AfterDawn: News

Best Buy reorganizing to emphasize phones, tablets, PCs

In an effort to boost its struggling revenue stream, Best Buy has reorganized and combined a few of its retail groups into the "connectivity business group."

The Group will sell connected devices, such as smartphones, tablets, PCs and e-readers, along with the service plans necessary to remain connected. The devices will be prominent in Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores.



CBG will be very similar to the current Best Buy Mobile initiative, but with a "broader mission," says Forbes.

The company is moving 35,000 employees to CBG, 20,000 from computers and tablets in standard Best Buys and 15,000 from Best Buy Mobile. Extra training will likely be required, up to 40 hours worth, so everyone gets to the same level. Each of the sectors emphasized by the group are the hottest trends in global electronics, with the exception of PCs, which have seen an extensive dip at the hands of the recession a few years ago and strong demand for tablets.

Best Buy did express hope that carriers would make activating their connected devices easier, as it can take up to 20 minutes to get started with your new 4G plan, for example.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jan 2012 16:10

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• 5 comments

• baxlash04

  On December 13th 2011 we had ordered several items from BestBuy.com for a combined birthday-Christmas gift. A week, or so
  after placing the order we received an email from Best Buy explaining that some of the items we had ordered are on "back order"
  and will be shipped in about two weeks. Please keep in mind that when we ordered this there were many, many "out of stock"
  items on the website. and, that every item that was selected for our order was "available and ready for shipping" according to the website.
  This was very upsetting news, but we understood that things happen and that we would just have to wait. Thursday, January 12, 2012- we received another email from Best Buy. Informing us that one of the items we ordered is "no longer available" and that our order has been "canceled" by Best Buy. After getting this email we immediately contacted customer service, they informed us that there is nothing they can do since the items are no longer available, so we contacted the manufacturer of the product and was informed that the items are still being made and being sold worldwide. We checked again with Best Buy and they could not answer why if they still were dealing with the manufacturer, why they could not make the item available. We had to spend a gift less Christmas and a gift less birthday thanks to Best Buy.

  16.1.2012 06:21 #1

• ThePastor

  I have been wondering how long BB was going to last.
  I certainly don't do much there other than browse. It's a good place to look at stuff before you buy.
  The problem is their selection. They simply cannot offer a decent selection on items. The result is that the only thing they have is the most expensive version available.
  We have a "Fry's Electronics" in our area. This place does much better at stocking many versions of the same thing to offer choice, but even they have been scaling back.
  

  "But the bigger point here is that UMG has effectively admitted this takedown was never about copyright. They demanded YouTube censor Megaupload and justify that by saying they have a contract which allows it so its fine. Its painfully clear what they would do with a law like SOPA that gives them much more power"

  16.1.2012 13:31 #2

• plutonash

  Best Buy is run by a bunch of crooks. I use to work there back in the day in Geek Squad. Customer came in saying their computer wouldn't start. Took me all of 1 min to figure out the HDD was shot, you really could here this thing clinking. So I suggested he buy a HDD and be done with it. Since the customer said he installed a HDD in the past and an OS (installed XP via CD) this was the best choice of action and would've save him the most money. Instead my grimy manager writes me because I didn't charge them for a Diagnostic&Repair which cost 200 bucks plus tax, takes like 3 days to run since we have to check it in, not to mention we also would have charge him for the parts HDD. Moral over this story is NEVER buy from BB
  

  "Cable thief is a victimless crime."

  16.1.2012 20:21 #3

• blivetNC

  Stopped using BB years ago for computers and most electronics, use their ads and go over to HHGregg for a pricematch. They'll be the next Radio Shack.

  16.1.2012 20:54 #4

• ThePastor

  http://newegg.com is your friend... :D
  

  "But the bigger point here is that UMG has effectively admitted this takedown was never about copyright. They demanded YouTube censor Megaupload and justify that by saying they have a contract which allows it so its fine. Its painfully clear what they would do with a law like SOPA that gives them much more power"

  17.1.2012 19:52 #5