Best Buy Chairman and Founder Resigns Ahead of Schedule

lightbox32 writes with the news as carried by MSNBC that "Best Buy's chairman and founder Richard Schulze has announced his resignation from the board of directors Thursday a year ahead of the planned transition at the helm of the struggling retailer. The resignation of Dunn and Schulze come after Best Buy reported a quarterly loss of $1.7 billion after same-store sales dropped 5 percent." This sounds like a bad omen for people who get their electronic fix there. For all its imperfections and limited range, when I'm looking for computer stuff new, at retail, and in person — meaning it's not at the Goodwill and I need it right now — I'm usually glad to be near a Fry's location. What brick-and-mortar stores make sense where you live?

Comments

He escaped

[fustakrakich]

Good move.

What's bad for Best Buy is good for local stores?

[Gordo_1]

I dunno, could we see a renaissance in local computer shops as a result?

Micro Center

[a_nonamiss]

If you're lucky enough to live near one. They provide the "I need this thing right now" fix, while matching NewEgg's prices. Their sales people aren't perfect, but they're generally a tick or two above the TV salesman at Best Buy. You can't buy a washer/dryer combo there, but I count myself as fortunate to live near one. They're always busy, so I truly hope they're making money.

Geeksquad protection + credit cards

[Billly Gates]

Maybe if they did not obsess over metrics written by some MBA by hounded customers on geeksquad protection plans and credit card sales there would not be any drop. I went to a job fair yesterday to get some extra part time work under my belt and all the retailers are doing this. At JCPenny you can not be a cashier unless you have experience selling credit cards at 25% to poor people and that is the only metric that follows.

With 1 trillion in debt people are no longer consuming because of shady deals like this are strangling their customer base for those who are dumb enough to use them. Geeksquad is a ripoff and it is so annoying when all you want is a job.

The upper management are really clueless and they make sure all mice and keyboards are wireless only because they can then bundle geeksquad protection plans. IT is just an insane customer experience when you want a wired gaming mouse and they can not even carry it.

Re:Geeksquad protection + credit cards

[Billly Gates]

Yep, and I will go elsewhere for my business. Then the MBAs and CEOs can all be dumbfounded on why sales are down and customer surveys say they prefer competitors instead.

They are a retailer and not a bank so if they want to devalue their retail operations go right ahead. idiots

Re:What's bad for Best Buy is good for local store

[Billly Gates]

Best Buy wasn't always so bad.

Circuit City was poorly managed and loaded with debt. It is not the internet per say, but rather management losing their focus. BB had its doom when it acquired GeekSquad. Since it was a ripoff and such a high margin they strong armed their managers into making sure it was bundled with every computer since customers would have to use it anyway etc.

Then the warranties could only be serviced at geeksquad. Then components were geeksquad insured. Then the cashiers were required to meet quotas, now BB wont even sell gaming keyboard and mice because they are not wireless which means no geek squad protection. Even their car audio and home entertainment installers are called geeksquad and are pushed. These are not real computer geeks

Now they sell things people do not want because they can bundle geeksquad, customers get hassled as employees need to piss people off just to keep their jobs, their greed makes them sell expensive things so you are more likely to buy a geeksquad protection. Their credit cards are a terrible deal too and they are hitting on those.

They lost what they are known for and that is great products at a reasonable price. Metrics can ruin many companies and CEOs who chose other lucrative markets devalue their assets. They are a retailer and not a computer shop.

! wonder

[JackSpratts]

Did they inspect his bags before he left?

Re:I don't go to Fry's often due to their return p

[cpu6502]

There are ways around stores that refuse to issue a refund on a broken item:
- Put the item for return in an envelope w/ delivery confirmation.
- Mail it back to store.
- Wait 30 days and then call the credit card company & file a dispute that you returned the item but never received a refund.
- CC company issues refund.

Re:The Internet doesn't have a tactile showroom

[Yosho-sama]

Yes. The quality of the trackpad and keyboard matters. You're going to be using this device probably daily for years. It's good to know how it feels ergonomically, plus it's good to get an idea of the weight and size.