Best Buy Shows Electronics Aren’t Going To Save Christmas Either

[Megalith]

So what’s the real story? That people finally realize most of the stuff on sale is junk these days, or that everyone is buying off Amazon?

Best Buy Co., the world’s largest electronics chain, said on Thursday that the U.S. market for tech products worsened in the third quarter and that more declines are on the way for the holidays. The major drag was tablets, a category that’s peaked and is now losing out to larger phones. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp. also said this week that electronics were a point of weakness.

 

[NeoNemesis]

For one, there haven't been any truly revolutionary products for quite some time. I suspect that this, coupled with the fact that the vast majority of people don't need to update tablets, smartphones, etc. every single year, is contributing to lacklustre sales.

 

[doz]

Give me a reason to buy a 4k TV and I will. Blame the cable companies and lack of 4k content. Cox Cable still broadcasts @ 720p. Why the fuck do I want a 4k TV?

 

[Grentz]

For one, there haven't been any truly revolutionary products for quite some time. I suspect that this, coupled with the fact that the vast majority of people don't need to update tablets, smartphones, etc. every single year, is contributing to lacklustre sales.

Exactly, the problem is electronics are honestly at a point where they are better than what most consumers need and a new compelling reason to need more has not come around for awhile.

Things like 4k lack content. Faster tablets/PCs lack apps that need it for the masses. New form factors are just slight tweaks in ways to consume the same content.

 

[MrTryfe]

Give me a reason to buy a 4k TV and I will. Blame the cable companies and lack of 4k content. Cox Cable still broadcasts @ 720p. Why the fuck do I want a 4k TV?

The article does state that 4K TVs are a bright spot, lol...

 

[doz]

The article does state that 4K TVs are a bright spot, lol...

Because people are stupid. Unless you are buying it for computer usage, its damn near pointless to own a 4k TV already.

 

[Lith1um]

My local BB stores wouldnt' have a high end video card in stock if it walked up and bit them on the ass. Wtf do they know about electronics, they sell mainstream bullshit.

 

[bloodhawke83]

junk.

 

[ManofGod]

For one, there haven't been any truly revolutionary products for quite some time. I suspect that this, coupled with the fact that the vast majority of people don't need to update tablets, smartphones, etc. every single year, is contributing to lacklustre sales.

I would imagine though that a lot of computers are going to be replaced this Christmas with a new computer. (Lots of computers out there are nearing the end of their life.) However, it will not be a big profit item like it was in the past. Also, I am doing my part this year to aid that decline since I am doing a cheap Christmas this year. (Less expensive, better thought out gifts that show I care.)

 

[ManofGod]

Because people are stupid. Unless you are buying it for computer usage, its damn near pointless to own a 4k TV already.

People are not stupid, just your view of them is. If you have the money and it is time to replace a TV, going less than 4k would be a waste of money. I bought a Sony 50 inch 1080p / 60 TV two years ago for $600 so getting a new TV would be a waste of money for me. Otherwise, I would go 4k such as, go big or go home.

 

[GMcDougal]

This is a sign that stores cant keep up with the times. I can go on Amazon any day of the week and compare a product to best buy and get a much better deal. Then i have prime and can get it in 2 days or next day for just a little bit more. Not only that, i have no questions asked returns in 30 days if im not satisfied. Best buy and the likes are on borrowed time if they can cant come up with a solid business model to take on big online retailers

 

[Bowman15]

Give me a reason to buy a 4k TV and I will. Blame the cable companies and lack of 4k content. Cox Cable still broadcasts @ 720p. Why the fuck do I want a 4k TV?

Who's going to pay for all that bandwidth? That's 4K streaming per channel (15-16MB+ compressed) per TV, plus people will whine if it slows down their regular Internet? I tell you one that for sure isn't going to pay, content providers. You're blaming the wrong industry if you lay it all on ISP's.

 

[MrTryfe]

Because people are stupid. Unless you are buying it for computer usage, its damn near pointless to own a 4k TV already.

Which isn't the point. Yeah, people might be stupid, but they are still buying 4k sets.

Also, there really isn't a drawback to getting a 4k set. Sure, there isn't that much content available yet, but these TVs aren't at obscene price points any more either. You can pick up a decent 42 inch 4k TV for 400-500 these days.

Also, if you use Netflix on the regular, you will see 4k content being added on a regular basis.

 

[///AMG]

This is a sign that stores cant keep up with the times. I can go on Amazon any day of the week and compare a product to best buy and get a much better deal. Then i have prime and can get it in 2 days or next day for just a little bit more. Not only that, i have no questions asked returns in 30 days if im not satisfied. Best buy and the likes are on borrowed time if they can cant come up with a solid business model to take on big online retailers

Yet you can go to bestbuy look at the product and price match amazon and a few online only retailers and all local B&M stores and buy it there take it home that day and if you have any problems return in in 15 days. People dog on bestbuy but they have gotten so much better and I am digging the 22% CB I get using apple pay at best buy. I also started buying all my new games there because I get them for $40~ after taxes. The only thing amazon has over bestbuy is the length of returns but this year I have bought so much shit at bestbuy I am an elite plus member so I get 45 days anyways and they never give me any trouble when I returned 3 TVs I didn't like etc. I used to hate on bestbuy so much but lately they have been very very good. Also forgot about the rewardzone which isnt much but still something.

Best Buy might be one of the only electronics retailer with a B&M presence that doesnt have a restocking fee for anything left. Fry's has it for a lot of items now for example. The only other one I can think of right now is Microcenter but they are tiny.

 

[fdiaz78]

I know people like to look hip when they take a crap on Best Buy but if you have been to one recently they have improved their pricing and overall competitiveness. We need brick and mortar places to "touch and feel" the products. I would never buy a TV without seeing it first as not all panels are created equal.

 

[dark_reign]

Yet you can go to bestbuy look at the product and price match amazon and a few online only retailers and all local B&M stores and buy it there take it home that day and if you have any problems return in in 15 days. People dog on bestbuy but they have gotten so much better and I am digging the 22% CB I get using apple pay at best buy.

I've noticed it as well but it's still easier to buy it from Amazon, Newegg, etc. They appear to be on the mend but their glory days are long gone.

My local Best Buy used to be busy on the weekends but it's mostly vacant now. Was in there a year ago buying a 27" monitor on sale and there was about 10 people in the store. Could be that most people aren't aware that they price match or just vow to never go there again because of their past record of having clueless staff, high prices and rebate scams.

 

[Lith1um]

Imo, BB has the worst stores.

1)Products are often displayed in locations which are completely counterintuitive
2)Products are shown as in stock on their site, but aren't displayed prominently in their stores
3)It takes forever to find someone who will help you
4)When you finally get help, there are certain items that nobody can seem to find
6)PC gaming has virtually been kicked to the curb
7)They never have high end monitors or video cards in their stores
8)Once items hit the shelves they sit there at the same price until some idiot buys them, or until the manufacturer offers a discount of some type. Forget about getting a good deal
9)Sometimes they have a different price on the site than in the store.
10)The other customers are often dumb as shit, don't do their own research, and the salesperson will sit there for a protracted length of time trying to differentiate between two products or explain the technology in general while the customer has a glazed over, dumb look on their face.
11)I hate the "Marketplace" section of their site. It's skeezy, the way I see it if you lie down with dogs you get flees. I visit BB's site to see what BB sells, not to use their site as some glorified search engine that only lines BB's pockets
12)Using their site to find out what their stores stock is an utter pain in the ass, almost as bad as if they didn't want you to do so.

 

[///AMG]

I've noticed it as well but it's still easier to buy it from Amazon, Newegg, etc. They appear to be on the mend but their glory days are long gone.

My local Best Buy used to be busy on the weekends but it's mostly vacant now. Was in there a year ago buying a 27" monitor on sale and there was about 10 people in the store. Could be that most people aren't aware that they price match or just vow to never go there again because of their past record of having clueless staff, high prices and rebate scams.

Thats valid. Its way easier to click buy from a chair then drive to Best Buy and Best Buy definitely still has that stigma about them. But the Best Buy near me has its parking lot at least 1/3 full every time I go there. I also just would never buy a TV online unless some crazy deal is going on and the return is super easy and cheap or really any big item or appliance. Still its way better for me to look at things like TVs and washer and dryers in a store than buy it online sight unseen.

 

[Bigbacon]

Funny I just bought a TV for my bedroom at BB but I literally walked in found the biggest TV that would fit my cabinet and then bought the cheapest one and didn't care about anything else about it.

 

[jbltecnicspro]

I know people like to look hip when they take a crap on Best Buy but if you have been to one recently they have improved their pricing and overall competitiveness. We need brick and mortar places to "touch and feel" the products. I would never buy a TV without seeing it first as not all panels are created equal.

Even if you saw the television on the floor - not all televisions look the same from the factory. So your point is moot. Trustworthy reviews from reliable sources + Amazon is all one needs.

 

[Bowman15]

I know people like to look hip when they take a crap on Best Buy but if you have been to one recently they have improved their pricing and overall competitiveness. We need brick and mortar places to "touch and feel" the products. I would never buy a TV without seeing it first as not all panels are created equal.

That's the impression I got as well. They had to do something.

 

[dangerouseddy]

well most of my tech gadgets are good enough, only really considering buying a faster tablet and a new graphics card.

buying stuff to replace stuff I already have, that gives me no more benefit seems like throwing money away.

maybe I'm getting old.

 

[HockeyJon]

Give me a reason to buy a 4k TV and I will. Blame the cable companies and lack of 4k content. Cox Cable still broadcasts @ 720p. Why the fuck do I want a 4k TV?

Or the fact that your eyes can't tell the difference vs 1080P at normal viewing distances.

 

[jbltecnicspro]

Or the fact that your eyes can't tell the difference vs 1080P at normal viewing distances.

Who cares if the content isn't there? I think that was the point he was making. And when it inevitably does get here - how do we know that another format isn't right around the corner to dominate it and force upgrades again?

 

[HockeyJon]

Who cares if the content isn't there? I think that was the point he was making. And when it inevitably does get here - how do we know that another format isn't right around the corner to dominate it and force upgrades again?

Whether or not the content is there doesn't matter. Your eyes physically won't be able to tell the difference. The only thing 4K is going to do is make telecom companies push out a signal at 4 times the bandwidth on already congested lines, or make them invest millions of dollars in new infrastructure and charge their customers more.

4K is an easy way for TV companies to market "new technology" without actually dealing with the problems people have with current TVs that actually impact the viewing experience. As it stands, people are being convinced to pay hundreds of dollars more to "upgrade" to 4K in order to "future proof" their purchases, but the fact of the matter is, it's not going to make a difference over current 1080P sets even when 4K content becomes available because your eyes physically can't tell the difference at normal viewing distances. That's the key point here.

 

[jpcahn1]

I will admit I was blown away by some of the 4K demos at Costco and Best Buy. I decided to find the demo reels myself and play them on my 1080P TV. Guess What? They looked just as impressive! It is the camera and high bitrate almost as much as the 4K that makes it look so good.

 

[dangerouseddy]

cant think that upscaling on most 4k TV's can be that good.

 

[amdgamer]

For one, there haven't been any truly revolutionary products for quite some time. I suspect that this, coupled with the fact that the vast majority of people don't need to update tablets, smartphones, etc. every single year, is contributing to lacklustre sales.

That is why POS companies like Apple release iOS updates that break previous generation tablets like my iPad 2 which became so slow almost to the point of becoming unusable after the iOS8 update. It ran perfectly on iOS7 but apparantly Apple will not let you go back and uninstall like Windows allows you to for updates.

 

[westrock2000]

You think people don't want to buy new stuff? You think America just went and gave up on materialism and consumerism?

No!

$80,000 a year for a household income puts you right at the edge of "lower middle class". Middle class means you live comfortably and can afford stuff like new electronics on a regular basis. Middle class is not some set amount, it's an evolving segment that very much reflects the economic state of the country.

And yet those who earn a household income of $150,000 a year, sit in the top 5% of income brackets. Meaning 95% of all of America is operating on less then $150,000 a year.

You guys need to understand that the vast majority of Americans are not in good shape right now. You might think you're doing great because you make $70,000 or $100,000 and are single or just have some girl you go on dates with every once in a while. But 75% of America is living with a household income of $80,000 or less. That's not mom and dad both making $80,000 each. That mom, dad, and 2.5 kids living on $80,000 total. And after all taxes, they are probably looking at about $45K of actual income.

The reason retail is failing, is because it is depending on 25% of the population to save it. The country is fucked up, and no one wants to admit it. It's like the stock market...everything is rosie because we're told it's rosie.

 

[doz]

Who's going to pay for all that bandwidth? That's 4K streaming per channel (15-16MB+ compressed) per TV, plus people will whine if it slows down their regular Internet? I tell you one that for sure isn't going to pay, content providers. You're blaming the wrong industry if you lay it all on ISP's.

Which is fine. I understand that but at least give us a full 1080p broadcast. Also, they would just charge more for 4k content just like they do for "HD" (720p) to offset the costs. So yes, I will put a good bit of it on the Cable Company.

 

[Climber]

Because people are stupid. Unless you are buying it for computer usage, its damn near pointless to own a 4k TV already.

You are wrong, which is about par for the course for you.

 

[doz]

You are wrong, which is about par for the course for you.

So prove to me differently? Please, with all your wisdom, prove your point?

Where is the 4k content? Its trickling in, sure, but far from being readily available. Who will provide 4k content? Now that you have 4k content, will your internet connection support it (because it will most likely come streamed)? Besides PC users, who REALLY benefits from a 4k TV right now?

Those same TVs people are purchasing right now will be even cheaper on clearance in another 6 months when even a little 4k content is available. By then, OLED should be making a pretty good appearance which is by far a good reason to wait.

But go ahead, shoot one liners with nothing else to say.

 

[westrock2000]

Have the 4K TV's brought back Picture In Picture? I was pretty surprised that 1080p TV's all but erased this feature from existence. There have been times I wanted to hook up two game systems to a single TV to do co-op and surprise surprise it's almost non-existent anymore.

A 70-80" 4K could have 2 1080p sources both equal to about a 35" screen. That's useable.

 

[westrock2000]

Those same TVs people are purchasing right now will be even cheaper on clearance in another 6 months when even a little 4k content is available. By then, OLED should be making a pretty good appearance which is by far a good reason to wait.

Hopefully there will be physical players with Bluray XL discs available by then. I really need to get Terminator 2 in 4K!

 

[Climber]

So prove to me differently? Please, with all your wisdom, prove your point?

Prove to you that 4k tvs are worth it over regular 1080p sets? Very few of the 1080p sets are getting the new tech, some are but most companies are focusing on 4k sets. I paid $1700 for my 65JS8500, at the time the set I was going to get, a 65" Vizio E series was just under $1100. $600 price difference for our main TV set but it was the price on the JS8500 which sold me. 4k isn't 3d, nor is it a "fad". 4k content is coming faster and faster and the price on 4k sets are dirt cheap.

Where is the 4k content? Its trickling in, sure, but far from being readily available. Who will provide 4k content? Now that you have 4k content, will your internet connection support it (because it will most likely come streamed)? Besides PC users, who REALLY benefits from a 4k TV right now?

Between Netflix and Amazon there are about a dozen different shows I'm interested in that are in 4k. Daredevil, Breaking Bad, Edge, House of Cards, Longmire, Alpha House, Jessica Jones, Orphan Black, and a few others. Both Netflix and Amazon are releasing even newer shows in 4k later this year as well as next. Ultraflix has some nice movies on Ultra HD as well as Youtube, Netflix, and Amazon. For my wife and I who love movie night we love our TV and our shows which many are in 4k.

Those same TVs people are purchasing right now will be even cheaper on clearance in another 6 months when even a little 4k content is available. By then, OLED should be making a pretty good appearance which is by far a good reason to wait.

So your argument is basically "just wait until technology is cheaper" or the "something better is just around the corner". Both are tired and trite arguments. If you need a TV now and a 4k TV is in your price range then get it. Could you spend less and get a nice tv of course you can. Calling people idiots because of an electronics purchase is just about as idiotic as criticizing people for wasting time on hobbies instead of bettering themselves with worthwhile pursuits instead.

 

[Climber]

Have the 4K TV's brought back Picture In Picture? I was pretty surprised that 1080p TV's all but erased this feature from existence. There have been times I wanted to hook up two game systems to a single TV to do co-op and surprise surprise it's almost non-existent anymore.

A 70-80" 4K could have 2 1080p sources both equal to about a 35" screen. That's useable.

The Samsung JS8500 series, and I'm assuming the 9000 series, does. It works well and you can have any of the inputs or an additional channel up. For example I was goofing around playing Doom 3 on the shield and had the broncos game up next to it.

 

[westrock2000]

The Samsung JS8500 series, and I'm assuming the 9000 series, does. It works well and you can have any of the inputs or an additional channel up. For example I was goofing around playing Doom 3 on the shield and had the broncos game up next to it.

See exactly, that's awesome.

 

[mesyn191]

it's not going to make a difference over current 1080P sets even when 4K content becomes available because your eyes physically can't tell the difference at normal viewing distances.

And typical screen sizes (47" or less) but yea I'd agree with you in general. For most its a waste of money and any sort of visual improvement that is being seen is really due to the better panel tech. (lighting, contrast, refresh rate) that has popped up in the last few years over older LCD's.

4K doesn't matter much until you get around 65-70" screen size at typical viewing distances of 10-12' or so. Few have sets that big though. I'm one of the few that do (I have a 73" Mitsu DLP RPTV) and honestly 1080p still looks pretty good. I'm certainly not stressing about it or in any need to replace my set.

Maybe if 4K projectors come down in price to something reasonable I might replace my now "ancient" 73" DLP RPTV. At 120"+ 4K would be a nice step up in image quality.

 

[Climber]

And typical screen sizes (47" or less) but yea I'd agree with you in general. For most its a waste of money and any sort of visual improvement that is being seen is really due to the better panel tech. (lighting, contrast, refresh rate) that has popped up in the last few years over older LCD's.

4K doesn't matter much until you get around 65-70" screen size at typical viewing distances of 10-12' or so. Few have sets that big though. I'm one of the few that do (I have a 73" Mitsu DLP RPTV) and honestly 1080p still looks pretty good. I'm certainly not stressing about it or in any need to replace my set.

Maybe if 4K projectors come down in price to something reasonable I might replace my now "ancient" 73" DLP RPTV. At 120"+ 4K would be a nice step up in image quality.

I didn't take any pictures at the time, but I have a Samsung 67" LED DLP that I just moved downstairs to the grand room. When placed next to each other the JS8500 did have the better picture, especially for movies (just ran Star Wars and Ghostbusters) but honestly it wasn't a huge difference and the wife didn't really see a difference at all. If we didn't need a new tv for the new house I doubt I wouldn't have ever looked at getting a new tv. Don't regret because I like the JS8500 and it looks especially sweet wall mounted .

 

[NickJames]

Give me a reason to buy a 4k TV and I will. Blame the cable companies and lack of 4k content. Cox Cable still broadcasts @ 720p. Why the fuck do I want a 4k TV?

And with comcast throwing these data caps around its not helping.