Allright, lets see what kind of light I can shed upon this. I currently do work at Best Buy in Marin City, CA just on the north side of the Golden Gate.
As for iPods, they are constantly being sold and we are constantly getting more in. I'd say at least 10 a week. And that includes the 10GB Mac, 10GB PC and 20GB PC. Not too bad if you ask me.
When the original fruit flavored iMacs were being sold at BB, they were being sold with the BB Service Plan. AppleCare was never mentioned in the salespersons speach. Ask any of the techs that worked at the store during that time and they loved the macs as they hardly ever had to be repaired, but if you do want to either get the Service Plan or Apple Care, I would get the Service Plan as it covers everything that Apple Care does, but depending on your location, is quite a bit easier to bring it there to get repaired. And if you can't get Microsoft Word to work, Best Buy and Apple aren't gonna help you with that one. Don't know if Microsoft would either.
Yes, there is quite a bit of pointless competition between the BB stores, but believe me, most of us really don't care. We make sure and ask the manager what the current numbers are just to seem concerned, but we all know that we're not gonna get any bonus or on the other hand fired for not out doing a neighboring store day in and day out. And you don't have to be a lifer to be a good salesman. I'm a great salesman, don't push the plan if it is something that doesn't need it. I never sold a single MSN.

And never will. and I'm definitely not a lifer. I got the job there while I was in college, and now I'm just trying to figure out what to do.
I will say this, if Apple wants me to work for them in the current store I'm in as their rep. I'd consider postponing my future career. I'm not in any hurry. And I guarantee that as long as I'm there that the computers will be running perfectly along with sample DVD's I've made and FCP edits, etc., etc.