Why does Apple let Best Buy sell their computers?

[pawn3d]

I sure as hope their so called "Geek Squad" doesn't perform repairs on them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-37hOwqtzI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GioVpTayLMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxqx4hgeKgQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmNrm9vHBHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCRPI-1dHQw

 

[Luftwaffles]

That's no surprise at all that Best Buy and Geek Squad are by-far the worst when it comes to such blatant scamming and idiocy. My grandmother took her computer into Geek Squad some time ago because her $5 PCI modem wouldn't connect to AOL. They insisted that her motherboard was failing and her OS needed to be reinstalled. $400 quote.

She called me, I drove to the store, grabbed a new PCI card, almost threw the thing at the idiot behind the counter and gave him a few choice words. As soon as I paid for it, I pulled out a multi-tool and installed the new card right in front of the guy.

I once applied to work at Geek Squad... I'm glad they never called me back. I would have been fired within a week for giving the customers a proper diagnosis.

 

[Mr. Giver '94]

I think it's just a move on Apple's part to try and reach a broader audience. While I detest Best Buy and their stupidity, many "average" consumers think that it is a great place to find electronics. Why? I have no clue. I guarantee you though that Apple's decision is not based on Best Buy's services or staff quality.

BTW, it's the same reason they are letting Wal-Mart sell iPhones - consumer diversity.

 

[queshy]

Nothing wrong with BB selling Macs. Customers are customers. Money is money.

 

[ziggyonice]

While I detest Best Buy and their stupidity, many "average" consumers think that it is a great place to find electronics. Why? I have no clue. I guarantee you though that Apple's decision is not based on Best Buy's services or staff quality.

Couldn't have put it any better myself.

Tons of "average" people go to BestBuy to get anything electronic because they (a) aren't used to buying online and/or (b) because they don't know any better... which is tied into (a).

That's why at BestBuy, I can buy a Firewire cable for $35. But if I just do a little searching online, I can find the same thing for as little as $2.

 

[gkarris]

One of the ladies at work had her Mother call the Geek Squad to come over to fix her computer. Some sort of "optimization" and $250 later, the guy told her the computer was old and should get a new one...

hmmmm, our employee purchase plan for a new basic HP is about $249 shipped...

 

[Sun Baked]

More proof that with a little training even a chimpanzee can get the required Windows certification needed for a Geek Squad job.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Apple has to reach the market and it cant do it with just Apple stores. You want to sell millions you better be in some local stores.

Now if Best Buy would just have a real Apple section with Mac software wouldnt that be something.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Honestly? Whether I get my Apple products at Best Buy, Apple, or Target, I have yet to meet an informed salesperson. The people at the Apple store are more interested in learning whether or not I have mobile me, my best experience with buying an Apple computer was actually at Best Buy in Valencia, CA. The associate was not an employee of BB, he was an Apple rep and he effectively helped my parents understand what the switch would entail, what bumps they may hit along the way, and you know what? A BB employee swooped in and pushed Vista in such a way that he was actually commending Apple and their OS. $3000 later my parents have their iMac and a few other goodies.

So why does Apple let BB sell their computers? Because can the employees actually be worse than Apple store salespeople?

 

[gkarris]

I sure as hope their so called "Geek Squad" doesn't perform repairs on them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-37hOwqtzI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GioVpTayLMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxqx4hgeKgQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmNrm9vHBHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCRPI-1dHQw

Wow, thanks for the links. I just finished watching them. Since I fix computers for a living, I didn't realize how bad it's gotten...

Glad to know that the guys at MicroCenter at least are honest about the fix (though of course they have to charge the fee). I just bought this cheap-o Acer laptop there and got the extended warranty. Seems to me that at least those guys know their stuff. I was impressed when at the returns, some guy that bought a new laptop from them complained how the battery wasn't charging properly. Obviously, the battery, or board, or power supply. Rather than try to pinpoint the problem, they just gave him another new laptop...

 

[bruinsrme]

Honestly? Whether I get my Apple products at Best Buy, Apple, or Target, I have yet to meet an informed salesperson. The people at the Apple store are more interested in learning whether or not I have mobile me, my best experience with buying an Apple computer was actually at Best Buy in Valencia, CA. The associate was not an employee of BB, he was an Apple rep and he effectively helped my parents understand what the switch would entail, what bumps they may hit along the way, and you know what? A BB employee swooped in and pushed Vista in such a way that he was actually commending Apple and their OS. $3000 later my parents have their iMac and a few other goodies.

So why does Apple let BB sell their computers? Because can the employees actually be worse than Apple store salespeople?

Apple needs to reach the PC user somehow.

The sales associate: Well, when I go into BB or ither big box stores and I run into a sales associate that may not have the knoweldge level I was hoping for I remind myself of tis;
Do I expect to get a filet mignon at McDonalds?
Do I expect to get expert advice at a big box store? Nope.

The other question I ask myself is, Would an Apple professional or expert be willing to work for $9 an hour?

The apple store has the benefit of having more resources readily available.

 

[gkarris]

Actually, doesn't Apple send reps to the BB stores?

They used to when they were selling the lamp-model iMacs...

Plus, you can just buy from a BB, say if you get a gift card, then go over to the Apple Store to get it fixed, etc.

I had to buy my Nano at Macy's because my company gave me a gift card for Christmas, then I headed over to the Apple Store to buy Apple Care. The saleman was cool with that, as they and I know that I can now go to Apple for service - that's what the "Apple Tax" is for...

The funny thing is that the beautiful saleslady at Macy's was extremely awesome, knowledgeable, and helpful...

Hope everyone is having a safe holiday season!

 

[Vulcan]

That's just horrible...

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

Apple had a major retailer CompUSA go under recently, or at least severely scale down. So with a move to another big box in Best Buy, they continue with their product reach. I'm not a huge Best Buy fan, but I understand the move considering I can't think of any other retailers capable. Remebmer Circuit City is really hurting..........

 

[akm3]

Lot's of towns don't have Apple stores. Spokane, WA for instance.

Now that circuit city closed, Best Buy is the only retail location in town you can purchase a Mac.

Closest Apple store is a ~5 hour drive away.

 

[yg17]

The sales associate: Well, when I go into BB or ither big box stores and I run into a sales associate that may not have the knoweldge level I was hoping for I remind myself of tis;
Do I expect to get a filet mignon at McDonalds?
Do I expect to get expert advice at a big box store? Nope.

Easy for someone like us to say. My parents, especially my dad, thinks the employees working at big box stores are smart and know what they're talking about, which obviously isn't true. Fortunately, all of their tech purchases and repairs go through me first so they haven't been screwed, but if I wasn't around, I know they would've been at one point.

 

[bobfitz14]

That's no surprise at all that Best Buy and Geek Squad are by-far the worst when it comes to such blatant scamming and idiocy. My grandmother took her computer into Geek Squad some time ago because her $5 PCI modem wouldn't connect to AOL. They insisted that her motherboard was failing and her OS needed to be reinstalled. $400 quote.

She called me, I drove to the store, grabbed a new PCI card, almost threw the thing at the idiot behind the counter and gave him a few choice words. As soon as I paid for it, I pulled out a multi-tool and installed the new card right in front of the guy.

I once applied to work at Geek Squad... I'm glad they never called me back. I would have been fired within a week for giving the customers a proper diagnosis.

i liked your post, it's nice to know that not everyone is a gold digger.

p.s. if anyone is going to "quote" me please don't rant on how you disagree with me for saying that and hate me for it. if you agree with me, go for it.

 

[K3mp]

BestBuy is good if you know what you want/getting. They told me that
1. Only Sony Computers work with PSP's
2. As long as crackdown has the sticker you can play the Halo 3 Beta...2 weeks after it was over.
3. One time my uncle was looking for a router. He is not the most tecky guy but he understands computers really well. Anyway he was buying a router for his mom and he asked the Bestbuy guy which router he should get. He said he did not know about them. So he looked around and got a WRT300n linksys. The bestbuy guy said he should get geek squad to install it for $150. My uncle said that he could probably figure it out and if he had trouble his co-workers program engines for NASA(which is true) and they could probably figure it out. The Bestbuy guy's response was he or my uncle's friends would not be able to figure it out. My uncle asked why because he said it can't be that hard. The Bestbuy said he would not be able to set it up because he did not know which one to buy.
But the nearest apple store is ~1 hour away and my town is getting a bestbuy soon so it will be nice for purchasing small things.

 

[danny_w]

Actually, doesn't Apple send reps to the BB stores?

They used to when they were selling the lamp-model iMacs...

Plus, you can just buy from a BB, say if you get a gift card, then go over to the Apple Store to get it fixed, etc.

I had to buy my Nano at Macy's because my company gave me a gift card for Christmas, then I headed over to the Apple Store to buy Apple Care. The saleman was cool with that, as they and I know that I can now go to Apple for service - that's what the "Apple Tax" is for...

The funny thing is that the beautiful saleslady at Macy's was extremely awesome, knowledgeable, and helpful...

Hope everyone is having a safe holiday season!

But why would you go to the Apple Store to buy Apple Care? Any number of places would have it for a fraction of the price...

 

[NT1440]

Easy for someone like us to say. My parents, especially my dad, thinks the employees working at big box stores are smart and know what they're talking about, which obviously isn't true. Fortunately, all of their tech purchases and repairs go through me first so they haven't been screwed, but if I wasn't around, I know they would've been at one point.

+1

Im the families go to guy for tips when buying electronics or troubleshooting them.

 

[gkarris]

But why would you go to the Apple Store to buy Apple Care? Any number of places would have it for a fraction of the price...

Applecare on a Nano was more or less the same everywhere I looked...

 

[savar]

That's no surprise at all that Best Buy and Geek Squad are by-far the worst when it comes to such blatant scamming and idiocy. My grandmother took her computer into Geek Squad some time ago because her $5 PCI modem wouldn't connect to AOL. They insisted that her motherboard was failing and her OS needed to be reinstalled. $400 quote.

She called me, I drove to the store, grabbed a new PCI card, almost threw the thing at the idiot behind the counter and gave him a few choice words. As soon as I paid for it, I pulled out a multi-tool and installed the new card right in front of the guy.

I once applied to work at Geek Squad... I'm glad they never called me back. I would have been fired within a week for giving the customers a proper diagnosis.

It's the 21st century equivalent of a crooked auto mechanic. Just go way over their heads -- who are they to argue with an "expert"?

I don't let my mom go to Best Buy without me. And when we do go there, the rule is, "Don't make eye contact with the sales people."

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Best Buy sells Macs? I've been there... there wasn't anything Apple related except some iPods which some doofus was saying that the touchscreen for the iPod touch was fake/scratched easily compared to the Zune (LMFAO) and how Apple charged you $995 for the new software (this guy doesn't know that it's $9.95 with a decimal point). I'd never go back to Best Buy especially since their staff is pro-PC. Another doofus even claimed that Apple computers don't have a CPU (this was in the PPC age) and can only run MS-DOS (WTF?!?!?). Worst place I've ever been to. Period.

Oh and my dad bought an ASUS EEE netbook, the price sticker, box, label, etc all said there was 1GB of RAM and a webcam. He opened the box, 512MB of RAM and a bit of plastic covering the hole in the LCD assembly where the webcam should have been.

 

[leekohler]

I'm glad they sell Macs. I bought my last two Macs from them- a last rev dual core PM G5 and a 2.4 BlackBook. Their financing deals are quite simply far better than Apple's (12 months same as cash, as opposed to Apple's 3 months.) and they offer a better extended warranty than Apple.