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Macs Showing Up at Best Buys

Re: Re: CompUSA is messy in Memphis

The Apple section of the Memphis CompUSA store still needs a lot of work.

It doesn't make a bit of difference if the person doing the fix-up is an Apple employee, an outsourced temp, or a CompUSA employee.
 
To everyone who says "all x are y"

Different managers manage individual stores differently. Corporate tries to influence what they can, and set general guidlines nationwide... but not all Best Buys are staffed by unknowledgeble slacker 16 year olds. In fact, employees of all types are present at most stores (Chose a combination from groups A, B, and C):

Group A (People aged):
(1) 16 - 20 Years
(2) 21 - 30 Years
(3) 31 - 40 Years
(4) 41+ Years

Group B (Knowledge level):
(1) "That's a good discount they have here."
(2) "I used a Mac in high school."
(3) "It's about time they started selling Macs."
(4) "The new Mac is really cool."
(5) "I know as much as Steve Jobs about both Macs and PCs."

Group C (Sales Approach):
(1) "PC R0xx0rz!"
(2) "Disparanging any product will get you fired."
(3) "I'm not on commission. Which expensive computer would you like to buy (w/ PSP)?"

In summary, having worked at Best Buy, and having lived in Arizona and Minnesota, I've noticed that the experience is not the same anywhere. Same thing with CompUSA. The one near me sucks, but the one 10 miles away is happy and staffed with a higher caliber of employee. But the most important thing is to find a salesperson who you like. If you don't like the attitude of the person you're talking to, talk to someone else. If you mention that you didn't like the attitude, it's likely to make a difference.

The discussion about "All Best Buy employees and service plans are stupid!" "No they arent!" "Yes they are! I bought something there once!" "I should know!" "No you shouldn't!" "Yes I should!" isn't getting anywhere.
 
has anybody been by their best buy to see if the dont have apple stuff. im curious to see if it is only select cities or if its everywher.

iJon
 
I work at a Best Buy in Ohio and we are not receiving any Apple products and as far as I can tell, the Pittsburgh market is not either. The only upside is that in recent months we have been receiving more Mac compatible hardware and software.
 
Originally posted by iJon
has anybody been by their best buy to see if the dont have apple stuff. im curious to see if it is only select cities or if its everywher.

iJon
Click to expand...

I just called our local store here in Champaign, IL and the guy said they had no Apple products in stock. I asked if he knew when they might begin stocking them and he said, "I have no idea." Well, I hope it's soon 'cause the nearest Apple Store to me in Chicago.
 
no SC...

Originally posted by iJon
has anybody been by their best buy to see if the dont have apple stuff. im curious to see if it is only select cities or if its everywher.

iJon
Click to expand...

Actually, I think apple has a thing against the state of South Carolina. In the Charelston, SC area there are no CompUSA's, no apple stores, and one Best Buy that's a half hour car drive and the last time I was there they said they had no info on carrying apple products. I would be pleasantly shocked if they started carrying them! The only store in the entire state that carries apple products is a compUSA in Greenville, which is very, very far from the coast! If I had only stayed on Long Island, I would be surrounded by apple stores and apple resellers!!!
 
I'm going to Best Buy in Pleasant Hill, CA today to (hopefully) get a digital camera, so I'll see if they have anything.
 
Re: CompUSA is NOT staffed by Apple employees

Originally posted by dnedrow
CompUSA stores are staffed via outsourced employees, NOT by Apple employees.

I know, because I was offered a job at a CompUSA here in Columbus, OH. Not as an Apple employee, but as an employee of the oursourcing firm meaning no Apple discounts and no CompUSA discounts. It was all the way on the other side of the city and things came up at my fulltime job that prevented my taking on a parttime job.

However, there is a Best Buy five minutes from where I worked. I actually worked there for a few months during the Xmas season.

If the employees are actually Apple employees, that would be extremely nice and convenient for me as a part time job.
Click to expand...

Just to correct this post. There are many CompUSAs that have a "bona-fide" Apple employee working in them. Not all stores do, however.

Apple does occasionally use MarketSource (If I remember correctly) to have people work in the Apple area, clean it up, etc.

The Apple employees are ASCs (Apple Sales Consultants), they work for Apple, they get CompUSA discounts. Apple is expanding the ASC program to include more CompUSAs in it. But for example, in the Tampa Bay area, there are three stores, but only one of them has an ASC in it.

Apple and Best Buy are currently working out getting the ASC program in Best Buys. I have a nice long editorial about it here, if you wish to read some of the issues surrounding it.

theFly
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I also went by the San Carlos store. The G4 they had on display was a single CPU 1.2GHz G4. They had one 15" and one 17" iMac on display.

Most disappointing to me, there was no sign of any Mac software or accessories, which makes me fear the whole endeavor will be a bust. The first thing ignorant PC bigots usually say is that there's no software for Macs, and having machines with no supporting products in Best Buy will just reinforce that myth.
 
Re: CompUSA is NOT staffed by Apple employees

Originally posted by dnedrow
CompUSA stores are staffed via outsourced employees, NOT by Apple employees.

I know, because I was offered a job at a CompUSA here in Columbus, OH. Not as an Apple employee, but as an employee of the oursourcing firm meaning no Apple discounts and no CompUSA discounts. It was all the way on the other side of the city and things came up at my fulltime job that prevented my taking on a parttime job.

However, there is a Best Buy five minutes from where I worked. I actually worked there for a few months during the Xmas season.

If the employees are actually Apple employees, that would be extremely nice and convenient for me as a part time job.
Click to expand...
Where I live (Little Rock, AR), CompUSA is the only place to buy Apple equipment and it is staffed by a genuine Apple employee. Apple nametag and he even gave me an Apple business card with an @apple.com email address on it.

That doesn't change the fact that CompUSA sucks ass and I will never buy anything from them again. Be sure to check their return policy because they charge a 15% restocking fee on everything, and full retail price plus sales tax. Just my two cents. You're much better buying online and not paying the sales tax.
 
Originally posted by arn
Sounds like they are going to stock major software... toast, photoshop, final cut, keynote etc....

not sure if they will stock others though

arn
Click to expand...
I think this will be the biggest benefit to existing mac users...a brick and mortar place to get their software if they want it. There are still a lot of people out there who aren't comfortable with buying online on a regular basis.
 
Re: CompUSA is NOT staffed by Apple employees

Originally posted by dnedrow
CompUSA stores are staffed via outsourced employees, NOT by Apple employees.

I know, because I was offered a job at a CompUSA here in Columbus, OH. Not as an Apple employee, but as an employee of the oursourcing firm meaning no Apple discounts and no CompUSA discounts.
Click to expand...

Hi dnedrow,

You were offered the job at the Columbus CompUSA as (what you call an) "outsourced" employee (probably though MarketSource or Volt) because Apple has a store in Columbus. In cities were Apple doesn't have AppleStores the CompUSAs have full time badged Apple employees. However, I do not know much much longer that will continue, or if it will be the same for BestBuy.
 
Originally posted by Apmonia
I work at a Best Buy in Ohio and we are not receiving any Apple products and as far as I can tell, the Pittsburgh market is not either. The only upside is that in recent months we have been receiving more Mac compatible hardware and software.
Click to expand...

Apmonia,

I'd be on the watch for the Apple stuff. There are job listings for all the Best Buy cities in Ohio for Apple people.
 
I called up Best Buy (nationwide questions line) and asked if their financing plans will be available for the Apple products. At first the guy didn't seem to want to admit they were carrying Apple products, but he quickly recovered. He said that their financing specials which people have mentioned here are not available for everything in the store, but are just week long specials on individual products. So I would have to watch the weekly flyers to see if such an offer was ever made available. Does this match what you guys know to be true? I am not normally a Best Buy customer, so I do not know. Let me know, Thanks!
 
Originally posted by SSmagicman
I called up Best Buy (nationwide questions line) and asked if their financing plans will be available for the Apple products. At first the guy didn't seem to want to admit they were carrying Apple products, but he quickly recovered. He said that their financing specials which people have mentioned here are not available for everything in the store, but are just week long specials on individual products. So I would have to watch the weekly flyers to see if such an offer was ever made available. Does this match what you guys know to be true? I am not normally a Best Buy customer, so I do not know. Let me know, Thanks!
Click to expand...
i dont think you see any deals on the macs because if you look at all of the coupons for best buy on the back in small letters it says cannot be used on apple or bose products. now they can give away free stuff with it, but it think thats it.

iJon
 
I just called the four Best Buy locations in Columbus Ohio closest to me to check and see if they know anything about the Apple products.

Store #295) Didn't know anything about BBs stocking Apple products. This store is just down the road from an AppleStore, so who knows, they might not even get the Apple products.

Store #156) They just found out today that they would be carrying the Apple products. They had no details. They could not say when they would have stock on hand, or if the financing plans would apply.

Store #292) Didn't know anything about Apple. They said if it happened that he would be surprised if it happened before November.

Store #570) Didn't know anything about it happening at all.

How about you guys? Whats going on at your local Best Buy stores?
 
Originally posted by SSmagicman
I just called the four Best Buy locations in Columbus Ohio closest to me to check and see if they know anything about the Apple products.

Store #295) Didn't know anything about BBs stocking Apple products. This store is just down the road from an AppleStore, so who knows, they might not even get the Apple products.

Store #156) They just found out today that they would be carrying the Apple products. They had no details. They could not say when they would have stock on hand, or if the financing plans would apply.

Store #292) Didn't know anything about Apple. They said if it happened that he would be surprised if it happened before November.

Store #570) Didn't know anything about it happening at all.

How about you guys? Whats going on at your local Best Buy stores?
Click to expand...

I'm going to try and check my local BB out today or tomorrow...
 
No SC or GA (savannah)

Just for laughs I called the Charleston, SC store and they said they had no plans to carry apple products. Then I called the Savannah, GA store (much more helpful) and he said that some Best Buys are starting to carry apple but they did not have any plans at that store...

Guess I'll just have to move!!!
 
Re: no SC...

Originally posted by djtet
Actually, I think apple has a thing against the state of South Carolina. In the Charelston, SC area there are no CompUSA's, no apple stores, and one Best Buy that's a half hour car drive and the last time I was there they said they had no info on carrying apple products. I would be pleasantly shocked if they started carrying them! The only store in the entire state that carries apple products is a compUSA in Greenville, which is very, very far from the coast! If I had only stayed on Long Island, I would be surrounded by apple stores and apple resellers!!!
Click to expand...
cant agree with you more, i guess they they think we all either came over by boat, or are hicks? anyways this yankee now eats grits and uses a mac.
 
A few days ago I had a team meeting at best buy and my supervisor let the PC department know that we would be getting macs within the next few months. This is in the Long Island, NY area. I guess they are stocking them quicker than previously thought. My supervisor also told me that there was a list of what we were supposed to carry but he doesnt remember what was on it. 25% of our employees were anxious to receive them but the other 75% just rolled their eyes. My supervisor said that we will be trained HEAVILY. So we might receive training and there might also be an apple rep to help us out. He didnt say anything about the no interest financing (its 24 months for this weeks promotion) and nothing about software or accessories. No word on the G5 either. Hopefully I can find out more tomorrow at work. If anyone has any SKUs or employee prices, let me know. Thanks.

-KrazyKidd
 
Originally posted by SSmagicman
I just called the four Best Buy locations in Columbus Ohio closest to me to check and see if they know anything about the Apple products.

Store #570) Didn't know anything about it happening at all.

How about you guys? Whats going on at your local Best Buy stores?
Click to expand...

SSMagicman,

I used to work at 570 and stopped in there today. The guy that's worked in the PC area for a number of years hadn't even heard that other BBs were getting stocked. He got a chuckle when I told him what appeared to be happening, since they had just cleaned out under the decks and found Apple accessories that must have been left from when they sold them 8 years ago.

You said there were listings for the Columbus area on jobs.apple.com? That weren't Easton Center? Believe, I'd pounce at a chance to work at BB 50 as an Apple rep (part time). It's about 5 minutes from my day job and 7 minutes from home.
 
I can personally vouch for the fact that Macs are on display at the Best Buy here in Fairfield, CA. (Northern Calif, between Sacramento and the SF Bay Area). It will be interesting to see how well they do here, especially considering there is a CompUseless, er CompUSA, just 10 miles up the road in Vacaville.
 
I stopped into store 210 where I will begin work this week. I asked the computer department and they knew nothing about stocking apple products.
 
Preliminary List

This is a rough list of Best Buy expected to participate in the pilot. Can't guarentee it... but seems likely


Ahwatukee, AZ
Arrowhead, AZ
Mesa(Fiesta), AZ
Goodyear, AZ
Roseville, CA
Arden Fair, CA
Elk Grove, CA
Citrus Heights, CA
Santa Rosa, CA
Marin City, CA
San Carlos, CA
Milpitas, CA
East Palo Alto, CA
San Francisco, CA
Blossom Hill, CA
Dublin, CA
Pleasant Hill, CA
Fairfield, CA
Pinole, CA
Modesto, CA
Union City, CA
Pittsburg, CA
Davenport, IA
Moline, IL
Butterfield Road, IL
Bloomingdale, IL
Naperville, IL
Addison, IL
Harlem & Irving, IL
North Riverside, IL
Melrose Park, IL
North Avenue, IL
Randall Road, IL
Skokie, IL
Arlington Heights, IL
Schaumburg, IL
Evanston, IL
Crystal Lake, IL
Vernon Hills, IL
Golf Mill, IL
Deerfield, IL
West Dundee, IL
Old Orchard, IL
Crestwood, IL
Orland Park, IL
Ford City, IL
Lansing Calumet, IL
Downers Grove, IL
Matteson, IL
Hodgins/Countryside, IL
Merrillville, IN
Bel Air, MD
Maple Grove, MN
Chelsea, NY
86th & Lexington, NY
Roanoke, VA
Lynchburg, VA
Sterling, VA
Springfield Mall, VA
 
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