Blu Ray is “not designed for LCD’s,” according to the knotheaded salesman. I bet those pushing that technology didn’t know that. And I bet there’s going to be a lot more negative press on these sales practices. Bets on how long they will last?
My Best Buy Experience (alarming for HD DVD survival)
So I go into Best Buy in Pleasant Hill, CA to check out Blu Ray and HD DVD once again. I see the Blu Ray player in their “Magnolia” home theater setup connected to a 50inch Elite Plasma.
After fiddling with the TV for a while, we couldn’t get it working so I ask the Magnolia Rep (operations not sales) assisting me, to show me HD DVD which I assumed would be displayed in a similar manner. Certainly not the case.
[…]
About 2 mins into it [Blu Ray demo], the Magnolia rep starts laughing “wow, this sucks.” I couldn’t help but agree.
So we talk a bit and it turns our that BB has clearly stated that they are to promote Blu Ray due to the high margins. They’re also told to NOT play actual movies in the Toshiba and do not directly compare both players.
The highlight: They sold 1 Samsung and it was returned. They have 2 more but have gathered no interest. HD DVD players keep getting inquired about and generally people get quite frustrated about trying to be steered away each time.
And here’s an article on why both formats have already failed.
Wow, just like every other business in the world… push high margin items over lower margin ones.
This is a non-story.
Another fine entry into the ever growing list of reasons Best Buy sucks!
I loved when I signed up for my best buy credit card, the lady wouldn’t activate the card until I said I’d get the payment protection.
Every time I said no, she’d start reading from the sheet , from the begining of the speel. I got tired of it, said ok, and that was that
Lets see.
THE BB in our area, WILL NOT match BB NET sales prices, or even REGULAR prices.
Stores in the area that have SAME merchandise, are CHEAPER.
DID you know,
That Manufactures, make specific models JUSt for certain companies? That are NO different then their standard model, that everyone ELSE has.
Know why??
You cant compare prices, and cant get price matches.
NO RETAIL store likes KNOWLEDGABLE people as an employee. They like to indocrimate them, and fill their heads with WHAT THEY WANT, and NOT always true facts.
My parents went to get a Multi-remote, and I suggested the Phillips.
Sales person, suggested Sony, and that it would do EVERYTHING.
Got it home, and tried it, and it DIDNT do ANY of the devices.
They went back, and the sales person UPSOLD them to another SONY. SAME problem.
I WENT to the store and bought the phillips. Came home and showd them the Code page was about 3 pages BIGGER then the sonys, and went and insert ALL the codes. WORKED.
Trying to tell a customer that a DIGITAL format, WONT work on a DIGITAL TV/MONITOR is stupid. And I would think the sales persons would rebel. But, i can GUESS, that BB has setup the sets NOT to work properly ALSO, by running connections threw an analog converter, insteed of direct to the display.
While I expect this sort of thing from Circuit City. One time when I was there, I overheard a salesman telling a late-middle-aged woman who was buying a CD player for her husband (their first), that she would also need to buy a new amp because if they tried hooking up the CD player to the old amp (into which was connected a LP player), the old amp would “blow up”.
But I’m a bit surprised and very disappointed to hear this about Best Buy – my experiences with them have always been very good.
I tolerated Best Buy only because they’re the only thing in my area. I used to walk in with my head down, I didn’t make eye-contact with anyone there because they’re always so so helpful to ask if you need help, but then totally uninformed when you actually ask about something.
I don’t need their help really, I know exactly what I want and I walk directly there….again, not making eye contact….and get the item I want. Then if it’s a piece of hardware I’m guaranteed to be asked if I want an extended protection plan at least 5 times from 3 different people, with 2 explaining the benefits of having an extended protection plan. I just say “no no no no no” during the entire spiel they’re rattling off. Here lately I just stop them and say “look, I know they’re forcing you to give this big speech and try to coerce me into taking this protection plan, but it’s never, ever going to happen so save your breath”. It’s like a fricken obstacle course getting out of there.
But I’m done with that now…I just buy everything online from now on.
Why can’t these stores figure out that the only way they can compete with online vendors is to provide good customer service? It’s cheaper and more convenient to buy online, after all, so if your customer service sucks, what reason do I have to walk into your store?
I recently had a bad experience at Circuit City. I sent an email to CC reporting the issue, and they assured me that they would have local management get in touch with me about it. They never did. They just don’t care, and the only way you can effectively express your dissatisfaction is to stop shopping there, which I’ve done.
The last time I was in Best Buy for something I too was repeatedly sold the “extended warranty”. After about the fourth decline I bluntly asked why they insisted on selling me the warranty. Again I got the spiel about it is better then the factory… I shut them up and told them that I was hoping to buy a quality item that wouldn’t need a warranty. Picked up my credit card (which hadn’t been swiped yet) and walked away. The cashier had the item stuck on her register and now required a manager to clear it. An a**hole sure, but maybe they can learn from their mistakes.
considering, about 1 in 1000 products breaks down.
And the price of the Extended warrenty is about 1/2 the price of the product.
Its one HELL of a way to make extra money.
I ALSO, KNOW, that warrenty through the Manufactour, is QUICKER then threw the stores.
Mr. Fusion, the “a**hole” was the store. As far as I’m concerned, you took the high road.
Nice going!
#10, Thanks Jim, actually that is who I meant. On re-reading it, I see how I didn’t make that plainer.
Too many stores forget that I am a customer and they want my business more then I need theirs. Much to my wife’s embarrassment, I have done this several times when a store can not back up what they suggest. I figure that there is probably some place out there that wants my business more.
On Friday, our three month old router died. I returned it to the Mom and Pop store I bought it from. I was explaining the problem and what I had done to a new employee. The manager, didn’t say anything, she just went and picked out another router for me while we were discussing it. And she had a very warm smile while she did it too. I paid $10 to 15 more for it at the local store then BB or CC, but what a warranty !!! Guess where I buy most of my computer gear?
AGREED…
TOTALLY.
IF I cant save 15-20% over whart I get on the net, I go LOCAL/
AND I try to9 find the little bits/companies…AS tEHY CAN and WILL give me service.
I have sent MANY that way…AS for the extra $10, YOU GET, SERVICE.
If I may comment on the inluded link:
10 Reasons Why High Definition DVD Formats Have Already Failed by Clint DeBoer
I must I humbly state that this guy is dead wrong.
He’s still wrong even though I do agree that high def DVDs are not a real quantum leap in viewing experience. I’ve always thought (along with my “buddy” Francis Ford Coppola and other important directors) right from the start that we should not settle for a technology and resolution that was anything less than magnificent, equivalent to 35mm. Which we did.
But that won’t matter and neither will any of the other 9 Reasons for the simple reason that people are now replacing their standard def screens with expensive high def flat panels and they are going to want high def movies they can pull from their collections, just like a regular DVD, to play anytime (and anywhere) they want. Regardless of the initial price. Such was it for CDs and their initial limited offerings.
Add to this that HD home video will be authored to these formats as well.
RBG
I think this guys comments, and similar things said by JC Dvorak are spot on.
I’ve actually watched some HD content i.e. the Superman trailers. I downloaded them and watched them on my PC’s TFT monitor at their native resolutions, and I have to say I was impressed – HD content is excellent. But guess what… the only thing I needed to be able to watch them was a new codec which I installed on my PC for free – not several $1000s of dollars worth of new equipment that, lets be honest, is currently clunky at best. Should I also mention some of the current models of TFT sold as being “HDTVs” when the manufacturers know full well that they aren’t actually fully compatible with HD standards, either in terms of connectivity or being able to display images at the correct resolution?? Jeez, the poor folks that bought those models have been *really* suckered!
Sorry, but I’m going to be sitting on the fence for a long, long time before I go anywhere near HD-DVD or BluRay…
Not everyone needs the highest quality audio or video. Only the most demanding among us. Will digital Hi Definition really make me watch more TV? I doubt it. The message matters more to me then the medium. And as pointed out above, there are issues about many sets being sold today are actually Hi Definition.
Sure at some point in the future, I’ll buy a digital HD TV. But that will probably be only because my analogue has worn out.
I will WAIt for things to settle down.
The HD that has been released in the PAST, it has been said, WONT be the HD that is finally the finished HD.
Then the idea, that CURRENT SD set, being analog, CANT get as good as picture is ALMOST bunk.
companies will have to Upgrade ALOT of equipment, and use MORE power to broadcast these HD signals, UNLESs they wish to be CABLE only. Hate to see the channel seperation, on broadcast signals.
The Idea, of HD is interesting. Its like trying to explain Monitor resolutions to a Nu-b.. EVERYTHING gets smaller with higher res, UNLESS you can SPREAD them out, by using a larger monitor. Just cause YOU LIKE all the small icons, you can set the size of them to BE smaller, on a lower res screen, and it LOOKS better, and is Easier to read.
Trying to EXPLAIN that HD, and WIDESCREEN are different things, to the consumer, is fun also.
That HD is a DIGITAL format, and not analog..ANd buying DIGITAL devices and converting TO analog to display on your OLD SD TV is looseing signal and clarity. THEN the idea of using a FULL digital signal of a HD/BR DVD and sending it through ALL these adaptors to ANALOG display adaptors, and ALL the mess that has been created from the past 5 years, SUCKS.
On another IDEA, is that 60+% of MOST DVD materials can fit on a CD insted of using a DVD, and that 90% of the material on a DVD is security, and copies of the movie in other formats, sub- titled, other languages, commentaries, and so forth, when ALL we want is to watch the movie. THIS is like showing a picture on a screen in 32 bit color and 15 MEGs, rather then 8bit colors and 100K and it LOOKS just as good.
Example: Your computer display is only good for about 97dpi, and having a picture on the NET, that is 1200 DPI and 32 bit, is a WASTE of download time, and internet speed. Even 300 DPI is a waste, and IF you are being charged for Bits transferred on a visit TO your SITE, CAN cost you ALOT of money, when it dont have to.
Its NICE to be able to HAVE a GREAT HD signal, but REALLY, do we need it to watch a movie, UNLESS you want to watch ‘Grass move in a Fine breeze’.??
I just want to watch a decent movie, and NOT be charged a small fortune, OR have it take up 120gig Hard drive just to save it to TiVo. Or has anyone thought of this. AS HD as a security measure. Instead of being able to store your video on a VHS tape, you will SOON be required to have ALOT more storage media to GET a decent picture.
If you figure that a SD signal can store 1 weeks Signal on a TiVo, and with HD, it will only be about 2-3 days at FULL resolution..??
Has anyone thought that yet??
I’ve never had a problem with Best Buy’s extended warranty. I said no and that was that. I’ve also never seen them at 50% price. Ususally about 10-15%. Turns out the item that I said no for, went bad after 32 days. Should have known not to buy a DVD player from a ligh bulb company(Sylvania).
You should drop the payment protection on your credit card. They charge about 1% a month.
#14:
Yes, I’m sure your 30 second trailer was nice as viewed with your H264 Codec. Now try downloading something that is 25 GB and 50 GB which is the capacity of Blu-ray.
I guess you’ll then store and backup your precious movie collection on scores of external hard drives that never fail (tell me if you find some) so you can take them wherever and plug them into various laptops and other computers so you can then watch them on a monitor. You want clunky…
And I bet hard drives never become as cheap as the plastic that is a high def DVD.
RBG
Good for you RBG – you spend a few thousand dollars on equipment that will probably be outmoded in a year while I sun myself on the beach and wait until one format wins or the whole thing dissapears up its own ass, a la SACD and DVD-Audio (does anyone remember the CD busting technology that they said we *needed*?? Yeah right)
No, but I do remember CDs.
RBG