Best Buy is apparently almost finished

[Akala]

MY CUPHOLDER IS BROKEN HALP ME PLS

FFS THAT'S A DVDR

[Himu]

MY CUPHOLDER IS BROKEN HALP ME PLS

FFS THAT'S A DVDR

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

A cousin of mine who does web design/graphic design work was asked by his uncle, who was running for political office this year, to do his website.  The politician uncle was shocked when the cousin wanted to charge him money.  The uncle is apparently running as a teatard too

[chronovore]

A cousin of mine who does web design/graphic design work was asked by his uncle, who was running for political office this year, to do his website.  The politician uncle was shocked when the cousin wanted to charge him money.  The uncle is apparently running as a teatard too

Tell him to call his uncle a communist for expecting to get proletariat work to support the state without recompense.

[Himu]

A cousin of mine who does web design/graphic design work was asked by his uncle, who was running for political office this year, to do his website.  The politician uncle was shocked when the cousin wanted to charge him money.  The uncle is apparently running as a teatard too

Ugh. MY LIFE.

[Joe Molotov]

I think it's just old people with the "Oh hey, you know how to do X, can you come over and do X for me for free, plz?" thing. NO I CAN'T, BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE IN A HIPPIE COMMUNE LIKE YOU DID BACK IN 69 WHEN SPENT THE SUMMER GROWING CABBAGES. IPADS COST MONEY, AND AT&T WON'T ACCEPT CABBAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR MY DATA PLAN AND ALSO I'M LAZY AND ANTISOCIAL AND JUST WANT TO GO HOME AND WATCH BREAKING BAD ON NETFLIX FUUUUUUUCK! Something like that.

[Eel O'Brian]

I got pretty pissed at my Nephew a couple of years ago. He gave my Mom an old PC which had like a 75mhz processor, 14.4k modem, etc. And she kept after me about getting it working so she could get online even though I kept telling her that she probably couldn't even set up an email account on something that old.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I got pretty pissed at my Nephew a couple of years ago. He gave my Mom an old PC which had like a 75mhz processor, 14.4k modem, etc. And she kept after me about getting it working so she could get online even though I kept telling her that she probably couldn't even set up an email account on something that old.

Those were the specs of the first computer we got.  It couldn't even go on the internet in 1997.  We used Juno, a freemail program.

[brawndolicious]

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?

Well it's certainly easier to buy electronics online and with no person-to-person contact than it is to buy prescriptions/groceries. The only downside is that you want see/feel the product before buying it if it's a TV or a computer.

I don't even know if mom-and-pop electronics stores exist anymore and isn't a swap meet a flea market? I've never seen a TV for sale at a flea market.

[Groogrux]

Mom-and-Pops electronics stores = Walmart (see: the death of every small community retailer)

Swap Meet = Craigslist or sometimes Facebook groups (see: the internet has made us incapable of actual socialization)

[BlueTsunami]

Now I can't look at giant plasmas I'll never own

[bork]

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.

This is what is definitely so fucking annoying now.  There was even one gathering that started on a Friday- I get home from work, tired as hell, we go to my parents' house, and the first thing that happens when I walk in the door is my aunt getting in my face with "YOUR UNCLE CAN'T GET HIS LAPTOP WORKING!!  HE BROUGHT IT OVER FIX IT NOW!!!!!!" I responded with a loud "Yeah, 'cause the first thing I want to after a long day at work is MORE FUCKING WORK."  I still ended up doing it though.  Really pissed me off.

Then a few weeks ago I got a text from my aunt saying "YOUR UNCLE GOT A NEW LAPTOP.  SET IT UP FOR HIM.  HIS NUMBER IS XXX-XXXX."  I called my father to rant about it and he told me that some years back, he got their ancient PC running and they wouldn't leave him alone for months and months whenever they had ANYTHING happen with the PC.  He suggested I tell them I'd charge money for it.  I texted my aunt with that back and didn't hear anything back about it.     It also turns out that my uncle is paranoid about not having email access but insists on buying cheap, crappy old used laptops, won't get a smartphone, and doesn't use a web-Email service- he insists on using Outlook. 

Had another uncle blow up and get all pissed off when I suggested he password-protect his wireless network, too- "YOUR COUSIN SET THIS UP HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING!!!!"   

[Eel O'Brian]

"My computer is being gay and running slow."
"How many open programs, browser windows, and tabs do you have open on this $300 laptop with 2GB ram that you say is being gay?"
"...I count 14."
"I submit, sir or madam, that it is not your computer that is being gay."

[ferrarimanf355]

Isn't Amazon like a flea market, just online?

I also forgot Costco. You can buy a 3DHDTV with your ten-gallon jar of mayo.

[chronovore]

How safe is it to order a TV on Amazon? I mean, it would have to be delivered to your home by FedEx or some other thrower. That can't be good for it.

[Mupepe]

How safe is it to order a TV on Amazon? I mean, it would have to be delivered to your home by FedEx or some other thrower. That can't be good for it.

When I ordered from Amazon it was a freight company that delivered it but mine was a 65 inch.  I don't know what they do with smaller sets.

[bork]

Hmm...

http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_21087775/best-buy-shifts-from-layoffs-hiring-adding-500

Best Buy shifts from layoffs to hiring: adding 500 Geek Squad agents

By John Welbes
jwelbes@pioneerpress.com
Posted:   07/16/2012 12:01:00 AM CDT
Updated:   07/16/2012 10:01:57 PM CDT

Questions being answere at the Geek Squad Solution Central at the latest Best Buy prototype store in Richfield Friday afternoon June 29, 2012. (Pioneer Press: John Doman)

Less than two weeks after announcing 600 staff cuts in its Geek Squad service team, Best Buy Co. says it plans to hire 500 new agents for that unit in coming months.

The shift coincides with increased demand from Geek Squad customers who need cross-platform work, which could include whole-house networking of multiple devices and services for small businesses.

The new employees will be spread out among Best Buy stores nationally and at Geek Squad's remote support channel that serves customers online, said Paula Baldwin, a Best Buy spokesperson.

When word of the Geek Squad layoffs came on July 6, the cuts appeared to be focused on repair and home electronics installation positions. The new hires, geared more toward higher-end service, will also help Geek Squad build its contract business that gives customers unlimited access to work on their PCs and tablets, with terms of a year or more. The service will include virus removal, operating system and software installation and repair and other trouble-shooting duties, Baldwin said.

When Richfield-based Best Buy announced a major reshuffling of its business earlier this year, it also noted it will sell support services to small businesses, including securing data.

Geek Squad employees who earlier were notified that their jobs would be eliminated will have an opportunity to apply for the new jobs or other Best Buy openings, Baldwin said. Required credentials for Geek Squad jobs can include various industry
accreditations "depending on the specific job," Baldwin said. The company also tests "for technical proficiency, as well as for passion and curiosity."

The shift in the 500 to 600 jobs would represent about 3 percent of the Geek Squad's 20,000 employees.

In its most recent quarterly earnings report released last month, Best Buy noted a 2.3 percent decline in sales of services. The decline "was primarily due to a decrease in computer services revenue" that resulted in a shift from "one-time repair services to ongoing technical support service contracts," the company said.

The 600 Geek Squad job cuts announced a few weeks ago were among 2,400 job cuts announced that week, which included reductions in store employees' ranks.

All of the moves at Best Buy are tied to an overhaul of the business announced in March, as the company faces increased competition from online rivals and customers who are increasingly willing to shop around.

That overhaul included the immediate closure of 50 stores and 400 job cuts at the company's Richfield headquarters. Many of Best Buy's big box stores also are being shrunk in size.

Best Buy stock, which started the year at $23.68 per share, closed Monday at $18.90, down 10 cents.

[bork]

Isn't Amazon like a flea market, just online?

A flea market with way better customer service and selection I guess, sure.

I don't see how Amazon is any different than buying from Bestbuy.com- only they actually have the products in stock.

[BlueTsunami]

From shitty electronics store to shitty PC service

[Phoenix Dark]

"Come to our store, we'll fix your Apple device"

[Positive Touch]

best buy positioning itself as the leader in the stable and forever-expanding area of extortion-price pc repair

[Van Cruncheon]

"best buy: because not everyone has a passive nerd family member(tm)."

[Phoenix Dark]

Earlier this year one of the staff members at work suggested we buy new speakers for one of the computers because they were broken (no sound). Guess what the solution was

spoiler (click to show/hide)

un-muting the sound in the computer's audio control

[close]

[bork]

Earlier this year one of the staff members at work suggested we buy new speakers for one of the computers because they were broken (no sound). Guess what the solution was

spoiler (click to show/hide)

un-muting the sound in the computer's audio control

[close]

This is like 99% of all audio-related problems!

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Hmm...

http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_21087775/best-buy-shifts-from-layoffs-hiring-adding-500

Best Buy shifts from layoffs to hiring: adding 500 Geek Squad agents

By John Welbes
jwelbes@pioneerpress.com
Posted:   07/16/2012 12:01:00 AM CDT
Updated:   07/16/2012 10:01:57 PM CDT

Questions being answere at the Geek Squad Solution Central at the latest Best Buy prototype store in Richfield Friday afternoon June 29, 2012. (Pioneer Press: John Doman)

Less than two weeks after announcing 600 staff cuts in its Geek Squad service team, Best Buy Co. says it plans to hire 500 new agents for that unit in coming months.

The shift coincides with increased demand from Geek Squad customers who need cross-platform work, which could include whole-house networking of multiple devices and services for small businesses.

The new employees will be spread out among Best Buy stores nationally and at Geek Squad's remote support channel that serves customers online, said Paula Baldwin, a Best Buy spokesperson.

When word of the Geek Squad layoffs came on July 6, the cuts appeared to be focused on repair and home electronics installation positions. The new hires, geared more toward higher-end service, will also help Geek Squad build its contract business that gives customers unlimited access to work on their PCs and tablets, with terms of a year or more. The service will include virus removal, operating system and software installation and repair and other trouble-shooting duties, Baldwin said.

When Richfield-based Best Buy announced a major reshuffling of its business earlier this year, it also noted it will sell support services to small businesses, including securing data.

Geek Squad employees who earlier were notified that their jobs would be eliminated will have an opportunity to apply for the new jobs or other Best Buy openings, Baldwin said. Required credentials for Geek Squad jobs can include various industry
accreditations "depending on the specific job," Baldwin said. The company also tests "for technical proficiency, as well as for passion and curiosity."

The shift in the 500 to 600 jobs would represent about 3 percent of the Geek Squad's 20,000 employees.

In its most recent quarterly earnings report released last month, Best Buy noted a 2.3 percent decline in sales of services. The decline "was primarily due to a decrease in computer services revenue" that resulted in a shift from "one-time repair services to ongoing technical support service contracts," the company said.

The 600 Geek Squad job cuts announced a few weeks ago were among 2,400 job cuts announced that week, which included reductions in store employees' ranks.

All of the moves at Best Buy are tied to an overhaul of the business announced in March, as the company faces increased competition from online rivals and customers who are increasingly willing to shop around.

That overhaul included the immediate closure of 50 stores and 400 job cuts at the company's Richfield headquarters. Many of Best Buy's big box stores also are being shrunk in size.

Best Buy stock, which started the year at $23.68 per share, closed Monday at $18.90, down 10 cents.

Sounds like a death spiral.

[ferrarimanf355]

Isn't Amazon like a flea market, just online?

A flea market with way better customer service and selection I guess, sure.

I don't see how Amazon is any different than buying from Bestbuy.com- only they actually have the products in stock.

And better prices, don't forget that.

[CajoleJuice]

How safe is it to order a TV on Amazon? I mean, it would have to be delivered to your home by FedEx or some other thrower. That can't be good for it.

When I ordered from Amazon it was a freight company that delivered it but mine was a 65 inch.  I don't know what they do with smaller sets.

My 42 inch got white glove fucking treatment.

[Mupepe]

I would have touched your 42 incher with my bare hands

[bork]

How safe is it to order a TV on Amazon? I mean, it would have to be delivered to your home by FedEx or some other thrower. That can't be good for it.

When I ordered from Amazon it was a freight company that delivered it but mine was a 65 inch.  I don't know what they do with smaller sets.

My 42 inch got white glove fucking treatment.

Same.  I got mine later than expected, but that was due to a major ice storm in the area that shut everything down for a week- the delivery people still got me the TV when there was a lot of ice on the roads and there were no problems whatsoever. 

[G The Resurrected]

I just got my tv from amazon and the shipper they used (CEVA Logistics) was late and a real pain in the ass to deal with. They couldn't find our place and it took 30+ minutes of back and forth to get them to deliver the tv. We ended up having to find them cause they were lazy assholes. I'm now the happy owner of a larger samsung 60 inch plasma. Its gorgeous! I would have got it at bestbuy but I got a better deal out of buying it from amazon.

[bdoughty]

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

Going to age myself a bit but way back in the day when Toys R Us had those flip cards for games showing front and back covers (how this idea died off is beyond me) and inventory cards/out of stock that you took to the counter to purchase or pre-order.  Those were the days.

Kinda makes me miss a time when a Waldensoftware was around in a shopping mall near you. A great place for stuff until Electronics Boutique started running them.

Link for fellow old farts

http://waldensoftware.com/

See, they had those Preferred customer deals way back when, just did not have the internet to bitch about it. Just imagine all the magazine racks left standing upright back then and there were so may magazines back in the day.

http://waldensoftware.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/WS-Pricie-Sticker-Comparison-Closeup.jpg

[Mr. Gundam]

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

Going to age myself a bit but way back in the day when Toys R Us had those flip cards for games showing front and back covers (how this idea died off is beyond me) and inventory cards/out of stock that you took to the counter to purchase or pre-order.  Those were the days.

Those were the days. There were something pretty damn wondrous about going to TRU, grabbing the paper slip and taking it to the person at the game counter.

[Himu]

Yup, that was badass.

[Human Snorenado]

I remember doing that for Phantasy Star II as a shitheaded little 13 year old or whatever.  God damn that game.  Still so good.

[bork]

It was awesome being able to hide that last slip of paper in another aisle and coming back later to grab the last copy of the game!   

[bork]

Same-day shipping? 

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view/20220719amazon_eyes_same-day_delivery_sales_tax_part_of_package_if_co_charts_new_course/srvc=home&position=4

Retailers in the Bay State and beyond have lobbied for e-commerce powerhouse Amazon to collect its fair share of state sales tax.

But this may soon be the quintessential case of be careful what you wish for.

Sure, Amazon’s ability to undercut prices is a tough break. But imagine how much worse it could be for retailers if the wondrously successful site turns the market upside down by delivering products at all hours of the day, on the date of purchase.

That’s the prospect right now, according to recent reports that Amazon, led by CEO Jeff Bezos, is striking agreements to pay sales tax in states throughout the nation as part of a plan to open warehouses near populous areas and provide same-day delivery.

The Retailers Association of Massachusetts estimates that doing so would add $25 million to $45 million per year to Bay State coffers from Amazon alone.

Jon Hurst, association president, and other retail experts believe Amazon, which did not respond to requests for comment, is planning to move forward with this major shift in its business model. Recent reports also suggest the company will do its own deliveries, forgoing FedEx, UPS and other services.

“It’s a concern,” said Hurst. “Small retailers are going to have to find a way to keep prices in line, but enhance their services to compete with that quick delivery.”

He added: “The power of the smartphone is making it difficult for local sellers.”

But Colin Sebastian, analyst at Baird Research, said same-day delivery service by Amazon would put the squeeze on big box stores such as Target and Best Buy — not mom-and-pop stores that carry unique items.

[G The Resurrected]

It was awesome being able to hide that last slip of paper in another aisle and coming back later to grab the last copy of the game!   

I remember doing this when the N64 came out I hid all of the ones for the games I wanted. I even hid the console one. While everyone else was waiting to get there console's and scrounging to find them at other retailers. I went and picked up the slips behind an old gamegear game.

[Huff]

We used Best Buy all the time in undergrad, we would buy copies of games on sale for 10/15 bucks that walmart was still selling for 49/59 and trade them in for mad profit.

[bork]

We used Best Buy all the time in undergrad, we would buy copies of games on sale for 10/15 bucks that walmart was still selling for 49/59 and trade them in for mad profit.

  I did this a lot too, but mainly before Best Buy was in the area- Toys R Us tended to have shitty high prices on SNES games.  I remember buying Faceball 2000 new at a Software Etc. for $14.99 then returning it to Toys R Us for $59.99 and getting Super Street Fighter II when it came out.

Electronics Boutique also let me return games for credit without receipts, until one day this unlikeable dickhead there was prompted to manager and stopped all the fun.   :'(  I quit going there for a while and resumed this when he left the store a few months later.