One of the biggest parts of my job when working with clients is correcting misinformation. Here is part of an email I received from a client last month:
We stopped at Walmart last night and one of their people suggested we use a laptop as a processor because he thought there were better deals on them at the present time. He said they had better processors for less price than a desktop. She would still keep and use her present monitor and keyboard. Does that make sense to you or not?
Let me start by saying that I have no problems with people that work at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Best Buy, or any other retailer. I have no interest in insulting anyone’s intelligence or abilities. However; very few retailers offer training beyond “Hi, my name is John, how can I help you?” and “The restrooms are at the front and rear of the store.” Also, you have no idea if the person working in the electronics department actually has any interest in the items for sale in the electronics department. While I am sure they are great at sending those fancy text messages with emojis, do they have any real interest in understanding the technology behind the toys?
How did I respond to the email? “No, that person has absolutely no idea what they are talking about. Don’t ever take computer buying advice from that person again. Desktops offer faster processing, more memory, more storage, and on average last longer as there is less of a heat issue.”
Here is another message I received:
We were looking at the new Apple TV devices at Wal-Mart and the guy at the counter told us that the three current models have 64GB of storage ($199), 32GB ($149) and 16GB ($69) - just like the phones. Which would you recommend?
I don’t know if this was the same employee the first client had talked with, but based on the lack of accurate knowledge, I wouldn’t be surprised. There are currently two generations of Apple TV devices. The fourth generation is the latest and greatest that Apple has to offer in streaming devices and it allows you to install applications through an app store, just like you can on iOS or Android devices. The fourth generation is available with two different storage options, 32 and 64GB. The third generation Apple TV, which has been on the market for 3 years, does not allow you to install applications and you are stuck with the apps that Apple wants you to have for this model, which is still a pretty good selection.
I don’t write these stories to bash the employees at your local retailer. It is my intent to demonstrate that you need to find someone you can trust to give you recommendations and advice about your technology needs. I have no doubt there are some employees at some stores that have a serious interest in the electronics department they are working in; but I would suspect that the vast majority would not be able to give you the same level of knowledge and experience that someone that works in technology could provide.