Apple should NOT do business with BEST BUY

[_the_tomb_yard_]

Originally Posted by Ishcabittle

I will say that even though the OP's post was a little hard to read, the sentiment was not lost on this former Best Buy employee turned Apple Consultant.

While at Best Buy, I had the opportunity to sell Macs, but the customer always knew more about them than I did... they knew what they wanted, I grabbed the box and rung it up for them. Best Buy does little to no training about any of the products they sell (at least not in a brand specific way) so there's no wonder that we were being informed by the customer as to what the latest and greatest from Mac even was.

Now that I'm certified and educated about Macs and PCs I get that same old feeling from Best Buy whenever I happen to stop in. I actually overheard a sales rep talking to a customer saying that the Mac Mini doesn't even require the $3,000 Apple display. It's true! The salesmen at Best Buy walk into that position armed with whatever knowledge they had before they walked in. Best Buy shows them a 6 hour training tape and off to the floor they go.

With all of this in mind, I don't think it could hurt Apple any to get more product into more retail stores... especially when they sell units to retail outlets that have no direct connection to them. All it means is money spent for Apple gear, whether it flies off the shelves or not.

Well that my point

i know this place in lower manhattan " i forgot the name of the place ." but

they are a 110% APPLES SERVICE,SALE,PARTS, Store and is not a Apple

Store but um a " Reseller ". and i just walk by this place and i walk in and you

can SEE apple product including MACINTOSH / CLASSIC APPLES " PARTS " in

this BIG store " TRUST ME IS A BIG STORE "

[Lt Major Burns]

what's the problem?

in britain we have dixons, currys, pc world etc, mostly all you will ever see on the high street is a 14" ibook from about 2004.

or the proper apple stores which are now popping up...

[sheepguy42]

I have no qualms about letting Best Buy try again; the people who bother to walk into a best buy I would imagine are not the same people who enter an Apple Store, even on curiosity alone. Therefore, the worst case scenario is that they may actually sell a few machines. Oh darn.
On the other hand, I have little if any faith in Best Buy's ability to sell Macs, or any kind of quality computer. This company couldn't move the best selling computer of all time (the iMac, Rev A and I believe B maybe C), and gave up completely. How pathetic is that?

[mdnky]

Apple will be training the sales people in the Best Buy stores, according to the article found here.

There was another article floating out there that specificlly talks about Apple training the Best Buy Mac Associates (similar to the deal with Comp USA -- i.e. one or two actual Apple Employees at each store). Can't seem to find it right now though. Showed up within the last 48 hours.

Originally Posted by Yahoo! News

Morrish said the computers are being sold by Best Buy employees who have been trained by Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple. He said Best Buy is watching to see whether the computers can be sold profitably, and whether Best Buy employees can provide the level of customer service that Apple customers are used to getting in an Apple store.

[emax4]

I remember when the Mac Mini came out that the Best Buy stores had it for a short time, but that limited time wasn't advertised. I asked if they were hiring Mac techs at the time thinking that I could be the guy that everyone calls on for mac support, but it turns out they were only hiring PC staff.

I wonder what training the Geek Squad goes through when they try out for a position there. I get the feeling that it isn't as intense as it is for Macs, which says a lot about the Geek Squad. On the other hand they could persuade potential Apple buyers by offering a cheaper warranty for the same coverage as a PC. The staff can explain that they do not have any Mac staff on hand, and because of that they can give the custy an extended warranty thru Apple and/or give the customer a Mac loaner while their Mac is sent out to be repaired.

[davebz]

I know the folks at CompUSA at least in Braintree MA. I met one of the warranty techs and general mac techs while working as a rep for another company. I can tell you for a fact that these guys know what they are doing and it shows in the quality of their work. And they enjoy what they do which is always a bonus.

[serpicolugnut]

The author is correct in his assessment of Apple's presence in Best Buy stores in the past. Best Buy employees would steer customers away from the Macs and try to sell them a PC instead. However, I think Apple has learned its lesson and intends to staff the Best Buy stores with their own people, much like they do with the CompUSA store within a store concept. I'm willing to suspend judgement on this until it's shown whether it will work or not.

Best Buy sells a lot of computers. And Best Buy sells a lot of iPods. Now that the Mac can run OS X and Windows, alot of the arguments from the PC salesmen will be thrown out the window. With Apple's success in these stores with the iPod, now is the time to capitalize on this relationship.

[bunga]

Well if they aren't selling at Best Buys, Apple would give up having them on the shelves.

If Apple is going to train them great, because my Local seller can't afford to pay out every year for a technician to be updated and qualified to fix new machines.