It's almost like my local Best Buy doesn't want to make money

[Doppel]

A few months back I went into BestBuy on a weekday evening and it took 10-15 minutes to find anybody near the TV section who would help me out. There were just literally no employees around the area at all. I thought, ok, it's a week day evening I'll give them a break. I finally asked around and somebody came along.

So, today I go in again to look for a TV. Me and 3-4 other entities (a person or couple) are standing around and/or pacing the TV section like idiots waiting for assistance, as there is only one guy serving the lot of us and at one point he pisses off for five minutes doing something else.

Finally, I went to the laptops to visit bestbuy.com and order my TV. Of course, it wasn't in stock and the closest one I wanted was a 20 minute drive. Now I will probably just buy it on amazon.

Why BestBuy seems incapable of substantially staffing what must be one of the highest sales sections of the store is beyond me. All of us were looking at TVs costing $500-$1500 and they can't find a $12/hour guy to stand around and answer basic questions or grab it from the stock room?

 

[irishScott]

Apparently they've learned exactly how uninformed their sales monkeys are and are doing you a favor.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I never understood how that place stays in business. Bad customer service and high pricing. I haven't stepped in that place in over a year and even then it was just to pick up a movie they had on sale. I had to argue with them to get them to match their own freaking sales ad.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Shouldn't this be in the first world problems thread?

 

[Doppel]

I never understood how that place stays in business. Bad customer service and high pricing. I haven't stepped in that place in over a year and even then it was just to pick up a movie they had on sale. I had to argue with them to get them to match their own freaking sales ad.

The only real reason I want to get a TV from them is that my last TV, an entry level Westinghouse, had some issues 3.5 years into the 4 year extended warranty (not major ones by any means) and they were absolutely delightful in dealing with it. Took it and two weeks later just gave me credit, I upgraded to a larger TV no money out of pocket.

I think these low-end 40-something inch tvs for $500-600 are disposable crap, and for a hundred bucks more for extended warranty you're good to go as opposed to spending a lot on a quality set to begin with

 

[hclarkjr]

best buy is on the way out, they are cutting hours and help at my local one and is rumored to be closing some stores

 

[SandEagle]

that's why i'm in favor of commission-based pay. when i was a sales monkey at Circuit City in my younger days I tried hard to sell and was extremely nice andcouteous to customers :vomit: the things we do for money

 

[Leros]

I just bought a tv for my dad. $799 at Best Buy. $750 at Walmart. $550 on Amazon.

 

[Nebor]

I have a friend that spends at least $1000 a month at best buy. He buys every new movie that comes out on blu-ray, tons of PS3 games & various other electronics. I've tried to point out that all of it is cheaper on amazon, and some of it is MUCH cheaper through sites like slickdeals, but he loves best buy. He likes being able to go in, pay and leave with his purchase. Keep in mind he drives an hour one way to the nearest best buy, and goes once a week. Blows my mind.

 

[shortylickens]

that's why i'm in favor of commission-based pay. when i was a sales monkey at Circuit City in my younger days I tried hard to sell and was extremely nice andcouteous to customers :vomit: the things we do for money

The problem with that is when gramma needs a 20-incher for the kitchen and gets suckered into a 60 incher with 7.1 sound & marble entertainment center and has to have carpenters over to add a room to her house.

 

[shortylickens]

I have a friend that spends at least $1000 a month at best buy. He buys every new movie that comes out on blu-ray, tons of PS3 games & various other electronics. I've tried to point out that all of it is cheaper on amazon, and some of it is MUCH cheaper through sites like slickdeals, but he loves best buy. He likes being able to go in, pay and leave with his purchase. Keep in mind he drives an hour one way to the nearest best buy, and goes once a week. Blows my mind.

I was skeptical of Amazon at first but once I got into it I felt kinda sad. All those hours of my life spent wandering around town, burning gasoline, only to pay too much for something.
Now I make the UPS man my personal shopper. And I save money too. Its kinda funny when you think about it.

 

[dud]

OP, your story reminds me of a lesson I learned a LONG time ago ... that is to go to BB to check out what you want to buy and then go on-line to actually purchase it.

I haven't bought anything at BB in 4 years ... and loving it!

 

[Nebor]

I was skeptical of Amazon at first but once I got into it I felt kinda sad. All those hours of my life spent wandering around town, burning gasoline, only to pay too much for something.
Now I make the UPS man my personal shopper. And I save money too. Its kinda funny when you think about it.

Yeah, and he's still like, BRB, gonna drive an hour away in my Hummer to buy a $60 video game at best buy, then drive an hour back.

 

[Leros]

best buy is on the way out, they are cutting hours and help at my local one and is rumored to be closing some stores

Every Best Buy I go to is always crowded and the checkout lines are always busy. I think they're doing just fine.

 

[shortylickens]

Hummer? Hour drive?
OK, I think I see the problem. This dude clearly has way too much money and likes burning it. I bet he loves how that beast handles and probably goes on the long drive to pick up chicks and what not.

 

[Nebor]

Hummer? Hour drive?
OK, I think I see the problem. This dude clearly has way too much money and likes burning it. I bet he loves how that beast handles and probably goes on the long drive to pick up chicks and what not.

Meh, he's a single, childless senior captain, so he makes around $90k a year. Since average income around here is less than $20k, the cost of living is nothing, leaves a lot left over to play with. He spends lavishly on movies, video games and guns.

And there's no picking up chicks between here and Best Buy. And if there were, you wouldn't want 'em. :biggrin:

 

[preslove]

Meh, he's a single, childless senior captain, so he makes around $90k a year. Since average income around here is less than $20k, the cost of living is nothing, leaves a lot left over to play with. He spends lavishly on movies, video games and guns.

And there's no picking up chicks between here and Best Buy. And if there were, you wouldn't want 'em. :biggrin:

Did he come out recently because of the DADT repeal?

 

[silverpig]

So a few months ago you went in and didn't buy a TV? Was that because there was no one to help you, or because you were just there to look at TVs, chat up with employees, and then leave?



edit: 25000

 

[Nebor]

Did he come out recently because of the DADT repeal?

No, he's still in the closet.

 

[Snock514]

20 minute drive too far? Indeed, #firstworldproblems.

 

[Anubis]

20 minute drive. Now I will probably just buy it on amazon.

lol the closest best but to me is like 60 miles away

 

[Doppel]

So a few months ago you went in and didn't buy a TV? Was that because there was no one to help you, or because you were just there to look at TVs, chat up with employees, and then leave?



edit: 25000

I did get it a few months ago and now I need another

 

[irishScott]

best buy is on the way out, they are cutting hours and help at my local one and is rumored to be closing some stores

Did you hear where they had to cancel Christmas orders because they ran out of shit to sell? I think they're doing just fine.

 

[hclarkjr]

do a google search, they are struggling

 

[Nebor]

Did you hear where they had to cancel Christmas orders because they ran out of shit to sell? I think they're doing just fine.

Q3 profits down 29%.