[nVidiot_Whore]

Might want to re-read the article there.

It's still hyperbole.

It's a declining company in a declining industry.. that is adjusting itself to likely see a rise in profits in the coming years to have a greater focus on a growth industry (retail mobile phone sales.)

They are there only DIRECT competitor in a lot of markets.. so closing stores will raise sales in the still open stores, thus increasing profitability.

It's a cost saving measure for a large and profitable company.. calling it an implosion is just silly.

[BattleMonkey]

In regards to best buy I'll never understand this, what hands on? Tvs set to max brightness/shitty motion blur? Chained down laptop/tablets that have been abused to hell and back?

Getting to actually see the product first hand does not matter to you? Seeing it's size in person, the build quality? I see a TV online, I rather see what it looks like in person and make sure I'm gonna like it in my living room or where I would put it. Online never gives you a good overview of what something is going to look like. I was interested in the Xoom while back, took a look at one at Best Buy and was instantly turned off by it's screen quality and how heavy it felt, none of which would have been properly guessed just by going off internet tech specs.

Even if the sets are not calibrated, you rather just buy a TV blindly? If it's set wrong in the store you can usually just mess with the demo unit or get an idea of it's performance.

[YoungHav]

Best Buy is my only credit card.

[Let me in]

This is what happens to you when you have contempt for the customer and noncompetitive prices.

[faceless007]

Might want to re-read the article there.

Same-store sales down 2% and not meeting analyst expectations in one quarter = implodes?

Yay hyperbole

[Dreams-Visions]

My Best Buy Experience: 1) Go to any section 2) Can't find item 3) Can't find sales person 4) Go to different section and find sales person 5) Ask sales person for help 6) Sales person goes to computer and looks at bestbuy.com to see if item is in stock 7) Question why I even bothered going to the store instead of shopping online.

to a T.

oh and BB is definitely my testing ground. if your prices are 20% higher than Amazon...I'm sorry, but you lose a sale.

[Seda]

In regards to best buy I'll never understand this, what hands on? Tvs set to max brightness/shitty motion blur? Chained down laptop/tablets that have been abused to hell and back?

95% of customers love super-bright screens, also, motion blur is usually set on default on the sets and employees simply don't care to go into the settings to change it.

[Ken Masters]

My Best Buy Experience: 1) Go to any section 2) Can't find item 3) Can't find sales person 4) Go to different section and find sales person 5) Ask sales person for help 6) Sales person goes to computer and looks at bestbuy.com to see if item is in stock 7) Question why I even bothered going to the store instead of shopping online.

this part always gets me, you ask them anything and they log on to their secret database only for you to realize it's fucking best buy.com

[barkers crest]

stafford 59, i45 north, and that one by NASA. /awesome sauce I remember when it was just the i45 north one, such a long ass drive.

I went to the 59 location the other day (had previously only been to the I-45 location 8+ years ago) and was blown away by how huge it was. It even had its own coffee shop in it that was 2-3x larger than the average starbucks.

I think there was some guy in the parking lot wearing camo pants and harassing random females. FYI I do not own a pair of camo pants

[Sentry]

Is there a list of the stores affected?

I'd like this as well since I know a few people who might be affected, but I can't seem to find anything.

Remember Circuit City? It's a cycle of life.

Oh man... my father used to work there when I was a kid. Memories...

[megashock5]

Yeah BB sucks. The employees are usually clueless and the prices are designed to take advantage of tech illiterates. .

My favorite BB employee experience was when I bought my first DVD player. Now this is when they were new, and the cheapest name brand (a Panasonic) was $400. I called ahead to make sure they had that model.

"Let me see if we have any."

"You do, I checked."

Dude goes away for 10 minutes.

"We have some, but I'd have to get the stairs"

Dude stands there staring at me.

"Okay, can you do that?"


I was dumbfounded. I'm sorry to inconvenience you, did you not want my $400?

[Seda]

this part always gets me, you ask them anything and they log on to their secret database only for you to realize it's fucking best buy.com

Best Buy has a Retek Store System database.

[btkadams]

this part always gets me, you ask them anything and they log on to their secret database only for you to realize it's fucking best buy.com

is that not an indicator of the accuracy of their website? a locally-run, niche electronics store in my city does the same thing and checks their website for stock info.

[Deadly Cyclone]

Our Best Buy is great. Cheaper than Amazon at times, and I don't have to wait for shipping, nor do I have to have UPS miss me (because I am at work) then wait until 8:30 at night to go pick up the package because the delivery driver isn't back from the route yet.

I love me some Amazon, but shipping sucks to try and get my stuff without hassle.

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

Tell that to all the people losing their jobs.

Times a changin'.

[jmdajr]

Best Buy is my only credit card.

heh, same with me.

[BattleMonkey]

Times a changin'.

People lose jobs, and Amazon is buying millions in robot order pickers to replace humans. Yay progress!

[Tarazet]

Apple stores? lol

Apple Stores are terrible and horrid. Just a mass of confusion with no direction and cynicism towards the customer at every step, too small, too crowded, like the airport in Mumbai.

[ThisWreckage]

People lose jobs, and Amazon is buying millions in robot order pickers to replace humans. Yay progress!

And apparently Best Buy is opening 50 stores in China, if that article is to be believed.

The quasi-celebratory nature of this thread is absolutely baffling to me. I don't think people realize the magnitude of all of these brick and mortar stores closing.

[Yaboosh]

People lose jobs, and Amazon is buying millions in robot order pickers to replace humans. Yay progress!

Amazon is a better experience. Are you suggesting we should support Best Buy out of pity or charity? This is Best Buy's fault. They failed their employees by being terrible.

[DjangoReinhardt]

Our Best Buy is great. Cheaper than Amazon at times, and I don't have to wait for shipping, nor do I have to have UPS miss me (because I am at work) then wait until 8:30 at night to go pick up the package because the delivery driver isn't back from the route yet. I love me some Amazon, but shipping sucks to try and get my stuff without hassle.

Funny, I'm on the opposite end. I don't care about waiting a day or two and there's no hassle for me to receive a shipment. On the other hand, spending my time to drive to and from a store as well as spend time in it is something I view as a total waste. Not to mention that it would cost me more money to do so.

[JGS]

this part always gets me, you ask them anything and they log on to their secret database only for you to realize it's fucking best buy.com

I don't go without checking for myself.

When I bought my 3G Kindle for 80 bucks I assumed they were gone. Checked and, woohoo, they had them and I got one.

[Kusagari]

The worst thing is whenever I've gone there for trade-ins. Half the time I have to flag down an employee because there's nobody in the video game section.

[Persona7]

It still blows my mind that many, many people still refuse to shop online.

I know people in their early 20s who refuse to buy games or anything else online because it is "stupid" (Direct quote). Even with release date delivery.

"stupid"

[Infinity]

My worst Best Buy experience --

When HP put their Touchpads on sale, I ran to my local BB the very same day. I go in and ask the sales person if they had any in stock. His immediate response was, "I'm not sure, let me check." About 5 minutes later, he comes back and says, "HP discontinued the Touchpad today." I told him that their online inventory showed that their store had a good number of them in stock, on sale in fact, and he went away again for another 5 minutes or so.

He then returned and proceeded to tell me that "their store's Touchpads had been sent back to HP for reconfiguration."

Bullshit.

I pretty much called him a liar, and walked out of the store. Anyone standing around us could tell that he had been caught by a customer in a lie and behaved like he wanted to crawl under a table out of embarrassment.

That alone made me wonder if the store's employees were snapping them up and putting them on E-Bay.

[LosDaddie]

Good. BB is a semi-competitor in my industry. So less of them is good for me. :)

But really, I haven't bought anything at BB in a while. Amazon is almost always cheaper. And it doesn't bother anymore to wait for Amazon to ship a product to me.

[JGS]

It still blows my mind that many, many people still refuse to shop online. I know people in their early 20s who refuse to buy games or anything else online because it is "stupid" (Direct quote). Even with release date delivery. "stupid"

I don't hate shopping online but not sure why it matters

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

People lose jobs, and Amazon is buying millions in robot order pickers to replace humans. Yay progress!

Yes, there are plenty of other trades that human interaction is required in.

[BrLvgThrChmstry]

Oh man... my father used to work there when I was a kid. Memories...

Worked there myself. The last month and half were a blast. I know a few folks that work at BB in different states, hope they aren't included in this statistic.

[BattleMonkey]

Amazon is a better experience. Are you suggesting we should support Best Buy out of pity or charity? This is Best Buy's fault. They failed their employees by being terrible.

I prefer amazon too, but for people to celebrate what is basically bad news for the economy and peoples jobs is nothing to cheer about.

Yes, there are plenty of other trades that human interaction is required in.

Too bad most of those jobs continue to dwindle in quantity.

[Kunohara]

The worst thing is whenever I've gone there for trade-ins. Half the time I have to flag down an employee because there's nobody in the entire store.

Fixed for my experience. Really fucking annoying.

[FairyD]

Damn, one less place where I could interact with people in real life.

[LuchaShaq]

Getting to actually see the product first hand does not matter to you? Seeing it's size in person, the build quality? I see a TV online, I rather see what it looks like in person and make sure I'm gonna like it in my living room or where I would put it. Online never gives you a good overview of what something is going to look like. I was interested in the Xoom while back, took a look at one at Best Buy and was instantly turned off by it's screen quality and how heavy it felt, none of which would have been properly guessed just by going off internet tech specs. Even if the sets are not calibrated, you rather just buy a TV blindly? If it's set wrong in the store you can usually just mess with the demo unit or get an idea of it's performance.

No because I have never had an issue with amazon accepting returns for any reason for any size item. Returned a cpu monitor that had good reviews because I wasn't happy with the quality after a week for 100% refund. Took me less than 5 minutes to put it back in the box, print out the free return shipping label, and drop it off at UPS desk at staples on my way to work.

If a particular tv model has massive build quality issues it will show in user reviews 99% of the time unless it's brand new. Much likely user reviews catch the issue than me screwing with a busted demo unit or some acne covered high school kid at best buy.

[ThisWreckage]

Yes, there are plenty of other trades that human interaction is required in.

That's highly debatable, especially going forward.

[GungHo]

6) Sales person goes to computer and looks at bestbuy.com to see if item is in stock

I've had them refuse to look or tell me "the link is down". The last time this happened, which also happened to be the last time I darkened their door, I went to the display computers in their own goddamn store and found what I was looking for (HDD) in another store. And the guy who refused to look it up gave me a shit-eating smirk when he saw me go do his job for him. I am not a violent man, but I wanted to hurt that boy. They were always a little obnoxious, but after all the CompUSAs and Circuit City closed, their "magnanamousness" went all the way to 11.

I always liked them for buying video games day 1 because you can just pick it up and buy it like anything else. You don't have to ask someone to open up a vault and get it.

They have vaults in some of the stores in my area... seems to depend on the neighborhoods/clientele. Go figure.

If you live near a Fry's.. Best Buy doesn't even enter your mind as an option.

Actually, the closest Fry's here is kinda hostile toward it's customers. You're assumed to be a shoplifter. They set up the parking lot to have defined choke points to prevent fleeing. The "courtesy check" for your receipt isn't... they dig through your shit and ask you if you're sure you paid for everything.

I got 3 within 30 miles. trollface

The Clear Lake and Sugarland places are nice. It's the one here in Gunspoint that is sketchy (see above).

[RukusProvider]

I've tried hard to support Best Buy since they are local. However, my experience on anything complicated has always been terrible.

Their staff is not knowledgeable on TV's, cameras or anything complicated. They are generally unavailable also and poorly staffed during busy seasons.

It's much EASIER to go online, do research, reviews and purchases.

[dskillzhtown]

It still blows my mind that many, many people still refuse to shop online. I know people in their early 20s who refuse to buy games or anything else online because it is "stupid" (Direct quote). Even with release date delivery. "stupid"

Not sure why either option is "stupid". It is a choice and everyone should have the option. I can make arguments for both experiences. There are advantages and disadvantages in both cases. Amazon in particular has really worked on the customer experience while Best Buy and other retailers have become extermely complacent in that regard.

[Deadly Cyclone]

Funny, I'm on the opposite end. I don't care about waiting a day or two and there's no hassle for me to receive a shipment. On the other hand, spending my time to drive to and from a store as well as spend time in it is something I view as a total waste. Not to mention that it would cost me more money to do so.

Makes sense, I get this too. :P

For me it sucks because I work 40 miles from home and they only will try the delivery 3 times, all while I am at work. I do like the new UPS stuff now where you can make them hold the package at the UPS place instead of trying to deliver.

Although my Best Buy is closer than the UPS place.

[Persona7]

I don't hate shopping online but not sure why it matters

I just find it weird.

Some people I know still think that buying things online instantly means that your credit card information will be stolen because that is what their parents taught them.

[Open Source]

and not a single fuck was given. I feel fortunate to work in an industry not threatened by Amazon

Wait, don't we have to express sympathy for all those who lost their jobs and hate on the people who express happiness about it? Or does that only apply for game companies?

[Slayven]

Sometimes I want my shit and I want it now. That why I love physical stores. Plus I will never forgive Amazon for fucking me on release for Rogue Galaxy.

[Effect]

My Best Buy Experience: 1) Go to any section 2) Can't find item 3) Can't find sales person 4) Go to different section and find sales person 5) Ask sales person for help 6) Sales person goes to computer and looks at bestbuy.com to see if item is in stock 7) Question why I even bothered going to the store instead of shopping online.

Pretty much this. I've only lucked one one or two times when I specifically ask the sales guy if he could please check in the back to see if they had anymore of the item I was looking for.

When I see a sales person check the computer I automatically assumed they were checking their internal inventory to see if they had any in stock. That's usually how it's gone. Not with Best Buy though. :( Checking the site isn't helpful at all as it isn't accurate at all yet they insist on using it.

[sp3000]

Amazon is a better experience. Are you suggesting we should support Best Buy out of pity or charity? This is Best Buy's fault. They failed their employees by being terrible.

I can't test a product at Amazon before buying it. If there are only online stores left, it's going to totally suck.

If I am buying a speaker, I want to hear how it sounds. Let's see amazon do that.

[Yeef]

this part always gets me, you ask them anything and they log on to their secret database only for you to realize it's fucking best buy.com

Assuming things haven't changed since when I worked there 8 or so years ago, this isn't entirely accurate. When looking for items in the store there was a standard inventory database you could check with (with a plain, ugly windows GUI) or a intranet version of the bestbuy.com page. It looks identical to the one you see if you got to bestbuy.com, but it's actually just a local version that only checks inventory and prices for that store. I remember they even got a bunch of shit for it, because customers felt like they were doing a bait and switch when the local site's prices were different from the internet version.

[ThisWreckage]

I can't test a product at Amazon before buying it. If there are only online stores left, it's going to totally suck.

I've noticed that younger generations are so fucking gung ho about digital distribution and online ordering that they completely ignore some of the pros that brick and mortar stores offer.

[R2D4]

Wait, don't we have to express sympathy for all those who lost their jobs and hate on the people who express happiness about it? Or does that only apply for game companies?

Well the majority of Best Buy employees are college kids so they probably have a high turnover rate anyway.

[thefit]

They refund returns in cash never had such a worst experience returning merch other than maybe Warlmart

[ruxtpin]

I also had a BB employee refuse to sell me the Ghostbusters game on release day. Nevermind the fact that I showed him the store ad, that I had grabbed near the front door, that said "Available Tuesday at 12pm" in an highlighted area. He went to the storeroom, returned and proceeded to tell me it wasn't the release day.

[Htown]

The Clear Lake and Sugarland places are nice. It's the one here in Gunspoint that is sketchy (see above).

Oh word, the north store sucked?

(I worked at the 59 @ Bellfort location for like 5 years.)

[TheAtomicPile]

Doesn't bother me. They've always been a shit company with know-nothing employees.

I've had a ton of bad experiences there, with the most recent being when I went to buy Kid Icarus. Nobody at the front registers knew how to process a pre order, so the gaming "specialist" comes over and tells me I need to go back to the gaming department desk (which I would have done in the first place, if anyone was there). He then proceeds to process the purchase in such a way that I did not receive the 3D Classics code for pre-ordering, either on the receipt or through e-mail.

To talk to the proper customer service personnel to get my code, I had to make an account on their stupid online forums and send a private message to the gaming department.

They eventually sent the code, but even a crap company like Gamestop can handle simple shit like this. Since they've been doing pre-orders for years and have promoted a bunch of pre-order exclusives over that time, you'd think they'd have a better handle on the process.

Oh and lol at them charging list price for blu-rays.