Bustin' dat Gateway a**

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July 22nd, 2002, 10:16 PM
Rifleman @ Layman's PC

Bustin' dat Gateway a**

I've been talking about doing this for a while, but just got a hair cross-ways and did it.

I noticed in the ad they run on TV, they show a LCD flatscreen.
They say they'll give you a free 17 inch upgrade.
It even flashes across the screen for a moment that it is a CRT, but I wanted to play dumb. (I hate to say it but alot of customers aren't playing dumb and increase Gateway's profit by falling for the "free upgrade".)
The computer costs $699.

I called them like I was gonna buy a system. Which I would have if I could've talked 'em into a 17 inch LCD. I figured I could buy the system and keep the monitor and sell the system and only have like $200 in a 17" LCD flatscreen, they normally cost like $500.
I asked about the system I had seen on TV... The girl on the other end went through her "routine" they go though, and in the "routine" she was pushing the "free" 17 inch upgrade really hard.
I asked her about the 17" monitor, and with a little prying, she finally explained that the stock monitor was the 15 inch LCD flatscreen, and the free upgrade was a big-assed CRT.
I was having a hard time not laughing as I acted like an idiot, asking all the wrong questions.
Then I asked the question I'm sure she didn't want to hear... I asked her in a confused sort of way "How can it be an upgrade if a 15" LCD costs about $250 and a 17" CRT costs $125??? Is that why you push the so-called upgrade so much???"

She hung-up...

I laughed for a hour...
July 22nd, 2002, 11:56 PM
JungleMan1

ROFL! :D

These companies...they crack me up.

Speaking of playing dumb, I find it fun to go into Best Buy and look like I know nothing, and ask about buying a PC...;)
July 23rd, 2002, 12:43 AM
FatalException0E

Quote:

Originally posted by JungleMan1
ROFL! :D

These companies...they crack me up.

Speaking of playing dumb, I find it fun to go into Best Buy and look like I know nothing, and ask about buying a PC...;)

What I like doing at Best Buy is standing with a friend next to a salesman trying to pitch some over-priced toy, and tell my buddy (loudly) how much the local computer store charges for that thing, and how BB is so expensive. I've actually seen people walk out of checkout lines when I was talking.:D
July 23rd, 2002, 07:01 AM
Draggar

He he he
Busting their butt is really fun.

I used to mystery shop when I was part of a HP team. Lets just say they didn't need any help from me to make themselves look like a fool.

"What ink does that DeskJet 970 (HP) take?"

"Umm, Oh, this one (hands me an Epson cartridge)"

****************

"What's the resolution of these printers (All 700/800 series, ALL are 300X600)"

"Well, this one is 300X600. The next one up is 350X700. The next one up is 450X900."

"What ink cartridge do they take and how many pages do I get out of it?" (Another trick question - they all take the same ink - 650 Text, about 450 color, 15% coverage)

"This one takes this Lexmark and you'll get about 500 pages out of it. Te next one takes this HP (wrong one) and you'll get about 600 pages out of it. The next one takes this (right one!) and you'll get about 1500 pages out of it."

****************

Lets just say that The Wiz was signed up for a couple of large training seminars within a few months... :D

Very few of them reconized me when I walked into the seminar.
July 23rd, 2002, 07:40 AM
cc_penguin

I went in to Best Buy one day (back in the days of Win98, and rebooted a display PC to the command prompt, and chaged the prompt to say
Wait one moment while formating C: drive

I just walked around the corner and waited. Shortly after that, two managers and one of the sales associates were scrambling to find out what was wrong. They came back with a recovery disk, and wipped the whole thing out...
I heard the sales associate say, "Maybe we need to send this to service, this is the third time this week it has happend"

I was rolling... :D :D
July 23rd, 2002, 07:40 AM
EvilCabbage

Quote:

Originally posted by JungleMan1
Speaking of playing dumb, I find it fun to go into Best Buy and look like I know nothing, and ask about buying a PC...;)

I dont imagine that would be much of a stretch for you ... :D
July 23rd, 2002, 08:30 AM
Draggar

Quote:

Originally posted by EvilCabbage

I dont imagine that would be much of a stretch for you ... :D

That is point, your serve, Mr. Cabbage...

:D :D
July 23rd, 2002, 08:45 AM
Poseidon

Quote:

Originally posted by cc_penguin
I went in to Best Buy one day (back in the days of Win98, and rebooted a display PC to the command prompt, and chaged the prompt to say
Wait one moment while formating C: drive

I just walked around the corner and waited. Shortly after that, two managers and one of the sales associates were scrambling to find out what was wrong. They came back with a recovery disk, and wipped the whole thing out...
I heard the sales associate say, "Maybe we need to send this to service, this is the third time this week it has happend"

I was rolling... :D :D

ROFL :D :D :D

At similar retail stores, I have been known to change the shell from explorer to progman from time to time :cool:
July 23rd, 2002, 09:22 AM
cc_penguin

Quote:

Originally posted by Poseidon

ROFL :D :D :D

At similar retail stores, I have been known to change the shell from explorer to progman from time to time :cool:

So your the one :D :D
July 23rd, 2002, 09:34 AM
Drone2903

Re: Bustin' dat Gateway a**

Quote:

Originally posted by Rifleman @ Layman's PC

Then I asked the question I'm sure she didn't want to hear... I asked her in a confused sort of way "How can it be an upgrade if a 15" LCD costs about $250 and a 17" CRT costs $125??? Is that why you push the so-called upgrade so much???"

She hung-up...

Isnt that kind of practice, like, illegal ?

False advertising, etc..

LET'S SUE THEIR A$$ OFF !
July 23rd, 2002, 11:49 AM
Budd

Quote:

Originally posted by EvilCabbage

I dont imagine that would be much of a stretch for you ... :D

damnit, you beat me to it. i was gonna say that
July 23rd, 2002, 03:51 PM
ephmynus

Re: Re: Bustin' dat Gateway a**

Quote:

Originally posted by Drone2903

Isnt that kind of practice, like, illegal ?

False advertising, etc..

LET'S SUE THEIR A$$ OFF !

Not illegal since they just say it is an upgrade to a 17" monitor and not a 17" flat panel monitor.
July 23rd, 2002, 03:51 PM
PuterGeekGirl

Heehee, good one!

Its even more fun being a girl and going in and messing with these Idiot's at these BB's and things....;) The last thing they expect is for me to have a clue about this stuff! :D
July 25th, 2002, 10:28 AM
Radical Dreamer

Quote:

Originally posted by JungleMan1
ROFL! :D

I find it fun to go into Best Buy and look like I know nothing, and ask about buying a PC...;)

You mean its not just a look? :D :D :D sorry, you left yourself WIDE open! hehehehehehe
July 25th, 2002, 10:30 AM
Radical Dreamer

Re: Re: Re: Bustin' dat Gateway a**

Quote:

Originally posted by A+Tech

Not illegal since they just say it is an upgrade to a 17" monitor and not a 17" flat panel monitor.

But intentionally misleading customers in advertising IS illegal
July 25th, 2002, 10:58 AM
Draggar

Re: Re: Re: Re: Bustin' dat Gateway a**

Quote:

Originally posted by Radical Dreamer

But intentionally misleading customers in advertising IS illegal

Not to sound like I am defending Gateway (POS) but,
The do not state it is a 17" flat panel, and as stated earlier, they do show a 17" CRT...

Granted, its shady. Granted, it can be very misleading, but I'm sure their lawyers made sure they at least showed a picture long enough for the human eye to catch.
Barely long enough...

I'd just say its a case on them preying on the ignorant / uneducated.
July 25th, 2002, 04:40 PM
Larommi

Quote:

Originally posted by EvilCabbage

I dont imagine that would be much of a stretch for you ... :D

Hahaha....LMAO!!