Best Buy in trouble

DS1119

I still think they can turn this trend around but the author of this article makes some great points, one of which being the horrible layout of Best Buy's stores and sometimes total lack of knowledge by the staff. I remember shopping there five years ago for a TV and it seemed like everyone knew everything about televisions. Two years ago I went looking for a Blue Ray and not so much.


http://money.msn.com/investing/why-best ... orbes.aspx

thefixer9

That sucks, I love Best Buy.

LloydXmas

Insert pc Richard and sons whistle

nikita's keeper

Just bought a MP3 player there last week. Help was great.

donnystancato

best buy is just a show room for Amazon

DAMON

Reminds me of Lowes/Home Depot, both great stores as long as you don't need help! There a small Hardware store that I go to that has several "older" guys that know it all! In a good way.

Its just to easy to hire kids and pay them nothing, than to hire someone that has some knowledge...........

capthowdy1027

donnystancato wrote:

best buy is just a show room for Amazon

Very well said.

I worked at Best Buy for a couple years and once I quit I vowed to never shop there again. I go in there every once in a while with a friend or family member or something and it just amazes me how stupid the people that work there are. They treat their employees like shit if they don't sell the service plans, and I just choose to not give them my money. Geek Squad is the biggest joke I've ever seen in my life.

Jamminonthe1

I was crushed when Nobody Beats the Wiz went out of business years ago. Loved that place and the CDs were ALWAYS cheaper.

81

i remember when they were cool....

i stop in every now and then, but haven't really bought anything in years.

i get free computers from the office, tv is still kicking, and they don't carry the stereo equipment that i would buy.

SatansFuton

capthowdy1027 wrote:

Geek Squad is the biggest joke I've ever seen in my life.

A few years ago I was having a problem with my computer and I couldn't get it to boot up. I took it to Geek Squad and the guy told me my hard drive was fried, offered to sell me a new one and install it. It was going to be pretty high, because on top of the hard drive I was going to have to buy a new copy of Windows. I said "Thanks But No Thanks" and just took my computer back home. A month or so later I got a buddy who is good with computers to look at it, and he fixed it. There wasn't a hardware problem at all, much less a fried hard drive.

That was enough to let me know that I should never deal with Geek Squad. They seem to be the IT equivalent of unscrupulous mechanics. I'm sure a lot of people just pay them for stuff like that, not knowing any better.

marcos

I use to like Best Buy as well but quality and customer service at their stores has declined over the last few years as previously mentioned. They won't be missed unless they improve.

Target really seems to be my one stop for everything now that they have supermarket sections in their stores now in addition to to all their other conveniences.

81

marcos wrote:

I use to like Best Buy as well but quality and customer service at their stores has declined over the last few years as previously mentioned. They won't be missed unless they improve.

Target really seems to be my one stop for everything now that they have supermarket sections in their stores now in addition to to all their other conveniences.

i hate target.

meijers is where it's at.

but i'm still going someplace that isn't a mass merchant for my electronics...they typically carry lower end stuff

brianlux

Personally I miss the good old local stereo store where you could buy a receiver or turn table or whatever and get it serviced there as well. I think the last time I saw a place like that open was about 15 years ago. Kinda sad.

Suziemay

I do all my research online and go to Best Buy only to look at stuff in person. I stopped asking for help a few years ago, the people who work there are generally unhelpful, lazy and if I get through those hurdles and find someone actually willing to help, THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!!!

I am occasionally surprised, there was a camera guy who was really helpful and knowledgeable. Too bad I was only looking for a camera cleaner, not an actual camera.

Stardog3..

SatansFuton wrote:

capthowdy1027 wrote:

Geek Squad is the biggest joke I've ever seen in my life.

A few years ago I was having a problem with my computer and I couldn't get it to boot up. I took it to Geek Squad and the guy told me my hard drive was fried, offered to sell me a new one and install it. It was going to be pretty high, because on top of the hard drive I was going to have to buy a new copy of Windows. I said "Thanks But No Thanks" and just took my computer back home. A month or so later I got a buddy who is good with computers to look at it, and he fixed it. There wasn't a hardware problem at all, much less a fried hard drive.

That was enough to let me know that I should never deal with Geek Squad. They seem to be the IT equivalent of unscrupulous mechanics. I'm sure a lot of people just pay them for stuff like that, not knowing any better.

I agree. Had a problem as well. I had an issue with my relatively new MAC where it was randomly restarting. I took it in, they gave it to me back a few days later, and said that it should be fixed. After two days, it started doing it again and I took it back, and I asked exactly what they did to it, and the guy checked and said they did nothing. They took it again, and sent it to the service center and it was gone for a month and one week. Had to pay a little extra for an operational install, which basically they reinstalled everything into it, and they never said it was going to cost extra, but it did. I paid it, and within days it was doing it again. So I calmly went in and explained my issue and the "head of the geek squad", aka a huge grease ball tool, tried to tell me that all they could do was take it and play around with it, which is what they had been doing for the last 2 months. I had read my warranty I had bought (I had Apple Care as well) and it stated that if something were wrong, even if it was accidental, it should be replaced with a new one. So I explained this to him, he wouldn't do it even after I showed him the warranty so I had to get the store manager. When he came back, they ended up giving me the updated version of the MACbook pro, a free 2 year warranty extension, and a free external hard drive with my back-up information from my other computer. I'm assuming this was because she knew how big of a douche bag her geek squad manager was. Definitely just heading to the Apple Store for future purchases.

81

so best buy is closing 50 stores, 6 in the chicagoland area....

so i stopped by one to see if there were any good deals.

over heard a customer and a sales associate arguing over a tv. customer found the tv for $50 cheaper some place else, but the sales person wouldn't price match it. she was like i can't do that, i like my benifits and have 5 kids. i didn't quite get that statement. just say you can't do that, or as a customer, ask to speak to a manager

anyways, you know you are in trouble when you are closing stores and the prices are STILL cheaper at other retailers. :fp: :roll:

i didn't buy anything.

Indifference71

81 wrote:

so best buy is closing 50 stores, 6 in the chicagoland area....

so i stopped by one to see if there were any good deals.

over heard a customer and a sales associate arguing over a tv. customer found the tv for $50 cheaper some place else, but the sales person wouldn't price match it. she was like i can't do that, i like my benifits and have 5 kids. i didn't quite get that statement. just say you can't do that, or as a customer, ask to speak to a manager

anyways, you know you are in trouble when you are closing stores and the prices are STILL cheaper at other retailers. :fp: :roll:

i didn't buy anything.

That sounds about right. Best Buy is such a dump. Every time I have been there lately, there are always more people working there than customers in the store.

DS1119

They wouldn't price match a TV I bought that I ended buying from Amazon. The manager told me at the time it was Best Buy's policy to not price match anything from AMazon. :fp: Combined with the lower price of the TV and no sales tax it was almost 500 bucks lower.

81

DS1119 wrote:

They wouldn't price match a TV I bought that I ended buying from Amazon. The manager told me at the time it was Best Buy's policy to not price match anything from AMazon. :fp: Combined with the lower price of the TV and no sales tax it was almost 500 bucks lower.

most brick and morter stores won't match online retailer prices.

best buy really is just a show room for amazon, ebay, etc... yeah, i get there is expense there, but they just don't do a very good job at even trying to compete. guess they figure if they get you in the store, and then say no to the price match, you will just cave because you HAVE to have it NOW.

fuck that

DS1119

81 wrote:

DS1119 wrote:

They wouldn't price match a TV I bought that I ended buying from Amazon. The manager told me at the time it was Best Buy's policy to not price match anything from AMazon. :fp: Combined with the lower price of the TV and no sales tax it was almost 500 bucks lower.

most brick and morter stores won't match online retailer prices.

best buy really is just a show room for amazon, ebay, etc... yeah, i get there is expense there, but they just don't do a very good job at even trying to compete. guess they figure if they get you in the store, and then say no to the price match, you will just cave because you HAVE to have it NOW.

fuck that

Had the TV in four days and then the online retailer did something I never expected. They sent me a thank you gift about a week later with a package of microwave popcorn to "enjoy with my new TV". Kind of cool.

MayDay10

Its not surprising at all they are getting blown away. The place has gone to shit in the past few years and like Blockbuster, they are not adjusting to the times fast enough.

The 'workers' (to use the term loosely) on the floor are a joke. Complete waste of money. They always seem to be entitled college-age kids who dont want to do anything but stand in groups chatting or flirting. When I need help, they do nothing. Act like they are providing a huge free service if you need anything.

I preordered The Show for PS Vita online with them last month. I need to catch a flight and I show up to grab my entertainment. I get: "Theres none left, its gone". Then I stood there for 30 minutes while they looked for it (or plotted in the back wth they would tell me as I was red hot). They sent me to another Best Buy like 20 miles away.

That was the last purchase.