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Author Topic: Question about Best Buy  (Read 6894 times)

Lisa Nikodym

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #20 on: September 20, 2005, 06:05:25 pm »

I bought my camera from BB via mail order using their web site, not a local store, so I wasn't exposed to clueless sales people and pushy extended warranty salesmen.   If you know what you want and can wait a few days for shipping (which was my case), it's less of a headache the former way.  I can see how the latter could get very annoying.

Lisa
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Mark D Segal

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #21 on: September 20, 2005, 07:05:53 pm »

To Steve Anthony:

Steve, I noticed you hadn't picked up on my description of the retail situation here in Toronto and my suggestions that a firm like yours, with the amount of retail real estate under your control here, could do something imaginative for the Toronto computer and photography markets. I lump these in one because with digital photography they are so integrated.

I would like to get a little more specific about what I mean by "imaginative", though you could infer it from what I said in that post.

Anecdote: Because none of our major shops here in Toronto had them off the shelf and the price is CAD 340, I went to J&R's website and ordered a Lacie 80GB mobile hard drive for backing-up my photos when photographing extensively on trips. The price at J&R was 170 US = about 200 Canadian. So I ordered that and another larger hard drive, also much cheaper at J&R, shipping was only 20 dollars. I placed the order yesterday morning, and the parcel arrived from NYC to my door in Toronto Ontario at 9:30 AM THIS MORNING. That is less than 24 hours, and I saved over 35%. The point I'm making is that the internet plus UPS has made the kind of choked-up retailing we have here OBSOLETE.

So Toronto needs a retail OVERHAUL in photo/computer stuff. (I lived in the USA for eleven years before returning here, and from that experience, I just see the contrast like night and day.) We could really use several true superstores staffed with savvy people, tech support provided, and stocked with a full choice of all kinds of equipment and supplies from mid range to high-end professional, procured and priced in a manner that makes it a very marginal decision at worst or a no-brainer at best whether to order over the net or buy locally. This city could probably absorb a couple such outlets. It would mean converting several of your largest Future Shop/Best Buy properties into these superstore concepts, where people know they can go, phone or use the net to get almost ANYTHING, and expect good tech support for first-use issues. This is a concept that is just waiting to happen here.
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Dr. Gary

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #22 on: September 20, 2005, 07:31:16 pm »

I had a salesman try to push a bunch of extras on me when I picked up a printer on sale (extra ink, paper, etc, cord  didn't need). When I told him I didn't want the extras he got really miffed because he lost his spiff. I usually know what I want but if I need some expert advice on a purchase I don't have the perception that Best Buy would be the place to get it.

drgary
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Gordon Buck

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #23 on: September 20, 2005, 09:57:49 pm »

A good marketing survey approach - hope you are able to use it and make improvements.

I'm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Best Buy is a relative newcomer to our area.  I've shopped Best Buy a number of times and think of it as OK but not great.  Our local store is a nice one.  Like many on this forum, photography is my hobby and I'm often asked about equipment.  Especially as we approach the Christmas season, I always take the following appoach:  1) print the recommendations from ImagingResource.com  2) recommend that potential buyers consult Consumer Reports and 3) check out Best Buy (in addition to other stores).

The "hands on" experience at Best Buy is very good even though the "can I help you" can be too frequent (I'll bet that is not considered a problem at BB headquarters!) and the knowledge level isn't necessarily as good as I'd like.

My complaint about BB with respect to photography is that mid-level equipment and supplies are inadequate.  I was recently pleased to see that BB was selling the Canon 20D (which I shoot) but was disappointed with the price.  I'd like a local source of ink and professional/hobbyist papers for Epson 2200 printers (and the like).  I'd like a local source of high capacity HIGH SPEED CF cards at a reasonable price.  I'd like a reasonable price on a photo quality LCD monitor.  I'd like a reasonable price and choices on portable storage devices.

It seems to me that there is an opportunity for BB to ramp up its approach to digital photography to include the serious hobbyist and replace some of the mail order houses.

I should add that the vast majority of my photo equipment and supplies are purchased from B&H.
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Steven M Anthony

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #24 on: September 20, 2005, 11:32:04 pm »

Thanks everyone!!

I'm formulating more questions with nearly every response I see here!  This is a perspective we rarely get as it is difficult to get a group of pros and avid hobbyist photogs together in one physical space.
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mikebinok

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #25 on: September 21, 2005, 02:10:54 am »

Hi Steve--

My suspicion is that most of the type of photographers who are going to be vocal at this forum won't be using most of the photo equipment Best Buy sells, so I'm not sure our habits are going to be of interest directly.  I (and I assume others here) am often asked questions about which consumer camera or printer to buy.  We're often stuck being asked about models of equipment we don't really know anything about.  In that circumstance, I tend to excuse myself and check out the reviews at dpreview.com or stevesdigicams.com before I give advice.

An analogy that may be closer to your experience--When you're talking to the folks here, it's like talking to the people who overclock computers--We tend to buy specialist gear that meets needs (real or imagined on our part) that "ordinary folks" don't have.  So I don't feel we are five years ahead of the crowd--More that we are running on a different track than the main herd.  But we ARE asked for advice frequently as mentioned above.

As for Best Buy in particular, my experience is similar to that described by others here--use them for consumer electronics purchases when only when the BB price is comparable to the internet or when getting the product in hand at once is of the essence.  I always know exactly what I want before I go in the store, and I am careful to pay absolutely no attention to what the sales staff says (they don't have my confidence, though my experiences haven't been as bad as some of those here).  I also carry a Taser with me to fire at any employee who mentions extended service contracts!

For me, BB is a place to buy consumer electronics such as televisions, an occasional DVD, and it is tolerable for computers (though I prefer CompUSA for that).

I don't think it's what you're looking for, but I'll add that it burns me up to shop for a cell phone and not be able to turn it on and test reception.  Even more not to be able to see the actual screen, but have to look at a little decal stuck on with an image of the display!
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TimeZone

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #26 on: September 21, 2005, 05:41:47 pm »

I use to really like Best Buy, but now only so so...

The prices don't seem as good as they once were.  I use to come in the store and find what were really good deals and buy something on a regular basis, perhaps even unplanned in many cases.  That doesn't really seem to happen anymore.

One thing hat has really turned me off is the Reward Zone program. Who sold this idea to the corporate heads?  This is such a pain in the ass.  At first I used it when it first came out and I was given a  free card.  There is no way I would purchase this card to "save" money though, unless for some reason I was making a huge purchase and it was going to result in a savings right then.  It is a real pain to keep up with an extra card to have scanned on top of a Best Buy credit card.

The savings should be put back in the products price on the shelf, no one wants to mess with a program, and points, and coupons, and junk.  Plus the savings are next to nothing.  Best Buy should go back to its namesake and offer better pricing and do away with the Reward Zone junk.  This has really turned me off from shopping at Best Buy.

I do hope the Best Buy coupons for 10% off etc., that Best Buy sends out from time to time will also work on the Best Buy website, if they don't already.

I now do much more of my shopping online at other stores and will continue unless Best Buy offers better pricing.

P.S.  I also heard the bizarre story given buy a checkout girl to a kid in front of me before that it was against the law for them to take a DVD back (can't remember could have been a CD or game).  This was at a TX store.  I knew that was a load.  Best Buy really needs to train people correctly and not to lie about this.  Of course they are trying to protect themselves from people copying merchandise, but against the law to return something it is not.
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kiskadee

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #27 on: September 21, 2005, 07:36:09 pm »

I am about equidistant from Best Buy; CompUSA and Fry's so convenience is not a factor.  
For photo equipment none have the sort of thing of much interest to me although Fry's has by far the biggest selection and often the best prices.  Safe to say that the odds of finding a knowledgeable clerk in any of these is slim.  I use an in-town higher end shop or a very short list of internet sources for photo gear.
BB's CD selection is not to my taste but that is immaterial.
I get small things like ink etc. at any of these but given a choice for anything bigger I head to CompUSA because it is not only more a pleasant place but they have an absolutely no hassle return policy.

With an inventory very similar to CompUSA's the only distinguishing features are price; sales pressure and the comfort of a friendly return policy.  Best Buy loses on at least two of those.  Fry's often wins on price but I only get things that I'm pretty sure will never have to be returned to them.  I do go there to look though because they have a lot of stuff.

Its clearly not easy to be a mass merchandiser of low margin product and still have customer service.
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LesGirrior

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #28 on: September 21, 2005, 07:32:21 pm »

Knowledgable salespeople who don't lie to customers should be your top priority, if that is even possible on a large scale.

Its insulting to be treated as a sale and not as a person.
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macgyver

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #29 on: September 23, 2005, 06:13:04 pm »

Hey Steve,

I would happpily recomend BB to anyone looking for a consumer grade digicam or even a DSLR (assuming they have them).  The BB near my home seems to be somewhat of an anomaly, the photo section is staff by 2 extremely experianced and knowledgable salesmen.  You can not imagine my suprise to have a BB salesman acctually be able to comment on the quality of the lens I was looking for, even if He didn't sell it.  Yes, other minimum wage flunkies work the section to, but you learn to find the guys who know their stuff.  My biggest problem with BB photo has always been (as others have said) a lack of selection.  Generally, if I want to buy something I want to play with it first.  It just seems that BB is targeted totally toward the lower end of the market, which, if thats you plan, is fine.  But, that leaves the rest of us high and dry.  My other problem is the general lack of knowledge of the sales associates.  As I said the one near my home is amazing, but every other BB I have ever seen has had almost a complete lack of knowledge in the photo center.  I've even had one worker be rude to me simply because she didnt understand my question.

Beyond that I like BB.  It always seems to be better stocked and cleaner than Ciruct City, and, as much as I like the  Apple Store in compusa, I dont go there all that often.

Oh, and prices.  Get prices in the B&H range.

I hope this tells you something and helps, I'm not sure you haven't heard it all. Goodluck.

-macgyver

PS:  Milk and cookies would be nice.
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mschubb

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Question about Best Buy
« Reply #30 on: September 23, 2005, 06:24:39 pm »

Hi Steven -

Thanks for asking.  I help people all the time when they pick out consumer gear (photo, A/V and computer) and even though BB is very close, I never recommend it.  I don't mind paying a bit more than bottom-line web prices, especially at a local store w/ expertise and/or good service, but time also has a cost.

Ever try to return something at BB on a busy day?  I bought a $14 cell phone headset at the W. Los Angeles store, opened the package in my car, plugged it in, and DOA.   No problem; this happens.  However, when I walked back in -- four minutes after purchase -- the cashier wouldn't let me exchange it at the register where I had just purchased it.  

Asked two other associates and a manager for a quick fix, but all insisted I go thru customer service.  There I was forced to wait in line for FORTY MINUTES and had to complete paperwork for a simple replacement.  Mightily pissed off by then, I opted for refund instead and vowed never to return.

WLA BB is a classic example of indifferent management, bad  training and a junior high school mentality.  (But given the hot location/demographic, sales must be good, so why fix it?)
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