Tandy (Shop)

...while, those things can wait, Tandy clearly needed my services. So there was I fresh faced and naive enough to think that by maintaining a professional attitude towards my work, no matter what it was I would be certain to go far. Going far in Tandy hadn’t really been top of my list but for now it would have to do.

This attitude of professionalism even went as far as purchasing my very own shiny salesman’s suit with which ...
...illustrate is the dedication of Tandy staff over those your likely to meet in other electrical stores, or maybe it’s stupidity. Either way the staff I’ve worked with and met in Tandy stores have generally given more of a toss than other high street stores.

As far as plus points for Tandy you can generally find more specialist items for sale there, such as electronic components, audio separates, speakers and mixers, though ... more

There are some dark corners of the world where Princess Anne wielding a marital aid might be considered the stuff of fantasy, my dark corner isn’t one of them.

Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away, I worked in Tandy. It was the first job I got after leaving University, I put saving the rainforests and trekking across the Antarctic on hold for a while, those things can wait, Tandy clearly needed my services. So there was I fresh faced and naive enough to think that by maintaining a professional attitude towards my work, no matter what it was I would be certain to go far. Going far in Tandy hadn’t really been top of my list but for now it would have to do.

This attitude of professionalism even went as far as purchasing my very own shiny salesman’s suit with which to impress the punters and so attired I could do no wrong, little did I know my shiny suited, slick haired, ultra cool salesman’s demeanour would be tested to it’s limits.

It was a day like any normal day in the bustling metropolis that is Salisbury. The rest of the sales staff were busying themselves chopping away at live wires with metal scissors and generally trying to electrocute themselves, pretty much par for the course, when she walked in. Now granted it wasn’t Princess Anne but it might well have been, Salisbury is the kind of place that has that middle aged, horsy, plummy, housewives in spades. She was dressed exactly as ladies of her class ought to; wax jacket, silk scarf tied around her head and she carried the all important standard issue wicker shopping basket. Of course what was in the basket was anything but standard issue.

I gave her a cheery good afternoon and she replied courteously, when I asked her what had brought her into the shop she started on her story, at this point imagine the world had slowed down until the last terrifying moment. “Well you see, my husband....” gestures to the car parked outside, ”he buys the Sunday papers. He’s wont to buy those little gadgets now and then.” I remember thinking to myself, I’m sure I know what kind of thing he buys from the back of the Sunday papers, I’ve never had a more insightful thought since. She continued “Well since my neck has been playing up he sent away for a massager, it needs some batteries......” I had a moment of total clarity, I could see my friends looking on from the other side of the shop, I saw her husband in the car and maybe it’s my imagination but it occurred to me he had his hat in lap and I saw her produce the MASSAGER........

At this point it was clear the massager was one of the intimate variety but thankfully it was still in its box I calmly read the box and selected the right batteries for it and at speed I headed for the till. Was it going to be that simple, not bloody likely. “Could you fit them for me??” said Princess Anne, “ I just want to make sure it works.” Hmmmmmm, I thought, cool, calm and professional. I slipped the massager out of the box, hoping it was still a virgin, and fitted the batteries. She then took hold of it and massaged her neck with it, I could barely contain my laughter, “Hmmmm, it’s very relaxing” she purred. My laughter turned to horror when she said why don’t you try it and she went for me brandishing the vibrator like Norman Bates on his way to the showers. I backed off quickly but I was cornered by the counter, I looked around desperately for help and all I saw was my mates rolling around on the other side of the shop and her husband looking on from the car, was the hat jigging around all by itself or was that my imagination?? Surely there was a hidden camera somewhere, where was Jeremy Beadle when you want him.

I was screaming inside when the vibrator made contact and she cooed “Relaxing isn’t it??” the best I could manage was a mumbled and humbled “Hmmmm”. Mercifully she sheathed the offending article, paid and left the shop with a cheery “Goodbye.” The moment she left the store I collapsed laughing for a full five minutes, our brief encounter was over.

Now how helpful you found that in terms of a consumer review I’m not sure, I can tell you it’s true, every word of it. I think what it does illustrate is the dedication of Tandy staff over those your likely to meet in other electrical stores, or maybe it’s stupidity. Either way the staff I’ve worked with and met in Tandy stores have generally given more of a toss than other high street stores.

As far as plus points for Tandy you can generally find more specialist items for sale there, such as electronic components, audio separates, speakers and mixers, though I’m not sure they stock marital aids yet. The brands they stock tend to be their own and the standard high street types, it’s unlikely you’ll find premium brands in your Tandy shop. To be honest I think this is where Tandy has missed the boat, although their own brands are perfectly serviceable they don’t carry the same weight as premium brands and so when the consumer thinks of a place to buy a stereo they don’t immediately think Tandy. They shouldn’t think Currys or Dixons either but they do.

One of Tandys major strengths is it’s small items, there is generally a huge percentage mark up on these items but the total cost is so small that they are never going to make huge profits on the back of it. The kind of thing I’m talking about is fuses, bulbs wires and watch batteries, one point to highlight is that it’s much cheaper to buy watch batteries from a place like Tandy and there is a likelihood that the salesman will fit the battery for you. I should point out that if he/she does, it will not carry any guarantee and will void any warranty you might have, but at least its helpful. The staff will also carry out simple repairs like changing batteries in cordless phones and even vibrators at a push.

Another major plus point, in my opinion, is Tandy staff on the whole know what they are talking about. You go to most any other high street electrical store and the staff might as well be asking if you want fries with your TV. Product knowledge is practically the most important thing a salesman can bring to the consumer, how else can the public make an informed choice about their purchases.

I also think that Tandy tend to do a better job of after sales care than most of the other major high street stores, which can be important depending on how reliable your purchase is.

On Tandys downsides the stores are generally in a poor condition and tend to be sited in the rougher ends of town, this is a deliberately stupid ploy by Tandy to save money on ground rent by taking itself right out of the way of any customers that might happen to wander by. The other downside is they don’t tend to hold a large amount of stock items particularly high value items, so if you do happen to want buy a widescreen TV from Tandy, the chances are you will be walking away with the display model, if this is the case screw the salesman for as much discount or freebies as you can, the staff are usually pretty desperate to bump up their sales figures and so when faced with a large sale they usually bend over backwards to please.

As for after sales care contracts Tandy are just as guilty of pushing these as any other high street electrical store, you see the salesman gets a bonus per sale and management push the staff to achieve minimum figures. My advice on after sales care contracts is not to bother wasting your money on anything other washing machines (which Tandy don’t sell) because these days electrical goods are disposable, the chances of anything lasting longer than five years is remote. An item probably won’t break down within it’s extended warranty term and if it does it probably won’t be worth repairing. If you do want to buy a care contract be sure you read the small print.

As for the future of Tandy I think they won’t be on the high street for much longer most of the stores have been converted to Carphone Warehouse stores and those that are left now trade under the moniker of T2. I think the staff they have are their main commodity who work with what is commonly perceived as a bad lot. Still they are generally prepared to go that bit further to please I only hope my housewife was satisfied with my service.

©symon_leech 2001 

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