I tried to buy a decently priced laptop in a retail store earlier, and was hounded by a salesperson about getting insurance plans, virus plans, setup plans, extra software I don't really need, and a printer I didn't need. And when you do the research, many of the laptops that are priced rather low actually cost way more for the store (a process called a lead loss). Why does this practice continue, and suck? I just want a laptop.
Most retail shops 'cater to the ordinary'. That is, they look to volume sales to make their money, so they cater to the lowest-demanding buyer-groups. You generally find these shops in city centres or in shopping malls.<p>If you want something a little better, you have to go to specialty shops, who generally sell better stuff, but their prices are higher to make up for lower-volume sales. You generally find these shops in suburbs away from city centres. (These days, you'll more likely find these guys online.)<p>In some cases, you'll be dealing with the manufacturer himself, and generally online. (Ferinstance: Try the Lenovo website, find a system, and then take the opportunity to have that special system custom-specified by you.)<p>In all cases, you get what you pay for. There's the old triangle of Size, Cost and Quality - you get to select any two of those.
All those extras are how they make a profit.<p>After doing my research I often end up buying "bargains" at those types of stores. The hassle is the inconvenience I endure in order to get the loss leaders. Of course, I don't take it personally and politely decline.<p>It seems to me that the salespersons in those types of stores are minimum wage, untrained staff subjected to draconian managers.