RT @boatermouth: Best Buy Enters The Marine Electronics Market http://bit.ly/b3Lmd0
Best Buy to Sell Marine Electronic; Geek Squad to Do Install
- Thread starter mtwguides
- Start date
Matt Gurnsey
New member
Besides, look at the prototype display- a dozen boat stereos, and a couple of multi function displays way up top.
I don't see this working, as there is not enough margin to make it worth Best Buy's time. I expect the focus to be on trailerable boats- bring the boat to their shop for the install. Which I suppose will work for C-Dory owners, but I don't expect a level of knowledge to really interface with radar and engines and everything else that goes on a boat.
I don't see this working, as there is not enough margin to make it worth Best Buy's time. I expect the focus to be on trailerable boats- bring the boat to their shop for the install. Which I suppose will work for C-Dory owners, but I don't expect a level of knowledge to really interface with radar and engines and everything else that goes on a boat.
Yabut, can you buy a big screen TV or the latest shoot 'em up video game at a dealer? I would be happy to take my boat to the car stereo installers at Best Buy to have them interface my chartplotter, autopilot, and radar... when monkeys fly outta my butt!
Can we get a "are you kidding me???" emoticon???
Jim B.
Can we get a "are you kidding me???" emoticon???
Jim B.
Agree with supporting the dealer who treated you right on boat purchase or those like EQ, Kitsap, Wefings and others who have proven themselves in not only their work performance but knowledge shared on this site, but I believe there is a place for the Best Buy types among some of us too. Not all who purchase the C-Dory boats either new or used can afford the work done by the good and competent riggers. They with personal knowledge and information gained from this site, past experience or even learn as they go try to achieve the set up on their boat with the funds available by buying at the least expensive place they can and then do the rigging to the best of their ability. Most of course would just love to drop the boat off at the exceptional rigger and dealer they have heard about here, but the money is just not there. Personally if I had one of those proven rigger dealers in my area there would be much of the work I do shifted over to them and I would do my best to balance the books elsewhere. On electronic and other boat part purchases I would probably continue to do as now, buy some from the proven dealers and others from the best deal I can make online.
Of course most of the time when you buy a electronics device from Best Buy or their like you had better have done your homework and know what you want and the end result desired either in house or boat because they are definitely in the business to sell you something not the best experts in the device or set up, but I've had the professionals do me just as bad as these cheap amatures with the higher prices to boot.
And Lastly even if my son hadn't worked at Best Buy at 30 years of age while his wife was working on her Doctorate and in between his Bachelors and Masters degrees, I would still have thought it a stretch calling Best Buys workers "pimply faced kids's", though I agree with Roger's option of possibly buying there and installing at home. Have been treated well with returns, especially if defective. Think if bought at Best Buy and rigger does the job they will find a way to get back the money thought saved.
Thank you Mark for making us aware of one more place we can or not chose to buy our boating electronics.
Jay
Of course most of the time when you buy a electronics device from Best Buy or their like you had better have done your homework and know what you want and the end result desired either in house or boat because they are definitely in the business to sell you something not the best experts in the device or set up, but I've had the professionals do me just as bad as these cheap amatures with the higher prices to boot.
And Lastly even if my son hadn't worked at Best Buy at 30 years of age while his wife was working on her Doctorate and in between his Bachelors and Masters degrees, I would still have thought it a stretch calling Best Buys workers "pimply faced kids's", though I agree with Roger's option of possibly buying there and installing at home. Have been treated well with returns, especially if defective. Think if bought at Best Buy and rigger does the job they will find a way to get back the money thought saved.
Thank you Mark for making us aware of one more place we can or not chose to buy our boating electronics.
Jay
When I buy a home theater, I go to All Pro Sound (also do high end TV's). For a Canon lense or new body I go to Pensacola Photo. Marine stuff--a marine dealer.
I have bought a few things at Best buy--but I find that most of the sales people don't have much knowledge. I have never had them install a sterio, but I would see a number of issues that they would find in boats which they would not be prepared for.
Can you see Furuno selling products through Best Buy? Garmin or Uniden--yes--but I suspect that there is a limit of what they carry. Just like they carry some of the Prosumer Canon bodies, but only the cheaper lenses.
Not a good move.
I have bought a few things at Best buy--but I find that most of the sales people don't have much knowledge. I have never had them install a sterio, but I would see a number of issues that they would find in boats which they would not be prepared for.
Can you see Furuno selling products through Best Buy? Garmin or Uniden--yes--but I suspect that there is a limit of what they carry. Just like they carry some of the Prosumer Canon bodies, but only the cheaper lenses.
Not a good move.
A quick rundown comparison with West Marine, and Best Buy was more expensive than WM--sometimes considerably more. I am surprised that none of the hummingbird products. Of course no Radar, or even the excellent Broad band fish finder of Lowrance--shows that they don't understant the market--or just for the drop in boater!
Garmin GPSMAP441S w/ dual frequency transducer at Best Buy: $699.99. At CommercialCaptains.com (Cpt Matt): $566.99.
Don't get me wrong, I love Best Buy when I need a big box type purchase. And, I especially like the ability to return things when they don't work out -- like wireless routers which always seem to have gremlins in my network.
The last time I went to Best Buy I was asking the clerk in networking about a wireless printer server -- he picked up several boxes and started reading the labels to see which were which. Needless to say, not much help. I had already done that without much success.
I recently bought a new AIS VHF & SH chartplotter through Cpt Matt, not because he was the cheapest (though he was, give or take $10 on an $1100 purchase.) But, because he had been very helpful answering questions in a quick and informed manner -- knew the equipment and the market, and of course he knew my boat and application quite well.
And, I knew that if I had a problem wiring during the install he would be there with advice. (Didn't, but was comforted knowing he had my back). The same is true for all the marine dealers who support this site.
By the way, my last experience at West Marine was similar to Best Buy. A lot of package reading. For WM prices I would hope for more.
Matt
Don't get me wrong, I love Best Buy when I need a big box type purchase. And, I especially like the ability to return things when they don't work out -- like wireless routers which always seem to have gremlins in my network.
The last time I went to Best Buy I was asking the clerk in networking about a wireless printer server -- he picked up several boxes and started reading the labels to see which were which. Needless to say, not much help. I had already done that without much success.
I recently bought a new AIS VHF & SH chartplotter through Cpt Matt, not because he was the cheapest (though he was, give or take $10 on an $1100 purchase.) But, because he had been very helpful answering questions in a quick and informed manner -- knew the equipment and the market, and of course he knew my boat and application quite well.
And, I knew that if I had a problem wiring during the install he would be there with advice. (Didn't, but was comforted knowing he had my back). The same is true for all the marine dealers who support this site.
By the way, my last experience at West Marine was similar to Best Buy. A lot of package reading. For WM prices I would hope for more.
Matt
Interesting. We will all just have to wait/watch and see if this gig gets legs or not. As for the young kids working, I can recall pre-first grade after getting kicked out of kinder garden going to work in my Father's RV shop, replacing copper lines that had "gotten larger when they froze" prior to busting and explaining that to some financially secure, well educated folks that knew nothing about winterizing their new toys. Then, working at Lowes as my first "married man" job after working years at the hardware store Pop's owned. Had to explain to the leadership at Lowes headquarters (which started selling lumber, not plumbing, by the train car loads and using a cigar box for a cash drawer) that you have to have fittings, cleaners and glue for this stuff to work....and keep customers in our store rather than going down the street to the hardware store where some kid worked and knew what the hell he was doing and had the stuff. Ya see, the industry was changing and folks were going to the big box stores rather than the small hardware stores. Our sales droped and we could not support 5-6 family members income out of our store. Pop's sold the inventory, rented the building out and cleared much more cash... and he did not have to be at the store some 65-70 hours a week, but rather, ride the tractor down to the end of the drive way drinking a beer and pick up the check once a month. He loved that ride.
Like others, I have had a re-power job on a C-Dory, and had to take it back due to the professional riggers not using any sealants on the motor mount transom bolts. Did not know I needed to ask for it specifically, I thought the professional full service folks used it every time. Wrong.
And like others, I like doing some of the stuff myself, just to know it was done at least to my standards, and not have to follow behind someone who I paid to do the work.
So, today, I am comfortable buying a big screen there, at Best Buy or other big box stores, and, like others stated, you have to know products prior to going in ..... but for my boats, I will stick with WM, Fisheries and the like....
Business have to change to survive. L&N Railroad was in the "stuff moving business", not in the train business. They just move it with trains back then. Just think, if they had changed a bit, those brown trucks, and purple trucks that drop stuff off at our door when we order thru Capt Matt or any other's on line.... the trucks would have L&N on the side.
And, who knows, some of us old retired farts may just wander down the street and go to work for Best Buy, and give the pimple kids a bit of this is how things are done and meet a new friend and form a new boater rather than running their 4 cylinder cars up and down our streets sounding like a Brigs and Stratton with no muffler on it.
So, what would you give if THATAWAY Bob worked at Best Buy a couple days a week as a "show it to the kid that can crawl around" advisor and give nice talks at an open house a few nights a month. Hummm
On edit...I forgot my favorite properly installed VHF radio... Now, who has seen this set up?
Like others, I have had a re-power job on a C-Dory, and had to take it back due to the professional riggers not using any sealants on the motor mount transom bolts. Did not know I needed to ask for it specifically, I thought the professional full service folks used it every time. Wrong.
And like others, I like doing some of the stuff myself, just to know it was done at least to my standards, and not have to follow behind someone who I paid to do the work.
So, today, I am comfortable buying a big screen there, at Best Buy or other big box stores, and, like others stated, you have to know products prior to going in ..... but for my boats, I will stick with WM, Fisheries and the like....
Business have to change to survive. L&N Railroad was in the "stuff moving business", not in the train business. They just move it with trains back then. Just think, if they had changed a bit, those brown trucks, and purple trucks that drop stuff off at our door when we order thru Capt Matt or any other's on line.... the trucks would have L&N on the side.
And, who knows, some of us old retired farts may just wander down the street and go to work for Best Buy, and give the pimple kids a bit of this is how things are done and meet a new friend and form a new boater rather than running their 4 cylinder cars up and down our streets sounding like a Brigs and Stratton with no muffler on it.
So, what would you give if THATAWAY Bob worked at Best Buy a couple days a week as a "show it to the kid that can crawl around" advisor and give nice talks at an open house a few nights a month. Hummm
On edit...I forgot my favorite properly installed VHF radio... Now, who has seen this set up?
Have them install a alarm system on your old work car (beater) before you decide to have them install ANYTHING. On second thought, maybe start out with a replacement bulb in the dome light !
On edit - it will very much depend on your luck of the draw - you may get a REAL whz kid installer !
On edit - it will very much depend on your luck of the draw - you may get a REAL whz kid installer !
Captains Cat
New member
Love that picture PAT! Do you have mice that live in there? That thing even looks like it might work! :lol:
Charlie
Charlie
Hi,
Well I don't think that Best Buy Marine Electronics Dog is going to hunt.Just my opinion. I called the other day to see if they had a humidifier in stock they replied only online. Most go to these kind of stores for price knowing for well what they want and just pick it up. Best Buy would be better off getting into prescription drugs,groceries and or maybe a commissioned broker selling derivatives for Goldman Sac's or E-trade. I mean the marine business is not exactly booming. I always thought the sales people there were as good as any of those types of stores. I try to shop with people in the trade. I don't shop for fishing tackle at Walmart or Kmart. I want to try a keep my local dealer, tackle shop in business. If they are really crazy on something I research it and buy it online.
D.D.
Well I don't think that Best Buy Marine Electronics Dog is going to hunt.Just my opinion. I called the other day to see if they had a humidifier in stock they replied only online. Most go to these kind of stores for price knowing for well what they want and just pick it up. Best Buy would be better off getting into prescription drugs,groceries and or maybe a commissioned broker selling derivatives for Goldman Sac's or E-trade. I mean the marine business is not exactly booming. I always thought the sales people there were as good as any of those types of stores. I try to shop with people in the trade. I don't shop for fishing tackle at Walmart or Kmart. I want to try a keep my local dealer, tackle shop in business. If they are really crazy on something I research it and buy it online.
D.D.
On the flip side, it makes "cents" to me since they sell other Garmin products and listen to customer requests
Our Best Buy in Greenwood is very good and they installed 2 auto CD/radio units and speakers. When I was a teenager I was installing 8 track and radio units for friends and was paid. I thought it was more difficult then than now. There was a lot cutting with a sabre saw installing speakers, a good am/fm antenna and removing the existing AM radios. so a different point of view
Our Best Buy in Greenwood is very good and they installed 2 auto CD/radio units and speakers. When I was a teenager I was installing 8 track and radio units for friends and was paid. I thought it was more difficult then than now. There was a lot cutting with a sabre saw installing speakers, a good am/fm antenna and removing the existing AM radios. so a different point of view