Ha ha ha. Well I forgot how cheap Retail customers can be vs. Custom customers, and their obsessions with trivial features and functions that they may never actually use... Wow!

Oh, go ahead. Tell us the story.

I have had retarded customers on both sides. On the other side of that coin, I have had great "retail" clients over the years.

I do know what you are thinking though. The guy who walks in because he needs a AVR and he looked you up on the dealer locator of manufacturer "x", who builds a model of AVR that gets astoundingly controversial and contradicting reviews on AVSForum. He seems so confident that he NEEDS at least 110 watts per channel because 90 is not nearly enough for his speakers (which he also bought based on some AVSF BS, probably from a direct to consumer brand).

He knows what DSP chip is used in every receiver and thinks he knows which one is the best. He probably has heard about MHL and needs that because he thinks his new Samsung phone has that too.

Basically they come in with all these facts they have gleaned. And they think that because they have some specs and numbers, they know something. But deep down, they realize they have been confused by all the crap out there, and probably were even more confused after talking to the sales puke at BB. And they need help, but are too proud to admit it.

Sometimes you can be honest with them and they will cave in and listen and turn out to be a good client. But sometimes they get more upset when they realize they are in over their head and got busted by someone who actually knows something. Then they leave....usually with a lame excuse like they have to pick up their kids from school or something. :P

So try to educate, inform, strengthen, o God a word I hate to use: empower them. Don't bust them! How will that make them your client? Or even someone who can stand to look at you?


(Of course, with all the controversies here lately, that's a bit of a daring thing to say!)

Oh trust me I do. At times it can be trying !

of course if they look or sound like like right wingers, I kick their ass to the curb!


8>)

Custom customers ARE retail customers....

Good! More for the rest of us.

I just charge Lefties more. ;p

You don't like to beat people into submission, so they hate dealing with you, but call anyway because they like the work you do and the services you provide? Now, THAT'S just good, clean family fun!

Of all the stuff people post in here that doesn't irritate me, the use of the word "retarded" here does. I don't care if you call them stupid, ignorant, dumb, or whatever, just don't use the retarded.

True. I recall when I worked for a custom company years ago, our sales manager kept repeating this mantra: "forget your retail sales mentality"... He knew what he was talking about. Different animals.
I used to deal with people in the top 5% --- now it's a little of everything, but mostly average joes. Price takes precendent over common sense a lot.

Some of us here are sicker than the rest.

You remind me of something Victor Borge once, well really a thousand times, said: "From time to time people send me music that they would like me to play. Some of it is pretty good... and a lot of it is... even worse."

Kills me how some people will drive all around town shopping for the best deal, burning up gas etc. to save $20.00 here or there.

Use your words like a big boy.