Author Topic: Best Buy is apparently almost finished (Read 9682 times)

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **on:** July 13, 2012, 08:49:55 PM »

http://seekingalpha.com/article/708531-best-buy-s-2012-layoffs-reminiscent-of-circuit-city-s-2007-layoffs
http://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraheller/2012/03/29/best-buy-cost-cutting-to-profitability/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrydownes/2012/01/02/why-best-buy-is-going-out-of-business-gradually/

Back in the day, I enjoyed going to Best Buy. I always thought that they had some decent prices on shit and I could usually find I wanted there if I wanted to make an impulse buy. This place was also my go to if I wanted a game since Gamestop became an obnoxious experience for the customer. However the last couple of years I noticed that they were stocking a lot less and it was harder and harder to find the games I used to get that they would have typically stocked a few years ago. I understand that used games probably bring in more money but after a while, I started seeing used games take up greater aisle space while the new game selection became pitiful at best.

Himu · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:53:41 PM »

Where do I go to get stupidly overpriced dvds and blu rays now?!?!?!?!??!

Himu · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:55:53 PM »

What do you MEAN you have The Wire series boxset for 200 dollars? Amazon has it for less than 100! Here, I'll be reasonable and give you the extra 100 dollars for The Wire boxset because I'm a FUCKING IDIOT and I think you guys deserve a premium!

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:58:15 PM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on July 13, 2012, 08:53:41 PM

Where will I go to test drive electronics before I order them online now?!?!?!?!??!

ftfy

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:59:42 PM »

I went to buy Redline on Blu-ray at Best Buy back in the Fall. The CD section was paired down to two racks, and even the DVD/Blu-ray section was ridiculously small.

Himu · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:00:57 PM »

The dvd/blu ray section at my Best Buy is huge. Well, it used to be. But they've remodeled it and now it's just a few rows when it used to take up half the store.

I'll miss their 10 dollar dvd deals ONLY.

However, Best Buy used to have great prices for newly released music. Like, if a cd was 20, they'd have it for 10. The only use for Best Buy.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:02:06 PM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on July 13, 2012, 09:00:57 PM

The dvd/blu ray section at my Best Buy is huge. Well, it used to be. But they've remodeled it and now it's just a few rows when it used to take up half the store.

Same at the Best Buy near my place in Seattle. Emphasis on used to.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:05:15 PM »

Best Buy pared everything back that didn't lend itself to "needing" an expensive extended warranty.

tiesto · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:12:28 PM »

Good riddance. I know here we have PC Richards and a few upscale retailers for electronics , but outside the NY metro, what electronics stores are there as an alternative to Best Buy? Frys and HH Gregg?

I miss "Nobody Beats The Wiz". First time I got to see a Neo Geo, Pioneer Laseractive, and a Jaguar in the flesh.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:21:33 PM »

What will I do with my Reward Zone Premium Silver membership now?

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:29:40 PM »

I haven't bought anything from Best Buy in a long time.

Himu · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:34:29 PM »

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on July 13, 2012, 09:21:33 PM

What will I do with my Reward Zone Premium Silver membership now?

What happens if you owe Best Buy a bill when they close? I've got 500 on my BB credit card to pay off.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #12 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:39:38 PM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on July 13, 2012, 09:34:29 PM

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on July 13, 2012, 09:21:33 PM
What will I do with my Reward Zone Premium Silver membership now?

What happens if you owe Best Buy a bill when they close? I've got 500 on my BB credit card to pay off.

You will still owe the remainder of your credit card balance to whatever financial institution is currently in charge of your BB credit card debt now.

Edit: Looks like it is Capital One

Quote

As of May 1, 2012, Capital One, N.A. ("Capital One") purchased the Best Buy credit card accounts from HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A. ("HSBC"). This means that Capital One® is now the issuer of those accounts.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Finance/Manage-Your-Account/pcmcat226300050002.c?id=pcmcat226300050002

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:48:35 PM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on July 13, 2012, 09:34:29 PM

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on July 13, 2012, 09:21:33 PM
What will I do with my Reward Zone Premium Silver membership now?

What happens if you owe Best Buy a bill when they close? I've got 500 on my BB credit card to pay off.

Haha, I had the same thought, but I already knew the answer.

Quote

You will still owe the remainder of your credit card balance to whatever financial institution is currently in charge of your BB credit card debt now.

Credit card bills.

Huff · « **Reply #14 on:** July 13, 2012, 10:09:49 PM »

Who needs any stores when we have the Internet?

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2012, 10:18:04 PM »

It's funny, because Best Buy helped kill off specialty music stores around 10 years ago. I won't miss them.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:02:43 PM »

Internet doesn't satisfy my "I want to be tearing off shrinkwrap ten minutes from now" urge, that's the only reason I'll miss them.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #17 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:07:01 PM »

Quote from: Dr. Feelbad on July 13, 2012, 11:02:43 PM

Internet doesn't satisfy my "I want to be tearing off shrinkwrap ten minutes from now" urge, that's the only reason I'll miss them.

I know that feel, bro.

Amazon Prime 2-day shipping sometimes just isn't enough.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #18 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:13:29 PM »

SORRY BEST BUY I DONT WANT TO BUY A CELLPHONE/CAMERA

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:21:33 PM »

Amazon Prime is killing retail stores, and if they go to same day shipping, then it's the nail in the coffin for Best Buy.

Quote from: Creepy Old Guy on July 13, 2012, 10:18:04 PM

It's funny, because Best Buy helped kill off specialty music stores around 10 years ago. I won't miss them.

Maybe in the suburbs. Independent music stores are still thriving here in the city. I do about 90% of my music buying at B+M stores.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #20 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:33:08 PM »

yeah I usually hit silver platters for fun for all DAT HipSTer sHIT I LISTEN TO NOW

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #21 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:35:38 PM »

around the ages of 18-22 going into best buy was like being a 10 year old and going into a toys r us. it was magical

then i got a job
and signed up for amazon prime

best buy isnt so magical anymore.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #22 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:36:15 PM »

where is my family members going to buy $600 Emachines from now? :'(

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #23 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:47:05 PM »

Monster cable overlords are crying.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #24 on:** July 14, 2012, 07:11:06 AM »

Quote from: Mr. Gundam on July 13, 2012, 11:21:33 PM

Amazon Prime is killing retail stores, and if they go to same day shipping, then it's the nail in the coffin for Best Buy.

Now, see, if the Best Buy here closes and Amazon buys and turns the building into a warehouse, I'd be ordering shit all day long because it's only a block away from me.

benjipwns · « **Reply #25 on:** July 14, 2012, 12:17:24 PM »

One of the last times I went to Best Buy was probably over five years ago. To buy Battlefield 2 Complete since I couldn't find my original (no expansions) disc anymore and it was on sale for $10.

I later re-bought this on Steam. Because, well, of course I did.

Me and a friend played whatever the horrible rebooted Rampage game was on the GameCube demo station for like half an hour because two of our friends at the time were in some kind of token stacking situation with the Guitar Hero display.

They should do a newer, but good, version of War of the Monsters. On PC.

Himu · « **Reply #26 on:** July 14, 2012, 12:17:32 PM »

Quote from: Green Man on July 14, 2012, 07:29:21 AM

We, as a society, are going to need to consider drastic measures to keep up with such changes.

Yup. Won't miss Best Buy but all of those jobs.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #27 on:** July 14, 2012, 12:21:15 PM »

Quote from: Dr. Feelbad on July 14, 2012, 07:11:06 AM

Quote from: Mr. Gundam on July 13, 2012, 11:21:33 PM
Amazon Prime is killing retail stores, and if they go to same day shipping, then it's the nail in the coffin for Best Buy.

Now, see, if the Best Buy here closes and Amazon buys and turns the building into a warehouse, I'd be ordering shit all day long because it's only a block away from me.

Supposedly Amazon is going to transition to same day delivery in a few select areas. That would be the death of non-Walmart retail to me.

Groogrux · « **Reply #28 on:** July 14, 2012, 03:28:52 PM »

The last time I was at Best Buy was almost exactly a year ago when I bought my laptop. Honestly, I don't go there for much else but they do have decent deals on PC's. Plus, I spent a couple extra bucks and had them remove all the crap loaded onto it by the manufacturer. Yes, I could have done it myself, but it was so much easier to let them and save myself the hassle.

Himu · « **Reply #29 on:** July 14, 2012, 03:53:50 PM »

The west doesn't have a population problem. Some countries in the west are even paying families to have children. Our problems are in relation to resource management, as we're burning through resources, which of course, doesn't help when you have kids, but it's the population of western countries isn't really too much.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #30 on:** July 14, 2012, 04:15:58 PM »

Luckily Fry's is still around and the closest one is only a 10 min drive.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #31 on:** July 14, 2012, 04:31:37 PM »

The more realistic scenario is due to Corporate America fully embracing the doing more with less mantra, these laid off Best Buy employees will probably bounce around from disposable retail to tech support gigs, all for less money than what they are currently getting paid at Best Buy. Some of them will take more useless certifications that won't get them anywhere, some of them will go to school, which these days is getting to be more and more of a scam, and then they will try to carve out a lower-middle class (the new middle class!) life.

king of the internet · « **Reply #32 on:** July 14, 2012, 04:40:17 PM »

I like to go to there look at things to buy later on the internet.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #33 on:** July 14, 2012, 05:18:17 PM »

I've never been to a Frys or seen one. Perhaps it's a regional thing; we have a couple big Best Buys and used to have a lot of Circuit Cities

chronovore · « **Reply #34 on:** July 14, 2012, 07:49:45 PM »

Frys is crap; go there if you want the most unpleasant retail experience feasible outside of a Gamespot.

Rahxephon91 · « **Reply #35 on:** July 14, 2012, 11:06:43 PM »

Which Frys are you near? What was wrong with it? The one in IL is pretty much like any other store.

Anyway this sucks. I don't really like shopping online and it sucks to have any store close down.

PigSpeakers · « **Reply #36 on:** July 15, 2012, 01:00:19 AM »

Quote from: chronovore on July 14, 2012, 07:49:45 PM

Frys is crap; go there if you want the most unpleasant retail experience feasible outside of a Gamespot.

I went to Frys for the first time earlier this year and thought it was pretty nice. No one really bothered me, I tried out a couple tablets, and they even let me play their grand piano.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #37 on:** July 15, 2012, 02:12:38 AM »

the Fry's in Fountain Valley is like Best Buy after the apocalypse (and a few good lootings)

chronovore · « **Reply #38 on:** July 15, 2012, 02:43:05 AM »

Quote from: Rahxephon91 on July 14, 2012, 11:06:43 PM

Which Frys are you near? What was wrong with it? The one in IL is pretty much like any other store.

Anyway this sucks. I don't really like shopping online and it sucks to have any store close down.

There are Fry's in Campbell, Palo Alto, and Milpitas (or Hayward), and they are all equally crap.

CrystalGemini · « **Reply #39 on:** July 15, 2012, 04:54:09 AM »

Quote from: chronovore on July 15, 2012, 02:43:05 AM

Quote from: Rahxephon91 on July 14, 2012, 11:06:43 PM
Which Frys are you near? What was wrong with it? The one in IL is pretty much like any other store.

Anyway this sucks. I don't really like shopping online and it sucks to have any store close down.

There are Fry's in Campbell, Palo Alto, and Milpitas (or Hayward), and they are all equally crap.

There's one in Dublin and one a little further in Pleasant Hill too. Haven't been inside one in a long time.

It'll be interesting to see what landlords can replace them with. It must suck to find tenants for such a huge space.

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #40 on:** July 15, 2012, 05:29:12 AM »

Quote from: chronovore on July 15, 2012, 02:43:05 AM

Quote from: Rahxephon91 on July 14, 2012, 11:06:43 PM
Which Frys are you near? What was wrong with it? The one in IL is pretty much like any other store.

Anyway this sucks. I don't really like shopping online and it sucks to have any store close down.

There are Fry's in Campbell, Palo Alto, and Milpitas (or Hayward), and they are all equally crap.

I shop at most of those stores and the sunnyvale store. I hate how fucking annoying they are but I learned a valuable lesson. Go in for pricematch of amazon this will get them to reduce the price on games/guides/movies/music in the store. Then I head over to bestbuy and pricematch fry's price which is actually amazon's price. I get points for my purchases so it can be worth it for some things.

Takao · « **Reply #41 on:** July 15, 2012, 06:17:56 AM »

Best Buy Canada is an amazing company. They opened hundreds of stores directly across from Future Shop (a competing big box electronics retailer) and then just bought the company. To this day there are many locations where there's a Best Buy, and then a Future Shop down the street. Who thought this was a good idea?

Mupepe · « **Reply #42 on:** July 16, 2012, 11:05:30 AM »

I haven't been to Best Buy since Black Friday last year. And I won't go again until Black Friday this year.

bork · « **Reply #43 on:** July 16, 2012, 12:22:34 PM »

I go to Best Buy every now and then to sell games and use the credit for new titles. Haven't purchased any "big" from them since 2009 when they had a small TV cheaper than Fry's. Wouldn't matter to me in the slightest if they closed.

Once I tried applying for a job there...was kind of "forced" into it by my Father after I finished my Network Certification course. I did NOT want to work there but he wouldn't leave me alone about it and I was living at home at the time, so I applied. Was looking at the Geek Squad. I asked to speak with the hiring manager and was told to wait in the PC section. I stood there waiting for an hour until someone came up to me and asked if I needed help. He went to go get the hiring manager, but came back and said "yeah, he took off like 30 minutes ago." $:-\$ I saw the guy the next time I stopped by and asked if I could give him a resume. He was a complete tool and I was glad that I did not have to pursue this any further.

Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich · « **Reply #44 on:** July 16, 2012, 02:19:02 PM »

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on July 15, 2012, 02:12:38 AM

the Fry's in Fountain Valley is like Best Buy after the apocalypse (and a few good lootings)

Funny, that one was walking distance to where I used to work. Now I work two blocks away from the Anaheim branch. Weird.

I've been going to Best Buy a lot recently though, mostly to see what cheap b-tier clearance game I can plonk $15 down and spend a weekend on.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #45 on:** July 16, 2012, 04:39:30 PM »

I did my part by dissuading my grandmother from putting down $160 on 4 years of Geek Squad whatever when she bought her new computer the other day.

Positive Touch · « **Reply #46 on:** July 16, 2012, 05:11:43 PM »

an ex's parents had me work on their ancient, bug-ridded pc with the hopes that i could make it "fast" again. when the anti-virus programs i installed didnt work right they accused me of making the computer even worse (how you can get worse than a pc that opens infinite popups every time you try to start a fucking program is beyond me), and they took it to the geek squad instead. geek squad said the only solution was to back up the hard drive and reformat it for the low low price of SIX HUNDRED FUCKIN DOLLARS. "well you could buy a much better pc than this old thing for the same price" positive touch said. "no thank you, we'll stick with the one we've got" they replied. "my parents are really mad at you because this cost so much" the ex-gf told me.

FUCK PC ILLITERATES

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #47 on:** July 16, 2012, 05:17:52 PM »

You should have just pulled the heat sink off the processor.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #48 on:** July 16, 2012, 05:43:06 PM »

Anytime someone asks me to work on their 9 year old computer because "it's running really slow", I just immediately roundhouse kick them in the face.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #49 on:** July 16, 2012, 05:45:00 PM »

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on July 16, 2012, 05:43:06 PM

Anytime someone asks me to work on their 9 year old computer because "it's running really slow", I just immediately roundhouse kick them in the face.

That's pretty much the only rational response.

chronovore · « **Reply #50 on:** July 16, 2012, 06:08:11 PM »

Quote from: Positive Touch on July 16, 2012, 05:11:43 PM

an ex's parents had me work on their ancient, bug-ridded pc with the hopes that i could make it "fast" again. when the anti-virus programs i installed didnt work right they accused me of making the computer even worse (how you can get worse than a pc that opens infinite popups every time you try to start a fucking program is beyond me), and they took it to the geek squad instead. geek squad said the only solution was to back up the hard drive and reformat it for the low low price of SIX HUNDRED FUCKIN DOLLARS. "well you could buy a much better pc than this old thing for the same price" positive touch said. "no thank you, we'll stick with the one we've got" they replied. "my parents are really mad at you because this cost so much" the ex-gf told me.

FUCK PC ILLITERATES

Should have installed Ubuntu on their machine, then changed your phone number.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #51 on:** July 16, 2012, 10:31:41 PM »

My parents wanted me to work tirelessly to resurrect their eMachines computer that they bought in 2000. Since eMachines are cheap pieces of shit, it just kind of fell apart after 4 years. They got a new PC when even local computer repair shops refused to work on it.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #52 on:** July 16, 2012, 10:35:54 PM »

Man, the inside of emachines were worse than the inside of old compaqs. packed for space in the most inconvenient ways

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #53 on:** July 16, 2012, 10:46:43 PM »

I just play dumb nowadays whenever someone asks me to "fix" their PC.

"I don't know how to fix that."

Even when I do.

chronovore · « **Reply #54 on:** July 17, 2012, 01:05:21 AM »

Quote from: Dr. Feelbad on July 16, 2012, 10:46:43 PM

I just play dumb nowadays whenever someone asks me to "fix" their PC.

"I don't know how to fix that."

Even when I do.

Positive Touch · « **Reply #55 on:** July 17, 2012, 07:07:59 AM »

wow, what a peniswrinkle

Brehvolution · « **Reply #56 on:** July 17, 2012, 09:40:43 AM »

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on July 16, 2012, 05:43:06 PM

Anytime someone asks me to work on their 9 year old computer because "it's running really slow", I just immediately roundhouse kick them in the face.

ferrarimanf355 · « **Reply #57 on:** July 17, 2012, 12:13:10 PM »

I kinda feel conflicted about this, since I worked at a Best Buy for a little bit. On the one hand, it always sucks to see a company in its death throes, especially when you know someone working there. OTOH, that Seeking Alpha article is pretty convincing in its argument that Best Buy is almost done.

My employer, Walgreens, has been in business for over 110 years. How did they manage to keep with the times while many other businesses went by the wayside? It's the question for the ages, IMHO.

It's obvious to everyone here, though, that big electronics retailers are soon to be a thing of the past. Why bother getting something from Best Buy when you can probably find it cheaper at Amazon, or a mom-and-pop retailer, or at a swap meet or anywhere else?

bork · « **Reply #58 on:** July 17, 2012, 12:16:21 PM »

Quote from: Positive Touch on July 16, 2012, 05:11:43 PM

an ex's parents had me work on their ancient, bug-ridded pc with the hopes that i could make it "fast" again. when the anti-virus programs i installed didnt work right they accused me of making the computer even worse (how you can get worse than a pc that opens infinite popups every time you try to start a fucking program is beyond me), and they took it to the geek squad instead. geek squad said the only solution was to back up the hard drive and reformat it for the low low price of SIX HUNDRED FUCKIN DOLLARS. "well you could buy a much better pc than this old thing for the same price" positive touch said. "no thank you, we'll stick with the one we've got" they replied. "my parents are really mad at you because this cost so much" the ex-gf told me.

FUCK PC ILLITERATES

Quote from: Dr. Feelbad on July 16, 2012, 10:46:43 PM

I just play dumb nowadays whenever someone asks me to "fix" their PC.

"I don't know how to fix that."

Even when I do.

Tell them that you charge $100+ just to look at the problem. Works every time!

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #59 on:** July 17, 2012, 07:44:23 PM »

i just say "i'll do it for half bench and half the going hourly"

"bubububu you're family!!"

"a man's gotta put bread on the table!"

"YOU WORK FOR [HUGE SOFTWARE CORPORATION]!"

"i like NICE bread."

seriously, though, i wouldn't have come down like this if i wasn't tired of EVERY FUCKING FAMILY MEMBER AT EVERY GATHERING *TELLING* ME THAT I "NEED TO FIX THEIR PC." like i am not only expected to do so, i am OBLIGATED to do so because a) i am related; b) i am a fucking nerd; and c) i work with computers for a living. fuck 'em.

News:

Author Topic: Best Buy is apparently almost finished (Read 9682 times)