Best Buy to Provide iPads to All Retail Employees?

[lifeinhd]

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Glad I don't work for Best Buy. My arm would be dead at the end of each day from carrying around that dead weight each day.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

if you don't like best buy's service don't f'in go there. As an employee maybe we get irritated at the completely retarded questions you guys ask.

1) "Retarded" -- using that word shows your own mentality.

2) Customers that go to BB and ask questions YOU think are dumb do so b/c tech is a mystery to them. Be glad this describes most people or BB would be the way of Circuit City too. Being a sales person means its your job dealing with those kind of questions. If that annoys YOU don't work there -- how about that?

3) BB's Ill-informed customer base is why some of your cohorts can take advantage of them and convince them to buy an extended warranty on a $100 camera when they tell them "LCD screens tend to crack in hot weather."

4) What I personally hate about BB is that they are frequently more expensive than even MSRP. I needed to buy an Airport Express the other day -- but they are $10 MORE than Apple. WTF? Then there is all that private label Rocketfish junk that is the same price as normal branded counterparts everywhere else. There is a reason it's given the moniker "Worst Buy," and "Bust Buy."

When BB first came to town 10+ years ago I thought it was Heaven. But it's changed into a junk shop. Most of the higher end products are gone and 90% of the employees are either slicksters who make up stories, incompetent, or lazy (tells you something is out of stock rather than going to the back to find it even when the computer says more than 10 available). I don't even enjoy browsing there anymore.

 

[tigres]

1) "Retarded" -- using that word shows your own mentality.

2) Customers that go to BB and ask questions YOU think are dumb do so b/c tech is a mystery to them. Be glad this describes most people or BB would be the way of Circuit City too. Being a sales person means its your job dealing with those kind of questions. If that annoys YOU don't work there -- how about that?

3) BB's Ill-informed customer base is why some of your cohorts can take advantage of them and convince them to buy an extended warranty on a $100 camera when they tell them "LCD screens tend to crack in hot weather."

4) What I personally hate about BB is that they are frequently more expensive than even MSRP. I needed to buy an Airport Express the other day -- but they are $10 MORE than Apple. WTF? Then there is all that private label Rocketfish junk that is the same price as normal branded counterparts everywhere else. There is a reason it's given the moniker "Worst Buy," and "Bust Buy."

When BB first came to town 10+ years ago I thought it was Heaven. But it's changed into a junk shop. Most of the higher end products are gone and 90% of the employees are either slicksters who make up stories, incompetent, or lazy (tells you something is out of stock rather than going to the back to find it even when the computer says more than 10 available). I don't even enjoy browsing there anymore.

I have to agree with most of Chupas points.

I would like to add however that over the last couple of years I have seen an improvement in general attitudes at the stores.

Over the years I used to experience an attitude at best buy the was so arrogant and over the top with rudeness it used to just boggle my mind. I actually stopped shopping there for over 3 years after a Dyson vacuum fiasco I had with them.

But, giving credit when due, they all seem helpful and way more willing to assist then in years past. I would really love to know who kicked everyone's ass all across the board to change this.

On the article, no way is everyone going to get free iPads that work for BB. IMO

 

[JAT]

apparently only one or two people know grammar in the forums as well

Apparently few are familiar with punctuation and capitalization as a part of grammar, too.

There's a reason Apple uses iPods for checking out. I'm with ericinboston, carry a small device around, maybe use the larger iPad embedded or as a fixed entry screen for staff somewhere. But Best Buy is too big to need a makeshift device as the iPad certainly would be in this case. It may be cheaper than a "real" register, but where do you store cash and other things needed for sales?

 

[Grouchy Bob]

if you don't like best buy's service don't f'in go there. As an employee maybe we get irritated at the completely retarded questions you guys ask.

While I applaud the defense of your job, I point out this works both ways son. If you want to avoid the retards then get a job that caters to a more enlightened clientele. After all, you signed up for the gig. Not us.

If you consistently think you're right, then what use is it to waste my time arguing with you.

Because you have a motive to lie about the things you sell merely to sell them. Consequently you'll always be under suspicion. Nothing personal - it's just the nature of your job.

What would be neat would be to have a retaurant whose tables/bar area has the iPad embedded into the table so that you can sit and order your stuff directly from it...and the waiter just comes over when something is ordered. I think I heard of a few restaurants doing that. Kinda cool if you don't want yappy waiters bothering you all night.

If you start "automating" too much service in a full service restaurant then patrons will tip less. Depending on what kind of place this is, tips constitute at least 2/3rds of a person's wages which the restaurant doesn't have to pay.

 

[PhoenixMac]

I don't know if you guys have heard but Otterbox makes a sweet drop proof case for iPads and also have neck slings, hand straps or etc.. so you wouldn't have to worry about broken pads from drops or have to hold it the whole day in your hand. I for one, think this would be an amazing idea. Do not even have to be an iPad even an andriod tablet would be suffice. Either way if they do incorporate this into any types of stores it would mean better customer service, less lies by sales people.

Prime example, my wife was car shopping and I brought along the iPad and the sales person was telling us crazy lies that I was able to research up and in the end we ended up getting $5k off a used car from the manager.

 

[emwgradstudent]

Not surprised.

The employees at my local Best Buy already use iPads on the floor. Makes me believe my local Best Buy was part of a pilot program that is now being implemented at all Best Buys.

I think it is more convenient. They only have so many work stations in each store and it is always frustrating when an employee cannot check inventory when all their work stations are in use. They are able to check this on an iPad and only use the work stations for purchases and it really makes a visit to Best Buy smoother!

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Glad I don't work for Best Buy. My arm would be dead at the end of each day from carrying around that dead weight each day.

May I suggest pumping some iron?

 

[cvaldes]

I would have thought that selling billions and billions of songs on iTunes, along with all those iPhone App Store sales would have accounted for something?

Apple does not consider the iTunes Store nor App Store to be profit-and-loss centers. They use content to drive sales of its high-margin hardware. They have repeatedly stated this. When Apple talks about unit sales, they are talking about sales of Macs and iDevices, not songs or software downloads.

But don't just listen to me. Apple is a publicly traded company and has some responsibility in divulging the overall way that it runs its business and how they make money.

Go ahead and look at Apple's SEC filings and read about their revenue stream. If the iTunes Store and App Store contributed significantly to the bottom line, they would obligated to address these as PNL centers and to discuss the health of these businesses far more extensively to analysts and shareholders.

 

[nylonsteel]

i'm ok with this if -
-bb is actually buying the ipads from aapl and aapl pockets a good profit
-bb has a good set of guidelines for employees to market it
though-
-still not impressed with my local bb staff - they just seem like kids with blue polo shirts working a part time job

 

[aeiron]

Robert Stephens on Twitter

 

[Mr. Gates]

I just cant believe they didn't go with 4g !!

Still on the 3g ?

Why?

 

[dwarnecke11]

Ohh one of my most anti-Apple friends works at Best Buy. This is gonna be sweet

 

[hayesk]

Exactly how will this help Best Buy sell more stuff?

They can instantly tell you if an item is in stock, instead of you waiting for them to go check a computer, then get tired of waiting and leave the store to buy it elsewhere.

Or if it isn't in stock, they can pressure you to order it on the spot, instead of leaving you to go to another store.

 

[verniesgarden]

I just cant believe they didn't go with 4g !!

Still on the 3g ?

Why?

Because 4G doesn't really exist yet. Won't be rolled till late 2011, and that's only in select markets. plus the iPhone is the flagship mobile device for apple, it will get 4G first. Look at 2012/13 to be the year of 4G

 

[Yankee617]

The employees don't get to take the cash registers home for personal usage, either.

They don't? Damn... I so wanted to throw one in my backpack.

 

[zenio]

I would think that a 5"-7" pad would be a better fit for this application.

I certainly agree.

However we must also remember that once the grey haired, cranky old Steve Jobs, gets up on the wrong side of the bed & trashes that size he's backed Apple into a corner.

This sad egotistical CEO suffering from mood swings has got to go. Yet as long as the worshippers think Apple is a one man band & can't possible survive without him, they will keep him propped up at all costs.

 

[liavman]

-still not impressed with my local bb staff - they just seem like kids with blue polo shirts working a part time job

They are.. Why do you suspect they would not be able to deal with an iPad.
These are not just for the BB staff who works in the computer section. This is not about these kids explaining iPad features to cusotmers. It is for the entire store. If iPads are easy to use from toddlers to senior citizens, these kids can definitely learn to use the iPad for their daily work functions.

 

[DrJohnnyN]

I certainly agree.

However we must also remember that once the grey haired, cranky old Steve Jobs, gets up on the wrong side of the bed & trashes that size he's backed Apple into a corner.

This sad egotistical CEO suffering from mood swings has got to go. Yet as long as the worshippers think Apple is a one man band & can't possible survive without him, they will keep him propped up at all costs.

 

[Robin4]

If hospitals are starting to use them with doctors, nurses, etc., so are auto showrooms and restaurants, why not BB?

We may even see a day where libraries loan them out to visitors so they can read their favorite magazines, newspapers, books. Who knows?

 

[zenio]

-still not impressed with my local bb staff - they just seem like kids with blue polo shirts working a part time job

- nor am I impressed with the kids wearing Apple shirts in the whitewashed Apple Stores.

The main difference is Apple kids are looked upon as generally of higher caliber (NOT) & more knowledgeable (marginal). I don't care, it's _still retail_ no matter how one chooses to perceive it.

After all the only difference between a best buy "geek squad" individual and a "genius" is Apples relentless need to be arrogant, act superior and charge obscene prices.

A genius bar, really?

Who's kidding whom!

 

[res1233]

As an AAPL shareholder, I'm perfectly fine with what their SEC filings say. If they did as you describe, they didn't lose much money. Their margins are F-A-T!!! Plus, all big companies probably practice a little bit of this. At the end, this sort of behavior is a wash. It's all accounted for in the bottom line, and AAPL's bottom line is sweet.

I'm a customer too, of course, but I've made far more money as an investor than what I've spent as a customer.

AAPL is about hardware sales. Go ahead and read their SEC filings. If they had significant non-hardware revenue, it would be glaringly obvious. If they reported revenue sources inaccurately, they would be in some deep doo-doo, both from the SEC standpoint, as well as shareholder lawsuits.

If you believe Apple is far more than hardware sales, please show us SEC documentation of such.

Thank you.

This is an overly simplistic way to look at it. Apple would sell no hardware if it wasn't for their amazing software. Their hardware's great too, but if it all ran Android, it wouldn't sell as well. The hardware is simply the most expensive component of their products, but as for the most important component, I'd say it's their software.

 

[tigres]

I certainly agree.

However we must also remember that once the grey haired, cranky old Steve Jobs, gets up on the wrong side of the bed & trashes that size he's backed Apple into a corner.

This sad egotistical CEO suffering from mood swings has got to go. Yet as long as the worshippers think Apple is a one man band & can't possible survive without him, they will keep him propped up at all costs.

- nor am I impressed with the kids wearing Apple shirts in the whitewashed Apple Stores.

The main difference is Apple kids are looked upon as generally of higher caliber (NOT) & more knowledgeable (marginal). I don't care, it's _still retail_ no matter how one chooses to perceive it.

After all the only difference between a best buy "geek squad" individual and a "genius" is Apples relentless need to be arrogant, act superior and charge obscene prices.

A genius bar, really?

Who's kidding whom!

You are here vomiting your superior complex because ....

 

[DrJohnnyN]

This is an overly simplistic way to look at it. Apple would sell no hardware if it wasn't for their amazing software. Their hardware's great too, but if it all ran Android, it wouldn't sell as well. The hardware is simply the most expensive component of their products, but as for the most important component, I'd say it's their software.

Solid post. No one can innovate like Apple.

 

[louis Fashion]

Circle the Drain

Best Buy may not be in business in one or two years. I know the one near my house is a sad, empty space. The i Pad will not save BB. I guess we are all going to buy everything on line. I like to look at the product before I buy it, but that may not be the case in the future.