Salespeople can be crafty, especially at electronics stores like Fry's, Best Buy, and Circuit City. It’s as if training might have included pestering the consumer into submission. Brushing off an overzealous rep can make what should have been a quick in-and-out excursion to the strip mall take twice as long. However, sometimes we can make this work in our favor.
Skeptical? This article will outline a money-saving tactic to use at almost any electronics store. Save money on the more expensive electronics like LCD Displays, some digital cameras, and speaker systems. I’ve personally skimmed $150 off the price of my last big widescreen television, and most recently recieved a hefty discount on the iPod with video playback. This method always works at Best Buy, and usually works most anywhere else that sales in-store insurance policies.
When asked if you want the insurance, the five-year plan or the two-year plan, ask about the ten-year. I know that can seem like the opposite of what we want to accomplish here, which is to save money. But when the electonics rep delivers his pitch on how fantastically thorough the ten-year plan is, detailing the useless protections against this and that, tell him that sounds like the plan you need.
At this point, you’ll need to ask the price of such a fantastic plan, which turns out, is fantastically expensive. Here’s where we launch a counterattack of craftiness against this salesperson’s pitch. What he can’t do is lower the price of the store’s insurance policy. What he can do is lower the price of the television set. Yep. You read right. Salespeople can and will lower the price on inventory at places like Circuit City and Best Buy as long as they see the potential for a hefty commission on the deal. Salespeople love their commissions.
Well that’s nice, you say. But I don’t want the insurance, what about saving money?
When the rep wheels out your brand new big screen, they’ll have a carbon copy form in hand. This is the insurance plan for you to fill out at the front desk. That’s right, not right then and there in front of the sales rep, but at the front desk, where a line of other customers stand. Due to the commission policy at most electronics stores, the rep will need the cashier’s verification.
We’re going to have a quick change of heart when we get to that cashier at that register. Simply tell the cashier handling your purchase, “You know, I think I’m going to hold off on the ten-year plan for now. Could I purchase it later if I decide to?” To which they’ll reply, “Of course. You have thirty days to change your mind.”
Outwit salespeople at places like Best Buy and Fry's
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Outwit salespeople at places like Best Buy and Fry's
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Fuji Nagase
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I dont really like shady tactics like this. I feel sales people get a really bad rep because the worst ones are usually the ones who are getting paid shit. I'd rather pay another 150$ than trick some guy into shaving the price off. you COULD always just try haggling with the guy. letting him know that you'd only get the TV if it was a little less expensive...
ah, a tech store con. Imo it seems a little more difficult to pull of, as you aren't just using a person's ignorance but (worst cases for cons) making an assumption they will follow a specific choice. But eh, that's the fun of em.
Some of my faves (by the way, treat this as education. I actually haven't done any of these whatsoever, I just know them from people who have and sources that have relayed their effectiveness to me. You do them and go to jail, it's your fault for being a dumbass)
Butcher sticker swap:
Get an expensive packaging of meat, then order meat by-products. Both should come in white butcher paper. For safety reasons, "open" both packages at the same time, smell/test etc. This is your allibi should someone spot you. Just state you placed the stickers on the wrong package by mistake XP Otherwise, (sans sales register noticing the pricing is off, but that's the whole point of it being wrapped now isn't it?) You should be home free with the best cut of meat at the lowest price.
The cracked windshield trick:
Any of you who have ever followed a truck with gravel should know this. They ARE entitled to pay you for the damage to your car. Just send your damage receipt to the company of the truck or highway workers=instant money, usually more than you need if you opt to add more damage from time amounted that you really don't want to fix.
The License Trick:
Lincense suspended? Go get a license from our two neighboring countires (presuming you have friends there who can hold a fake address). Canadian and Mexico DMVs do not communicate with the United States DMVS, unlike state to state. Even if you get in trouble, (IE, ticket) you may be able to escape payment using this method.
High quality clothing swap:
(This was..somewhat...seen in fight club, though uh...yeah)
Buy some clothes at a CHEAP scale store (not dollar store, just something not-high end) Emass the clothes, then go to a more upscale department store. don't demand anything, just say you'd like to return them. Use the typical replies of the "no tags/no receipt", if you're hospitable and well mannered/clothed you are least likely to be suspected of fraud.
Free money from lost pets:
Yes, this is kidnapping. Truckers actually do this for a living. They abduct an animal, wait, reward is posted, they deliver. Simple math.
The free laundry trick: Old pair of pantyhose, and some upright coin laundromats. Box the coin up in the thin layer, insert, yank when accepted (similiar to vending machine tricks of old)
The "MOTHER FUCKING AWESOME" resume:
Bullshit the thing. You heard me. Inflate the tiniest details, cite majors and colleges you haven't even attended. They can't call your bluff. If they do, you simply don't get interviewed or they decline to accept you (if they want proof, just say you'll get on it and never reply. It's simple)
Some of my faves (by the way, treat this as education. I actually haven't done any of these whatsoever, I just know them from people who have and sources that have relayed their effectiveness to me. You do them and go to jail, it's your fault for being a dumbass)
Butcher sticker swap:
Get an expensive packaging of meat, then order meat by-products. Both should come in white butcher paper. For safety reasons, "open" both packages at the same time, smell/test etc. This is your allibi should someone spot you. Just state you placed the stickers on the wrong package by mistake XP Otherwise, (sans sales register noticing the pricing is off, but that's the whole point of it being wrapped now isn't it?) You should be home free with the best cut of meat at the lowest price.
The cracked windshield trick:
Any of you who have ever followed a truck with gravel should know this. They ARE entitled to pay you for the damage to your car. Just send your damage receipt to the company of the truck or highway workers=instant money, usually more than you need if you opt to add more damage from time amounted that you really don't want to fix.
The License Trick:
Lincense suspended? Go get a license from our two neighboring countires (presuming you have friends there who can hold a fake address). Canadian and Mexico DMVs do not communicate with the United States DMVS, unlike state to state. Even if you get in trouble, (IE, ticket) you may be able to escape payment using this method.
High quality clothing swap:
(This was..somewhat...seen in fight club, though uh...yeah)
Buy some clothes at a CHEAP scale store (not dollar store, just something not-high end) Emass the clothes, then go to a more upscale department store. don't demand anything, just say you'd like to return them. Use the typical replies of the "no tags/no receipt", if you're hospitable and well mannered/clothed you are least likely to be suspected of fraud.
Free money from lost pets:
Yes, this is kidnapping. Truckers actually do this for a living. They abduct an animal, wait, reward is posted, they deliver. Simple math.
The free laundry trick: Old pair of pantyhose, and some upright coin laundromats. Box the coin up in the thin layer, insert, yank when accepted (similiar to vending machine tricks of old)
The "MOTHER FUCKING AWESOME" resume:
Bullshit the thing. You heard me. Inflate the tiniest details, cite majors and colleges you haven't even attended. They can't call your bluff. If they do, you simply don't get interviewed or they decline to accept you (if they want proof, just say you'll get on it and never reply. It's simple)
Arngrim wrote:
The "MOTHER FUCKING AWESOME" resume:
Bullshit the thing. You heard me. Inflate the tiniest details, cite majors and colleges you haven't even attended. They can't call your bluff. If they do, you simply don't get interviewed or they decline to accept you (if they want proof, just say you'll get on it and never reply. It's simple)
one slight problem is they have your name, address and number. Basically they can tell all other companies that you plan on working for that you like to BS your resume.
There are always loopholes in cons, as they are loopholes themselves. The nature of a con is to play upon ignorance and doing whatever it takes (risks included) to get what they want. Every con plays upon a very evident risk and the fact people won't act on it (IE, the "fast food receipt" con). This one isn't that risky in that they can't report a person to "Every job company in the world" for not quoting actual sources on the resume, they can just opt not to hire/interview that person. There are even more loopholes to ensure they can't do anything with your actual being, but I don't remember too many "John Doe" cons.halfnhalf wrote:Arngrim wrote:
The "MOTHER FUCKING AWESOME" resume:
Bullshit the thing. You heard me. Inflate the tiniest details, cite majors and colleges you haven't even attended. They can't call your bluff. If they do, you simply don't get interviewed or they decline to accept you (if they want proof, just say you'll get on it and never reply. It's simple)
one slight problem is they have your name, address and number. Basically they can tell all other companies that you plan on working for that you like to BS your resume.
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Messatsu
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Well ive worked for bestbuy and we dont get any commision for any of the sales we make . You see best says they dont want to presure their customers into buying , since this would incur buyers remorse, so instead we arent supose to shove some product down the customer's throat. The reality is that shops like bestbuy and the like, dont realy get profit from the actual product but rather from the insurance that you can buy afterwards. So we the lowly salesreps are presured into pushing these insurances and if we dont its our bosses that constantly remind us of the mindless jargon we lerned during training.
That's the point. You try to haggle them into lowering the price on the item, by saying you'll buy a hefty insurance policy. Then when you get up to the counter, you opt not to get the insurance, and just take the discount on the item. That's why I hate working in sales. They're always pressuring you to sale that damn insurance. 
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SarahofBorg
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But it works out, I love Best Buy. I havn't conned them, but they put up with a lot of my crap.
I had a hard time trying to find an MP3 player that didn't work on a tag system and I couldn't pay more than $150. I literally bought every player in that catogory one at a time and replaced them one at a time to find one that worked (because the stupid packages NEVER say what file system they use.)
I never actually did keep one, I gave up and bought an MP3 CD player instead. And then I returned that one and got another one, and kept it up until finnally I found a decent one for $60.
I must have bought and returned things at least a dozen times before I finnally decided.
And get those insurance plans, they are worth it. You can return on one plan as many times as you want. My mother also got a CD player and broke it like 2 weeks after she got it. She was just stupid and broke it herself, but I brought it back and they just replaced it no questions asked.
And a few months later she did the same, and so did I, because we had the insurance.
They'll take back ANYTHING, as long as you have the reciept (I hold onto those things like gold.)
And to the guy with the list of cons, most of those really don't sound like they'll work. With deli products, they usually put the price on the tag.
But I wonder something. I have a cracked windsheild that happened from a kicked-up pebble. Could I get away with having them reimberse me even if they had nothing to do with ot?
I had a hard time trying to find an MP3 player that didn't work on a tag system and I couldn't pay more than $150. I literally bought every player in that catogory one at a time and replaced them one at a time to find one that worked (because the stupid packages NEVER say what file system they use.)
I never actually did keep one, I gave up and bought an MP3 CD player instead. And then I returned that one and got another one, and kept it up until finnally I found a decent one for $60.
I must have bought and returned things at least a dozen times before I finnally decided.
And get those insurance plans, they are worth it. You can return on one plan as many times as you want. My mother also got a CD player and broke it like 2 weeks after she got it. She was just stupid and broke it herself, but I brought it back and they just replaced it no questions asked.
And a few months later she did the same, and so did I, because we had the insurance.
They'll take back ANYTHING, as long as you have the reciept (I hold onto those things like gold.)
And to the guy with the list of cons, most of those really don't sound like they'll work. With deli products, they usually put the price on the tag.
But I wonder something. I have a cracked windsheild that happened from a kicked-up pebble. Could I get away with having them reimberse me even if they had nothing to do with ot?
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SarahofBorg
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You find an actual company working on the road that uses such vehicle/hauling mechanics. Don't blame a specific driver or truck, just use the company's name as "All you remember". Again, this was supposed to be educational, not actual advice. If you're damage is too obvious from something else or already documented its most likely going to hurt more than pass. And again, trying to fraud someone is a crime, thus it is a con.SarahofBorg wrote:I don't wanna pay $200 to fix my windshield, and the car needs a legal inspection sticker.
So how would I go about getting some one else to fix it? Just randomly send them the receipt and they'll pay it?
Can't say I've had anybody telling me it has ever failed, but if you're not used to con'ing, this is a horrible choice for a first.
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SarahofBorg
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I did already have it inspected and it has a failed sticker just because of the windsheild, you can legally drive on a failed inspection sticker so it's what I had to do.
Conveinently there's a shitload of construction going on down the street from my house for months now, I could just look at the trucks they're using and figure it out.
The damage is just from a random pebble, and it's just a large crack. Hell, when it started it was a tiny little half-inch crack, but it grew.
I wouldn't do it, I'd have my father do this for me. He's good at con stuff.
Conveinently there's a shitload of construction going on down the street from my house for months now, I could just look at the trucks they're using and figure it out.
The damage is just from a random pebble, and it's just a large crack. Hell, when it started it was a tiny little half-inch crack, but it grew.
I wouldn't do it, I'd have my father do this for me. He's good at con stuff.