Tuesday, May 04, 2004
"It's awesome."
So we bought a new computer last week. We're in the store, browsing with our printout of what we want when the guy approaches us. "That's our best computer," the thirty-something guy with the greased hair and slight paunch says to us before my wife -- who knows when she's not satisfied -- answers him.
"Oh, yeah? What makes it your best?"
"It's awesome."
I don't even need to look at Jessica. I know what she's going to say before she speaks. I see her looking at this guy, who only looks at the display monitor. He doesn't look at us.
"And what makes it 'awesome'?"
"It's just sweet."
"And what makes it 'sweet'?"
Now he pauses and looks at us. He starts to think.
"Uh . . . awesome graphics . . . great sound system . . . this is a subwoofer that--"
At this point I have to cut in. Any time I hear the word "subwoofer" I know I want nothing to do with what is being discussed. I've known people who own and operate subwoofers. They're good people. They are. But they are interested in the fine details. The difference in sound quality of a tape compared to a cd is shocking to them. Surround sound is a priority for them. Fine. For them.
"Let's see the next model down."
After Jess and I decide the next model had everything we needed, she asks about the printer.
"Oh, it's an awesome printer that comes with this."
"Can we see it?"
We walk around the aisle, and see this "awesome" printer. The salesman, who *says* he's not on commission, holds up a copy of some picture of a flower. "See that detail? That's awesome. The quality."
"But that sheet was sitting on that computer," Jessica says, pointing to the printer across the aisle.
"Yeah, this would print out about the same on yours."
When we discuss finances, he says, "You ought to apply for the Best Buy card. That way you can pay in monthly installments with no payments due for a year."
"But we'll have to pay for it sometime," Jess reasons.
"I guess," the salesman says. "I always offer it because you can use your money in other ways then. You can buy other things. I signed up for it, but I got turned down. I had a car repossessed."
"Well, that happens, huh?" I say.
He walks away, now, going to get the large cart that will hold our new purchase. Turning around, with a big smile, as if he's really happy for us, he says, "You're getting an awesome computer!"
"Oh, yeah? What makes it your best?"
"It's awesome."
I don't even need to look at Jessica. I know what she's going to say before she speaks. I see her looking at this guy, who only looks at the display monitor. He doesn't look at us.
"And what makes it 'awesome'?"
"It's just sweet."
"And what makes it 'sweet'?"
Now he pauses and looks at us. He starts to think.
"Uh . . . awesome graphics . . . great sound system . . . this is a subwoofer that--"
At this point I have to cut in. Any time I hear the word "subwoofer" I know I want nothing to do with what is being discussed. I've known people who own and operate subwoofers. They're good people. They are. But they are interested in the fine details. The difference in sound quality of a tape compared to a cd is shocking to them. Surround sound is a priority for them. Fine. For them.
"Let's see the next model down."
After Jess and I decide the next model had everything we needed, she asks about the printer.
"Oh, it's an awesome printer that comes with this."
"Can we see it?"
We walk around the aisle, and see this "awesome" printer. The salesman, who *says* he's not on commission, holds up a copy of some picture of a flower. "See that detail? That's awesome. The quality."
"But that sheet was sitting on that computer," Jessica says, pointing to the printer across the aisle.
"Yeah, this would print out about the same on yours."
When we discuss finances, he says, "You ought to apply for the Best Buy card. That way you can pay in monthly installments with no payments due for a year."
"But we'll have to pay for it sometime," Jess reasons.
"I guess," the salesman says. "I always offer it because you can use your money in other ways then. You can buy other things. I signed up for it, but I got turned down. I had a car repossessed."
"Well, that happens, huh?" I say.
He walks away, now, going to get the large cart that will hold our new purchase. Turning around, with a big smile, as if he's really happy for us, he says, "You're getting an awesome computer!"
