Post by: Bill on July 27, 2003, 04:31:34 PM
http://www.thinksecret.com/news/bestbuy2.html
Post by: Bill on July 27, 2003, 04:39:33 PM
QUOTE
More reports indicate that previous rumors of Apple sales at Best Buy will materialize soon.
BestBuy will utilize fulltime Apple Reps to provide sales support for Apple items. The current plan is to deploy this plan to a select number of Best Buys, so not every store will carry the Apple products initially.
While the official launch date remains in August, some stores may start to sell Apple items as early as Monday.
BestBuy will utilize fulltime Apple Reps to provide sales support for Apple items. The current plan is to deploy this plan to a select number of Best Buys, so not every store will carry the Apple products initially.
While the official launch date remains in August, some stores may start to sell Apple items as early as Monday.
http://macrumors.com/
Post by: Bernie on July 27, 2003, 06:07:22 PM
Post by: giantmike on July 27, 2003, 07:15:54 PM
Post by: Bill on July 27, 2003, 09:47:15 PM
Post by: Bernie on July 27, 2003, 10:04:11 PM
Post by: () on July 27, 2003, 11:24:17 PM
Also Bestbuy repair service is as lame as they can be, most of the time the machines are sent back to the manufacturers and you end up waiting as long as a month to get it back under the Bestbuy Service Plan ( which I do not recommend for anyone to buy, always go with the manufactures on site warranties, you'll be better off ).
As far as Bestbuy, it's not all that great, service sucks, they will do whatever it takes to sell you a service plan, and a lot of times, if you don't want the service plan then the item was either, we just sold the last one, it didn't come in on the truck last night or we can't locate the item in the store, but wait around and we'll lok for it (then you are left hanging) forgotten...
iPods are for PC's and Apple computers now, I'm sure the iPods are pushed in the direction for the PC users only.
I hope that Apple is careful before contracting with Bestbuy...
Post by: kimmer on July 28, 2003, 10:38:26 AM
We have a BestBuy, and as Tonye said, their service is wretched.
kimmer
Post by: Mrious_be on July 28, 2003, 12:02:26 PM
Post by: Gary S on July 28, 2003, 12:18:31 PM
Bestbuy and Apple had a nasty go around last time. It was a control issue on both of their parts. Apple wanted them to carry this and Bestbuy wanted to carry that.
We'll see.
Post by: Bill on July 28, 2003, 05:22:52 PM
Apple was not too happy about that.
Post by: () on July 28, 2003, 08:14:03 PM
customers walked away...
When i worked there, and on my break i changed my shirt and had an Apple T-sirt on, I was told not to wear the Apple T-shirt because they didn't carry much for Apple and the endcap where the iMac was placed was a total mess, dusty and the iMac was never turned on.Apple should stay clear of a bad business venture, personally, I wouldn't want a Bestbuy employee working on my Mac. They don't even know how to repair the PC's that they sell.
to BESTBUY
Post by: Bill on July 28, 2003, 09:04:24 PM
Post by: sandbox on July 29, 2003, 12:11:30 AM
Post by: () on July 29, 2003, 12:32:24 AM
The company is crooked and I will not work for people like that.
Go to the site consumeraffairs and read the horror stories about the company.
I hope they go under and the people can go with them as well that goes along with the shady company policies.
It sickens me to know that people will sell their souls out for a dollar and not care about the customer that come in and out of the store.
People have actually come ainto the West LA Bestbuy and threatend the employees after they find ut about the lies they have been told.
The company has no moral values whatsoever!
I just hat to think that Apple would invest in a company and then end up with a tarnish name when Bestbuy finally goes under.
Remember Federated Group, grew too big, too fast, and did what Bestbuy is doing to the consumers.
Goodluck to Apple, and instead of putting the products into the Bestbuy store, open up an Apple Store in the West LA area and see the change in how people shop at a Bestbuy for computers and software.
Post by: Gregg on July 29, 2003, 08:23:41 AM
Post by: () on July 29, 2003, 02:49:49 PM
See the crash!
Post by: Bill on July 29, 2003, 03:21:10 PM
Didn't you post sometime back on this also.?. Something about suing them.
Guess I could look it up but nah.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
However if this indeed is the case, I can see why you're so bitter with best buy.
Top that with what most already know about best buys tactics,policies.
Better step back and count to ten backwards sir.
Most retail stores work on the same sales principals/policies etc.
Look at circuit-city. There floor staff is straight commission. Talk about cut-throat.
Frys. There floor staff ... I'd better not go there.
Yet they do ok with Mac products.
Post by: () on July 29, 2003, 07:48:58 PM
Bestbuy, don't buy a service plan and you are basically screwed.
If you shop at a Bestbuy, always find the item you are looking for and get it down yourself (only if you are at the WLA store), always get the name of the employee and follow through with it if they CPO (customer pass over) to another employee or leave you hanging, if they tell you MSN (400.00 cash off instanty 3 yr contract) is down then offer to take the Bestbuy Service plan and see jst how quickly it come back up and running.
Then once you get the item rung up, cancel the service plan at the register and go with the manufacturers warranties. They are cheaper, and on site.
Never buy your computer at the customer service counter, always take it to another register #1-18.
Buyers beware, go in and know what you want and don't feel pressured into buying something you don't want.
Post by: Bill on July 29, 2003, 10:55:26 PM
Well, that was the point of it all... rapidly going over your head.
Let me try another approach.
Apple and Best Buy have had their 'short comings' in the past for various reasons.
Same with some of the other big national and worldwide retail stores.
They all will at one point or another work out their differences that benefits both sides .. three sides ... who knows how many pieces of the pie it takes to create an eatable whole one.
All the retail big players play the same game as far as -sell! sell! sell!-.
Best Buy is no different than say Circuit-City or Frys when it comes to -sell! sell! sell!-.
If they can pull more green out of your wallet ... Ya Buddy! Same with plastic.
Their floor standards are of course geared towards there own policies too achieve this goal.
Do you honestly think Circuit-City or Frys doesn't try the same strong arm tactics as Best Buy.?. Sure they do.
{btw. I'm just using CC & Frys as examples}
It didn't work out for Apple and Best Buy the first go-around.
Nor did it for Circuit-City, for what two tries.?.
NOW possibly .. just possibly the two have learned from their last go-around.
Best Buy lost a ton of incoming revenue. Apple most likely could of made more.
I'm sure they both got their stubborn heads out of the sand and said "lets work something out".
Speaking of Sand. See Sandboxes post above. Think he hit the nail on the head.!.
Along with trying to work out how much/who gets what in the revenue, they need to work out HOW too improve on the customer approach side.
Thus Apple says they're bringing in own players. Not training the present summer part timers.
Last time around they brought in an Apple rep who had to cover a whole district of stores.
I met a few back then. Apple reps ... yeah right.
Let me tell you how that works real quick.
Apple allows (or farms out) outside experienced mac enthusiast to apply for a Apple rep position. Some really,really knew there stuff. Some knew enough too fill an empty gap somewhere. I know this because a very good friend of mine used to volunteer his time and services on the weekends for free being an Apple rep because he doesn't need the money. His goal was recruit - teach the macintosh to the ignorant public.
Finely Apple .. errr .. demanded his time when he didn't have it to give.
>>back on tract<<
Everyone has some personal (or in-house) horror story about 'any' big retail store.
I've got some humdingers myself.
That is not the point.
Point is will Apple dig deeper into the past mistakes that all parties concerned made to create workable solutions?
Did they learn from the last go around?
Post by: Lindsay on July 30, 2003, 10:19:46 AM
>concerned made to create workable solutions?
I recently relocated from an area that was wonderful for Mac users (Gaithersburg, MD) to one that is not (Pittsburgh, PA). This city, the second largest in Pennsylvania, is served by one Apple store, MacOutfitters, and a small display at one CompUSA store. MacOutfitters also serves customers in parts of Ohio and West Virginia, and as far as I can tell is the only Apple store for more than 100 miles. (I'd be happy to be proven wrong on this point.)
The situation around here does not inspire people to buy Macs, unless they are already loyal, or unless they have the dumb luck to live near MacOutfitters.
If Apple wants to try again to "hold hands" with Best Buy, I wish them all the best.
Lindsay
Post by: Bill on July 30, 2003, 05:32:12 PM
A little farther if one wants to go to the beach or head up to the mountains.
The downside to that is .. Hey Look Martha! There's a real tree!
Less than fifteen miles away there's a small but pretty good mac retail dealer.
They're small enough were customers and the employees at the store go by a first name bases yet large enough to hold their own.They have three branch stores now.
Small showcase and all that of course. Mostly they'll order whatever you need from Apple and fedx or ups will get it there the next day or two.
Same with third party vendors. Example was once I was way out in the sticks working and I called them asking if they can order **** for me. He said they were placing an order that afternoon anyways and will add mine on. Got back from no mans land two days later and stopped by the store. It was there.
I've a compusa fifty miles in one direction and another about the same distance in another direction.
Neither isn't very swift when it comes to customer relations or their stock shelf items.
EXCEPT one of the compusa stores has a VERY knowledgeable Mac guy there.
He IS a full time Apple employee during the week. He plays Apple rep on one of the weekend days at his choosing.
Now I'm surrounded by Circuit Cities, Best Buys, Staples, Office depots etc etc.
That mac retail (above) store. Well they have banker hours or less it seems. <gr>
By the time I'm off work, they've closed the doors and gone home.
Weekends, Closed.
For my own personal selfish reasons I really hope Best Buy and Apple sit down and iron out all the details because I've a Best Buy about five miles away .. right off the highway. One quick drive. Another around ten miles away in the other direction.
>> incoming super selfish reason <<
There's a land of dirt designated for development within walking distance from where I hang my hat.
"Coming Soon -- Costcos, Best Buy, Staples blah blah" <Big Grin>
Best of all! They're going to have a Stadium Pizza also!!
Post by: () on July 31, 2003, 01:36:41 AM
Bestbuy and Apple, personally I don't care, it's not my company that will suffer the loss. I worked at Bestbuy, I know how the company operates and the employees have to do as they are told.
You can have a dozen Apples on one side of the store and they won't sell, just like the Compaqs didn't sell, I was told to sell the HP's and Sony computers and leave the Compaqs alone. Now HP and Compaq merged because Compaq didn't sell.
The company Bestbuy is as croked as a company can get. I just don't want Steve Jobs and Apple suffer.
As an ex Bestbuy employee, you are told one thing to do at the morning meetings, then after the meetings, the supervisors are told to tell you something else.
This is my last post on this subject, Bestbuy just ain't worht it!
Post by: Lindsay on July 31, 2003, 01:29:42 PM
Outside of a few major markets, Macs are hard to buy (at least in stores, where they can be seen and used) and hard to repair. They are like terrific cars that you'd better know how to repair yourself if they break down, or be prepared for a long wait or a long drive for service. It should not be a big deal to find Macs in a store, or to get repair service. But it is.
Partnering with a big chain will at least get the computers seen and used.
Lindsay
Post by: Bill on July 31, 2003, 06:44:02 PM
Hundreds .. thousands of folks all across the globe I'm sure are in mutual agreement Lindsay.
Just have to wait and see how the cards turn out.
Tonye. I see you're still letting your personal experience from one [perhaps two] stores cloud your mind on the larger picture. Oh well.
If *they* do end up trading feathers, maybe after awhile the whole pow-wow reverts right back to the first go around. Maybe not.
I have my doubts also.
Yet at this stage I'm willing too hope for the best.
No reason to raid the game when the chips haven't been bought yet.