Best Buy To Carve Out Space For Microsoft Stores

UnknowingFool writes "Best Buy and Microsoft will launch 600 Microsoft stores within Best Buy retail locations in a store-within-a-store concept. The Microsoft stores will occupy 1500-2000 sq ft within each location. The terms of the deal are not announced, but I assume it benefits both as Best Buy would likely charge rent to help with declining revenue. For Microsoft, they may get cheaper facilities than building their own stores. The last I heard, MS had a very ambitious plan to launch hundreds of stores a year. I have doubts about the success of this venture, considering anecdotally almost every MS store I've seen in my travels was nearly empty. Since they all were located near Apple stores, the stark difference in foot traffic was apparent. The only exception was the MS store near Redmond, which had a decent crowd."

Comments

Juxtaposed store signs?

[K. S. Kyosuke]

"Best Buy ... Microsoft" - mmm, how subtle.

Re:Juxtaposed store signs?

[K. S. Kyosuke]

That would have to be either a very large Best Buy store or a really small isle. Do they have outlets in Polynesia?

Re:Juxtaposed store signs?

[idontgno]

Actually, I see the opportunity for armed border skirmishes betwen mutually hostile enclaves of corporate territory under a single roof as a great opportunity to sell popcorn.

"Best Buy... the Balkans right in your neighborhood!"

Re:Juxtaposed store signs?

[Deadstick]

Whoooossshhh...

Re:Juxtaposed store signs?

[homey of my owney]

Haha, yes. I'm spelling impaired. But it's much better than my peach inspediment.

Re:Juxtaposed store signs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Best Buy is OK for some stuff. For example, if you need a gold-plated HDMI monster cable which is officially certified for your video game console.

Re:Juxtaposed store signs?

[Penguinisto]

If there's a Microsoft isle I'd hate to be shipwrecked there.

...unless you're comatose, drinking fresh mango juice, with goldfish shoals nibbling at your toes?

(Problem is, Mr. Ballmer is too frickin' big to be Rimmer... now the guy running the XBox division? He'd fit.)

Slogan opportunity

[mevets]

Away from the maddening crowds.

Re:Windows 9?

[K. S. Kyosuke]

Sounds like a good place to sell Hyper-V to me.

An "Idiot Bar" in every MS store?

[KrazyDave]

This is going to be fun to watch!

Yo dawg

[BitwizeGHC]

I heard you like electronics stores so we put an electronics store in an electronics store so you can impulse-buy while you're impulse-buying.

I'm waiting for the Starbucks inside the Microsoft Store inside the Best Buy.

Re:Yo dawg

[Bill Dimm]

I'm waiting for the Starbucks inside the Microsoft Store inside the Best Buy.

Marketing genius! Finally, an answer to the question: "Why the f*ck would anyone walk into a Microsoft store."

I walked by a "Microsoft Store" the other day

[Rob the Bold]

A couple weeks ago, I walked by a Microsoft store. First time I'd seen one. It looked nice and peaceful, a respite from the crowds of shoppers outside.

Re:Windows 9?

[MiniMike]

Since it's in BB, I'm guessing the profit will come from extended warranties and $35 deluxe DVD cases.

Anonmolously high foot traffic at that location...

[cruff]

I have doubts about the success of this venture, considering anecdotally almost every MS store I've seen in my travels was nearly empty. Since they all were located near Apple stores, the stark difference in foot traffic was apparent. The only exception was the MS store near Redmond, which had a decent crowd."

Probably local MS employees being forced to get a hand stamp by a physical visit to that MS store to get their paychecks. Thus MS can point to at least one store with a high foot traffic.

Re:Windows 9?

[bmo]

>With gold-plated connectors and oxygenated wiring,

And conductors rubbed between the breasts of virgins.

Too bad the virgins look like me

--
BMO