Best Buy - More News

[eakinj]

Well, since Best Buy is just getting into it, they have an opportunity to change the cliche of what people expect when they walk into a music store that is owned by a larger chain, or by someone who doesn't know anything about it other than research data: they can have qualified, intelligent musicians running their music department rather than some pizza delivery dropout moron, or rather than a manager who is only interested in those customers who are waving cash in-hand when you come through the door.

Well, stickly going on what I have seen with the two best buys I go to, one in merced, ca. and the other in modesto, ca. If their "geek squad" and their computer sales people are any indication, then the people who sell the guitars won't know anything about them beyond they come in this color or that color, they may know the different names of the pickups in them, and they may (if we're lucky) know what gauge string is on them. I work in I.T. and I have heard some of the most retarded shit come out of their computer peoples mouths, all to sell shit not actually resolve any issues. So I don't have high hopes that they'll change any cliche.

Here's what I expect to see. People who do their research on what they want, shop around, may find good deals on what they want. People who can't be bothered and just go in and buy what's on the wall with out doing their homework could get screwed. But I am fine with that, if you can't put the effort in to get the best deal, then don't cry if you get shit on.

BB may get stuff in bulk and be able to undercut GC some. I do not expect anyone working in the MI area of BB to know much more then who makes what guitars they actually sell, and if we're lucky the wood inwhich they are made out of (but since the experts over at GC rarely have a clue what the body material is, I have my doubts for BB)

The one thing that might help GC in all this, is the fact that (at least at the one in modesto) most of the employees actually play instruments. A lot of them are in active bands, where so long as you have a dress code at BB I don't see those folks looking for employement there.

Like I said, there's two mom and pop places out of 5 or 6 that I know of that actually have souls, my only concern is it hurting them, the other ones that over price things and go out of their way to screw the customer can burn in hell for all I care.

Having said all that, I would expect an epic fail when Best Buy realizes there's not enough people interested in spending 3600 dollars on a les paul custom. or 2500 on a standard. If anything this'll go the way of the Mall guitar shops, sure they may get some nifty stuff in, but unless they REALLY cut the price, it won't last.

[Note: For the record, I would rather buy from one of the JCF sells then best buy or whoever, not because I know I'll get a better price or whatever, but because I actually think people like Matt etc actually give a shit. They have to make their money and that's fine by me, but I think they actually care about their customers and regardless if they make a big profit on a sale or don't make a dime on a sale, I think they will still give a level of service that BB will never touch. That also goes for those two mom and pop places mentioned above]

[Ben...]

This is what they did with the PC repair staff/department several years ago.
I went to the local store and gave them my resume, they loved the resume.
BUT, policy and protocol had to be adhered to.
In other word, after question 386 from the online application process, I gave up. At that point, I didn't care anymore and didn't finish the process.
None of the questions had anything to do with your work knowledge or skills, all of it was about personal character. I got tired of answering the same question three hundred different ways.

Oh good God I hate those. I applied at the local Futureshop (Canada's version of Best Buy) for the entertainment department and it took me a bloody hour and a half. all the questions were:

79: Would you steal $5 or less in merchandise from your employer?
80: Would you steal $10 or less in merchandise from your employer?
81: Would you steal $25 or less in merchandise from your employer?

It was so frustrating I just about gave up. I actually finished the stupid thing and they didn't even have an opening in that department so they offered me a job in car audio. I straight out said I had no clue about any of that stuff but they still wanted me. Why? Wouldn't they want someone who actually knows about that stuff? Someone who can actually help a customer? I guess I just have too much of a conscience for that place. I don't think it would be right for me to tell people about things I myself know nothing about.

[pro-fusion]

I haven't visited one of the Best Buys with the musical gear yet (didn't even know about it until now), but I'm going to take a wild guess and say that there will be a lot more $200 Starter Packs than $3,000 guitars. This will be aimed at the casual consumer if BB is smart, and they are.

For me, this just gives me yet another opportunity to not find what I'm looking for at Best Buy.

Seriously, their MO seems to be to carry a very half-assed selection of a lot of different products, with the end result that I almost always end up buying online unless it's something very generic that I need.

[skorb]

so are they going to clear out the dust-gathering cd area for this new huge store display partition?

wonder how these will look. the one I go to in Torrance on PCH at Crenshaw is nowhere near even starting to do any in-store construction of any kind that I can tell.

[jk2171]

This will be interesting to see how it plays out. I think it will come down to selection and service. But I think a bigger issue will be paying sales tax. I know for me, I have the typical GCs in my area (Chicagoland) and some pretty good mom and pop stores. But 9 times out of 10 I am buying a high-end guitar from a dealer out of state so I don't get pinched on the tax. On a $3000 guitar the shipping costs (IF the dealer even charges you) are far less than paying the salex tax on the guitar. That's why I've bought from Matt in the past, and other online dealers that are outside of my area.

One of the advantages I can see with Best Buy's model though is the fact that a TON of people have the Best Buy credit card and usually anything over $299 is 90 days no interest. If they start running those 12 or 18 month deals on guitars then it might that much more appealing to a 'on the fence' buyer.

[ABSOLUT CHARVEL]

humm? I wonder what the employee discounts are there? May not be a bad gig to work part time there long enough to set yourself up with a new TV, PS3, surround system, etc... and maybe a guitar/amp or 2?

[guitarzan2]

This should be fun. The local Guitar Center is right next door to a Best Buy LOL !!!!!!

1/2 the reason I ever step foot into a Guitar Center though is to look for used gear. I'm sure that won't be an issue at Best Buy so I doubt I'd ever go there for gear.

[necrotechno]

What bothers me about it is the "training" these people are going to get. Industrial production environments are very similar to retail environments in the sense of who gets "trained" and what constitutes "training".

Okay, class. Repeat after me: "No, but we can order it."

[chrisolson]

I think it's a good move. The sooner we kill off all American businesses, the sooner people here will wake the fuck up and do something.

Isn't Best Buy based in MN - USA??

[chrisolson]

When I walk into BB, guess where I see the most action?

***RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GUITAR HERO GAME***

So I guess that, considering they have a captive audience already, as well as the success of the Guitar Hero game, it only makes a bit of sense to do something like this. I don't see them moving a lot of big ticket items (until they clearance them), but I bet they move a LOT of the sub-$500 gear.

[Chrisb]

That's me. Be realistic. Those musicians who will buy a $3200 Gibson/Fender or a $5000 DW kit will want to deal with somebody who knows a thing or two about the instrument. Most of the Best Buy employees that I've encountered don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. Nor do they care to learn the difference.

I personally appreciate buying from the dealers like the ones on the JCF who are knowledgable and are musicians themselves.

However, this is coming from a guy who has never bought a guitar hanging on the wall at GC. Also, as I've stated before, I have 3 GC's within 40 minutes of my home and none of them have ever had any guitars worth a shit as far as I'm concerned. I assume Best Buy will have a simliar inventory.

You would think so but its simply not the case. I work for Sound Advice (depending on your location you may know it as Tweeter, High Fi Buys etc) and we get creamed by Best Buy and such. Expertise doesn't matter, facts don't even matter. Fact is we match price just like those other guys do, but the perception of the public is that because us guys that work at SA know our shit, we charge more. You go into a Best Buy you may if your lucky get a guy who knows a few things. but I have to know my shit inside and out, you can't put together a $50,000 proposal without knowing everything about home theater. Aside from a few places here and there we are the last major chain still on commission (which unfortunately is why I'm probably gonna have to find a better job, no one is spending money on home theater with the economy the way it is now, at least not the middle to upper middle class which is where Sound Advice used to make its money. The entry level stuff is always there, but there is not generally much money to be made there. And by and large the higher end customers are going with independent home theater specialists. The 12k-25k jobs are just not there like they once were). One would hope people would go to a real music store or guitar store but if the public perception is that Best Buy is cheaper, then they will sadly start putting mom and pop music stores out of business and even cut into Sam Ash and GC profits. Sad to see this.

[livebiz]

Just checked out a new Best Buy in the SFV. It was a nice set up with a better selection than I expected. Props to them...competition for GC which is next door.

[guitarnut1980]

pesonally i don't shop at gc or sam ash and the like. half of the stuff im come across is horribly unmaintained. I think best buy will be about the same, at least i can buy something from mf and get it unopened.
But beyond that you can get lucky once and a great while and find a tidbit that is of any players value, thanks to idiot clerks who don't know what they are selling you, and like most of the jcf members i am a player, and when i go into one of these stores i know exactly what i am looking for, and dont really care for an idiot clerk breathing down my neck and not know anything about the product hes selling, half of these assholes are too busy mingling amongst themselves the give a crap anyways thank god less hassle,
Even so knowing what i want in the first place i wouldn't care if the asshole knew anything anyways beyond the fact wether or not the instrument has any defects at all. im happier if the employee is interested in the same product as me, i mean do i want to go in to a store and ask about a jackson guitar and then have the guy tell me they are crap hell no. leave these stores to sell the new comers and the cristmas guitar buyers their stuff, the rest of us intelligent buyers will go to places like matts and drum city where we can find more than just 2 dozen blah bland strats les pauls and an occasional prs.

[scotty]

They are opening one in my area, right next to the new GC. A couple of buddies of mine that work at mom & pop shops have already dropped off apps. One of them have been at the same local shop for over 10 years. Both hoping for better pay and benefits.