Jim

Another friend told me in an email that this experience is typical–not only for Best Buy but all appliance stores. So I guess my experience is not unusual after all. A sad commentary. Seems to me if there were a national seller who offered superb installation they would get the lion’s share of sales!

Enjoy your posts, please do so more often (how about that for a complaint?).

Anyway, I was in upstate a couple of weeks back and my senior mom wanted to ditch the tube tv and get a new flat panel.

Off we went to that new Best Buy and the first impression was awe and awful. Just entering the front door you are washed by light and noise and what is best described as overload. Good sales atmosphere for those with short attention spans (think twitchy gamers) and kids, so I understand–not for us old people with money.

Over to Olums, where a saleswoman talked with us for about 20 minutes and ended up selling a Sony about $100 more that our initial price point. They took our old TV and loaded the new one in the truck. Since I do circuits, wiring, antennas, and networks, no installer was necessary. Fine TV and Mom is delighted with the picture on Netflix DVDs. The Carppy cable signal is also somewhat better!

Best Buy is fine for sale buying, given that you know more than the employees and can do it yourself. Get in, get it, check out. They are not generally capable of service or information. That’s OK if you understand the situation noted above.

Surprisingly, Sears has stepped up and is price competitive on national brands. I haven’t tried to use service or installation through them, so I have no opinion.

I worked at a Best Buy while in college. You really need to complain to the store management. These guys are often contract work, and the store will be very thankful knowing that these guys aren’t cutting it. If they are contract, they won’t hesitate finding somebody else.