As If You Needed Another Reason Not to Buy Laptops from Office Depot

Posted 03/12/2009 at 7:37am | by Paul Lilly

37

Comments

Print

According to a report on Laptopmag.com, Office Depot associates "routinely lie about notebook stock" and would rather turn notebook customers away if enough isn't being spent on extras. Laptopmag.com says they themselves experienced this firsthand, and following a blog on the topic, users who purport to work for the retail chain chimed in with user comments suggesting it's true.

"At store level, OD puts too much pressure on sales consultants and managers to sell the PPPs (Product Protection PLans) & TDS (Tech Depot Services)," a reader going the moniker Office Depot Employee wrote. "I know of several stores in my market that will 'feel out' the customer to see if they are the type to purchase these services. If the customer lets on that they only want the computer and no services...then that store simply claims to be out of stock!"

The reader went on to say that employees are required to sell at least 30 percent on upgrades or risk getting written up or even fired.

Laptopmag.com says it contacted one of the readers (Rich, last name withheld) who comment on the story, who also provided a pay stub to prove he works for Office Depot. According to Rich, lying about notebook stock is not official Office Depot policy, but that store managers are held to a strict minimum "attachment rating" and could face disciplinary action if it falls below 30 percent. Instead of a percentage, sales associates must upsell $200 each week.

Image Credit: Flickr Earl - What I Saw 2.0