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Best Buy opens in the UK on Friday
US RETAIL ELECTRONICS GIANT Best Buy will open its first store in the UK tomorrow, promising users a huge array of gadgetry, green technlogy and tech-savvy shop staff.
The INQUIRER popped into the store for a preview this week, ate some sandwiches and had a good poke around. We left impressed, and full.
As soon as we walked through the door we were met by Paul Antoniadis, Best Buy's CEO.
Antoniadis charmingly made liberal use of words like "telly" in a strong American accent before depositing us in the hands of one of the store's 'Blueshirt' experts on learning that we did not work for the Guardian.
Antoniadis is passionate about technology though, and has already used his company's tech trade-in offer to upgrade his netbook. He was only too keen to rave about how staff can help shoppers make an informed purchasing decision, whether they happen to be tech-aware or just your average shopper. We expect that from now on he might turn to them before buying another lap-based lemon.
Rare for a store like this, everything on sale is turned on and available to try out. We tinkered with a few phones and the Traktor LE music mixing software along with a digital Numark mixer for a couple of minutes before a member of staff wandered over to watch. He, in testimony to the knowledge of the staff, had the same system at home and was able to demonstrate the software and kit effectively. Show off.
The sheer range of technology on display is impressive and anyone with a big enough van could leave there with anything from a new MP3 player and a fridge freezer to a £30,000 home cinema system. In fact, in order to offer a rounded customer experience Best Buy staff can even come to your house and set up your television for you. You'd probably want to tidy up the place first, though.
These additional services also extend to things like digital television subscriptions. You can sign up for a Virgin Media account there, for example, as well as mobile phone contracts and wireless roaming packages. Helpdesks are scattered around for confused shoppers and none of the staff we spoke to had vacant stares or bovine expressions. For example the chap we spoke to in the green technology section was a self-confessed petrol head, but following his nine weeks of training was as passionate about eco-tech as any kaftan and sandal wearing allotment owner we have ever met.
Green technology is a very big deal at Best Buy, and there is a corner of the store devoted to it. The car park was full of journalists whizzing around on the Gocycle electronic bicycle, while Best Buy is the only store that is selling the Brammo Enertia electronic motorcycle. We learned two important things here - green vehicles are prohibitively expensive, but fun to ride. Especially when they are electronic bicycles.
The store, which is at the Lakeside retail park, opens at 7am tomorrow. µ
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is crap - Comp USA was cool. Beware with that store. The only thing that is cool is the collection of LED TV’s that they have and LCD's for PC's. Other than that, Your better off with Sear's lol.
Brits beware. We call it Best Cry in the Colonies. Also, they are regularly in the top five of the Better Business Bureau's complaints list.
Badvock, I think it's safe to say that if someone says "New shop opening in Someplace", and you've never heard of said place, that it's not local to you and you won't be going to it.
But for your information Lakeside is in Thurrock, Essex. Essex is a county to the East of London. Thurrock is on the North side of the Thames Estuary.
London is the capital city of the England.
England is the largest country making up the UK.
The UK is a collection of Islands on the Western side of Europe.
Europe (for the Americans) is the place over the other side of the Dragon infested water. Yes there is land on the other side, it is not a myth.
Good Luck, the first paragraph is pretty much bang-on if you put "Not" before any of the descriptions.
Here in the US they are famous for having a web price, that mysteriously is not the price in store.... for the identical item. Even if you select 'pick up at store' from the web....
Fry's would be so much better, but they alas are only in the western side of the country.
Best Buy are one of the worst electronic retailers I have ever dealt with, they are like Dixons^2 with more than a dash of PC world.
Now if Newegg ever hot UK shores then there would be reason to be excited.
meow
more fodder for the consumerist
I doubt Best Buy will be any worse than the two current incumbents in the home electrical appliance retail industry here in the UK. DSGI and KESA are hardly model companies to buy from or even work for.
At least BB seems to have a comprehensive training course, the only knowledgeable staff you'll find in a Currys or Comet are those that are interested in tech (and yes there are some knowledgeable staff out there, just not that many due to the lack of any real training)
Will the Brits get to see Bad Buy violate UK laws like they do regularly in the U.S.? Will it make for an interesting story when they get caught running scams? Do a U.S. websearch for Bad Buy and see what you find for lawsuits and fines for fraud.
Best Buy, Founded in village founded by Edingurough in 1840, Went German about 1888. Prime goal of edina. minnesota, near minanpolis is to bring back German Mafia,Having troubs since 1940s'. something thats' like like ,BAD,Man:BAD.
In August 2009 it was announced that US retail giant Best Buy would be opening one of its first UK stores at The Junction. The company has signed a 10 year lease for a 50,000 square foot megastore which will be located on the site of the former Courts store. On 15 August, blue hoardings started to go up around the store left on site by Courts, with the Best Buy logo clearly shown. The new store is planned to open in March 2010. there are 2 lakeside retail parks, looking like poole pier, in parts.
In a move to counter the opening of Best Buy, Currys have signed up to take on 100,000 square foot of retail space in Lakeside Retail Park, on the site vacated by Danish Store ILVA. Currys will open a new megastore and hope to shake off the tag of 'The Death Store' on a site considered to be jinxed
Theres' Apple store bearby, 20 miles from theHAM. (lakeside, Kentucky is another lakeside. Lakeside Toys, Creator of Gumby is Edina Stooleee' Co.)
Currys are John Curry, Credit VP of Daytons, Owned by Hudsons of canada, Daytons owns Target & is owned by Marshall Field of Chicago. Currys are Dept Store as Well. Only good thing, None of Group are Harrolds.
Early on Best Buy went Washington, thats why Best Buy survives, while Circuit City Burned.
If Group could fly Swatikas, they ALL Would. John Curry Died in Afghanistan on Suicide misssion in ~2005, Age 80. All 15 Platoon Members Gone, like Tillman, Service is Cheap hack, with NO respect.
Not much else, Easy Return Policy in Terrible industry is Better point, Over priced is poor,however, NO worse than Most.
yet Advertised specials can be overwhelming. Bus from central london, near Victoria station interconnects.
iAlready member of Thorn, Taken advantage of in Bombing of Buckingham Palace 1947, Kidnapped & eventually Wound up here & then promptly rejected,Once inspected for connections, Spit out like so much foodgush.by Lutherans, well, Worthless ,before hit ground is Me Name.
. Yet, they ALL are Close friends. Mrs. Curry Owns Church in Wayzeta now. Good for Laundrying, $$$ Kind, making throw away soldiers, as product, if soldiers at ALL..
Rough Business & Best Buy found FREE Ticket. Uncle Adolf Picture should be on STORE Wall or at least Uncle Adolf Daily special. High Hz TV Specialty.
speaking of daily specials, X6 is sold out at tiegars, yesterday, 2 Tb Western Digital was $109 is same ad box on healiner. So prices do go down.
Don't forget TV Tax, VAT Tax, Local Tax & national Tax before ALL other Tax. Then breakage & Credit Cost plus, whom gets final Prophet, some mullah ID guess.
Yet, Better than Harrolds, those that faudilee' killed Dianna, yet Give 'Em time, Leave entire England as Flat as drashek, that Number 1 Engineering Miracle.
That's great........perhaps mentioning where the hell the lakeside retail park actually is would be a help? Not everyone lives in the UK and those of us that do sadly don't know the name and location of every park on the sceptered isle.