HDTV Almanac - Best Buy Breaks More Bad News

[alfredpoor]

The fourth quarter of every year for consumer electronic retailers is like the rainy season for farmers; it’s a make-or-break time of year when you have to compensate for the slower sales from the other three quarters. So it was like the  Dust Bowl when Best Buy posted a $1.7 billion loss. This is not quite as [...]

Read Column

[Roger Halstead]

Although Best Buy is falling on hard times they are one of my favorite stores. Yes there are a lot of things I purchase on the Internet, but about the only thing BB sell that I purchase off the Internet are computer parts. I do not like to purchase any big ticket items like a TV set, let alone big screen HD off the Internet. Those I want to "touch and feel", try them out be it on the floor , or at home on trial. They have always let me try out TV sets and stereos and most stuff has 30 days, money back. It's too bad people took advantage of that with TV sets so they could watch "the big game" and then return the sets. *Most* of the clerks I've dealt with were reasonably knowledgeable and quite helpful. Not geniuses, but if they were they wouldn't be working as clerks. If they didn't have an answer they'd get some one who did. In many "big box stores" you are just left to fend for yourself.

If I need something on short notice, something breaks like my remote I can get it replaced or purchase a new one. Again, take it home and try it. IF it's not satisfactory bring it back and no shipping charges or a week or two of delay.

I certainly hope they don't close the store in our town, but I did note they didn't have quite as much of the stuff on display near the check outs on Friday.

As for Internet shopping, it's not just handy, in general it's far cheaper even with shipping (if there is any) Often it's shipping included and particularly so with the bigger ticket items. In addition, for most people who go to these stores, the "going" itself is expensive now days. I live close to town, but I can't make it round trip for less than about $15 so I plan all my stops ahead of time to minimize the driving. The amount of fuel being used nation wide is now down to the lowest in about 15 years and that means people have reduced their driving *a lot* and that means far fewer trips to the stores. I just needed two digital monitor cables. Just a couple of quick searches, a couple of clicks and they are on their way. I should have them by mid week and no shipping. It would have cost me that much just to make the trip into and across town. BTW the choice was also much greater.

[alfredpoor]

Roger, you describe my shopping habits almost exactly. I expect that we'll have sales tax on Internet purchases fairly soon; it's only fair since consumers are not paying their states' "use tax" the way they are required to, but I don't think that will affect the balance of local/online purchases that I will make.

Alfred
HDTV Almanac