I couldn't agree more. I have been shopping for a gas range, I think I know more than most of the salesmen I have talked to. I have been visiting different local appliance stores that have been there "forever" and can't get any solid information. They just tell you everyone buys this model, or that model....One told me to stay away from a stainless steel top cause they stain, another told me to look for stainless steel cause the black is hard to clean. I expect that from a big box store, but not from a mom and pop, small shop. I too will be ordering from the internet, once I make my decision. I would be willing to pay a little more for knowledge and service, but the info on the internet is so much better. Happy shopping!

It looks to me like "GW" particularly the "Appliance Threads", should be "Required Reading"
for ALL appliance Sales People!!!!!

I would not "Condemn" all Appliance stores and their Sales people, as some of our most "Informed" folks on GW are either appliance store owners or sales people for same.

Where you are most likely to find yourself in "Hurt City" is "If and when" the appliance ever needs service.
You will not have any relationship with a local store that could be of help in such a matter, and will be
"At the Mercy" of the On-line Dealer, whose main interest is, (Most Likely) selling appliances with little thought about "After Sales Support", if needed.

Example!
I bought an expensive faucett for the kitchen. It started leaking at the spout----talked to the manufactures--they were a lot of help, sent parts, technical help on phone, etc etc etc--but Alas, "No Cigar", it still leaked!!!
Went down to where I bought it-----They called the faucet company and the company sent me a new one (even thou faucett was close to 5 years old).

Now "Maybe" I could have done this "On My Own"????
butttt with the Faucet's Store Intervention it made things easier and probably "Expedited the process"??

So Let's not Condemn them all!!!!, OK???
I mean I have "The Upmost Respect" for Antss, and Trevor, just 2 dealers that I know of here on GW!!

Gary

Gary, Im not condemning ALL small dealers, just the ones I have visited in my area. unless marleycat lives in my area (metro DC) there are at least two areas where small dealers are not cutting the mustard and I expect a whole lot more. And if these small dealers are so cavalier and even dishonest BEFORE the sale, I doubt they would be much help after the sale if there are problems. So might as well buy cheaper from the Internet and then just call an authorized repairman if there is a problem. It' just very disheartening, I expected more from small shops. Incidentally, I bought all my GE appliances 14 years ago from the owner who didn't know about the offset burners which is why we went back. I even mentioned I had bought from him in the past and I still didn't get straight answers and an attitude to boot!

I would welcome Antss and Trevor's take on this as well as perhaps answers to mine and marleycat's questions.

I think it is amazing that almost none of them even read this forum. When I was shopping, I did not run across one person who knew anything about the appliances except the Thermadore person and only two even cooked.

At this point, Joanie, you might as well go with the big box stores or Sears. They aren't as cheap as internet but you DO have someone to complain to and they're usually okay about it.

Last week at a local appliance store: While I was looking at an Electolux ICON and a Wolf, a sales person basically dismissed the ICON and told me that Wolf was the only way to go . . . no real information just a baseless opinion as he didn't ask me ONE SINGLE QUESTION regarding my needs or budget. I walk over to another area and another sales person is telling a customer that KA is the only way to go as there are discounts and Wolf is just a name and overpriced at that! So, note to self: "listen (just a little bit) and verify".

I don't know about other people but I have noticed the lack of knowledgeable sales people in many retail settings: bike shops, book stores, beauty supply stores . . . well, just about any speciality store. It used to really frustrate me to go into a bike store for a component and I knew more about the part than anyone on the sales floor (including shop owners) and often bad or incomplete information was given instead of "I don't know but let me check for you".

Now I operate with the assumption that the sales people do not know anything or what is being conveyed is incorrect. I do as much research as possible to be informed. Then if there is a local shop I will buy from them because any service issues can be resolved buy them. Kinda hard to have my bike repaired by the e-store in Minnesota!

So, do your research. Talk to friends and neighbors. Ask questions. Use GW. Then arrive at your very own well-informed decision and buy it local (if you choose).

I went to a local store to look at washing machines. While there I heard a salesperson:

1. Tell folks that 'sulfites' were no longer allowed in detergents so things don't clean as well as they used to (phosphates, and they will but you have to do it different).
2. The folks wanted a black dishwasher, and she said 'oh check the internet and call me back.'
3. I said 'I want to buy X. What can you do if I buy today?' and she said 'oh well when you're ready I'll see what I can do.'

I left the store in disgust, and vowed, never again. Ridiculous!

I will find ANOTHER store to buy from -- the appliances in question are Meile and don't get discounted; I wanted something cut off on the delivery/install. But I'll go somewhere where the person knows their stuff. It was too bad as she chased thousands of dollars in sales out of her store that day. I couldn't figure it.

This is sad, but it's another indication of the opening up of better paying jobs to the able. Used to be a sales clerk could make a decent living for a lifetime, but our standards of decent living have changed a lot, and people want more out of life. Good sales reps move up the chain quickly and become regional managers and commercial salesmen, and we're left with the ones who can show up and do the paperwork.

My local stores had prices that were better than online, and have good installation and repair departments. The saleswoman I worked with for my kitchen appliances didn't know as much as I (from GW and reading the manuals online and all) but was eager to learn, and looked up scads of answers to nitpicky questions I asked. She called distributors, manufacturers and anyone she needed to to get me answers and parts. She got the DW I was dissatisfied with taken back by the maker and did an even swap on the next one, though it was technically more. I'd recommend the store in general (L.A. area), as the other sales clerks also seemed to know their stuff for finding answers, et al. Not long after I bought my appliances, the clerk I worked with was made an asst. manager. She won't be there long...

Do your research yourself and rely on the salesperson as an order taker. If you expect any more, you'll be disappointed. Even the best salesperson, can't necessarily keep current on all the products and frankly most people don't care about all the subtleties the way people on this forum do.

FWIW.....I must be lucky. I deal with a small family-owned local store with a reasonable selection and certainly ability to get other items quickly. The people there from mom and pop through the kids are aware of internet availability and chatter and forums like this one and appear to regard that as part of the world they live in. I've seen them handle dumb people considerately and honestly and they've never jerked me around when my turn came. Their prices are a little higher than the nearby city and big-box stores but not enough higher to make traveling worthwhile. They've earned my respect this way.

They have just few techs to work this small area and I know them, too. When my time to buy something comes up, one of the first questions goes to them: "Of all the machines you've sold, which ones give you the fewest calls?" or "Which brands/models give you the best support?"

Of course I'm limited to what they do carry. Can't buy Asko or Miele there. But I have bought good major brands and they've been good to me for almost twenty years, now. When buying new and on a few service occasions they've always been great. Maybe that's why they've lasted.