Best Buy Memo

[MacRumors]

A Best Buy memo (http://appleinsider.com/article.php?id=129) published by AppleInsider fills in some details about the Mac rollout. The memo notes that while Macs began a limited rollout at select stores on August 3rd, BestBuy.com Online will be carrying Apple computers nationwide.

Indeed, Apple laptops (along with Apple accessories) have returned to BestBuy.com (http://www.bestbuy.com), however, the $150 Mail-in Rebate now specifically excludes Apple laptops from the promotion.

The memo also reports that Macs will be featured significantly in advertisements starting on August 10th (Sunday).

[Mudbug]

PowerPC G4 processor 867MHz with Velocity Engine
256MB PC133 SDRAM for multitasking power, expandable to 1.0GB
Slot-loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive

In Stock - Usually ships in 1-2 business days


seems odd they would stock best buy stores with the old style 15" pbook if there's anew one on the way immenently... maybe we still have a wait to go :(

Otherwise, the products coming back is good news

[billyboy]

I was a bit surprised to see that they had their technicians at Cupertino for less than a couple of weeks and now they are qualified repair centers. Is that how it works normally?

[joedangerous]

Just saw the ad in the new circular in today's paper- occupying a third of page six. The ad is for the 17" iMac and 30GB iPod. Great. Shouldn't a new product-line launch carry at least SOMETHING on the first page? You know, like "NEW!!!! Apple products now at Best Buy!!!!"

[arn]

Originally posted by joedangerous
Just saw the ad in the new circular in today's paper- occupying a third of page six.

Today's the 9th. ;)

arn

[arn]

Originally posted by Mudbug
seems odd they would stock best buy stores with the old style 15" pbook if there's anew one on the way immenently... maybe we still have a wait to go :(


Contrary to popular opinion, resellers have no knowledge of future products releases.

arn

[LinuxGigolo]

Not fair! The inclusion in the promotions was a big selling point for me for macs at Best Buy. The financing plans are still one reason to go to Best Buy over another reseller, but considering that you'll have to pay sales tax at the best buy store (unless you live somewhere without sales tax), you may still be better off looking elsewhere. I was praising Best Buy last week when the laptops showed up with the $150 off, but now... *sigh*. Just *sigh*.

[iJon]

i dont know if i would want my mac in the hands to the big yellow tag. it takes a little more than two weeks to train someone.

iJon

[BigJayhawk]

Granted, I look forward to a nice "ROLL-OUT" type ad (front page would be nice). HOWEVER, we still need to remember that the Apple Products are going from "not carried at all" status to "available" status. There will still be no doubt that the Windows Computers will highly outsell the Macs and will, therefore, still dominate the Best Buy Ads.

I'm not trying to be negative -- just a realist. We shouldn't all start getting upset at the quantity of ad space that Apple products get in the Best Buy circulars without remembering that Best Buy will advertise PROPORTIONATE to what will make them money.

For the moment, rejoice at a third of a page (as it is probably still more than Apple warrants with relation to TOTAL Best Buy sales) but hope this new relationship will bring Apple to the Front Page on occassion because the sales WARRANT IT. Best Buy KNOWS that the iPod has went from non-existent to #1 extremely quickly. They know that Apple Successes are not unheard of now. Let's hope and PAY ($$$) for future Apple Successes!!!

If Best Buy thinks that a bunch of people will run out and buy G5 Powerbooks from Best Buy when they come out (for example), then they will, inevitably, end up on the "Front Page."

edit:

<Parts of this started sounding like a Bob Uecker commercial!>

[iJon]

since apple probably wont let them use those rebates and things like that best buy wont be advertising them that much. the whole purpose of the circulars is to see what deals are going on that week. last time i saw an ipod in the best buy circular was when they were giving a free firewire card with it.

iJon

[Billicus]

Anybody know how I could become the Apple Employee when Apple brings products, eventually to the Best Buy in Waterloo, Iowa?

[iJon]

Originally posted by Billicus
Anybody know how I could become the Apple Employee when Apple brings products, eventually to the Best Buy in Waterloo, Iowa?
i would talk to some of the best buy employees here on the site, they will probably know the process or who to contact, look for job listings on best buy and apples page.

iJon

[ultimind]

I used to work for Best Buy until I had to go back to school, and I can tell you that it would be one of the best places to get a new powerbook. Wait a few weeks and you'll be able to get 18 or 24 month financing using the Best Buy mastercard.

There's another way you can beat the system to get it cheaper..... Depending on whether Best Buy will carry Apple Care or the Best Buy Performance Service Plan (both 3 year) some managers will be willing to knock the price down to what actual cost for the unit if you get the service plan depending on how desparate the store is to get a higher PSP number (the percentage of product that goes out of the store with their protection plan attached)

Before I worked there, I went into get a new Sony Vaio laptop, and since I had past experiences with batteries dying in my laptops, I decided to get the PSP just for the battery (it's not covered under manufacture's warrenty) and after talking to the manager, I ended up getting $150 off the laptop, so I only paid $100 for 3 years of protection on the laptop.

[Vlade]

Cool, now this confirms I won't have to pay shipping on macs I get, i can just drive a half hour :)

[ultimind]

I'd rather pay shipping rather than the gas money and taxes.

[cast128]

sorry to bust your bubble, but when you talked about nocking down the price of the product so the service plan could be purchased for the original price or lower than the original price of the product. THis is no longer done at best buy. It was never suppose to be done. My manager just informed me that 9 managers in the pheonix area were just fired for the exact season you explained. Just staiting the facts!

[ZildjianKX]

Couple points I'd like to add... you get free shipping from www.apple.com...

And I worked at Best Buy before... The PSPs are the the biggest rip-offs. We were trained that after we sell a PSP and a customer needs help, tell them to call an 800 number. The reason we throw it down a customer's throat is they make more money from the PSP than they do from the sale of the PC.

[barhoptheworld]

One thing you can do though, is print out the Apple.com price with the educational discount and Best Buy will match it, whether you're a student or not. My dad did it with the 30gb iPod, no questions asked

[ultimind]

It all depends on your regional manager..."TECHNICALLY" it's not imboarding unless the manager says "If you buy the service plan, i'll knock money off"

It's definately a grey area, and sure some managers have been fired for it, but I've seen more managers close a big sale with service because they knocked off $50 or $100

I worked for a year in Digital Imaging, and I never once took money off to get better PSP numbers even when I was Department senior or supervisior. It was always nice to see yourself as #1 in the district in PSP and accessories, but if I wasn't, I didn't really care because I knew that I couldn't get service on every sale, and I knew that the imboarding was wrong...it's awesome when you're the customer and you get to save some money though...even if it only seems like you're saving money.

75% of all customers who buy the service plans will never use them, but if you know how to use them and what they cover, you can get your money's worth out of them. I bought my parents a digital video camera for christmas, and got the PSP on it...I take it in every 3 or 4 months for them and have it sent out for a tape path realignment and cleaning (normally $60 each time, but for $150, I got 4 years of free realignments and cleanings)

Honestly...it's a matter of knowing how to exploit the service plan.

I'll admit that 90% of all the service plans offered at best buy are total crap, but the "better" deal is definately the laptop PSP.

[question fear]

Originally posted by ZildjianKX
Couple points I'd like to add... you get free shipping from www.apple.com...

And I worked at Best Buy before... The PSPs are the the biggest rip-offs. We were trained that after we sell a PSP and a customer needs help, tell them to call an 800 number. The reason we throw it down a customer's throat is they make more money from the PSP than they do from the sale of the PC.

former best buy employees, unite!!
seriously, zildjiankx is right on...psp is used for the numbers games...so while best buy might be offering one that is good for your needs (which is great for you) they arent choosing a plan/service provider/etc based on customer needs. so if you've only had great experiences with apple, and dont want best buy to get any serious cash from buying an apple computer, you just want to get your computer, get your computer only from best buy, and go buy accessories from the apple store/your favorite reseller. (i know this advice is probably bad for best buy and the apple/best buy deal...but best buy sees their employees as pawns and their customers as walking dollar bills.)
and if you really want to ***** with the employee who wont leave you alone about the psp, ask them how low their computer dept is ranked, and whether they are being offered a gift card/free cd/etc if they sell enough psp. remember: no commission does not mean no extra rewards.
--carly

[ultimind]

Back when I used to work in Home Theatre, my manager once said on a Wednesday night that if we sold any PSP over $29.99, he'd give us a free DVD upto $19.99...I think I walked home with the Die Hard box set that night....heheheh

When I was just a Prod, that was awesome, but when you're a dept. supervisior, you get ripped a new a-hole if you're numbers suck.

We once got called in at 5:30am before a 7am store meeting to get yelled at by the district LP guy because we lost $10,000 worth of computer stuff and Media in a week. I was on vacation that week, but SOMEHOW i still got yelled at for it even though I was in Hawaii....hmmm...how does a manager expect me to check up on my people every day if i'm 4,000 miles away?

[Kwyjibo]

"extended warranty I can't lose!" Homer Simpson, I've never been big into the PSP and I kind of hate when people offer it to me. When we went computer shopping for the family PC (they all wanted a PC except for me) it was so tempting to make a little badge that said "Don't ask me about a service plan" because honestly for desktop computer they seem next to worthless for anyone whos quasi competant.

as for the whole race to sell the product plans, I can see that makes alot of sense. the question i'm left with is what about the people who went to a bestbuy like mine in the last week before that memo and saw the sign right on the tag that said 150 off all laptops...do the people from this week still get the discount because bestbuy was late to preclude it.

[iJon]

Originally posted by barhoptheworld
One thing you can do though, is print out the Apple.com price with the educational discount and Best Buy will match it, whether you're a student or not. My dad did it with the 30gb iPod, no questions asked
and people wonder why we call best buy employees morons :rolleyes:

iJon

[question fear]

re: price matching edu discount, best buy may just feel obligated to do that on a case by case basis because they need the business...just because they are doing well in this economy doesnt mean they dont need to work at their "success".
plus, its a matter of being ripped a new one either way...customer gets pissed their online price match isnt accepted, manager yells at sales person.
customer gets price match, manager still yells at sales person for not noticing the edu discount.
so really, the choices for an employee are not good per se....sadly.
--carly

[ultimind]

I had a guy come in trying to get the full version of Photoshop 7 for $299 like the EDU price is. I was a supervisor at the time, and I had someone else's nametag on because I'd left mine in my car and it was too crowded to go get it...but anyway, the guy thought I was some prod, so I looked at the printout he had from JourneyEd, and it had the EDU price, and right above it it had the "Commerical Retail Price" which was like $2.00 less than what we had it listed for, so I was like "Sure we can price match that for you." and I went to ring him out and I said
"$634.93" and he was like "no...it was $299" and I said "no.....that's the EDUCATIONAL price...we don't sell the academic version, but we do sell the commerical version, which is listed for $620 there.....nice try though"

He threw a hissy fit and wanted to see a manager, so the manager came over and said "the version that's listed there is the academic verison for $299, and the commerical one that we sell is $620"

He left the store all pissed off, and he screamed on his way out "I'M CALLING THE BBB ON YOU!" too bad the BBB couldn't do a damn thing about it. :-)

[KrazyKidd]

during the pilot, the best buy performance service plan available on all pc desktops and notebooks will not be offered with apple desktops and notebooks. Instead, the pilot offers the applecare service straight from apple. Also, starting august 10, the notebook mail in rebate of $150.00 will exclude Apple laptops as can be found in the small print. product specialists are also told not to suggest hardware upgrades and system tune ups at best buy for apple products because of the lack of tech training in the service dept.
-KrazyKidd


posted that a few days ago in the other best buy forum...got it from retail weekly.

we dont offer psp on apple products because we cant service them yet. Im sure we will soon but not just yet. if you check rss the price for a 15" powerbook service will come up for 349.95 because its APPLECARE from apple.

off topic: i narrowed my choices of a laptop down to the sager 5680 (coming soon), current or new 15" 1ghz combodrive powerbook (hopefully new if they make an announcement soon), or a compaq centrino notebook widescreen. All are about $2000 bux but im leaning towards apple rite now. Win XP lost my registry overnite causing me to almost lose all my data. After 6 hours i finally got my data off the drive but still had to format. im thinking bout goin back to win2k.seemed like i had less problems.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

While certainly not perfect, this new alignment with Best Buy will work to Apple's advantage. It gets their machines into a premiere national retailers stores (bigger than CompUSA, I think) that is not just limited to computers. People go to Best Buy for everything from DVDs, to TVs, Appliances, and computers. If Apple could get them to carry a large shelf full of software then it'd be even more appealing.

The thing I like is that this puts the products in a store for everybody. The Apple Stores tend to be in upscale buildings, areas, or malls. I love 'em, but they may not look too friendly to someone who wants a deal. Best Buy caters to so many different people that Apple is sure to reach different demographics now. The key is to set up a display that contrasts the Macs with the PCs and, hopefully, coming out with a headless iMac that can compete with some lower prices - not necessarily beat them, but be in the ballpark. Gives people the option to buy a non-Apple monitor but get a Mac box and get hooked.

[Sun Baked]

People may find this interesting...

Best Buy's Apple Training Material ;) (http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=9430974975&r=9430974975#9430974975)

[iJon]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
People may find this interesting...

Best Buy's Apple Training Material ;) (http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=9430974975&r=9430974975#9430974975)
you know what, i have handouts for 3 years ago with that exact information that we gave to customers for info, sad.

iJon

[Billicus]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
People may find this interesting...

Best Buy's Apple Training Material ;) (http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=9430974975&r=9430974975#9430974975)

This from the store that some of their employees seem to hate Mac's with a pasion...:rolleyes:

[Lord Bodak]

Nothing Apple in our Sunday sale flyer this morning...

[BigJayhawk]

Nice roll-out Best Buy!

[Lord Bodak]

Originally posted by BigJayhawk
Nice roll-out Best Buy!

One thing to remember is that most chains do regional sale flyers. Since our local Best Buy isn't stocking Apple yet, it might make more sense to not advertise it in the regional flyer. I'd be curious to hear from the areas where Best Buy already has Apple products on the shelves.

[Capt Underpants]

Well..... I got the paper today, and to my surprise, there were no macs in there. Maybe I should look again, but I looked specifically for them and there were none. I just hope that there was a page stuck together or something. Well I am glad that macs are back in BEst Buy. However, it would be nice if Apple would give best buy "permission" per say to give atleast some rebates, even if it was only fifty bucks. Then again, then most people would just go to best buy and buy instead of going to apple and buying.

[Capt Underpants]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
People may find this interesting...

Best Buy's Apple Training Material ;) (http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=8300945231&m=9430974975&r=9430974975#9430974975)

Well all I hope is that the Best Buy employees don't start bashing macs when customers ask about them. Alot of the stuff in that article is common knowledge (to most of us).

[jimd909]

I did a little research, and if the Apple ads are in your Best Buy advertisement, it will be on the bottom of page 6.

Mine doesn't have it. But I went online and checked their online ad and put in a zip code of where Apple products are being sold and the ad is on Page 6. It shows an iMac and iPod. The zip code I used was for Modesto, CA - 95356.

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by Lord Bodak
Nothing Apple in our Sunday sale flyer this morning...

Nor mine. Nine straight pages of PCs, but no Apple products whatsoever. The small print on the laptop rebate did mention the Apple exclusion, though -- so that was nice.

[arogge]

My local Best Buy had an Apple section installed last week, and has just completed moving the display to a new area of the store which is much nicer. Part of the storage shelves extend over the Apple products and block most of the bright ceiling lights, which makes the Apple corner seem private and improves its visual appeal. It's really attracting a lot of potential customers who come over to see what those strange-looking boxes and bright LCD panels are over in the dark. Some people were impressed by the Dock, while others were surprised to see how many things they could do with OS X that they'd been unable to do with Windows. Unfortunately, stupidity still exists within the consuming public. I overheard this conversation between a potential Apple customer and a Microsoft Induhvidual:

Apple fancier: Oh, look at this [PowerMac G4 and 17-inch Studio Display] one! It's so nice.
Induhvidual: Yeah, but you can't use it.
Apple fancier: Why not? I like it!
Induhvidual: It's a Macintosh thingy. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I'm glad to finally see Apple products being promoted by Best Buy. :)

[Billicus]

Originally posted by arogge
My local Best Buy had an Apple section installed last week, and has just completed moving the display to a new area of the store which is much nicer. Part of the storage shelves extend over the Apple products and block most of the bright ceiling lights, which makes the Apple corner seem private and improves its visual appeal. It's really attracting a lot of potential customers who come over to see what those strange-looking boxes and bright LCD panels are over in the dark. Some people were impressed by the Dock, while others were surprised to see how many things they could do with OS X that they'd been unable to do with Windows. Unfortunately, stupidity still exists within the consuming public. I overheard this conversation between a potential Apple customer and a Microsoft Induhvidual:

Apple fancier: Oh, look at this [PowerMac G4 and 17-inch Studio Display] one! It's so nice.
Induhvidual: Yeah, but you can't use it.
Apple fancier: Why not? I like it!
Induhvidual: It's a Macintosh thingy. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I'm glad to finally see Apple products being promoted by Best Buy. :)

:rolleyes: Some people are so set in their ways they can't see the outside world or competitors to their beloved products. That isn't just a one way street though, we fall victom to this plague as well. (But Macs are better, heh...:p)

[Lancetx]

Originally posted by ultimind
I had a guy come in trying to get the full version of Photoshop 7 for $299 like the EDU price is. I was a supervisor at the time, and I had someone else's nametag on because I'd left mine in my car and it was too crowded to go get it...but anyway, the guy thought I was some prod, so I looked at the printout he had from JourneyEd, and it had the EDU price, and right above it it had the "Commerical Retail Price" which was like $2.00 less than what we had it listed for, so I was like "Sure we can price match that for you." and I went to ring him out and I said
"$634.93" and he was like "no...it was $299" and I said "no.....that's the EDUCATIONAL price...we don't sell the academic version, but we do sell the commerical version, which is listed for $620 there.....nice try though"

He threw a hissy fit and wanted to see a manager, so the manager came over and said "the version that's listed there is the academic verison for $299, and the commerical one that we sell is $620"

He left the store all pissed off, and he screamed on his way out "I'M CALLING THE BBB ON YOU!" too bad the BBB couldn't do a damn thing about it. :-)

Quick question...when did Best Buy retail stores start price matching internet sites? Or am I missing something here?

[iClarus]

Has anyone had contact with any Apple employees working the Apple sections at the participating Best Buys? I am just curious whether they have already started work.

[dochypno]

Anybody out there has information regarding arrival of the new PBs in Best Buy stores (or online)?