The electrical retail giant 'Best Buy' is coming to the UK. The first store in Thurrock, opens it's doors next week, with others opening theirs within the next month or two.

What are they like as a retailer? Does anyone here work for them? What are your experiences?

There's been a store under refurb/re-branding to Best Buy near where I work in Hedge End, Southampton. I take it they sell discount electrical goods?

KeithyT said:

yep, Hedge End are due to open next, I think - then Merry Hill in Dudley, followed by Liverpool (if I remember rightly). My hubby has closed his business to join the Geek Squad as their home cinema installation specialist.

I'm not sure if they're 'discount', but I know they're doing their damndest to undercut their competitors: Comet, Currys, PC World etc.

Does anyone in the US think that best buy are cheaper than their competitors?

Hooray for you guys!! Now you can buy electronics and get the same shitty, moronic customer service that we get!! Man, you guys are luuuuucky...

a selection of reading material...

http://consumerist.com/co.../best-buy/

I cant think of anything that I have bought at best buy.. Wait, there was something years and years ago, a stereo for me and walkmans for the kids I think...

RenHoek said:

oh dear...

About damn time.



As with all electronic stores I have been to, the staff is useless!

I don't know if it helps, but I know that all the staff have been in training for 9 weeks before each store opens

They are a Minnesota-based company, so of course I have to support them no matter what.

I will say, I purchased my tv, blu-ray player and home theatre system from them the day after Xmas this year, got an AMAZING deal and despite how busy they were I had sales guys tripping over each other to help me. The folks who installed everything were nice too.

I have heard of people getting not so great treatment too, so I guess it's hit or miss.

tinaz said:

Wow, I didn't know BestBuy existed in the late 80's...

MrsMdiver said:

but that's why you married right?

RenHoek said:

zactly

RenHoek said:

OH NO YOU DIDNT

Beware of the Geek Squad's optimization scam

http://gizmodo.com/543959...-evil-scam

I just hope they dont go the same way as Borders Bookstores did in the UK at the end of last year!!!!

CarrieMpls said:

That just proves what cleavage can do for a girl, but what about us guys?

Desire2006 said:

That would be a real tragedy.

RenHoek said:

we have this place, is it similar?

http://www.jbhifi.com.au/

Desire2006 said:

I meant to respond to this when you originally posted it, but it was April 21st and on that day--the day you posted this--there was actually a riot outside of Big-C, a Big Box retailer like Best Buy and Tesco, so I completely forgot.

Anyways, what I was going to say on April 21st, the day you were orging and posted this, was that I think the UK could use some additional competition. The customer service between the retailers there seems a bit off. They don't seem to truly care about my money...Ergo, bad service. At least Best Buy will force them to compete harder.

But I've since changed my mind since April 21st...the day you were on the org posting on this thread... that it's probably not a good thing. We don't need Best Buy putting other businesses out. Especially, after now that I think about what happened with Borders, as you mention on April 20th, the day you were orging and posting that.
[Edited 4/27/10 17:55pm]

Yeah, the ones here are alright.....good prices if you catch sales. I always get gift cards from Best Buy, so I kinda have no choice either way to go there. lol

RenHoek said:

I haven't had a problem with the in-store service yet.....but I usually get basic things from there like video games or music accessories....minor stuff.

AnckSuNamun said:

It's great for those thing.

I found the customer service pretty good, actually. Except when I buy computer parts, etc. they're level of expertise is rather rudimentary. But then again, I've been in the IT field 15 years and was asking very granular detailed questions which could have stumped help desk and desktop techs. I'm used to be quite anal about my IT purchases. Regardless, I found it odd that folks assigned to sell these products obviously didn't use them or barely knew much about them.

Their appliance dude was really honest and straightforward with me though. I appreciated that.

^^ I'd go to a computer specific store for those items rather than Best Buy or any similar store.

The Buy More is better

CarrieMpls said:

I bet for me, they wouldn't. You look pretty amazing, woman.

Best Buy is okay but you can hardly ever find someone to help you if you are looking for something or need/want advice on the best electronic brands to get. I swear at every Best Buy I've been to here, the employees speak when you come in but you can forget it if you are looking a specific DVD or whatever...they seem to all congregate in the LCD TV's section and gossip

Stay away from the Geek Squad... scam artist.

I've bought a couple of laptops there when they have one of those great sales weekends. Other than that, I don't shop at B.B. for much else.