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The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

Shirtless Guy

Shirtless Guy

Old Dirty Basterd
Just a couple weeks ago Best Buy announced they would be closing 50 stores and they laid off about 400 people. This isn't the first that has happened in the last 5 years. Now today, Brian Dunn has announced that he has resigned as CEO of Best Buy. Thoughts?
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

bigblue_dl said:
I bet your girlfriend LOVES this thread. :p
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haha, she feels the same way...said she was in shock with this whole thing. Brian Dunn resigning is a horrible sign for the company after the other week's layoffs.
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

It's very true that these stores have merely become showrooms and people are purchasing online.

Did we see similar issues during the days of catalogue shopping, like when Montgomery Ward came into prominence with their catalogue service? The biggest issue I see is that these stores aren't reacting to the market's times. A store like Staples stays afloat because not only have they started online shopping, but they will price-match their online store (assuming you ask about it; I know I received a price-match when I bought something).
 
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Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

FlagDUDE08 said:
It's very true that these stores have merely become showrooms and people are purchasing online.

Did we see similar issues during the days of catalogue shopping, like when Montgomery Ward came into prominence with their catalogue service? The biggest issue I see is that these stores aren't reacting to the market's times.
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What are they suppose to do? They can't sell it for the prices on Amazon, etc. If they do they lose money because of the cost of the store itself. Once they disappear, who will be the showroom for online shoppers?
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

I doubt it's the end of the big box stores. But it's likely the start of the end for Best Buy. It's hard to compete with Internet prices when they have overhead of dozens of employees at each store and paying rent/leasing property for their buildings.

They really milked the extended warranty idea to prolong the death, but with electronics getting "cheaper," it isn't worth it. It's cheaper to throw away broken electronics and buy new than to repair it, and people are starting to use Best Buy more to comparison shop before purchasing online.
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

Shirtless Guy said:
What are they suppose to do? They can't sell it for the prices on Amazon, etc. If they do they lose money because of the cost of the store itself. Once they disappear, who will be the showroom for online shoppers?
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Does Best Buy do online shopping? Staples does.
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

Not shocking. Amazon killed off every book store with more than 4 stores in America aside from Barnes and Noble.

Books, movies, electronics: things you can just as easily order online as buy in person. Clothing isn't as volatile because you want to see it and try it on before you buy it.
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

bronconick said:
Not shocking. Amazon killed off every book store with more than 4 stores in America aside from Barnes and Noble.

Books, movies, electronics: things you can just as easily order online as buy in person. Clothing isn't as volatile because you want to see it and try it on before you buy it.
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It would be interesting to see how electronic sales would go for Amazon and other online outlets if they didn't have the free show room.
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

Shirtless Guy said:
It would be interesting to see how electronic sales would go for Amazon and other online outlets if they didn't have the free show room.
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Probably not too much different. You can't exactly try the electronics at the store, and there are already customer reviews easily available (although you have to weed through the ******-y ones).
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

Best Buy needs to totally reinvent themselves. Keep the stores for now yet radically transition IBM style.
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

I saw an synopsis on them recently... and their view wasn't so much that Amazon was killing them off (though as somebody who doesn't have a car, I find Amazon insanely convenient) its just that they suck at customer relations and providing anything of real personal value.

The advantage a Best Buy has over something else is that they have people you can talk to and you can compare in person and judge for yourself. But if that advantage has been reduced to a near valueless "window shopping" then there isn't a point. If you could trust the the sales person to set you up real good (even if it costs a bit more) then you'll do it because you know you're getting reliable service.

Instead, Best Buy decided to race to the bottom... and it turns out, they lost!

Best Buy has always had trust problems... I've always been leery about going into there because I can't trust that the guys working the floor have any real knowledge. Best Buy, as a brand, is terrible. I think the "big box" can still work... you just can't be bad at it. Maybe the margins are so that you can't hire quality staff and keep them... if so then that's the way it goes... but it seems to me Best Buy's problems are entirely self-inflicted and if so, then I wouldn't be surprised if there is a smaller more reliable replacement in its wake... maybe not right away... but something.
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

Patman said:
I saw an synopsis on them recently... and their view wasn't so much that Amazon was killing them off (though as somebody who doesn't have a car, I find Amazon insanely convenient) its just that they suck at customer relations and providing anything of real personal value.

The advantage a Best Buy has over something else is that they have people you can talk to and you can compare in person and judge for yourself. But if that advantage has been reduced to a near valueless "window shopping" then there isn't a point. If you could trust the the sales person to set you up real good (even if it costs a bit more) then you'll do it because you know you're getting reliable service.

Instead, Best Buy decided to race to the bottom... and it turns out, they lost!

Best Buy has always had trust problems... I've always been leery about going into there because I can't trust that the guys working the floor have any real knowledge. Best Buy, as a brand, is terrible. I think the "big box" can still work... you just can't be bad at it. Maybe the margins are so that you can't hire quality staff and keep them... if so then that's the way it goes... but it seems to me Best Buy's problems are entirely self-inflicted and if so, then I wouldn't be surprised if there is a smaller more reliable replacement in its wake... maybe not right away... but something.
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This is even a trend with department stores as well. How do they determine the worthiness of their cashiers? It's not through their service, but through how many store credit cards they are able to sell.
 
Shirtless Guy said:
It would be interesting to see how electronic sales would go for Amazon and other online outlets if they didn't have the free show room.
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I don't about the rest of you guys but I would upset if I had to order electronics online. For one prices are cheaper but any savings is made up on the shipping cost if you live in Alaska, something that actually makes the big box stores cheaper usually. The other, as someone who works in the express shipping industry, I would never ship a large electronic item like a tv. Never. The chance of it being damaged is like 15%. It's a dumb idea.
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

The number of times that I wanted help and had a floor person read the tags to me made me stop bothering with Best Buy for advice. And that was at least 15 years ago.

I will still buy things in stores, but I do most of my research online. When I need actual expert advice, I go to American TV & Appliance coz those folks seem to know their stuff.

For photography stuff, I go to a trusted local camera store. And then usually buy online :o unless the price is similar.

For Apple stuff - the Apple store at the mall. Those people are crazy with knowledge and enthusiasm - which is reflected in how busy they are at all times.

There's no reason to go to Best Buy unless I already know what I want. And then it's only for convenience or not wanting to wait.

RIP Best Buy
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

They deserve it for trying to push those $100 HDMI cables that you can get over at monoprice for $5.
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

I'm sure the recession didn't help them either. People used to have a lot more disposable income to blow on useless tech gadgetry than they do now.

Who had Radio Shack outlasting Best Buy? (crickets)
 
Re: The end of the big box store, is Best Buy dying?

Kepler said:
I'm sure the recession didn't help them either. People used to have a lot more disposable income to blow on useless tech gadgetry than they do now.

Who had Radio Shack outlasting Best Buy? (crickets)
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I did.
 
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