Best Buy and Sears Layoffs

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

And of all the locations in the city, Northland Mall is where I expected a closure to happen. I still do.

I go to Northland every other week and I have a hard time finding parking spot on a normal Saturday afternoon. I'm not sure the BB or FS at Northland will close as they seem to be drawing nice foot traffic there.

Other than BR, I hardly regularly buy anything at BB or FS. But I still enjoy strolling their stores on a lazy Sunday afternoon when I have nothing to do. I'll miss the big box stores if they do close but I think this is the way they are heading.

[fredr123]

I am surprised (and pleased) that the Coventry Hills FS location survived. That place is kind of tucked out of the way in a low-traffic shopping area and is hardly ever busy. Good place to pick up high-demand stuff when it's first released though.

[oxygen]

Co-op owned the land the previous Future Shop was located on, that's why there's the gas bar, c-store and liquor store there now.

I do find the decision to close the Mcleod Trail location odd since they're on the hook for the lease and likely still have 9 years left as they wouldn't have signed a lease for under 10 years, but they may have negotiated a go dark provision. It'll be interesting to see what happens to the other tenants in that strip and how it effects the vacant space.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As far as the closure goes, I am not at all surprised. Not only is the entire mall dead (even the Five Guys gets only a fraction of the business other locations do), but the service at that store was abysmal. There were times I tried shopping there only to find that there was nobody manning a single till while the girl at the customer service counter was totally engrossed in a personal conversation on the phone. It was nice not dealing with many other customers when you could get service, however.

And that is what I loved about the store the few times I went in, they leave you alone. Like MMF, I am pretty much the go in, and get out type of customer. Or if I am browsing I can just figure stuff out myself. Future Shop sales people actually used to know about what they are selling, now they pretty much just resort to reading the box to you. I can read the box in myself, thanks. When they made sales jobs in these stores basically low paying just above minimum wage jobs, that is the service you get. "Hi, can I help you sir?" No, you probably can't.

The only affordable electronic stores left (Outside of places like sounds of music) that you can actually get a knowledgeable employee at, is London Drugs or MemEx. And the guys I have talked to there love it, because they can make a pretty decent living if they are good, and know their product. The commission plan is so ludicrously bad now at FS that it isn't worth their time to actually try and sell you anything, the difference between ringing through 10 and 13 TV's a month is so small, they don't care if you buy it or not.

[pylon]

In defense of the people working there, it is (warranties) pretty much the only thing they make any money on anymore, that is why they push it so hard. You gotta eat. The owners/upper management at Future Shop basically raped their own employees pay plan once they realized they had the market cornered.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I think the reason to place a Best Buy close to a FutureShop was to make the average consumer think they were comparison shopping.

Most of us here on CP are geeky enough to know how the inner working are, but I think the average consumer doesn't.

This is correct. However, the strategy it's losing it's hold as consumers increasingly compare online

[zamler]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I love going to Best Buy because people leave me alone!

I like that as well, but I specifically asked someone for help and didn't want to bother, made no effort to do anything. If fact they basically stared at me and then went back to talking with their fellow employees. Lazy and useless.

[yads]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

Here's a good example of why they're failing.

Sandisk 64GB Micro SD card

$169.99 at Best Buy

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...06f7840facen02

$59.00 at Amazon.ca

http://www.amazon.ca/SanDisk-MicroSD...9682071&sr=8-1

Keep in mind Amazon lost $39 million last year.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by yads

Keep in mind Amazon lost $39 million last year.

I could've used any number of stores that sell the card for far less than Best Buy/Future Shop. Amazon was just the first I checked. The next highest price I found was $89 at MemEx. Still quite a bargain.

[Mr.Coffee]

down in flames is 100% right, their prices drove them out of business. Not sure if their prices were appropriate or not, but sure makes a lot more sense to buy elsewhere.

Personally with all the rape we take on price in Canada, I'd be happy if this kind of thing nailed a few more Canadian retailers that price gouge.

Hi I want to buy a cord.

Okay that'll be $3,000.

But monoprice.com has it for $10-

But you dont get the explanation for what it can do! Nor the WARRANTY! Think about the Warranty!!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

down in flames is 100% right, their prices drove them out of business. Not sure if their prices were appropriate or not, but sure makes a lot more sense to buy elsewhere.

Personally with all the rape we take on price in Canada, I'd be happy if this kind of thing nailed a few more Canadian retailers that price gouge.

Hi I want to buy a cord.

Okay that'll be $3,000.

But monoprice.com has it for $10-

But you dont get the explanation for what it can do! Nor the WARRANTY! Think about the Warranty!!

"Your new LCD TV won't perform to it's full potential without these $100 monster HDMI cables".

[ken0042]

I heard an interesting ad on the radio today for Visions. Basically saying "Did you just get laid off from an electronics company? If you are a good worker come work for us."

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

down in flames is 100% right, their prices drove them out of business. Not sure if their prices were appropriate or not, but sure makes a lot more sense to buy elsewhere.

Personally with all the rape we take on price in Canada, I'd be happy if this kind of thing nailed a few more Canadian retailers that price gouge.

Hi I want to buy a cord.

Okay that'll be $3,000.

But monoprice.com has it for $10-

But you dont get the explanation for what it can do! Nor the WARRANTY! Think about the Warranty!!

At the same time...as somebody working in a smaller electronics retailer, when somebody comes into my store exclaiming how ridiculously priced a cord/battery is and how they can get it for a 10th of the price at Monoprice or elsewhere but need it now, I can't help but to roll my eyes just a little bit as I shrug.

Is the mark up on cords ridiculous? Absolutely. At the same time it's a matter of paying for convenience. Not trying to justify the current mark up on cords, but hearing people throw Monoprice as a comparison in outrage, they should already be well aware that this practice for accessory markup has been around for ages...

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I heard an interesting ad on the radio today for Visions. Basically saying "Did you just get laid off from an electronics company? If you are a good worker come work for us."

Good they need it. When buying my new TV a month ago, I went to every retailer out there including Visions (Westhills location).

I was treated to several employees smoking and swearing directly outside the front door of that run down location. After navigating past I went in and saw tons of product laying all over the floor, but in the 15mins there not one person asked me if I wanted help. There was no excuse either as the floor was totally dead except for a bunch of guys having personal conversations in the corner.

Visions is the worst layout, least friendly employees, and their prices aren't great either. They need a total rework IMO.

I ended up going to the Sony store and doing a price match. Way easier and more pleasant experience, even if the Sony store is rather pointless.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Is the mark up on cords ridiculous? Absolutely. At the same time it's a matter of paying for convenience. Not trying to justify the current mark up on cords, but hearing people throw Monoprice as a comparison in outrage, they should already be well aware that this practice for accessory markup has been around for ages...

I think everyone is ok with paying more for convenience and good service. But when you have to pay some 1000% markup just to get your cable today instead of 3 days from now, then you deserve all the ridicule you get. It doesn't matter if the Monster scam has been around for a long time, it's still as ludicrous as ever and should be shamed at every opportunity.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I think everyone is ok with paying more for convenience and good service. But when you have to pay some 1000% markup just to get your cable today instead of 3 days from now, then you deserve all the ridicule you get. It doesn't matter if the Monster scam has been around for a long time, it's still as ludicrous as ever and should be shamed at every opportunity.

And that's what I'm trying to get at. You're directing this ridicule at the wrong people. If it's some guy trying to up sell an old couple or something on cable brand names they obviously don't need, go for it. I'd probably do it myself as well. Other than that though, I hope you're able to give the floor workers a chance and remember to separate them from the company who sets the silly markups.

[Azure]

I know Costco isn't a real comparison, but they often sell many of the same items that Future Shop, Sears or Best Buy offers.

And they keep generating more income and more profit, along with more new membership. At some point they will generate $1 billion just from membership fees if they keep growing.

If you ask most CP members, they will probably say they love Costco.

So what is the difference?

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by yads

Keep in mind Amazon lost $39 million last year.

I'm not too concerned about Amazon, with their sales still skyrocketing I'm sure they will very rapidly turn a momentary loss into profit again.

Futureshop and BestBuy can only blame themselves for their current problems. They didn't compete on pricing or selection. They didn't adapt to changing consumer habits.

I buy tons of stuff at Amazon now. So much in fact, I'm considering signing up for Amazon Prime now that it is offered in Canada.

[Codes]

For whatever reason, I love taking strolls through Best Buy. I have a strange affinity for the place. I'm 100% guilty of browsing and trying products out in store, and then going online to buy them for cheaper.

However, with Best Buy's extensive price matching system, though cumbersome for online purchases, they are moving in the right direction. I had $400 worth of Best Buy gift cards to use, so I was pretty excited to take advantage of their Price Beat Guarantee.

Honestly, I'll be happy to continue to buy products from their retail locations so long as they are prepared to honor their price beat guarantee. As soon as they don't, though, I'm gone.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Azure

I know Costco isn't a real comparison, but they often sell many of the same items that Future Shop, Sears or Best Buy offers.

And they keep generating more income and more profit, along with more new membership. At some point they will generate $1 billion just from membership fees if they keep growing.

If you ask most CP members, they will probably say they love Costco.

So what is the difference?

You should have stopped after your first sentence. Yes, they sell some of the same items as Futureshop and Best Buy, and they also sell.............................................. .......................................everything under the friggin sun, and consistantly have the best retail prices, and they sell stuff in bulk, etc.

So to sum up, Best Buy and Future Shop sell one type of thing, electronics, which in storefront form is a dying industry, as everyone knows, while costco is...............friggin costco!

Or in other words, you awnsered your last question with your first sentence.