Best Buy 're-launch' scam and bait-and-switch tactics

[Blig Merk]

It is being widely reported by eye-witnesses that this last weekend's
Best Buy xflop three-shitty 're-launch' promotion was a scam and even
being used for bait-and-switch tactics.
It turns out that xflop three-shitty units are trickling in to
retailers at a rate of two or three every couple of days. Most
retailers like Target, Circuit City, Sears and others have just been
putting them out on the shelf as they got them. That is why there are
these isolated reports of people finding a unit or two here or there
during the past few weeks.
It turns out Best Buy cooked up this 're-launch' promotion and then
stockpiled units until each store had about 20 to 30 units available by
the 18th for the 're-launch' promotion, not selling any in the previous
weeks. Then they 'leaked' internal memo flyers out on to the Internet
so everybody would know there was a 'secret second shipment' promotion
sale on the 18th.
To make a dastardly situation worse, it has been widely reported that
Best Buy managers let lines build up far in excess of the known number
of xflop three-shitty units available without informing the people in
line that had no chance of getting one. When the doors opened on the
18th, the people that hadn't got a reserve ticket were 'informed' that
there was a $499 Compaq laptop computer promotion going and they could
"play all their games just as well on it". Apparently, many people that
were disgusted after waiting in line all night just went ahead and
bought the piece of crap Compaq laptop computer, just to have
something.
This whole xflop three-shitty launch has been filled with this type
of really low-down, nasty marketing tactics although this one had
nothing to do with Micro$haft directly, except for their incompetence
in delivering enough units, artifically creating a hyped up demand.
Well, this entire fiasco is just about over with just a small spurt of
after-holiday sales, then the xflop three-shitty descends into a big
slump all the way around.

 

[Rene Garcia]

Yawn...any proof? No...I didn't think so.

 

[The Truth]

Bag o'Shite obviously cannot figure out how to use his computer, as he's
clearly too
incompetent to post successfully.

Keep trying, maybe you'll fill up Usenet with your banal banter one day.


--
Sent via Gamer Newsgroups
http://www.gamernewsgroups.com

 

[SyVyN11]

"Blig Merk" <blig_murk@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1135032936.402042.209160@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> It is being widely reported by eye-witnesses that this last weekend's
> Best Buy xflop three-shitty 're-launch' promotion was a scam and even
> being used for bait-and-switch tactics.
and you know this won't happen with ps3 when it launches because...

 

[Jordan]

You really should post a link when you write something like this, that
being said... This is just going to show how sleazy Best Buy is, it
doesn't reflect badly on Microsoft or the 360 unless you say it's their
fault for choosing the largest electronics retailer in America as a
partner.

http://mobilitytoday.com/news/005797/best_buy_bait_switch

Best Buy using Xbox 360 for a bait and switch?

By David Ciccone, posted Yesterday
Reader Comments: 40

This is a hard statement to make but after stopping by my local Best
Buy this morning I am now forced to believe Microsoft has really made a
big mistake. First, last week another memo mysteriously popped out on
the net showing all of Best Buy's inventory by store location and that
they will get inventory on Sunday December 18th. Four days later a
flyer mysteriously appears on the net showing and confirming that Best
Buy will be selling the 360 on the 18th. How does this stuff just
mysteriously appear you might ask? Some say it is from internal
employees leaking internal memo's but my thought is that Best Buy is
leaking them directly.

http://mobilitytoday.com/vbmcms/images/t_bestbuyflyer.jpg

If you look at today's Best Buy flyer (link above) you will notice some
really good sales going on, one being for a Compaq Laptop for $449.00.
Now I woke up early this morning just to see how they handled the
fiasco. I showed up at 6:45am this morning to drive up to a line with
over 65 people already waiting. As I walked up to the line I heard
everyone talking about how they are excited to give their child a new
XBox for the holidays, some speaking about selling theirs on Ebay for
$900.00 (laughing too).. As 7:30 approached I heard some people who
were up in the front of the line talking about a ticket they got at
6am. Now by 7:30 the line has grown to almost 200+ people in hopes to
get an Xbox. I was very shocked since 45 minutes later I still never
heard from one Best Buy employee coming outside to inform the customers
all tickets have been handed out.

http://mobilitytoday.com/vbmcms/images/bestbuylaptop.jpg

As 8:00am approached the line started moving and people were getting
excited as they approached the door to then find out that they handed
out 53 tickets at 6am. I personally knew what to expect but did the
other 140 people behind me? No!! They were furious.. As I entered the
store immediately I heard an employee scream out "Everyone all the
XBox360's are sold out, but we have a great deal on a Compaq laptop for
only $449.00). So I immediately followed the employee along with 25+
people to see this sale. Once we got to the computer department I
overheard the employee hard selling a customer who originally was going
to buy and Xbox 360 saying, "Why do you need an Xbox360 when you can
buy this laptop and play all "games" on this?" Now I was shocked first
of all since this customer had no thoughts of buying a laptop but the
customer apparently changed his mind as he started to fill out
paperwork for the $449.00 laptop. The next comments from the Best Buy
employee were, "Do you have AntiVirus Software? Do you have a wifi
network? Do you have computer security software? Do you want to watch
TV on this laptop (Slingbox)?" I could believe this but after the
transaction the sale turned into a $1,750 purchase!

Why am I writing this? Because Best Buy knew they were getting limited
quantity (some as little as 25) nevertheless they publicize a flyer
with the XBox 360 on the front page of the sale flyer. What about the
mysterious memo that was floating around the net showing the quantities
of XBox 360's? How about the flyer that appeared on the net 4 days
before the actual sale? Is it a coincidence? I bet not!

 

[Rene Garcia]

"Jordan" <lundj@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1135043318.223316.79520@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> You really should post a link when you write something like this, that
> being said... This is just going to show how sleazy Best Buy is, it
> doesn't reflect badly on Microsoft or the 360 unless you say it's their
> fault for choosing the largest electronics retailer in America as a
> partner.
>
> http://mobilitytoday.com/news/005797/best_buy_bait_switch
>
> Best Buy using Xbox 360 for a bait and switch?
>
> By David Ciccone, posted Yesterday
> Reader Comments: 40
>
> This is a hard statement to make but after stopping by my local Best
> Buy this morning I am now forced to believe Microsoft has really made a
> big mistake. First, last week another memo mysteriously popped out on
> the net showing all of Best Buy's inventory by store location and that
> they will get inventory on Sunday December 18th. Four days later a
> flyer mysteriously appears on the net showing and confirming that Best
> Buy will be selling the 360 on the 18th. How does this stuff just
> mysteriously appear you might ask? Some say it is from internal
> employees leaking internal memo's but my thought is that Best Buy is
> leaking them directly.
>
> http://mobilitytoday.com/vbmcms/images/t_bestbuyflyer.jpg
>
> If you look at today's Best Buy flyer (link above) you will notice some
> really good sales going on, one being for a Compaq Laptop for $449.00.
> Now I woke up early this morning just to see how they handled the
> fiasco. I showed up at 6:45am this morning to drive up to a line with
> over 65 people already waiting. As I walked up to the line I heard
> everyone talking about how they are excited to give their child a new
> XBox for the holidays, some speaking about selling theirs on Ebay for
> $900.00 (laughing too).. As 7:30 approached I heard some people who
> were up in the front of the line talking about a ticket they got at
> 6am. Now by 7:30 the line has grown to almost 200+ people in hopes to
> get an Xbox. I was very shocked since 45 minutes later I still never
> heard from one Best Buy employee coming outside to inform the customers
> all tickets have been handed out.
>
> http://mobilitytoday.com/vbmcms/images/bestbuylaptop.jpg
>
> As 8:00am approached the line started moving and people were getting
> excited as they approached the door to then find out that they handed
> out 53 tickets at 6am. I personally knew what to expect but did the
> other 140 people behind me? No!! They were furious.. As I entered the
> store immediately I heard an employee scream out "Everyone all the
> XBox360's are sold out, but we have a great deal on a Compaq laptop for
> only $449.00). So I immediately followed the employee along with 25+
> people to see this sale. Once we got to the computer department I
> overheard the employee hard selling a customer who originally was going
> to buy and Xbox 360 saying, "Why do you need an Xbox360 when you can
> buy this laptop and play all "games" on this?" Now I was shocked first
> of all since this customer had no thoughts of buying a laptop but the
> customer apparently changed his mind as he started to fill out
> paperwork for the $449.00 laptop. The next comments from the Best Buy
> employee were, "Do you have AntiVirus Software? Do you have a wifi
> network? Do you have computer security software? Do you want to watch
> TV on this laptop (Slingbox)?" I could believe this but after the
> transaction the sale turned into a $1,750 purchase!
>
> Why am I writing this? Because Best Buy knew they were getting limited
> quantity (some as little as 25) nevertheless they publicize a flyer
> with the XBox 360 on the front page of the sale flyer. What about the
> mysterious memo that was floating around the net showing the quantities
> of XBox 360's? How about the flyer that appeared on the net 4 days
> before the actual sale? Is it a coincidence? I bet not!
>

I cant stand Best buy. I have dealt with everyone from the sales people to
the district manager and they were mostly jerks, especially the higher you
go up the ladder. It's evident that the way they operate and total lack of
customer service comes from the top down.

So I'm not surprised by what you say but like you said it's not MSFT's
fault.

 

[J & T]

It's probably both companies faults . Microsoft should be making more ,
especially with the high demand of these units . With all these good things
I've been hearing about the 360 , I might buy it . But that doesn't stop me
from buying ps3 , well anyway back on topic , bestbuy should not be saying
that there will be a re-launch if they are only putting a few out on the
shelves everyday , that is utter bullshit ,only the ppl that know the
manager or someone that works in bestbuy will get one of the few units put
out on the shelves everyday . If that's the case Microsoft won't make as
much money as they could if they were to release something like 10,000 units
per store(I know that's a lot but it would be great)everyone could buy one
and then Microsoft would only have to keep making the accessories .

 

[Xflop1.5]

Rene Garcia wrote:

> Yawn...any proof? No...I didn't think so.

Actually, yes there is proof.
The owner of Best Buy just posted a letter admitting to the shit.

--

 

[Jonah Falcon]

SyVyN11 wrote:
> "Blig Merk" <blig_murk@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1135032936.402042.209160@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> > It is being widely reported by eye-witnesses that this last weekend's
> > Best Buy xflop three-shitty 're-launch' promotion was a scam and even
> > being used for bait-and-switch tactics.
> and you know this won't happen with ps3 when it launches because...

It happened with the PSP, big time.

 

[Jonah Falcon]

J & T wrote:
> It's probably both companies faults . Microsoft should be making more ,
> especially with the high demand of these units .

Say "hello" to the Cabbage Patch Kid (Coleco) in the mid-80s, Teddy
Ruxpin in the late 80's, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers in 1992, etc,
etc, etc.

Supply doesn't always match demand.

 

[Jordan]

I think the big difference is that in this case at any rate the chip
yield is what's screwing them. It's not a matter of demand being
outrageously high, it's probably no higher than the Xbox or PS2
launches. But because the chip yield is so bad it's making the demand
seem higher than it really is.

With the Cabbage Patch and Tickle Me Elmo runs you had bored soccer
moms making runs on the toys for dis-interested kids simply because it
was the "hot" toy. Not because anyone actually wanted one. I saw this
with my own mom... she freaked and must have bought my kid sister like
30 of those damn Cabbage Patch dolls.

/Can't complain, I got my Star Wars toys in the 70s. :^)

- Jordan

 

[SyVyN11]

"Jonah Falcon" <jonahnynla@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:1135049179.377889.208040@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> SyVyN11 wrote:
>> "Blig Merk" <blig_murk@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1135032936.402042.209160@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>> > It is being widely reported by eye-witnesses that this last weekend's
>> > Best Buy xflop three-shitty 're-launch' promotion was a scam and even
>> > being used for bait-and-switch tactics.
>> and you know this won't happen with ps3 when it launches because...
>
> It happened with the PSP, big time.

I was trying to be sarcastic towards bliggy. BestBuy is always nortorious
for pulling this shit.

>

 

[Jonah Falcon]

> /Can't complain, I got my Star Wars toys in the 70s. :^)

Did you bend your Wookie?

Jonah Falcon

 

[Android66]

It wasn't too hard to anticipate something like this happening. In
fact, three weeks ago I was doing a radio show when a caller asked how
he could find a 360. I told him that I suspected that some retailers
who were getting in only 2 or 3 a week were likely stockpiling them and
would wait until the last weekend before Christmas to announce that
they were "in stock" to lure shoppers back to the store. The Best Buy
"hold until the 18th" memo came out shortly thereafter, confirming my
suspicions.

So, while Best Buy's "bait and switch" tactics are distasteful, people
really have no one to blame but themselves. No one forced anyone to
buy a crappy laptop, and anyone with knowledge of games should realize
that a Compaq computer is not a substitute for an Xbox 360. On the
morning of the 18th, the newspaper ad announced a minimum of 20 units
per store. I was able to find out that my local store had 24 units.
Granted, I have contacts there and at the other local stores, but I'm
sure some employees would have spilled the beans if asked.

There were 8-10 people lined up at my Best Buy on Saturday morning...24
hours in advance...and with the newspaper ad clearly stating that there
were a minimum of 20 units per store, anyone who had more than 30
people in line ahead of them should have suspected that they were not
likely to get one.

The situation could have been avoided by both MS and Best Buy.
Microsoft should have taken at least 50% of the Japanese launch units
and allocated them to North America, knowing full well that they
weren't going to sell out in Japan. They also shouldn't have put out a
press release promising a weekly "replenishment" when they couldn't
live up to that promise. (My local Target had 40 units on launch day
and only received 5 more of them on December 15th. That is all they
had been sent in the 24 days since the launch...now 28 days.). As for
Best Buy, all retailers with lines (especially overnight lines) should
have passed out tickets/coupons equal to the number of units in stock
and then posted a sign to tell everyone else to go home.

Other things about the 360 launch that irked me:

* A CNN journalist, asked if Sony was planning to respond to the 360
with a new console of their own, said that Sony seemed to be "staying
with what they have." Guess he missed the 4 million "PS3" references
on Google. Idiot!

* Members-only stores such as Costco and Sam's Club allowed hundreds of
people in the store on the morning of the launch even though they
didn't have a membership card. Real members, who thought they might
have an advantage there, were out of luck. Of course, the stores
promptly signed up hundreds of new members that day...because in order
to purchase the 360, the customer had to have a membership. Smart for
them, I suppose, but it shows no regard for loyal members who have
shopped there all year long.

* eBay. As much as I love eBay for helping me buy and sell collectable
items, it has permanently ruined the launch of new consoles. For every
Mom and Dad who I saw in line trying to get a Christmas present for a
family member, I met at least one or two college-aged or middle-aged
guys who were trying to get one just so they could immediately resell
it for twice what they paid for it (or more!). That's capitalism, and
there isn't anything we can (or should) do about it, but it still is
distasteful. I can only hope that all those people who are asking
$1,200 on eBay get stuck with a system they have no interest in when
February or March rolls around and there are more than enough 360s on
the shelves to meet the demand.

 

[The alMIGHTY N]

My Best Buy experience in brief:

Drove by the local Best Buy with the intent of getting on line at 3:30
or 4:00 PM... still had to get some "supplies" for the night. My wife
saw people lined up already so we decided to just get on line at 2:30.
I was 14, my wife was 15, there were several signs posted on all the
doors saying they had 47 systems (2 being cores) and would hand out
tickets at 7:00 AM for purchase at 8:00 AM.

Several employees came out during the afternoon and evening to inform
us how things would go down. We were keeping a list but that didn't
mean anything if we weren't in line. People weren't allowed to hold
spots for friends and if you left for a significant period of time,
others could just decide to kick you off the line.

At about 5:00 PM, the manager came out and said they were sending an
employee to Wendy's to pick up any food we might want. A few takers,
but I had already had my fill earlier. By this time, all 47 units were
spoken for.

Through the night, the line built up to 80+ people, and all the extra
people had either seen the sign or been informed of the number of units
by us. They all chose to stay anyway and later in the night, closer to
ticket time, they started arguing with the rest of us about how the
list is bullsh1t and they deserve a system just as much as any of us.
Whatever.

6:50 AM - After about thirty minutes of rumored threats from the extras
that they might try to bum rush the door at 7:00 AM, five cop cars
pulled up and ten nightstick-wielding cops stepped out to maintain
order. Most of the extras left dejectedly after they didn't get their
tickets. One woman tried to claim she was waiting since noon the
previous day but the manager wasn't buying it due to her perfect hair,
short skirt and smooth stockings.

Order was maintained - people picked up the systems in the order they
were given tickets - salespeople asked if we wanted any accessories and
mentioned some games but there was no real pressure to purchase
anything beyond the system. Many people were buying stuff anyway so
there really wasn't a whole lot of need for hardball sales tactics. No
bundles, no bait and switch, nothing.

The Best Buy people were VERY cordial, VERY professional, VERY helpful,
and VERY nice throughout the whole process. I was VERY surprised
considering all the bad things I've read about Best Buy and the one bad
experience I had in the past.

I actually thought it was an interesting experience and would have no
qualms about doing this again for the PS3 next year. Of course, I'd
only be purchasing one to sell on eBay since I'm not paying $600 for a
video game system...

Cheers.

 

[The alMIGHTY N]

Oh yeah... most Target stores in northern New Jersey still haven't
received second shipments. No Costco or BJs warehouses in New Jersey
received second shipments (southern NY Costcos got about 100 each a
week and a half ago). No Toys R Us stores in NJ have received second
shipments. A few Walmarts got two or three systems ONCE. No Kmarts in
NJ have received second shipments. The specialty game stores here have
received a few shipments of a few units but nowhere near enough to put
a dent in the preorder list. Best Buys across the nation will likely
receive a third smaller shipment (units numbering in the 20s per store
as opposed to the 40s and 50s for most stores this second shipment).

 

[The alMIGHTY N]

LOL - because Bill Gates can just snap his fingers and thousands more
XBOX 360s magically appear out of thin air...

Do you really think that it takes no time at all to put together a
system?

 

[The alMIGHTY N]

**** Microsoft should have taken at least 50% of the Japanese launch
units and allocated them to North America, knowing full well that they
weren't going to sell out in Japan.

Microsoft was *hoping* the system would have a good launch. They really
want to win over the Japanese fans, and it doesn't look good if there
are hardly any units at launch.


**** Members-only stores such as Costco and Sam's Club allowed hundreds
of people in the store on the morning of the launch even though they
didn't have a membership card.

As you said, people had to sign up for a membership before they could
even put their hands on a system. Members who wanted to get one should
have been lined up and they would have gotten their systems first.

There's nothing wrong with this situation. If you're not a member,
you're allowed into the store to sign up for a membership and - gasp -
even look around first to see if it's worth it. This is a great
situation for Costco because now these new members are likely to shop
there because they've got to use the $45 membership.


**** Smart for them, I suppose, but it shows no regard for loyal
members who have
shopped there all year long.

If someone is willing to sign up for a membership, why shouldn't they
be allowed to get their system? It's not like it was too early for
existing members to come out... hell, they had a huge advantage in not
having to wake up at 7:00 AM to shop... Costco doesn't open in most
areas until 10:00 or 11:00 AM!

 

[Jordan]

"I actually thought it was an interesting experience and would have no
qualms about doing this again for the PS3 next year."

I think we'll see bigger lines when the PS3 comes out due to it being
in the Spring instead of November/December. :^)

- Jordan

 

[Critica1]

Xflop1.5 wrote:
> Rene Garcia wrote:
>
>
>>Yawn...any proof? No...I didn't think so.
>
>
> Actually, yes there is proof.
> The owner of Best Buy just posted a letter admitting to the shit.

And the link to this letter is where?


-Critica1