Commission vs. Non-commission

We need to buy a new videocamera. The "old" (4 years) one died and it will cost approximately $150 more than the original purchase price to repair it. Incidentally, I never did call back the Geek Squad guy to tell him that I obviously wouldn't be repairing it when I could buy a brand new, way-better one for $250 less than that same repair price for the old one.

Went to Best Buy to get a camera that we had seen advertised. We circled the camcorder island a couple times and couldn't even find ANY Panasonic camera, let alone the one we wanted. Steve actually had to go find someone to help him while I wandered elsewhere in the store. They of course don't have the camera in the store, and actually neither does any other store within 50 miles. He can get it in though. He starts talking about the warranty thing they always want to sell you, and I kinda looked at Steve and we were mentally discussing the sense behind paying for this warranty. Meanwhile the guy says the thing that all Best Buy guys say, "Hey -- I don't care if you get it; I don't work on commission." I consider this fairly refreshing. Steve and I proceeded to say we would think about it and then went to browse some appliances we can't afford. We literally looked at, opened up, discussed, and messed with every single stove, refrigerator, washer, and dryer in that store and no one EVER came up and asked if we needed help. Which was fine -- because we didn't.

Then we went to Sears to just look around at the same stuff. Within two steps of entering the appliance department, this chick walked up to us and said, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"No. We're just looking. Thanks."
"If you need anything my name is Diane and I'll be over here."
"Ok. Thanks. We're not buying anything tonight."

Browsed a few more fridges. Diane stops back in, in case we were lying to her the first time. See -- I don't understand this. I don't even LOOK dumb!

"Is there a particular brand you are looking for?"
"No. We are just going to buy whichever one we like the most."
"Oh." (clearly not what she was expecting) "If you need any help or have any questions..."
The death look stopped her from speaking further.

Moved on to washers and dryers. Here comes "Bob"; I'll call him that since he didn't announce his name on approach.

"Is someone helping you?"
"Not really. We don't need any help. We are just looking."
"Because I can give you some great reasons for buying an LG!"
"I don't necessarily like LG. I'll buy whatever I like. I'm not a brand shopper."

A very short "oh". Apparently this brand freedom thing is perplexing to salespeople.

Then I said, in hopes of getting rid of him permanently, "We have a house to sell and another one to buy and remodel before we will be making any purchases."

It worked. He wished us "luck" (as thought he truly cares that the housing market is bad right now) and turns away.

We continue perusing. Around the next corner is Diane again. She has a stack of papers and is leaning against a nifty-looking washer and dryer. I really wanted to look at the appliance set, but will absolutely, under no life-or-death circumstances go that near to Diane. No need. She comes to us.

"If you like the Kenmore fridges they are all going to be on sale the 17th and 18th."
"Of April?"
"Yes."
"I always work at night because I work at the schools during the day [blah blah blah] so if you want to come back during those days I would be happy to show you....."
"Well we aren't going to be buying anything for at least three months. We'll be back then."

I breeze past her and her stack of papers.

I think it should be illegal for salespeople to walk around telling you when things will be "20%" as opposed to the "whatever %-off" they are right now. I mean, isn't it their job to make money for the store?

And by the way -- remember how Diane assured me she would be "just over there" when we needed her? She wasn't.