This is why I hate buying anything at Radio Shack, they pretty much make the majority of their people act like used car salesman. I went in and said I wanted to pre order the Evo to which the sales clerk tried to tell me I should get the iPhone 3gs. Seriously dude? So then I explain why I don't want an iPhone and the reasons I want the Evo. Listing multiple reasons making it obvious I have done my research and am not a n00b around phones. So what does this guy do? He asks me if I've seen a picture of the phone...now this was done because he was actually trying to be helpful and explain the size. But duh of course I've seen the phone if I know that much about it. I was even able to complete the sentence he was making about it being the size of the HD2. So anyways after trying to talk me out of it and then asking me those questions, he then tells me how he got to play with one the other day and it was amazing. Now if it was so amazing why were you trying to talk me out of it?? This leads me to another point. I then asked how the pre orders were going. At first he said they were great, then made some back handed comment about Best Buy doing better because they get more people. Which on one hand is probably true, but maybe it's because when you walk in you aren't upselled down your throat to buy every little thing in the store or told you should get something you don't want. I am dreading having to go in and for them to convince me I need some added on warranty through them when I already have insurance through Sprint. Then the guy asks my girlfriend (who has an iPhone) where she got her iPhone. She tells him the AT&T store, and then guilts her about it. WTF? Why do you think we went to the AT&T store? Because she is with AT&T. When I need stuff done for a existing phone with the company I am on I go to the Sprint store, not Radio Shack AKA The Shack AKA Wanted to sound hip so we copied KFC but it's not working. The worst part of all of this, is this guy was just genuinely trying to do his job, which is a problem with management and the chain all together. They put so much pressure on these guys to "sell sell sell" that they end up scaring off customers. Of course this one incident is not indicitive of all Radio Shacks and I'm sure there are good people, in fact I had a good experience buying an HD Reciever there for an old T.V. The employee was nice and actually stopped me from buying a more expensive unit, then because he had to try to get me to do the warranty, he then whispered about how I didn't need it so I should just say no. That actually made tell a friend to go get the same one at Radio Shack that I had. However when someone asks about buying a Evo my first instinct will be to go to Best Buy or Sprint. Ok Rant over. Now the numerous edits to correct my sloppy typing because I'm at the beach and too lazy to look it over. **EDITED** I also should add I asked about the mini HDMI cable for the 20$ accessory since he kept shoving that down my throat as to why I was smart to pick Radio Shack (I wanted to tell him the truth that I was afraid Best Buy was out of pre orders). He said they didn't have them but would. I then mentioned how I probably wouldn't buy one there since the official ones would be like 30 dollars and I could get one online for 8. His response was it was practically the same price since I got 20 bucks free. Fair enough, but still not gonna happen dude. I assured him I would spend the 20 bucks and he needn't worry, but the HDMI cable was not in my future through Radio Shack.
Similar thing happened to me. I went to my local Shack to pre-order, but come to find out they're not a reseller. I was told that the closest store is about 100 miles away (no big deal, I was actually headed that way this weekend anyway). I tell him thanks for the info, and as I'm about to turn and walk out, he tells me that I should just get an iPhone. I pretty much tell him no way, thank him kindly, and leave. I know most of the people they deal with are non-techy people that don't research a product for days before they buy, so, I bet they actually get quite a few sales like that. Whenever I buy any new gadget, I always know more than the salesman.
The complete opposite happened at my Radio Shack I went to. The guy was very nice, realized I knew what I was talking about, and was rather excited that I was the first pre-order. Being the first pre-order, he did have to ask his Manager a few things, but it went as smooth as butter.
That sounds like a terrible experience. I went to the one in downtown Seattle and had zero problems. It is an "official" store and the guy who took my preorder was entirely professional about it.
I did both my orders at BB and the Shack, and was out in under 5 min. the conversation went the same at both, I want an EVO, AND HERE'S $50 AND MY PHONE NUMBER. Then continued talking on my incredible as they looked at me like I was nuts...short and sweet! However, the shack called me 20 min later and asked if I can come back and do a credit check so that it would be a faster process when I come back on the 4th. my answer to that was its a pre order, and I'll do everything on the 4th because I may not even pick it up from you. his reply was YOU MAY NOT WANT IT, OMG, WHY? I said ease up killa, I want it bad, that's why I got a pre order at best buy also, so who ever calls me first, gets my business. lol...right there is when he said...damm, ur not playin huh!
wow, long rant, but good. I see the pressure they are under at the Sprint store as well. Every time I go in they practically beg me to give them a good review when sprint calls. Best buy employees seem much more laid back. maybe the difference between working on commission or not.
Same here. The manager had two on pre-order for him and his girlfriend. The employee I dealt with was bummed because he had to wait a couple of months upgrade his Hero to the Evo. Great experience. Although they did say that if people do not buy accessories, they don't make any money on phone sales. So they were bummed that I would not buy any.
The employee at my Shack had an iPhone around her neck but that never came up...she was way too excited for me and my EVO. She only had good things to say about it, and was hyped about trying out the pre-order system, as I happened to be there right after they opened the first day pre-orders started. She said her son is gonna be super jealous of me cuz he's on Sprint and is dying to get an EVO but his upgrade isn't till Sept.! Poor guy.
Glad to see others have had good experience with this process. This was mainly brought on because the last time I did something phone related with Radio Shack I was treated close to the same way.
I got a hot girl, who didn't know anything about the phone. She never tried to sell me on anything and just did her job. She did ask me to come back and show her the phone after I got it, though.
cool story,bro. and,it's "micro," not "mini." don't want you to sound like you haven't been doing your homework on this phone. (just messin')
Heh, sucks that you had a lousy experience. I called a RS a block from my office yesterday & spoke to someone who wound up being the manager. I simply asked him to reconfirm the full price of the Evo if I'm not upgrade eligible, and if I could still pre-order. "Absolutely!" Walked over 10 minutes later, said hi & asked to pre-order the Evo. "You the guy who called a few minutes ago? Yep! Okay, let's do it!" About 10 minutes later (he was a super slow typer), I was good to go. No hassles, no upselling nonsense, etc. I asked how many pre-orders he had and he said about 20 or so. The irony is that I may not even wind up needing it, since I'm gambling on some of the Google IO Evo's out on Ebay. Hoping to get lucky there!
sorry you had such a DB @ your visit. my RS trip was awesome, the sales guy and i talked for about 20 mins about how awesome the hardware is and that he even said, "I won't even make you open it up here" meaning i could just buy it and bolt. anyway, sounds like you got a bad apple...
Man, I had a great experience pre-ordering my EVO at RadioShack. The dude working there had an iPhone and was talking about how he was getting rid of his iPhone for an EVO as well. He didn't try to shove anything down my throat and I left there quite happy about it.
why would you let a RS salesperson ruin your EVO "karma"? As long as he processed your pre-order properly, that's all that matters..
sucks the closest place i can get the Evo in store is a 2 hour drive, since the RS closest doesn't do Sprint, but they where nice, even though they hadn't even heard of the Evo
well, if you came to the RS where I work, I'd make sure you'd get that evo pre-order done! (hardly an apple fanboy here )
I would love to go this route but I've heard that HTC's warranty is non-transferrable. Meaning if you don't buy from a retailer/sprint you aren't covered. Of course I could be wrong. I've also heard that the pre-orders from RS aren't refundable?
RS has the exact same 30 day return policy as a Sprint store. If you change your mind within 30 days of activation you get a full refund. The $50 deposit is a non-refundable purchase of a gift card which can be used for anything at RS, including the EVO.
