Not Always The Best Buy
as the title says, not always
Some years ago – many years ago – I used to love to visit Best Buy. In the 90’s, there were no locations here in Utah. So each trip I took to other states, I would actually plan a trip to enjoy a nice big store, a great selection and exceptional customer service.
I fucking miss those days.
Today, Best Buy has drove almost all of their competitors out of business or into deep obscurity, so that in some markets, they remain the only game in town for a large store that carries electronics and accessories.
And while their CD, DVD and Blu-Ray section has shrunken to a tiny amount of shelf space due to the digital media take over, they still have new release Tuesday.
Which was the purpose for my visit yesterday. Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam, released a new solo album called “Ukulele Songs“. And provided a coupon for this new album to be used in-store at a Best Buy, saving that much more off the price of $12.99.
coupon for new CD only at Best Buy stores
So while running errands late in the afternoon, the local Best Buy [Murray, UT] was on the way. I stopped in, went to the minuscule media section and found no discs. Asking the nearest employee if they had extra, he checked and showed they had nothing in stock.
Online shows some stores have it, others don’t
Sure enough, I logged in once I got back to the office and it showed nothing for that store. But it showed other stores still had some in-stock. So later in the day, I ventured off to another Best Buy, found the CD and used my coupon. Somewhat redeemed, plus a nice customer experience at this other location, I eased up on my disgust with Best Buy.
But not completely.
Ranting
So yes, I understand that most brick and mortar stores are reducing their physical media selections due to the migration towards digital media. Best Buy will even further reduce what they allocate to store shiny optical discs in the coming months. My rant is the lack of stock for a specific promotion on a physical item that is only available in your stores. The fine print on the coupon states that this is an in-store only promotion, not available online.
The idea that on the same day it was released, half of your stores were sold out of the album being promoted is proof you didn’t have that many copies of it to begin with. It’s not like you will have to keep weeks of inventory or have to worry about sending back unsold stock. This is the first week of release, the first day even.
My hope is that future promotions are better prepared for. But given where we are with migrating towards new media and ongoing policies and actions of said big box retailer, I’m not holding out much hope for future store visits.
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I think so many business models are changing that retailers are having trouble getting a handle on it, so they’re just winging it and it doing a crappy job. This is what happens when you follow the curve instead of creating it.
They really do need to get a handle on how to properly change. Or even just know what promotions they are running. I’ll take that little bit right there.
I haven’t shopped at Best Buy in years – I find much better deals online and just can’t see the point of shopping at a brick and mortar at all.
I’ve getting close to never going into a Best Buy again. Unfortunately, I have $42 and some change left on a gift card. But after that, never again.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Best Buy, but it was my de facto choice for a while, particularly after much of the competition disappeared. However, once Fry’s opened, all that changed. Night and day. The fact that Fry’s is maybe five minutes from my office — and pretty much on my way home — is a nice bonus.
I’m telling you right now, if there were a Fry’s here, I would give up on Best Buy for good. I’ve always had a long standing like for Fry’s.
The real question is did they actually sell out or just never have the stock in the first place? I’m leaning toward the latter.
I may have to try that coupon. Not specific to you, is it?
Not specific to me – it’s a general coupon (and looks like I forgot the link to it in the post). Here ya go:
http://monkeywrenchrecords.com/eccoupon.html
I only ever venture into Best Buy when I have to. Fortunately they have two Fry’s Electronics stores here in Phoenix so I can easily spend *hours* in there.
Oh yeah, another Fry’s fan that lives close to a Fry’s. I’d spend hours there, too, if we had one here.
I remember the days I loved to go into Best Buy! It was my favorite store. Like you, ICANN hardly stand it anymore. It’s pretty rare that I find what I want there for a price thatisless than I can get online. The thing is, I’m not a fan of online shopping. I like to hold things in my hand before I buy them so I rather shop a brick and mortar store, but stock frustrations and pricing drives me to online sources. I wish we had a Fry’s here!
It’s nice to have the item in your hands. Being able to play with the features of it or know for sure it’s the right cable. Wish you had a Fry’s there, too. Here’s hoping Reno and SLC get one someday.