The perils of being a women
A couple of nights ago my computer experienced the blue screen of death and now it's at Best Buy for a diagnostic check. The horrible thing is, I just finished paying off my computer this month and it makes me sad to think that I might have to spend money to get my computer fixed. I hava a warranty but the guys at Best Buy says it doesn't cover my possible problem. The good news is that my friend told me that the same thing happened to his girlfriend and he went in and did some talking and yelling and showing of her contract and got the thing fixed for free.
But this leads me to my beef. Why is it that girls are seen as incompetent when it comes dealing with these sort of "get in the salesperson's face" situations. Earlier this fall, I had another computer problem with Best Buy and the situation got so frustrating that I almost started crying in the store (but I didn't, instead I went to my car and called people to complain). I think the people who at these places know that girls are weak and so they just push us around all the stinkin time. Well, I'm sick of people treating me like that. I bet if one of my guy friends had gone into the store with the same problem, they wouldn't have been like, "oh it's for sure a software problem, do you want to prepay to get it fixed?"
Whatever, boys are stupid.
(Ok, I do admit that I have received alot of things for free because I am a girl. But if I were to do a cost-benefit analysis on the things that I have received for free and the opportunity cost of the things that I have experienced grief about... the cost is much greater than the benefit. Sometimes being a girl is very difficult)
But this leads me to my beef. Why is it that girls are seen as incompetent when it comes dealing with these sort of "get in the salesperson's face" situations. Earlier this fall, I had another computer problem with Best Buy and the situation got so frustrating that I almost started crying in the store (but I didn't, instead I went to my car and called people to complain). I think the people who at these places know that girls are weak and so they just push us around all the stinkin time. Well, I'm sick of people treating me like that. I bet if one of my guy friends had gone into the store with the same problem, they wouldn't have been like, "oh it's for sure a software problem, do you want to prepay to get it fixed?"
Whatever, boys are stupid.
(Ok, I do admit that I have received alot of things for free because I am a girl. But if I were to do a cost-benefit analysis on the things that I have received for free and the opportunity cost of the things that I have experienced grief about... the cost is much greater than the benefit. Sometimes being a girl is very difficult)
posted by chen at 10:39 AM
3 Comments:
Chen - you just need to lean when to use the "cute and innocent" look to get free stuff and the "go on - just try it buddy - try messing with me and see what happens" look so you don't get taken advantage of.
Go into best buy, look them straight in the eyes, and make the tone of your voice low and even. Don't insult them or go into a hissy fit, but make them aware that you're not going to take any crap. The voice thing is particularily good in making them think that you're playing nice for now, but that at any moment you could talk in a way that would completely annihilate them from existance.
When I got into my car accident last year, my insurance company was going to give me a settlement that was rather low. They insisted that I sign at that moment. I informed them that I had called the Attorney General, and he told me that I had more options than that. I refused to sign - and the supervisor came out and told me exactly what I had to do to get around their rules and get the money I wanted. I did, and everything worked out fine.
Thanks Laura, but outside of the business-world setting, I am not very assertive and direct like that. I can play hardball with the best of them when I'm working, but I can't stand seem to stand tough for very long when it comes to my own stuff. Maybe it's because I spend all my "don't mess with me" energy at work.
Here's a thought on the ironies of this world: Since yesterday morning, I have found out that I need to write a 10pg paper this weekend, and retrieve a very important file from my computer ASAP. Why is it that I never "need" my computer until something bad happens?
You can't be a women. You can only be a woman.
Next, just find a geek boy to help you.
My wife did, she scored.
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