Plea HN: When you go to Best Buy don't go out and buy from Amazon! "Is Best Buy becoming a showroom for online retailers like Amazon?", well, for most people yes, but what if BB bankrupts, which showroom will you go?
I think their plan sounds good, especially the employer compensation bit. BB's worst problem is their clueless employees. Whenever I go there, either I can't find anyone or else I get surprised looks to basic questions. They seemed bored, etc. I think BB execs should take a stroll to the Apple store and look at the customer-employee interaction there.
I often find myself doing the showroom thing with BB and traditional bookstores - but I typically do not go to the brick and mortar store on purpose to look at stuff. I am usually out with friends or visiting other stores (say, at a mall) and happen to go in. So if BB bankrupts, I am not going to feel particularly affected, because I usually go direct to Amazon anyway. (Prime helps with that motivation)
Who needs a showroom for most tech products? I can view video reviews and unboxing on Youtube and detailed reviews on dozens of sites. I'm finding that I'm buying more and more products without first trying them out in the store.
If that happened, I'd just take greater advantage of online return policies if something was completely off from what was expected. A thorough reading of user reviews usually stops you from buying anything egregiously bad.
I don't think anyone is going to lament the loss of a physical showroom. Especially when online prices are so much better. That coupled with online retailers abilities to provide superior and quick return policies and virtually free shipping, it gets harder to keep supporting the BB's of the world.
If a BB employee can explain to me how their $30 HDMI cable is far superior than the $1 one I bought of Amazon, then perhaps I would shop there more. Also, having a good ole Micro Center nearby gives my one less reason to shop at BB.
I wonder how viable it would be for Amazon to have "showroom" retail locations. They wouldn't even need to have stock, just a place to try out a large selection of merchandise.
Comments
Plea HN: When you go to Best Buy don't go out and buy from Amazon! "Is Best Buy becoming a showroom for online retailers like Amazon?", well, for most people yes, but what if BB bankrupts, which showroom will you go?
I think their plan sounds good, especially the employer compensation bit. BB's worst problem is their clueless employees. Whenever I go there, either I can't find anyone or else I get surprised looks to basic questions. They seemed bored, etc. I think BB execs should take a stroll to the Apple store and look at the customer-employee interaction there.
I often find myself doing the showroom thing with BB and traditional bookstores - but I typically do not go to the brick and mortar store on purpose to look at stuff. I am usually out with friends or visiting other stores (say, at a mall) and happen to go in. So if BB bankrupts, I am not going to feel particularly affected, because I usually go direct to Amazon anyway. (Prime helps with that motivation)
Who needs a showroom for most tech products? I can view video reviews and unboxing on Youtube and detailed reviews on dozens of sites. I'm finding that I'm buying more and more products without first trying them out in the store.
If that happened, I'd just take greater advantage of online return policies if something was completely off from what was expected. A thorough reading of user reviews usually stops you from buying anything egregiously bad.
I don't think anyone is going to lament the loss of a physical showroom. Especially when online prices are so much better. That coupled with online retailers abilities to provide superior and quick return policies and virtually free shipping, it gets harder to keep supporting the BB's of the world. If a BB employee can explain to me how their $30 HDMI cable is far superior than the $1 one I bought of Amazon, then perhaps I would shop there more. Also, having a good ole Micro Center nearby gives my one less reason to shop at BB.
"...what if BB bankrupts, which showroom will you go?"
If there is sufficient consumer demand for it, another solution will show up.
I wonder how viable it would be for Amazon to have "showroom" retail locations. They wouldn't even need to have stock, just a place to try out a large selection of merchandise.