08-22-2012, 01:53 AM
Anyone been to one recently? Was the "greeter" gone?
Went to one while visiting my parents (because they don't trust online shopping; even Amazon) and noticed they didn't have the "greeter".
Wal-Mart greeters are friendly old people. Best Buy greeters are thugs who make certain that you know that they know that you are a shoplifter.
I also noticed that there were more floor personnel and they were all quick to be helpful.
Compared to the last time I went into a Best Buy, this was a pleasant experience. Last time I went in to look at washer/dryer sets, I felt immediately unwelcome just going through the door and never could find anyone to talk to (the one sales rep in the area was bogged down in some other customer's extensive paperwork debate). I didn't trust Amazon for big box items at the time so I ended up buying the set I wanted from the Best Buy website, which actually had them on sale while the store didn't have any such sales that I could see.
The changes I saw this weekend, though, makes me wonder if Best Buy is trying to combat the rise of Amazon by trying to offer something Amazon can't: a good, personable shopping experience.
It's going to be tough, though, because a savvy public will go into Best Buy to see the stuff and get the help but then buy it through whoever sells it cheapest.
I think Best Buy could also learn something from "Amazon Basics" -- basic things, branded by Amazon and sold at low prices. Best Buy had HDMI cables for $20+. Finally found a bin of them for $10 each. Amazon Basics HDMI cables are $5 with free shipping. Little things like that could help bring people in, but right now it's bringing them into Amazon rather than Best Buy.
I think Best Buy could survive if they could change their image. Stop gouging people on the small stuff and stop treating customers like thieves. Or at least be more discrete about it.
Went to one while visiting my parents (because they don't trust online shopping; even Amazon) and noticed they didn't have the "greeter".
Wal-Mart greeters are friendly old people. Best Buy greeters are thugs who make certain that you know that they know that you are a shoplifter.
I also noticed that there were more floor personnel and they were all quick to be helpful.
Compared to the last time I went into a Best Buy, this was a pleasant experience. Last time I went in to look at washer/dryer sets, I felt immediately unwelcome just going through the door and never could find anyone to talk to (the one sales rep in the area was bogged down in some other customer's extensive paperwork debate). I didn't trust Amazon for big box items at the time so I ended up buying the set I wanted from the Best Buy website, which actually had them on sale while the store didn't have any such sales that I could see.
The changes I saw this weekend, though, makes me wonder if Best Buy is trying to combat the rise of Amazon by trying to offer something Amazon can't: a good, personable shopping experience.
It's going to be tough, though, because a savvy public will go into Best Buy to see the stuff and get the help but then buy it through whoever sells it cheapest.
I think Best Buy could also learn something from "Amazon Basics" -- basic things, branded by Amazon and sold at low prices. Best Buy had HDMI cables for $20+. Finally found a bin of them for $10 each. Amazon Basics HDMI cables are $5 with free shipping. Little things like that could help bring people in, but right now it's bringing them into Amazon rather than Best Buy.
I think Best Buy could survive if they could change their image. Stop gouging people on the small stuff and stop treating customers like thieves. Or at least be more discrete about it.