouldn't work and I needed a new one with gold plated ends for HD. For the DVD a new (probably Monster brand) Scart cable again because the old one wouldn't be up to much. The piece de resistance was the Gold plated, Oxygen free, insert marketing gimmick here HDMI cable which I really couldn't do without apparently.
I explained that I made my own aerial cables out of CTF100 and didn't need a new one thank you. I had a fair few Scart cables knocking about at home so no to that thank you very much. For the HDMI I asked what the benefits were of it being Oxygen Free and Gold Plated etc. Well gold is a very good conductor and Oxygen free is for the audio but he couldn't explain why it was better, just that it was. I said I had some gold plated ones at home and would use those thank you very much. The short Aerial lead was ~£10, the Scart cable ~£30 and the HDMI cable was ~£60. Obvuiously unhappy that I was about to reject the £100 he had tried to add to the cost he told me that cheaper HDMI wouldn't look as good. I explained that most people wouldn't see the cable as it want in at the back of both the Bluray and the TV. No he says the picture it gives won't look as good as my expensive shiny one that I want you to buy.
Me: The HDMI signal is digital isn't it?
Him: Erm yeah I suppose.
Me: In which case so long as enough of the signal sent from the player reaches the TV then the picture won't look any different no matter what cable I have will it?
Him: It might do.
Me: Really and what qualification do you have to base this on?
Him: What qualification do you have?
Me: I have the job title of XXXXXXXXXXX Engineer for a firm that deals with technology
Him: Oh!
Me: And yours?
Him: So you just want the televison then?
Me: Yes but not from you anymore. You had the sale and then you tired to sting me for another 10% for peripherals I don't need and are overpriced.
Him: I can ask the manager if there is any leeway on the price?
Me: Sorry I have to go I'm late for my train (I wasn't but I wanted out of there)
My partner was in John Lewis had found the same model and had sent me a text with the price which was slightly better. I realise that people will be on commission but at the same time adding 10% in accessories I had already said I didn't need was pushing it too far.