Best Buy is slowly dying

[adwilk]

By "elitist" do you mean "Wants questions answered by someone knowledgeable," "Doesn't like pushy salespeople," and "Doesn't like to grow old in a checkout line?"

Yep, exactly. I'm glad somebody gets it.

 

[ErnieM]

Also, the biased article from a disgruntled customer is garbage. They may or may not be headed for trouble, but I don't think the article is an intelligent or relevant argument that it is. McDonalds forgot my straw for the third time in a few months the other day. I think they're going out of business.

The article author is not just a disgruntled customer. He is someone with a bit of knowledge in the industry.

 

[sawzalot]

I never experienced any of the upsell tactics and or mindless sales pitches, actually my Wife and I do our own thing at BB and usually find a decent deal there, picked up my SC-37 Elite receiver for quite a song, too cheap to post .
It was a store demo but I must say very, very mint and probably hardly touched by the grimy little hands that should keep off such pieces , It was very high up on that multiple unit display shelf, I like the store and hope it sticks around.

 

[Adam]

Joking aside, I'm in the same boat as others who have posted - I've had both good and bad (if you can really call it that) experiences at Best Buy. I've dealt with very knowledgeable and helpful salespeople, as well as ones that clearly didn't know s**t but still felt compelled to act like they did. On some trips, I couldn't get a breath between bouts of "no, thanks, I'm just looking," while on other trips I couldn't get anyone to give me the time of day. I've had luck getting them to price match, and I've had failures (so I just bought it at the other place).

I purchased my last two receivers from them, as well as my current entertainment stand. All three experiences were plenty pleasant, and the two guys that delivered my stand couldn't have been nicer.

 

[billy p]

What is funny in all this...BB here in Canada advertises no commission & no hassels sales...unlike the treatment you'd get at Future shop...I personally prefer BB walk in and buy what your looking for and walk out....no hassels.

 

[96cobra10101]

Not to change the subject or hijack, but does anyone remember "SoundStage"? They were awesome, had great demo rooms and lots of high end audio/video equipment and speakers.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Best Buy reports lower than expected December sales

Why I'm not surprised despite this: Consumer spending, trade buoy U.S. economy in Q4 | Reuters

 

[adwilk]

The article author is not just a disgruntled customer. He is someone with a bit of knowledge in the industry.

If his knowledge of the industry is so vast, that really should have been the focus of the article IMO. Using personal bad experiences really hurt the credibility.

 

[darien87]

I guess I'm in the minority in that I like Best Buy. Although I do find the extended warranty thing annoying, but all I've ever had to do is say, "No thanks" once and it's over. I bought my washer, dryer and refrigerator there, all "open box" items that saved me about $1,500. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that's an option with Amazon.

 

[Adam]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that's an option with Amazon.

You're WRONG! At least, I think so - Amazon has "warehouse" items that I believe are their open box and returns.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I guess I'm in the minority in that I like Best Buy. Although I do find the extended warranty thing annoying, but all I've ever had to do is say, "No thanks" once and it's over. I bought my washer, dryer and refrigerator there, all "open box" items that saved me about $1,500. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that's an option with Amazon.

In majority of cases open box = returned merchandise = likely could be considered used (mint != new), so yea, amazon does sell like new items as well...

For a lucky few whom has a family member work in Whirlpool - employee discounts are really awesome (easy 50% off or more)

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I've never once had a problem with a salesperson at any big box electronics retailer. I only ever have to say "no thanks" or "I'm just browsing" once and all is good. Now some of the mom and pop shops on the other hand...

 

[lsiberian]

I've never once had a problem with a salesperson at any big box electronics retailer. I only ever have to say "no thanks" or "I'm just browsing" once and all is good. Now some of the mom and pop shops on the other hand...

I knew you were the kind of guy that really needed my advice.

 

[j_garcia]

I guess I'm in the minority in that I like Best Buy. Although I do find the extended warranty thing annoying, but all I've ever had to do is say, "No thanks" once and it's over. I bought my washer, dryer and refrigerator there, all "open box" items that saved me about $1,500. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that's an option with Amazon.

The difference is Amazon frequently already offers theirs for prices that are closer to those open box prices for brand new ones (not everything is lower on Amazon). Whether or not there are used models at an even lower price varies depending on the item, but those are usually from third parties not Amazon.

 

[GO-NAD!]

You're WRONG! At least, I think so - Amazon has "warehouse" items that I believe are their open box and returns.

From our resident Amazon fanboy... (I like Amazon too )

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Best Buy Responds To Reports That It Is Dying A Slow Death - The Consumerist

 

[avdoubleu]

I'm rather glad Best Buy is slowly losing business. I use to work there and use to shop there quite often. Then I moved to the west coast and found Frys Electronics and never looked back at BB. Too many bad experiences shopping there.

If they made decisions that may cost them a small dollar now (like returning items) they would create long term customers for later.

 

[goodman]

Electronics Stores Extinct

Many of the electronics stores of yesteryear closed eventually: E.J. Korvette, Lafayette, Sounds Great, The Wiz, Tweeter, Circuit City. There are others that have closed many of their stores, such as Comp USA. The business plan at BB seems to be to sell hardware at a competitive price, and make up for it by selling over-priced accessories from Monster Cable to the uninformed, and near-worthless intangibles, like extended warranties, to the insecure. In November 2011, I bought a MacBook Pro at BB. It was on sale for $60 off list price, because it was an "early" 2011. It was $105 off because it was an "open box" special. And then I was given an additional $100 off without asking for it, although I was just about to ask. When I examined the contents of the "open box", nothing appeared to have been opened or touched except for the seal on the carton. It was pristine, and I walked out with an $1100 laptop for $835.

 

[jonnythan]

That's hard to believe considering the fact that every time I go to a Best Buy anywhere there are a ton of people buying things. Most times I see at least 2 cars loading TVs every time I drive by.

 

[j_garcia]

We went to get some speakers installed recently when one of my chick's front speakers blew. They had some adequate speakers for a decent price and we've always been able to get them installed the same day free. This time the tard wanted to charge us $100 PLUS a $30 adapter (which I am pretty sure wasn't needed) to install $100 speakers and we would have to come back the next day. Sorry bro. Went to Frys and had better speakers installed within an hour for about $100 less than what BB was trying to push.

The last two times I was there, it was eerily familiar scene as The Good Guys when they were dying. Plenty of people in the store, but nobody buying anything.

When I examined the contents of the "open box", nothing appeared to have been opened or touched except for the seal on the carton. It was pristine, and I walked out with an $1100 laptop for $835.

$1100 at Best Buy means it probably would have been $835 or less somewhere else.