Comments

Best Buy usually has good service, but it sounds like the cutbacks in sales associates is hurting them. Similar service issues for Barnes & Noble. I ordered with amble time for delivery and yesterday they emailed me to say my shipment has been "rescheduled" to ship on December 24. Is that service???

Posted by Gary at December 19, 2008 10:43 AM

I was "0 for 3" with Best Buy--Boston/Newbury Street, Sararoga NY, the Web. In store it was the sales associates cutbacks, on the Web it was regarding the necessary in store referral for scheduling installation.

Posted by tom peters at December 19, 2008 10:54 AM

I decided to buy a $400 laptop that had been being advertised. Took trips to three Best Buys in order to find one that was in stock. Then got sat (well stood actually) at a cash register at the back of the store. Got the sales pitch from the Geek Squad that I should put up $40 to have the computer "optimized". I stated how the heck do you optimize a computer that has no software on it? It was pointed out that the computer I was holding had been "optimized" already. I said fine, give me an unoptimized $400 computer. Turned out there were no unoptimized ocmputers, so I was given the optimization for "free".

Then I got quizzed about virus protection. Said I already had an account with a virus protection provider. Then was told they needed to find a clerk to close out the sale. We both stood there for about 10 minutes. I finally picked up a mouse and added it to the sale. At that point the original person finally rang up the sale and I was allowed to leave.

Steve Prevette

Posted by Steve Prevette at December 19, 2008 11:36 AM

I don't know how long it's going to take before people realize that the 5-10% you save by going to a big box store (vs. a little local guy who is passionate, knowledgeable, and could REALLY use that $2000), is NOT worth the hassle?

Posted by Jason Allen at December 19, 2008 12:04 PM

This is amazing. Thank you!

Posted by CSM at December 19, 2008 12:37 PM

Had a similar experience a few seasons ago. Bought a TV as a holiday gift, with installation. Said TV was delivered. INSTALLATION CONSISTED OF PLUGGING IT INTO THE ADJACENT WALL OUTLET.
Needless to say, I've never been back there again and never will be. Also do more than my part to mamke sure that nobody I know ever does either.

Posted by Larry Marmion at December 19, 2008 1:56 PM

Nice...

Posted by Judith Ellis at December 19, 2008 6:28 PM

Best Buy goes astray
Tom's Big Screen on holiday
There's another way

As if we needed one more reason to stay home this year.

Posted by David Porter at December 19, 2008 10:15 PM

Bravo David, Bravo!

Posted by Judith Ellis at December 19, 2008 10:23 PM

Tom,

Far and away your most hysterical post this year. I quickly forwarded this masterpiece around the world.

I'm still in tears from laughter after 15 minutes.

More of those! Pleeeeeeeease!

And to Tom's assistants, register this one for the Best Of Box Set!!

Thanks again and happy holidays,

Martin

Posted by Martin Messier at December 20, 2008 6:14 AM

At risk of being crazy, I actually had a reasonable experience at Best Buy this weekend. Mind you, I could just pick something off the shelf (at a chunky discount) then take it to the counter and pay.

Appears the 'service' is the main problem....

Posted by ReeceT at December 22, 2008 10:49 AM

ReeceT, I knew exactly what I wanted and it was available in the store but the clerk absented himself more or less forever (15 min+) @ 10AM; the Web, incidentally, used lter, didn't have what was in the store.

Posted by tom peters at December 22, 2008 1:52 PM

never enough time to serve, always enough time to pressure sell the extended warranties..

Posted by Mike Neiss at December 24, 2008 8:27 AM