...this way comes

Gary...you could have not said it better. Best Buy is going to be another nail in the independant's coffin.

I don't want to agree with you, but in terms of the threat that Best Buy poses, it is far, far higher than PC World et al ever have.

Their way of selling and dealing with customer service is exactly the same as an indie, but they have the buying power and brand name to back it up.

Not sure what this holds for Independents. Personally I doubt it will have a major effect (except perhaps when the store are initially launched). As an Independent I survive on the service I provide and not flogging laptops at cost or misselling pc's.

The question is whether the high street can support an operation like Best Buy. DSG are having a pretty torrid time and they know the market inside out, what does Best Buy know that they don't?

Personally, I think the whole business will be a waste of money. But I suppose if it's the yanks money what should carphone warehouse care?

Best Buy will be great for UK consumers, bad for the small local stores.

It will be good for the younger consumers (geeks). There will still be a market to fill for us indies who provide good old fashioned service to the over 40's

don't worry independants there use to be tiny, "the computer shop" along side pcworld. and things were not that much different.. now its only PCWorld and bestbuy to worry about. yea theres's comet etc. but they have always been there too. i think its DSGI/PCWorld that has to worry. maybe DSGI should be spending more money on wages and training to improve their employees skills and morale and less on advertising would help compete. i can already see Bestbuy snapping up DSGI customers and even DSGI staff and do this with little effort.

I wouldn't be too sure.

@ Ash; the problem is that Best Buy's main point is their service, first, product section. Just like every indie. That's why they pose such a threat.

I remember, the big fear with PC World was on cost. However, it is our customer service skills that kept us alive. That won't be the case with Best Buy.

I heard from Best Buy's financial that they realised they were missing the gray market and began going into care homes, libraries etc in the US to show, teach and gain the trust of the over 40s. The result, they now dominate that market too.

I might have to take advantage of that advert at the back of PC Retail about people buying businesses... I just wonder if they buy successful ones as well as failing ones... I get the impression that if Best Buy open up in my city my business will go the way of the Dodo.

And before you ask, the smart will get out while they can and take their business nouse elsewhere.

I seem to remember a wholesale panic by indies when the web caught fire at the turn of the century - and that didn't kill you did it, it just made you leaner and meaner. Alright it probably wasn't a comfortable process, but it certainly didn't send you pear-shaped.

If Best Buy are the 'best buy' then you're dead, for sure - so don't let them be, you know why people buy from you so just make sure you * emphasise * it!

anyone actually experience the aftersales of bestbuy. the downfall of UK retailers is the lack of instore staff to repair products whil you wait and the manufacturers wanting to get the products sent to them for repair leaving customers with nothing but a delivery note to hold onto for days. do best buys offer instant exchanges, instore repairs etc. if so then independants have to worry. if they are like current uk retail chains then apart from a more professional attitude best buy may bring i still believe independants will survive

From my experience when I had to say in the US for six months a year ago, it was instant exchanges, in store repairs etc etc. Of course, it was backed up by that cheery American attitude of 'sure we'll do it'. Whether or not British staff are the same, I'm not sure but Asda seem to do it pretty well.

Hey,
what happened to this joint venture? Is it called off due to the economic crisis, or will we be seeing some Best Buy stores popping up?