Genius Bars and Expanded Apple Lineup Coming to Best Buy Stores?

[SeattleMoose]

No Thanx

I guess if you live somewhere with no Apple store, it is better than nothing. But I DON'T to be hassled about extended warranties, magazine subscriptions, gift cards, or any of the other Pest Buy BS when I am checking out.

 

[fenderbass146]

I used to work (about 4 years ago) in the computer section, and later geek squad, at Best Buy and that doesn't describe me at all . I think you meant to say 99.95% instead of 100% .

I would agree. I am in the Geek Squad currently...and almost everyone in the pc section and geek squad is pretty knowledgable. Sure we have the idiot seasonal people who don't know anything, however there there to help the people who buy the 150 dollar ****** netbooks on black friday and thats about it.

 

[E.Lizardo]

Luckily there is a real Apple store here in town.If Best buy was my only local option I'd get Apple Care and get support over the phone rather than darken the door of that hell hole.

 

[Afflicted Max]

I wish. Simply because I want to work at the Genius Bar. But my closest Apple store is over 20 miles away, not worth the commute for me

 

[revelated]

Refuse to work at a Genius Bar. The pay isn't worth it. If they paid me what I make now (which I estimate to be roughly 2.5x what they make), I would consider it. I have both Windows and Mac expertise - on the Windows side, I slap viruses for fun...seems there isn't a virus/trojan/rootkit/malware/profile takeover that I can't destroy. On the Mac side I've managed to restore thought-to-be-lost hard drives without incident. Apple Stores creep me out though - too many brats and people with young kids just surfing the web and not actually buying anything, and they have a bunch of staff standing around doing nothing because nobody's buying and nobody's asking for help. They're just oversized cyber cafés just like Microsoft Stores.

As for Genius Bars in Best Buys...the local BB refuses to carry Apple because they don't want to dedicate an entire aisle to Apple. I asked why that was necessary and they said it's just what Apple demands. Whatever though. BB is stupid - if they were smart they would dedicate a corner of the store to everything Apple related; iPads, iPhones, Macs, MacBooks, accessories, etc. instead of wasting time and money on Magnolia.

 

[Demosthenes X]

Stop being lazy and go to an Apple Store. Why would you want to deal with Best Buy policy? If you're investing $100's to $1000's on a product, go right to the source. Anything else is unthinkable. I don't care if you have to drive 2-3 hours, Apple products last years, so it's a small sacrifice for an outstanding gain.

This is terrible 'advice'. Why drive 2-3 hours out of your way, spend extra money on gas, and pollute the environment, just to buy the exact same product for the exact same price?

If you know what you want, and the price is the same, go to the most convenient source. With BestBuy's financing and rewards options, it makes even more sense.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

wouldnt this be a good reason FOR the genius bar to be moved into best buys?

Yes indeed. I prefer the Apple strore. Best Buy got me once, never again.

 

[mgauss7]

And why does Apple let Internet discounters exist?

I purchased two AppleCares from Mac-Pro.com and they were not valid! Did not get my money back either! Why does Apple let discounters that charge no tax exist? These are seedy people that Apple lets sell their products discounted. As if Apple needed that. And my Best Buy store devotes more space to selling dishwashers or toasters that Macs. Pathetic. They devote more space to sell drums than Macs.

This is terrible 'advice'. Why drive 2-3 hours out of your way, spend extra money on gas, and pollute the environment, just to buy the exact same product for the exact same price?

If you know what you want, and the price is the same, go to the most convenient source. With BestBuy's financing and rewards options, it makes even more sense.

 

[Built]

I like Best Buy...You can get some good deals if you watch their sales, especially if you want the item "today," as opposed to shopping online. I have had great luck with Best Buy in correcting issues...and have been Reward Zone Silver Premier since the program started.

The Reward Zone points have come in handy and, for example, I got 300 bucks off my iPad 64GB 3G with Reward Zone certificates I earned.

However, I know what I want BEFORE I go there...Do all my research prior...I don't depend on Best Buy personnel to tell me what to purchase. I think people expect Best Buy to have knowledgeable, personalized service...I don't. I want low prices/sales (which I shop for at Best Buy); convenience; selection; an incentive program and a good return policy.

I get all those things from Best Buy.

Flame away...

 

[twoodcc]

i think this is a great idea. the more people apple gets out to, the better. in the end, it's better for the consumer

 

[SandynJosh]

What? "Geek squad" isn't derogatory enough? How about "Pencil-Neck Geek Squad", then?

Check for a pocket protector...the really bad ones have been stripped of their pocket protectors and forced to wear white tape on the nose-piece of their glasses.

 

[SeaFox]

TUAW reports that it has heard from "an anonymous tipster" that Apple will be expanding its presence at Best Buy stores, adding more products and even going as far as to add Genius Bars in some locations.

That's like putting a fashion show in the middle of the city dump.

 

[DELLsFan]

I don't care how well-trained Geek Squad agents are.

I don't care about how the store isn't as chic as an Apple Store.

I don't care if I get a Genius Bar or not.

What I would LOVE to see is just the ability to buy certain Apple products on the same day, without having to go to the Apple Store. In the OKC area, there are over a half-dozen Best Buys, but only one Apple Store. I don't need help, I just need access. Also, buying Apple stuff with Best Buy's financing and earning BB Rewards points would be nice perks.

Look, if you all want to hang out in the store all day and admire the decor, while comparing notes with Apple employees about which black turtleneck is your personal favorite... have fun. I just want to get my stuff and get home, and in most cases, a trip to Best Buy can be a lot quicker and less painful than a trip to the Apple store.

But then again, I'm usually ordering directly from Apple.com anyway.

/signed

Though I am amused at the prospects. Imagine ... a cross between an Apple genius and Geek Squad staffer. Hmm ... unbuttoned white shirt, tie (unfinished knot, of course), torn over-sized jeans, apple boxers (showing of course), sandals, rasta dreadlocks, clutching an iPhone in one hand, and the other constantly pulling up said jeans.

 

[karsten]

The current "Apple Stores" in Best Buy, at least in my area, are staffed by APPLE employees (paid by apple, apple shirt, apple business cards) and the best buy employees avoid it like a null-zone that doesn't exist.

Do people have experiences of best buy employees inside the apple store inside best buy?

same here it's an apple guy on duty in the apple section. if they staffed the genius bar w/ actual apple people it wouldnt be so bad.

 

[Abacab]

Genius ?

I don't think there enough GENIUS to go around!!!????

 

[0815]

I hope they are staffed with Apple employees. From past experience, the staff at BestBuy only knows what is written on the label next to the computers on display - I can read myself and most of the staff seems to have very limited computer knowledge. They often know only what is in stock and what 'needs' to be sold (but often they also have a hard time figuring out what is in stock).

 

[rsocal]

I have an Apple Store and Best Buy at my disposal. As far as my Apple products, I only buy from Apple for what I feel is the best C.S.of any business I have ever dealt with, and the Genius Bar has been absolutely wonderful! The buying experience at an Apple Store will always be a much better experience then that of a Best Buy. However I have nothing bad to say about B.B., but I don't think it's a good idea for a Genius Bar in a B.B. unless it's staffed by true Apple Personel and even then I just don't know? I believe Apple needs to keep themselves separate from that type of environment, that's always been one of the quality's of Apple I like! I think they should just put more stores up, maybe smaller ones next to best buys. Whatever they do just keep the same Apple service and Genius Bars!

 

[Built]

This is terrible 'advice'. Why drive 2-3 hours out of your way, spend extra money on gas, and pollute the environment, just to buy the exact same product for the exact same price?

If you know what you want, and the price is the same, go to the most convenient source. With BestBuy's financing and rewards options, it makes even more sense.

Absolutely. I was even able to get Best Buy to price match the incredible $999 Microcenter deal for the MBP 13 and I got Reward Zone points and something like 24 months interest-free.

 

[Rajani Isa]

This is terrible 'advice'. Why drive 2-3 hours out of your way, spend extra money on gas, and pollute the environment, just to buy the exact same product for the exact same price?

If you know what you want, and the price is the same, go to the most convenient source. With BestBuy's financing and rewards options, it makes even more sense.

It wouldn't necessarily be too bad if that was the the round trip time, it's make a half-day of the trip, but it is definitely excessive for 1-way.

For me, it'd be 4 hours one way to an Apple store. Nearly 5 if I follow the speed, uh, recommendations

That's like putting a fashion show in the middle of the city dump.

Surprising it hasn't happened before now?

 

[karichristensen]

This might be a good idea for small towns without an Apple store. But I'm in NYC and the Best Buys are truly "hell holes" as someone else appropriately described. Not only do they go three stories underground, but they hire some of the rudest and most unknowledgeable employees I have ever met!

If I were Steve I would be afraid to be associated with Best Buy's bad reputation and risk having Apple employees exposed to their dysfunctional corporate culture.

 

[topmounter]

...

Because I think their crap influence will outweigh Apple's. Just like it did with Magnolia.

...

Exactly.

Every time I walk into a Best Buy, it amazes me how their crappy Apple kiosks could possibly exist in the same plane of existence as Steve Jobs.

 

[pr5owner]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/genius

"genius"

1.an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.: the genius of Mozart.
2.
a person having such capacity.
3.
a person having an extraordinarily high intelligence rating on a psychological test, as an iq above 140.
4.
natural ability or capacity; strong inclination: a special genius for leadership.
5.
distinctive character or spirit, as of a nation, period, or language.
6.
the guardian spirit of a place, institution, etc.
7.
either of two mutually opposed spirits, one good and the other evil, supposed to attend a person throughout life.
8.
a person who strongly influences for good or ill the character, conduct, or destiny of a person, place, or thing: Rasputin, the evil genius of Russian politics.

strange, the tards working at the genius bar match none of those qualities

 

[Aatos.1]

Adding Genius bars to Best Buy stores would not surprise me. It is an innovative idea.

There's not one thing innovative at all.

Starbucks have been placed inside Malls, Car Dealerships, Grocery Stores, and the list goes on. Soon you'll be able to buy iPhones at the Quick Stop. A dime a dozen iPhones everywhere.

 

[globalhemp]

Small Keyboards & No Keypads

I was at Best Buy this past weekend to test the 27" iMac/i3 to see how fast it could import a 3-1/2 minutes HD-AVI from DVD. It took 16 minutes.

Anyhow, while using the iMac, a few people walked by looking at the iMac's and the comment of, "Is that the keyboard it comes with?" came up several times.

Apple has insisted on childish, kiddie sized keyboards for decades. For whatever their reasoning comes it, I would highly suggest that Apple offer a few choices:

1. Normal Apple (kiddie) sized keyboard
2. Normal PC sized keyboard (e.g., Logitech Wave)

I've been using Mac's since 1995 and always prefer to ditch the kiddie sized keyboard myself. In the case of the original iMac, the "Hockey Puck" mouse was also an issue.

Speaking of which, the iMac at Best Buy had Apple's Magic Mouse sitting on top of the Magic Trackpad -- as some passer-by must have figured the Magic Trackpad was a mouse pad.

Finally, my wife is an accountant and as a web designer and marketer, I too require the use of a Keypad. Apple's "normal" keyboard does not have a keypad. Purchasing and plugging in a USB keypad defeats the point. All Mac Laptops do not have keypads, which is worse as for desktop owners, they can purchase another keyboard with keypad, but laptop users can not do the same.

So, I propose that Apple have 4 options:

1. Normal Apple (kiddie) sized keyboard without Keypad
2. Normal PC sized keyboard (e.g., Logitech Wave) without Keypad
3. Normal Apple (kiddie) sized keyboard with Keypad
4. Normal PC sized keyboard (e.g., Logitech Wave) with Keypad

 

[tigress666]

This is terrible 'advice'. Why drive 2-3 hours out of your way, spend extra money on gas, and pollute the environment, just to buy the exact same product for the exact same price?

If you know what you want, and the price is the same, go to the most convenient source. With BestBuy's financing and rewards options, it makes even more sense.

Unless you hate Best Buy and refuse to give them a dime of your money on principle. I've never had good customer service there but one particular experience dealing with their extended warranty scam pretty much cinched it with me that I was never giving them another dime of my money (it was that incident paired with the fact I've only ever had annoying experiences there).

And that was years ago. And honestly, they are one of two stores I feel that strongly about and honestly the other store I don't really hate as much but I don't tend to shop there anyway so it's no effort expended on my part. Where as I love gadgets so Best Buy would be a store I would inhabit if I didn't dislike them so much.