Can Walmart Be Your Electronics Store?

In an article on ZDNet, Sean Portnoy asks the readership if they will allow Walmart to be the place where they buy electronics, like computers, Blu-ray players, and HDTVs.

Having already made some progress in the consumer electronics space by selling Dell computers and value-priced TVs, Wal-mart is expanding its offerings including more Blu-ray players and 1080p HDTVs to watch Blu-ray movies on.

The move is thought to be in response to Circuit City’s exit from the retail landscape, as Walmart hopes to pick up some of Circuit City customers at the expense of Best Buy and online retailers. Stores will be given a makeover to their electronics departments, which will see bigger sets from Samsung and Sony as well as additional Blu-ray choices, including a Phillips model that costs just $198.

So with the upgrades, will more electronics buyers choose to go to Walmart over its competitors? Will the associates at your local Walmart be better trained about the products they’re selling than before? How will they help customers handle setting up their new home theater equipment? On the other hand, will savvy consumers who know enough to set up their own HDTVs flock to the discounter for the low prices?

Does the 800-pound gorilla of retailing have a chance against Best Buy when it comes to electronics?

I guess for some this is a point to ponder, but for me, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. I don’t shop at Best Buy, and I never shopped at Circuit City during their tenure, because at both of these places, the customer was treated with disrespect and disdain. (at least this was my experience in several stores of each kind in Southern California) I can be abused and ignored anywhere else, thanks, but no thanks.

Another thing about Best Buy, since they time their ads with national price reductions of a manufacturer, there has never been a time when Best Buy had a product on sale that I could not purchase somewhere else for less. They simply are not the best buy, in terms of price or service, or perhaps even selection.

As for the knowledge of their staff, well, if you want something that little Jimmy, that annoying neighbor’s child down the street could give you information about, because he read it in a magazine, then you just might get a decent explanation from Best Buy’s employees. Otherwise, you’d better forget that.

I’ve been into a few of the Best Buy units where they have a ‘better’ audio and video selection (Magnolia) and the employees are barely knowledgeable about the equipment they carry, and know little to nothing about anything that might compete with what they offer.

A knowledgeable salesperson should know what is available for sale in the category he is selling, whether or not his store carries it – otherwise how can he meet the questions of a carefully comparing customer?

The excellent salesperson (and I am one, just a fact) knows about the marketplace, all that is on sale at this time, what is about to be released, and what was released in the last 3 to 5 years. He can tell you why one item is a better buy than another, and why you would want to pay more for something he sells than that cut-rate item (or great item simply on sale) down the street.

Since it is certain that Best Buy, Circuit City, and now, Walmart, never had any of this type of employee, and the store is simply a place to purchase goods, chosen by you, for the lowest cost, why not?

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There are two types of people in this world, good and bad. The good sleep better, but the bad seem to enjoy the waking hours much more.Woody Allen

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