When I visited my local Best Buy on Saturday to pick up Fathers Day gifts I realized something. Since I began reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover back in April...I've noticed some changes in my view on making purchases and dealing with sales people. Here's the story...
I was walking the cam corder aisle when I noticed a young couple with what looked like a 2 year old child. They were pretty obviously intrigued by the high tech wonderland and you know if I noticed it so too did the sales reps. I didn't catch much of the conversation, however, I did hear a snippet as I was passing by.
"Well, it's no problem if you can't afford it today. Just sign up for our Best Buy card and you can walk out with it in your hands. You'll be filming your son this afternoon!" said the blue and khaki colored sales rep.
It took all of me to keep from screaming "NOOOOOOO!!!! Don't do it!!!" I wanted to run over and knock the sales person down giving that couple the opportunity to make an escape.
You see I was once that couple. And I could easily be that couple again with one fall off the cart. With one quick impulse buy led by a "friendly" sales rep, I could easily be back in the rushing river it took my wife and I so long to swim out of. What I now understand is that the blue and khaki colored people are NOT MY FRIENDS. They have a job to do and only want to help you get the items you want by any means necessary. They don't care about your financial peace and future. Oh yeah, they may act like your friend...but do they really want to know how your day is going?
I don't know if the couple decided to purchase the camera. I do know that was me 6 years ago...but I am determined that I will never again find myself at the mercy of a Best Buy sales person.
(Note to Best Buy sales people: I'm sure you're quite nice. And some of you may even sincerely care what I think about the weather and how the Chiefs/Royals/[insert current playing local sports team here] are playing But please understand that I know you have a job to do and you're just trying to pay the bills. So are we. Your products are major temptations for several folks...including me. You're my Joe Camel with your cool gadgets and nifty toys inticing me to make that completely uneeded purchase. I'll visit you more often when I know I can handle your tempting ways...until then...we will have to remain strangers.)
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