Best Buy Makes Own PC's...and Boy They Look Familiar

vandewaals · August 9, 2003 2:07AM

Business 2.0 Article

I like how on page 1 of the article they mention that it "echos" the TiBook. Well how about their towers being made of brushed aluminum? Hmm...thats familiar.

I always read how Apple leads and others follow. Well if Apple really is going to be selling at Best Buy, they need to get some people in there to show people WHY they should go with the Mac. Otherwise they'll just look at the two and say "Wow...brushed aluminum. Sexy. But the sales guy says that Mac has no software. And thus one IS cheaper. Guess I'll get the Best Buy box."

Did Apple know Best Buy was going to do this when they agreed to sell in Best Buy's stores?

eugene · August 9, 2003 2:11AM

Uh, I bet maybe 1/50 regulars could actually access that article you linked to...

Best Buy has had some Titanium-alike VPR branded laptop for a while now. Design credit to Porsche Designs.

vandewaals · August 9, 2003 2:14AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eugene

Uh, I bet maybe 1/50 regulars could actually access that article you linked to...

Sorry...I screwed up the link first go round. Also, you need to be a subscriber to see page 3. I just noticed the article on the CNN website and I was surprised. If I'm being redundant then the mods are welcome to take this thread behind the barn and shoot it

eugene · August 9, 2003 2:38AM

Weird, the link is being goofy. Sometimes page 2 and page 3 work and sometimes they ask for your login.

filmmaker2002 · August 9, 2003 10:08AM

Those VPR Matrix PCs aren't anything special. It's a big black box with a silver front. They are plagued with quality control issues, and are always coming back to the store for repairs. They ARE however one of the few computers on Best Buy's shelves that offer a RAID setup. But other than that, nothing special to see here. Frankly, I think Porsche did a horrible job "designing" this computer case, and obviously couldn't think of anything original when designing their 15.2 inch widescreen, slot loading laptop. I used to work at a Best Buy, so I have seen these over-hyped boxes in action. Definitley not worth swooning over.

rok · August 9, 2003 10:24AM

i am about to boycott best buy, based off their quality control with regards to returns. bought a cordless phone last week, since there was a best buy near where i was, then drove a half hour home, only to plug it in, kick it on, and find out it was used!

couple days' worth of old phone numbers in the phone memory, AND since it was a cordless phone that could take up to 4 handsets, the handset in the box is supposed to register as #1, and then as others are discovered, they are registered as #2, #3 and #4 in sequence. well, apparently the previous owner had purchased 4 handsets, but returned the base unit without checking that they put back the correct one in the box (and you can't easily change number registration). the manual even had handwriting in it, and was missing a piece (well, the phone cord -- nothing big, but still). WTF?!? i paid full price for this??? edit: no wonder best buy is so easy going about returns... they must get them constantly for reasons such as this

also heard earlier this week how someone else is suing best buy for selling them a dv camcorder, only to get it home and find out that someone had filmed hardcore gay porn with it, left it in memory, then returned it. and nobody at best buy checked it before it went back on the shelf. if i recall correctly, it was their son who was the first to "find the evidence" when they opened up the camera and powered it up. oops.

i don't know if other electronics resellers do this, but i am wondering how many times returned merchandise (especially defective) gets put back on the shelf, hoping someone will buy it and not feel the urge to complain about it or bring it back.

filmmaker2002 · August 9, 2003 11:21AM

This always happens. People who return computers better make damn sure any personal info isn't on that computer because as far as I know, tech bench won't run a fresh install on it. I bought a used computer there for dirt cheap when I worked there, brought it home, and there were all sorts of porn pics on there. I bought it so my little sister could use it, but it's a good thing I reformatted the drive.

Now, as for Best Buy selling Apple computers. I recall the "team" meetings we used to have. And since Apple is supposed to be featured prominently in tomorrow's add, I can only imagine how tomorrow's team meeting will go.

Manager: "Ok, in today's add, we have a couple of new products."

Employee #1: "Yeah, that Apple crap."

Team laughs

Manager: "Tell me about it. Now we have to sell this stuff, but the problem is, we can't sell our learning software with it, they have thier own AppleCare program, so we can't sell service plans with it, and we can't sell many accessories with it, frankly, I don't know why we are selling them at all. My advice to you, keep selling the PCs. Show customers the Mac, but explain to them that they can't do everything on a Mac that they can on a PC. That way, we can sell the service plans, the accessories on included package printers, and the works. That will keep our numbers up."

This will probably be an unfortunate truth at many stores, though this is the pessimist in me. If I were still working there, I would strongly object and inform the "team" that Macs can do everything a PC can do, more efficiently, and they are far more reliable. This wouldn't be music to the ears of a manager who enjoys significant kick backs and bonuses when their extended warranty and accessory numbers are up. I hope Apple knows what they are doing.

rok · August 9, 2003 11:43AM

Quote:

Originally posted by filmmaker2002

This will probably be an unfortunate truth at many stores, though this is the pessimist in me. If I were still working there, I would strongly object and inform the "team" that Macs can do everything a PC can do, more efficiently, and they are far more reliable. This wouldn't be music to the ears of a manager who enjoys significant kick backs and bonuses when their extended warranty and accessory numbers are up. I hope Apple knows what they are doing.

when i was working with apple back in '98 in toronto, i had the same problem when macs were being sold at future shop (think the canadian version of circuit city). a woman came in and talked to a sales rep and gave him the PERFECT description of someone with modest means, looking for a family computer, email, word processing... she even said "well, what about THIS computer?" pointing at the imac (bondi blue rev b.) and he said "actually, this PC over here is much cheaper, and does everything that one can do -- it just doesn't look as pretty."

i was not in a sales position, and i was under strict orders to coach the sales staff, but NOT to contradict them. after she left with some more material under her arm, i pulled him aside and said "what the f*ck was that?!? she basically came in here looking for a mac and you turned her away???"

he told me there was no point in selling the mac, as he would only get $50 commission on it, versus $100-200 on any other pc in the department. i told himi could move 5 macs in the same time it would take him to push one pc, but he said "whatever, man, that's not why you're here" and walked off to talk to someone else.

grrrrr... THAT is why i am glad that apple has their stores. and the best buys and compusa's might work with a firm commitment to keep a trained apple rep on site at all time. otherwise, you get the example cited above.

cubedude · August 9, 2003 11:47AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rok

i am about to boycott best buy, based off their quality control with regards to returns. bought a cordless phone last week, since there was a best buy near where i was, then drove a half hour home, only to plug it in, kick it on, and find out it was used!

couple days' worth of old phone numbers in the phone memory, AND since it was a cordless phone that could take up to 4 handsets, the handset in the box is supposed to register as #1, and then as others are discovered, they are registered as #2, #3 and #4 in sequence. well, apparently the previous owner had purchased 4 handsets, but returned the base unit without checking that they put back the correct one in the box (and you can't easily change number registration). the manual even had handwriting in it, and was missing a piece (well, the phone cord -- nothing big, but still). WTF?!? i paid full price for this??? edit: no wonder best buy is so easy going about returns... they must get them constantly for reasons such as this

also heard earlier this week how someone else is suing best buy for selling them a dv camcorder, only to get it home and find out that someone had filmed hardcore gay porn with it, left it in memory, then returned it. and nobody at best buy checked it before it went back on the shelf. if i recall correctly, it was their son who was the first to "find the evidence" when they opened up the camera and powered it up. oops.

i don't know if other electronics resellers do this, but i am wondering how many times returned merchandise (especially defective) gets put back on the shelf, hoping someone will buy it and not feel the urge to complain about it or bring it back.

That's not nearly as bad as the guy who found gay porn on a camera he bought from Best Buy.

imacfan · August 9, 2003 1:41PM

I think that buying second hand items as new happens all too frequently - I'm pretty sure that I bought a rather expensive PC about 10 years ago from one of the biggest high-street retailers here in the UK (Won't mention name, but you know who it is!) I only realised after a few months, as it was my first 'proper' computer, but I'm sure that some of the software loaded was not part of the standard bundle. Also, at the same store a few years later, I was about to buy an SLR camera, when the sales assistant mentioned in passing that it was a return!

Folks, if you return something that isn't faulty, it'll probably be sold on as new. Fact.

David

malokata · August 9, 2003 2:11PM

They sure have a strange philosophy on product photography:

i, fred · August 9, 2003 2:51PM

That's the 'earthquake in progress' shot.

ast3r3x · August 9, 2003 2:59PM

Quote:

Originally posted by I, Fred

That's the 'earthquake in progress' shot.

No that's how they recommend you set it up

serrano · August 9, 2003 4:36PM

Who would've guessed, it's cheap, and looks it.

eugene · August 9, 2003 5:04PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Malokata

They sure have a strange philosophy on product photography:

http://www.vprmatrix.com/downloadabl...amilyShot1.jpg

I love how the mouse is smack-dab in the middle of the keyboard...wtf!?

Best Buy Makes Own PC's...and Boy They Look Familiar

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