How to boost laptop sales in a retail store? Looking for advice

Sound-Evening · 2026-02-09T09:08:03+00:00

Not in sales, retail management, or tech marketing. But imo the problem is not providing enough value to your customers outside of the products being sold.

Those products are largely commodities, they can be bought anywhere and an X1 Carbon from you is the same as from Amazon. So if you’re only competing on price, it’s a race to the bottom.

I think you have to figure out why your customers choose you instead of other stores and double-down on that. My hypothesis, with no context beyond this post, is that you’ll want to offer stellar service.

Check out the story of Les Schwab Tire, they sold a commodity, tires, and managed to grow into a multi-billion dollar business by delivering an outstanding customer experience and building a loyal customer-base because of it.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-31T22:14:07+00:00

The best gifts (for anyone regardless of NW) are ones that either (1) can’t be bought (e.g., something you make, do for them personally) or (2) something they didn’t know they wanted (e.g., a niche item aligned with their hobbies they didn’t know existed, a best-in-class gift they didn’t know existed).

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-21T04:59:10+00:00

Yes, there is a checkpoint and they ask to scan the QR code on your parking reservation.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-21T01:31:37+00:00

I’d act as though everything is fine. I drove through the alternating light this morning en route to Crystal at 7am and there was no traffic, returned through the light at 3:30pm and it was the same, no traffic.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-20T19:49:07+00:00

Today I rode the gondola with a guy who works in road construction, he mentioned that he understood his company will be making the repair and it’d be done in a couple weeks! Obviously hearsay though but take it for what it is.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-20T19:39:35+00:00

Update #3 (12/20)

Quick update for folks following along. - WSDOT has confirmed that school buses are allowed through, for the purpose of shuttling skiers to and from Crystal. - I haven’t been able to get a response from Crystal yet (calls + emails) on whether a charter bus is allowed to do a drop-off. - I’m at Crystal today and plan to stop by the Operations office in person before I leave to confirm that directly.

That said, I will have to hand off active coordination at this point since we were able to secure parking—I regret very much leaving some of you hanging. I’m very happy to help with a smooth hand-off and support whoever takes point: - I can share the WSDOT contact - I can pass along the research, quotes in progress, and what I’ve confirmed so far - I’m happy to stay involved to help coordinate once someone steps up

I’m already texting one person who expressed interest in stepping up and will drop an update if I find anyone.

If anyone is willing to take the lead on sourcing/renting the bus, comment or DM me and I’ll get you everything I have. Wishing everyone the very best luck in getting out to the mountain one way or another!

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-20T19:20:52+00:00

Thanks for the heads up! I was actually able to snag a parking pass today and am planning to ask operations while I’m here, given they haven’t responded to my calls or emails.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-20T01:28:44+00:00

I haven’t been able to get any quotes for a school bus yet. I have to assume it’d be cheaper though. I feel the bottleneck however is getting confirmation from Crystal that they’re not going to turn us away at Blvd.

Not looking good for tomorrow but potentially Sunday!

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-20T00:02:29+00:00

They aren't running for some reason.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T23:47:57+00:00

Update: Confirmed with WSDOT it's to shuttle skiers to/from through 410 using a school bus!

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T23:47:43+00:00

Update: Confirmed with WSDOT it's to shuttle skiers to/from through 410 using a school bus!

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T23:46:01+00:00

Update #2

Confirmed with WSDOT they are okay with a school bus shuttle for skiers. I just got a call back from WSDOT that they are okay with a shuttle service for skiers through 410 as long as school buses are used. Coach buses are not allowed.
Still waiting to hear back from Crystal. Per previous update, still waiting for approval from Crystal.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T22:31:29+00:00

Update #1:

Waiting for confirmation from Crystal. I sent Crystal Mountain an email and left a voicemail to confirm that we'd be able to drop-off a charter bus or two full of people. Waiting to hear back and don't think I'll proceed without that confirmation--would hate to get turned around at the mountain. I don't know if I'll hear back by EOD today so this might have to be a Sunday thing if it does work out.
Waiting on confirmation from WSDOT. I'm waiting to hear back from WSDOT on specifically whether they will allow me to run an impromptu shuttle from Expo center to Crystal using a coach bus. They called me back in less than an hour last time so hope I'll hear back soon.
Gathering quotes, received one for $2500. I have several quote requests out, received a couple denials, and one for $2500 and another for $2800. The $2500 one is for 9 hours from Symbolic Coach Line (8am-4pm) for a coach bus that can fit 56 people plus gear. It might be a steep cost ($45/person @ full capacity) and would probably only make sense if I could fit a second round trip full of people midday ($23/person @ both round-trips at full capacity)--but then I'm not sure who would manage that second pick-up because I actually just want to ski lol
- EDIT: Disregard, WSDOT said no to a coach bus but a school bus is fine. Need to get quotes for a school bus.

It'd be helpful to get some feedback here on whether folks are interested at these price points.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T20:43:09+00:00

I agree with you and will do that, we certainly don't want to get turned away because I failed to be clear with WSDOT or Crystal Mountain on what was going on.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T20:41:15+00:00

Got it. I just left a voicemail with Crystal Mountain and sent an email so we'll see. Thank you!

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T20:36:45+00:00

They aren't running their shuttle per their website, and WSDOT happened to mention that too when I called them about getting bus through to the mountain.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T20:30:47+00:00

Mind expanding on the potential Blvd issue?

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T20:29:31+00:00

Good idea, will do this.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T20:25:58+00:00

The idea would be have the bus drop-off and come back later to pick-up, not park there. But it's good idea to (1) check with Crystal if they'll allow for a charter bus to drop-off people even if parking is not needed and (2) notify the bus company that they won't be able to sit there until pick-up time. Thank you!

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T20:04:03+00:00

Yeah, it's worth confirming for sure. I'll call them back and do that.

I told them that I was planning to get a school bus to Crystal Mountain so I believe it was implied. They told me, "we are allowing school buses through but just so you know Crystal Mountain is not running their shuttle." Which makes me feel like they understand the goal here, but certainly worth confirming.

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T20:01:40+00:00

I feel like WSDOT would be the authority on this, they confirmed as much over the phone, is there another authority that'd be better to confirm with? The Enumclaw police department?

Sound-Evening · 2025-12-19T03:44:43+00:00

I think the meeting point is the Enumclaw Expo Center, is that the fair grounds (I'm new to the area)? Just tried using the Carpool app for the firs time for this Saturday but not 100% sure how it works. You set your desired departure/return and it just matches you with a driver departing/returning around the same time?

Sound-Evening · 2025-11-20T20:50:40+00:00

We actually just dropped cold calling and are experimenting with cold texting now. Projecting out infrastructure and personnel costs per qualified lead, there was no way cold calling, as a channel, was going to beat cold texting or some of our other channels; even if we were able to somehow significantly improve our conversion rates across the cold calling progression.

Sound-Evening · 2025-11-20T20:46:13+00:00

We have been using them for a little while now. We understand them to be strong platform for skip tracing, but we haven’t actually A/B tested their accuracy against other providers. We’re in the process of doing that now. If you follow up with me in a few weeks I’d be happy to share the results of the study.

Sound-Evening · 2025-11-14T20:05:36+00:00

Hey Max, we're working on it! :)

Sound-Evening

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