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Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

nytimes.com

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Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#111

Post by ghaff »

inferiorhuman wrote: post #100
dawnerd wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say the only way to guarantee you're getting the correct product is to buy from the manufacture's page itself. Anker for example, everything is sold by them instead of sold by amazon. Also been noticing a lot less companies allowing amazon as a "trusted online merchant" for returns.

While KEH was great for used camera gear (I haven't bought new or used gear in ages so IDK how they are now), B&H offers an unmatached breadth. If anything I'd say that Adorama is a much closer competitor to B&H, although I'm loathe to buy from Adorama due to the incessant spam I get from them every time I make a purchase.

Yes on both counts. KEH is mostly used photo gear and they tend to be my go-to for that although, like you, it's a rare purchase for me. I tend to default to B&H but I'd agree their closest competitor is Adorama (although B&H's store in Manhattan is much larger).

Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#112

Post by richardhod »

lscotte wrote: post #26
Someone1234 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's why I like B&H Photo now too. All genuine products, sold by them, with real reviews. Their shipping is a little slower and they close Friday/Saturday which is frustrating but overall a good experience. They even do price guarantee if you contact CS which Amazon discontinued.

B&H is great, agreed. They are an extremely honest company, so taking a few days longer is worth it in my opinion - you are going to get exactly what you ordered in my experience. On Amazon, that's only guaranteed if Amazon is the seller (not to be confused with "fulfilled by Amazon", of course). B&H is also closed on all Jewish holidays.

How can I tell that these are genuine beliefs in B&H and not just plugs and shills? This is a genuine question: I've heard of them and used to see them advertise a lot in magazines, when they were still a thing. But.. aggressive advertising is what they did, so how can I know?

Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#113

Post by jedimastert »

general8bitso wrote: post #23

Not a fan. Used to work there during college. If we didn’t sell enough PSPs (extended warranties), we were not allowed to leave at our scheduled time. Also, we moved all the laptop inventory to the back of the store, so if a customer wanted to buy a laptop that was in stock, but did not want to purchase an extended warranty, we were instructed to lie to the customer and say it was out-of-stock. Also, the whole incent…

> Also, we moved all the laptop inventory to the back of the store, so if a customer wanted to buy a laptop that was in stock, but did not want to purchase an extended warranty, we were instructed to lie to the customer and say it was out-of-stock.

So what you're telling me is if they ask me about an extended warranty, say yes then change your mind at the register?

Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#114

Post by novia »

whoopdedo wrote: post #38

The article says Best Buy didn't have to layoff employees. But why would they ever? Retail has a high turnover rate already. All they had to do was not hire replacements when people left on their own. Or hire a part-time worker when a full-timer quits. Is there any national retailer other than Walmart that has not been forced to reduce their labor budget as a response to Amazon? None that I've looked into.

Barnes & Noble

http://audreyii-fic.tumblr.com/post/170886347853/the-entirel...

Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#115

Post by deaps »

I've always preferred Best Buy to Amazon for electronics (and I definitely do my fair share of Amazon purchasing).

Recently, I bought my MacBook there. I also purchased a gaming headset from there.

I think the main thing is - what if I get my headset out of the box and one ear has no sound - easy fix with Best Buy. Same with the MacBook. In fact - I actually ended up returning my original MacBook to Best Buy within 14 days of purchasing it to get a slightly upgraded model - no questions asked, nothing lost but about an hour of time.

As other posters have mentioned, there's also the 'knock-off' chance on Amazon as well (or at least me, the general, uninformed consumer thinks that there is). I can't be certain that even Apple-branded products from Amazon are actually Apple products. But at Best Buy, my assumption is they are legit Apple products.

Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#116

Post by ilovetux »

jhallenworld wrote: post #71

I've had no success with Best Buy recently. They never have quite what I want. Here are some recent examples: An HD capable portable radio. (ended up buying Sangean HDR-16 from Amazon) A keyboard synthesizer (I know they carried these in the past). I upgraded three car stereos and they didn't have anything I wanted in stock. (Ended up buying one from Amazon and two from Crutchfield). An unlocked Samsung cell phone. T…

I love Microcenter! I'm about a 2 and a half hour drive from one and make my way up there probably 2-3 times a year carpooling with some colleagues and friends. I don't know if all locations are the same, but the inventory at the one I go to is more akin to a trade show than a Best Buy.

Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#117

Post by pionar »

learc83 wrote: post #41
mikeash wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Measuring percentage would do it. I’m always amazed that companies can be so boneheaded. You’d think I’d stop being amazed at some point, but no.

My favorite was when we started focusing heavily on close rate. Close rate was just the number of transactions divided by the number of people who walked in the door, so someone proposed that we start breaking up people's purchases into multiple transactions. I proposed a counter solution--we just move the laser sensor on the door a bit higher, so that short people wouldn't trigger it.

I worked in an electronics store (regional, not Best Buy, and out of business now) in the mid-2000s that had this exact measure.

In my store, on busy days, the manager would occasionally "greet" customers at the door for 10 minutes at a time. Coincidentally, the spot he would choose to stand would block the sensor, so instead of 20 customers coming in in 10 minutes, it looked like only 1 had come in.

Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#118

Post by wccrawford »

general8bitso wrote: post #23

Not a fan. Used to work there during college. If we didn’t sell enough PSPs (extended warranties), we were not allowed to leave at our scheduled time. Also, we moved all the laptop inventory to the back of the store, so if a customer wanted to buy a laptop that was in stock, but did not want to purchase an extended warranty, we were instructed to lie to the customer and say it was out-of-stock. Also, the whole incent…

I've shopped at quite a few Best Buys near me. I used to hate them, until I found a good store. I love shopping there now. They don't pressure about PSPs, they're friendly, available, and knowledgeable, etc.

Whenever I end up at another Best Buy, I'm reminded how much I used to hate them because the others haven't changed.

It sounds like you worked at one of the many bad ones, and that sucks.

Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#119

Post by Pxtl »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #68
Pxtl wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's good to hear. I stopped going to best buy when every question I had for staff was answered by the staffer reading the card on the shelf. I go to a meat-space store when I don't know what I want and I need knowledgeable salesmen to help me. The BB in my neighborhood never ever had that, so I stopped shopping there.

People don’t want to or are unable to pay for a knowledgeable salesperson, hence why they do not exist for simple things such as consumer electronics.

Depends on the product. Look at home Depot / Lowe's / Rona where it's absolutely expected that there will be staff with contracting experience who have advice on what products to buy and how to use them.

Re: Best Buy’s Secrets for Thriving in the Amazon Age (2017)

#120

Post by lotsofpulp »

Pxtl wrote: post #119
lotsofpulp wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People don’t want to or are unable to pay for a knowledgeable salesperson, hence why they do not exist for simple things such as consumer electronics.

Depends on the product. Look at home Depot / Lowe's / Rona where it's absolutely expected that there will be staff with contracting experience who have advice on what products to buy and how to use them.

I do not expect to find experienced professionals working a $15/hour job at Lowe’s or Home Depot. There might be some who are out of the game due to injury or age, but not as a norm.
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