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Best Buy Complains About Walmart's iPhone 5 Holiday Sale, Claims $65,000 Profit Loss in One Day
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That's good to hear. It's a step in the right direction but Fry's will match prices from ANY online store. The above mentioned sites are pretty big and well known names.
Walmart Hate
So do I....
They used to be an okay company when Sam Walton was alive.
They bought goods from American companies and you would rarely see clothing from China and India. Walmart for a while, was one of the biggest consumers of American textiles.
Then Sam died and all the bean counters and family wanted was more money.
They had $15 Billion in profit last year but the workers used $3 Billion in public aid. When people shop Walmart they allow a multi-billion dollar company to pick their pocket, twice. Once for the crappy goods and second for the public assistance the workers get.
Don't Shop Walmart!
I just hate Wal-Mart.
So do I....
They used to be an okay company when Sam Walton was alive.
They bought goods from American companies and you would rarely see clothing from China and India. Walmart for a while, was one of the biggest consumers of American textiles.
Then Sam died and all the bean counters and family wanted was more money.
They had $15 Billion in profit last year but the workers used $3 Billion in public aid. When people shop Walmart they allow a multi-billion dollar company to pick their pocket, twice. Once for the crappy goods and second for the public assistance the workers get.
Don't Shop Walmart!
lshin037 what has your experience with Brandsmart been like? Ive dealt with them for years and i go out of my way not to shop there. There warrantly service is something "special". Call one number wait an hour to get a service code then call another number wait an hour to get a person on the phone. That was the last draw for me. Best Buy has been like a saint compared to Brandsmart for me
Devil's advocate: Ultimately, it's not a stores job to educate the consumer on short or long term purchasing decisions.
Meh. I have no sympathy, Best Buy didn't follow store policy. I worked at Best Buy for a number of years and the price match policy was that you had to call the local store and verify that they had the item in stock. If they were sold out, Best Buy was not obligated to match the other stores advertised price.
I'll never buy a product from a company that supports making products overseas just to save money...
That's why my iPhone, iPad Mini, apple TV, and iMac were all made in the US of A.
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That's why my iPhone, iPad Mini, apple TV, and iMac were all made in the US of A.
Well said. I think there ought to be more stigma against this practice. I'm embarrassed to admit that I tend to follow this practice, although I never take up a salesperson's time. I recently bought a soundbar at BB with the help of a sales guy, and then I found out I could get it at amazon for $30 cheaper (not including tax), but it wasn't worth my time to go back to the store and get the match, nor would it have been ethical given that I took up the salesperson's time.
Best Buy should charge a membership (like Costco) and steer their members towards certain deals while providing knowledgeable advice on all products, and have the dues offset the costs of all that. Stop trying to compete with WalMart. There are plenty of people who need help or need to try out the product before buying. Apple Stores seem to be doing OK charging a premium catering to these people, although there is a lot of cost shifting from the purchasers to the browsers in terms of the cost of the help from salespeople. Best Buy can meet everyone half-way with an annual fee, use their variety as an advantage, and flourish.
I do it all the time. And the best part is, when everyone else is sold out Toys R us usually has stuff in stock still, because who the hell shops at a toy store for an iPod?
No, it's the consumers, and as I stated, that responsibility lies with all of us.
However, educating yourself isn't difficult. A simple scan of the comments is enough for anyone to read and further investigate some points. I hope they do.
I never experienced going through their warranty experience although I've heard plenty of horror stories. I bought a Sony LCD that normally retailed for $2700 but got it for $1800 because it was a demo with the 5 yr warranty. I bought a brand new home theater receiver that was on sale for around $800 but got it down to $650. I had a printout from bhphoto (i think) for 620. Like I said I never had to deal with the warranty process but i see where you're coming from. Not saying Fry's or Brandsmart are perfect. All of them have more than their fair share of bad employees and policies but when it comes to price, Best Buy loses out (for me anyways).
Hundreds of big box electronic retail store model is not going work. They should have a combination of big box and small stores(RadioShack size). If you recall metro areas used to have 20-30 Best Buys/Circuit City/CompUSA along with Staples/OfficeDepot/OfficeMax.
With Amazon prime most of the goods are delivered next day (even though it is a two day free shipping option).
My care meter for Best Buy: ZERO.ZERO
I loved Best Buy, many moons ago. I bought computer desks from them, home theater stuff and many games. All of it at good prices (mid to late 90s), then BB grew because of their competitive business practice that was GOOD for consumers. They got more and more product, but the prices started to suffer.
Fast forward a decade ad a half. Tons of product at Max retail pricing.
Amazon Prime shipping and other vendors (newegg, etc) will eventually erode the brick and mortar giant just like the books stores of yesteryear. Retail pricing is for suckers.
When Best Buy dies, I hope Amazon doesn't do what BB did and raise prices.
I loved Best Buy, many moons ago. I bought computer desks from them, home theater stuff and many games. All of it at good prices (mid to late 90s), then BB grew because of their competitive business practice that was GOOD for consumers. They got more and more product, but the prices started to suffer.
Fast forward a decade ad a half. Tons of product at Max retail pricing.
Amazon Prime shipping and other vendors (newegg, etc) will eventually erode the brick and mortar giant just like the books stores of yesteryear. Retail pricing is for suckers.
When Best Buy dies, I hope Amazon doesn't do what BB did and raise prices.
No, it's the consumers, and as I stated, that responsibility lies with all of us.
However, educating yourself isn't difficult. A simple scan of the comments is enough for anyone to read and further investigate some points. I hope they do.
Consumers have proven time and again that they only thing they care about is the immediate bottom line price. Period. They are not interested in the long term ramifications of any purchase decision or the impact to the industry, employees or ultimately themselves.
It's just how people are wired.
Capatalism is good in many ways. But one thing that will always hurt it is the selfishness and greed that is inherent in human beings.
Decisions made on the micro level, by consumers and the people who run industry, will ALWAYS put their immediate benefit over what's best for the big picture. A fallacy of capatalism is the market will 'correct' or 'encourage' the optimal solution. People often use the simple theory of supply and demand and market price being naturally established.
But the real world is infinitely more complex than that. An example would be Americans complaining about jobs being shipped out of the country...yet voting with their dollars to encourage that behavior.
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Of course they will. Amazon bleeds money. You better beleive once they get the market clout to do it, they are going to raise prices and get back in the black.
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Every single wal mart was out of stock where I live.
What people didn't realize was that Sam's club had a ton of them and for the 127 price. Got two for my parents for 268 bucks this weekend.
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That and the service will go WAYYY down.
What people didn't realize was that Sam's club had a ton of them and for the 127 price. Got two for my parents for 268 bucks this weekend.
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That and the service will go WAYYY down.
People still go to Best Buy? Who knew.
Last time I was there, I was met with only high schoolers who knew exactly squat about what they were selling, and spent all of their time trying to sell me multiple and various consumer loyalty products, extended warranties and unneeded add on products.
Ten years ago I loved BB. Now, they will just soon be big empty boxes.
Last time I was there, I was met with only high schoolers who knew exactly squat about what they were selling, and spent all of their time trying to sell me multiple and various consumer loyalty products, extended warranties and unneeded add on products.
Ten years ago I loved BB. Now, they will just soon be big empty boxes.
Which makes total sense. Most people can't see this from the store's point of view. Say you own an electronic shop. And everybody wants the Super Fun Box. It costs you $50 to buy. You sell it for $75 which covers your cost, overhead gives you a $5 profit.
Entitled consumer comes in waving an online ad for $52 and demands you match it. If you dare question it or call about it, they get all pissy and threaten to take their business elsewhere.
They have no interest in realizing the other company is selling it AT A LOSS to get your business..hopefully for other things. That's your problem, not theirs.
All the big boxes are guilty of it...but the biggest (Walmart) and biggest online shop (Amazon) can use it to crush the competition.
Sarcasm dually noted, and you are kidding yourself if you think you are really saving money. I recommend researching this topic and your finances before sarcastically addressing strangers online.
Understand, saving a few cents here and there while putting Walmart competition out of business only bites you in the arse in the end, as less competition for Walmart will lead to marketplace dominance. Once marketshare grows with less competition, so will Walmart pricing. As history has shown, companies such as Walmart will blame the higher price in oil, or [insert excuse here] for their price increases, the public will buy it and Walmart profits will increase. Soon, you'll have little choice for local stores and Walmart will dictate the market.
Enjoy those prices while you can.
Your economics lesson duly noted, your argument appears to be only academic. In my area, there are no shortage of alternatives to purchase staple items (toothpaste, soap, paper towels, etc.), so there is considerable competition and it continues to grow as new stores open up. People shop at Walmart because they have low prices and folks really do save money that they can use for other things like kids lunches, gas for the car, or taking care of an elderly parent. When you have competing demands for your limited amount of money, you've got to save where you can. It's really no more complicated than that for most people.
Best Buy could have easily made the price match Walmart, oh wait, this is the company that decides to charge $300 to remove AOL off of a computer a couple years back.