Although i will probably be killed for admitting that i currently work and shop at future shop, i am still going to write this article. My name is John Doe and i currently work in Mobile Audio, forgetting home theatre, MA is the home of liars and sharks. I am in agreement with a lot of your posts, shitty costumer service, misinforming speeches and warranties, but i do not agree with your price bashes. Lets get one thing straight, future shop price matches and gives YOU 10 percent of the difference, so if you found a laptop at sears we will match it and give YOU some money back. In all of my years i have never a costumer dissatisfied with that policy. Future shop has good prices, and if you know what your doing you can manipulate future shop as much as they manipulate you. Future shop haters have hit the jack pot. You all forget they are on commission, so they are putty in YOUR hands if you can do it, because the sale is up to YOU, and if you are buying a high commission item they do not want to lose you.

1. First off, never shop first thing in the morning. Every associate is hungry to start the day off a glass of juice (juice is slang for getting a warranty.) If i am an okay salesperson and you want the best deal, come around 5-8 because if i have not made my quote i will do ANYTHING for that sale. Managers success is dependent upon the salespeople margin and warranties, so you actually are the one in control, never forget that.

2. Get that binder out of their hands! All future shop people carry around a binder that shows “stock counts.” WRONG. it does show stock counts but it also shows the commission pay out for the particular pay out. The sheet has 5 columns and maybe 25 rows, the column on the right showing small prices is what they are making. Sneak a glance you could find something. If someone wants to buy an IPOD case, i check my “stock counts” if we have them in stock……Who the fuck cares if we have it in stock!!! its cause im checking which gives me the most money!! so stand over my shoulder and don’t allow me to do that. get that binder out of there hands!

3. Don’t steal from future shop, i’m serious. We will f*** you up. We are hungry for that more than anything else, nothing gets more praise in morning meetings that tackling a dumb **** that took some DS’s.

4. If you can steal an entertainment associate to help you in another department. heres a secret- people in movies and gaming DONT make commission. They are looking out for your best interest! they will sell the warranties too, but they don’t get commission payouts.

5. RED tags mean no wage, YELLOW means commission. Some costumers have figured this out so i wear a white tag. you have no idea what i sell hahaha.

6. Managers are your best friend. Besides what you think, Floor managers are over zealous jocks that are trying to shut you up. Ask for the operations manager, he controls the floor managers and he is serious, the only guy that is above him is the General Manager, and the Operations Manager wants you to go home happy. Where as the floor managers want you to challenge them so they can show there leadership skills.

7. Not alot of people know this, but you can barter, HARD. It says 199, you can get 179. If that person wants it enough they will drop RIGHT down.

Onto my favorite part- warranties. Yes a lot of them are scams, but if you know which ones to buy, you have all the control.

Lets start with the product service plan.

It states that-
If we cant fix it we replace it”
If it takes over 6 weeks to fix it we replace it
You have 3 years to use it
No physical damage- and by the way *%#$ you idiots that bitch about physical damage, it NEEDS to be in the print or people would smash shit for new ones. Instead bitch at the costumer service agent for deeming it personal damage, not the print.
*** IF ITS TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX WE REPLACE IT***

This thing sucks cause you have to wait, but it is good on ipod touches because they are almost always too expensive to fix as they are welded. Same with Xbox 360s because if it is to expensive to fix we just give you a new one. Try to get it on a product that will be too expensive to fix. Here are some Examples of what to get it on.

Rock Band- YES YES AND YES
Guitar Hero- YES
IPOD TOUCHES- YES
XBOX 360- YES but be careful, Microsoft covers red light damage for 3 years and our warranty DOESNT COVER RED LIGHT DAMAGE. but it is good for controllers, it states that if any controlled breaks it is replaced over the counter, even buttons sticking, so get it and replace all 4 of your controllers haha.
TVs- i have no idea cause you always wanna insure expensive purchases, let the cougars sell you on that one.

Product replacement plan-

This is actually a good system, the item breaks and we send you a gift card with all the money you payed on it. now you can spend this money here on another product or a different one. This does not cover physical damage but GET THIS ON IPOD NANOS and DS’S any finicky item gets all your money back. Don’t hate the PRP but mostly the PSP. PRP is only on items under 200 and psp is on items over 200, try to get the item under 200 so u can get PRP on it.

I hope this helps, I work for future shop and am a top seller, i don’t lie or not explain the warranties, but i do upsell, and want you to buy the more expensive “case.” Never forget since we are on commission, YOU have the control, not us. I hope you can use this guide against us in an effort to level the playing field. Future shops a good store, you just have to bend us like we bend you.

Posted by David on Thursday, February 5th, 2009 at 9:05 am.