What if Best Buy goes out of business? (Montgomery: home, buying)

[awesomearchie]

My problem with Best Buy:
Paying taxes on large purchases
Even after you prove you're not a moron, the staff still treats you like one. I once had a guy insist on selling the stupid Black Tie warranty or whatever to me... ENDLESSLY. I wound up eventually telling him "just f***ing ring me up already" and leaving.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by awesomearchie

My problem with Best Buy:
Paying taxes on large purchases
Even after you prove you're not a moron, the staff still treats you like one. I once had a guy insist on selling the stupid Black Tie warranty or whatever to me... ENDLESSLY. I wound up eventually telling him "just f***ing ring me up already" and leaving.

No doubt that by realizing the service plan is a rip off and declining it you proved your intelligence and common sense. However, the sad reality is that since it is such a huge source of revenue for the Company that the performance of Best Buy staff is heavily dependant on their conversion rate for the service plan and if they fail to sell enough of them they will essentially be performance managed out of a job. As a result, they pretty much have to mercilessly argue with you until you either give in or get angry and at that point they'll usually stop. I agree, this also makes me never want to shop there.

P.S. Best Buy - Amazon never pushes Service Plans on me.

End Result = Amazon 1, Best Buy 0.

[Beenhere4ever]

Wait, I don't think Circuit City is out of business. I know Ultimate isnt. Ultimate Electronics Hours and Locations for Minnesota | HoursMap

But Audio King did change its name. Thing is these bricks and mortars places, as a rule, don't really try to compete with the online companies. Which has worked for more than a decade. But especially after the meltdown, customers have to seek the best option they can. If its something that doesn't require some kind of complicated installation, storefronts just aren't needed anymore.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

Wait, I don't think Circuit City is out of business. I know Ultimate isnt. Ultimate Electronics Hours and Locations for Minnesota | HoursMap

Hmmmmm....yeahhhhhh. You better double-check your data there. Both Circuit City and Ultimate Electronics have liquidated and no longer exist (via chapter 7 bankruptcy to be specific). This is not new news either.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

Wait, I don't think Circuit City is out of business. I know Ultimate isnt. Ultimate Electronics Hours and Locations for Minnesota | HoursMap

But Audio King did change its name. Thing is these bricks and mortars places, as a rule, don't really try to compete with the online companies. Which has worked for more than a decade. But especially after the meltdown, customers have to seek the best option they can. If its something that doesn't require some kind of complicated installation, storefronts just aren't needed anymore.

Originally Posted by Cruz Azul Guy

Hmmmmm....yeahhhhhh. You better double-check your data there. Both Circuit City and Ultimate Electronics have liquidated and no longer exist (via chapter 7 bankruptcy to be specific). This is not new news either.

What Cruz Azul Guy said... They are definitely gone, that Ultimate Electronics address listed in Minnetonka has been empty for a long time.

[Beenhere4ever]

The "Circuit City" brand is now owned by Systemax, which uses the brand to sell electronics as an online retailer, CircuitCity.com. On May 11, 2009, Systemax purchased the brand, trademark and e-commerce business at an auction from Circuit City Stores, Inc. Systemax had earlier acquired CompUSA and TigerDirect which now operate as online retailers. Systemax, in April 2009, signed a stalking horse agreement for $6.5 million which is an initial offer for the bankrupt company's assets.[2

Sort of what I thought might happen. Very common in corporate world. GE sold its brand in certain product lines. I wonder how healthy Radio Shack is these days. If Best Buy goes belly up, it will be one more piece of wreckage from the banks running economies onto the rocks. One more reason to be delighted that we saved their butts instead of just letting THEM become ex-brands.

[mzem]

Originally Posted by moving123456

What Cruz Azul Guy said... They are definitely gone, that Ultimate Electronics address listed in Minnetonka has been empty for a long time.

I believe they closed 2-3 years ago. I went with one of my friends to take a peek to see what they had on the shelf for their going out of business sale.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Cruz Azul Guy

No doubt that by realizing the service plan is a rip off and declining it you proved your intelligence and common sense.

I used to get my money's worth from those, but I know enough to only get a service plan on components like dual tape decks or first generation cartridge CD changers which were sometimes prone to mechanical issues.

If it doesn't have a lot of moving parts that are constantly in motion, it ain't worth it. Most items now are a lot more reliable, so I've not purchased one for over a decade now.

[Beenhere4ever]

I'm wondering if they are still pushing service plans despite the possibility of being out of business. By the way, I noticed the Geek Squad hooked up with some other retailer. That might be another signed of a fading business entity.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

I'm wondering if they are still pushing service plans despite the possibility of being out of business. By the way, I noticed the Geek Squad hooked up with some other retailer. That might be another signed of a fading business entity.

They have to try some kind of last ditch effort to stay in business.