My wonderful Experience with Harvey Norman.

Ok, I'd use twitter for this, but it's going to be way over 140 characters.

I've been checking out big-screen TV's for a while, and after looking around and shopping at JB Hifi, where the staff were really, really helpful, I decided I wanted a Samsung Series Six LCD. Great...so I get the best price JB Hifi can do, which was around $3800ish. I then go to my local Harvey Norman store, Cleveland, to see what they can do. The first salesman I get, whose name I can't remember, was really helpful. Talked to me about what I'd need, and then more-than-matched JB's price on the tv. In fact, he got it down to $3700. Great. Then he said that an extra four years warranty is $349. Amazing. I then asked about media centres/servers, to which he said he didn't know about, and he got another salesman who did. Said his goodbyes and left.

After chatting about media centres for a while, I decided I wanted the TV (plus a power surge protector) and this new salesman completed the sale. I wanted the year-long deferred payment option, which is offered by HN through GE Money (yes, friends, that same GE money that everyone is scared of). They couldn't approve me on-the-spot, which is fair enough as I'm 23 and own my own business. The second salesman said it would take a day, and he would ring me when they had an answer.

At 4pm the next day, I rang HN to see if there was indeed an answer, after being transferred twice, I was put onto someone who said he was with a customer and would ring me back. 30-45 minutes later I got a response saying that he'd talked to GE and that I needed to supply them with proof of income, which was my tax assesment.

I'm going to cut out my dealings with GE money, because that's not the point of this explanation. I'll continue with THAT at another time.

Anyway, two days later, I go into Harvey Norman, after things taking FAR too long with GE. Basically, GE are slightly discriminatory to people with their own businesses, and with accounants, which I couldn't fix until my accountant came back after the new year (in which time the bonus Samsung TV promotion would be ended, which I wanted to cash in on). This is what happened:

- I wait 15 minutes by the sales desk until one of the salesmen sees me (fair enough, he seems to be the only TV guy there, and there's about 20 people looking at TV's)

- We then start talking, and upon looking at the computer he's on, he sees that my second salesman hadn't reserved the TV, even though I'd all but bought the damn thing, and it was the last one in stock.

- He then spends 10 minutes on the phone with someone who'd rung to ask about their DVD player, or something.

- I explain that I just want to buy the TV outright, and not do the finance thing, to which he says ok. I then have to repeat the price i was quoted twice to him , because he forgot it the first time.

- He then reveals that there is no carton for this TV, as it is a display model. I put out there that this is probably a good thing to tell me when I came in the first time. He then says that delivery is $55, but he'll do it for $30. I point out that I would expect that for a $4000 TV that they would have to do better than that. He says he'll have to ask his boss. When he can't find his boss, he says that he'll just do it for free anyway. Surely he could have done that right off the bat, and saved me the stress.

- He then asks what time I will be home tonight. I initially tell him I'll be unavailable, but then let him know that I can actually be home tonight, shelving my personal plans. He says, suddely, that it might not be possible, because they can't reach their delivery driver. He rings said driver and leaves a message. I can't have it delivered tomorrow, as I'm going to be working NYE, being in the entertainment industry and all. I then say that I'll just go home and grab some straps, as I'd bought my van to put the TV in, as I thought it would have it's box. I go to leave and go 'I'll see you in a couple of minutes'. He then says to wait at home, as he might not be able to pack it, as he's the only person in the department.

So here I am, at home, waiting for a phone call to pick up my TV, that I've paid for on my credit card, because GE money is rediculous. I'm about ready to hit a wall because Harvey Norman (and GE combined) have made something that should be immensely pleasurable draw itself out over three days with a lot of stress. If I'd known it would take this much effort with HN, I would have just spent the extra $200 and bought it from JB. In fact, I'm wondering why I pulled out my card today at all.

There. Done.