What purposes do you use Best Buy/Big Box electronic stores? Do you try items before you buy them in-person or online? Do you shop in-store for products? Are you a purely online shopper? I make an effort to patronize small companies, but when it comes to electronics, I frequently buy reconditioned computers and other items from the Best Buy outlet since my experiences there have been positive. I used to regularly order from Tiger Direct, but unfortunately, it is no longer open for business.
I bought some thermal paste from best buy a few weeks ago because they had it in stock and I wanted it immediately. other than that I mostly shop online.
If you’ve got a Micro Center near you, that’s the way to go. They may not be small but they’re definitely not Best Buy and their selection is typically great, barring any industry-wide shortages.
I live near a Microcenter so I buy all kinds of stuff there related to computers and 3d printing. The last 4 or 5 computers I have built have been with mostly parts sourced there as well.
I try to buy locally, and I like getting electronics faster than shipped. I switched to Best Buy back when Circuit City had a 15% restocking fee on any returns.
BestBuy will match most Amazon prices, so these days there is little advantage to shopping online. I bought my last phone from BB because in the end, reviews can’t show you what a product is really like in your hand. And since the price is no different, then why not?
Anything dealing with visuals or touch and feel,you really should consider buying in person. TVs, monitors, phones, headphones, keyboards and mice. The issue is that BB has limited stock on hand. Obviously their selection will n3ver match Amazon or NewEgg,but if yiu are buying a popular brand then they typically have it.
First, things like TVs. Not only can you actually see tvs plugged in and how they look, but you can also get open boxed ones to save a few bucks.
Keyboards and mice. You’re not gonna be able to get a complete, full experience like when you’re sitting down to really use it, but you can get a pretty damn good understanding of how it feels.
More good products from the actual brands, instead of hundreds of scams or cheap Chinese products that will break in a month being drop shipped. I wouldn’t be able to count how many times I’ve seen the same exact product show up multiple times with a different company name. It’s one of the reasons I try to not use the vast majority of online shopping sites. Having an open market sounds awesome. You get to sell your own stuff and reach a wider audience. But people are greedy fucks and ruin it for everyone.
Also, I sometimes like going to stores. It’s an excuse to get out of the house. It doesn’t feel like it fills that need when I’m grocery shopping, but if I’m gonna go buy something I want, then it makes it more exciting. If I got nothing else planned for the weekend, might as well.
The only problem is that I only have BB for electronics. So the options are a bit limited.
Big box retailers is mostly expensive electronics for me. TV’s and computer parts. After getting bricks from Amazon on a GPU purchase I won’t get anything I can’t open on the spot in a store to make sure I am getting what I paid for. I’ll also drop in for stuff I don’t want to wait on shipping for like console accessories and headphones if mine broke.
Online is exclusively for things I can’t find locally.
It’s just faster. With a physical store, I can have my product in my hand just minutes after I decide to buy it. When I order online, I have to wait days.
There’s an electronics store across the road from where I work, but even if I’m at home - it’s only about 15 minutes drive away (depending on traffic).
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I bought some thermal paste from best buy a few weeks ago because they had it in stock and I wanted it immediately. other than that I mostly shop online.
If you’ve got a Micro Center near you, that’s the way to go. They may not be small but they’re definitely not Best Buy and their selection is typically great, barring any industry-wide shortages.
No such luck.
Ahhh, that’s a bummer. I used to live in a city with one, now live in a city that sadly lacks one - hopefully they expand into both of our areas soon!
Nothing. I got a $50 gift card 6 months ago and have not found anything I’d buy there that wasn’t considerably cheaper somewhere else.
It’s still $50 free dollars, just wait for a sale or clearance on something you wouldn’t otherwise spend your own money on.
Honestly started buying more from them. Amazon might just as well send you a counterfeit.
This is a big one. I don’t trust Amazon anywhere near as much as I used to.
Me either. I’ll spend more to shop at a big box store so I know I’m getting authentic things.
Their shipping is horrendous lately.
I live near a Microcenter so I buy all kinds of stuff there related to computers and 3d printing. The last 4 or 5 computers I have built have been with mostly parts sourced there as well.
I try to buy locally, and I like getting electronics faster than shipped. I switched to Best Buy back when Circuit City had a 15% restocking fee on any returns.
Open box stuff is nice. I also like buying bigger items like TVs or appliances from them since it’s easier to return if I don’t like it.
Also it’s nice to demo stuff before buying if I’m not sure about the size, weight, screen etc.
And as some users have mentioned, Amazon has become kind of a lottery for actually getting new items
BestBuy will match most Amazon prices, so these days there is little advantage to shopping online. I bought my last phone from BB because in the end, reviews can’t show you what a product is really like in your hand. And since the price is no different, then why not?
Anything dealing with visuals or touch and feel,you really should consider buying in person. TVs, monitors, phones, headphones, keyboards and mice. The issue is that BB has limited stock on hand. Obviously their selection will n3ver match Amazon or NewEgg,but if yiu are buying a popular brand then they typically have it.
First, things like TVs. Not only can you actually see tvs plugged in and how they look, but you can also get open boxed ones to save a few bucks.
Keyboards and mice. You’re not gonna be able to get a complete, full experience like when you’re sitting down to really use it, but you can get a pretty damn good understanding of how it feels.
More good products from the actual brands, instead of hundreds of scams or cheap Chinese products that will break in a month being drop shipped. I wouldn’t be able to count how many times I’ve seen the same exact product show up multiple times with a different company name. It’s one of the reasons I try to not use the vast majority of online shopping sites. Having an open market sounds awesome. You get to sell your own stuff and reach a wider audience. But people are greedy fucks and ruin it for everyone.
Also, I sometimes like going to stores. It’s an excuse to get out of the house. It doesn’t feel like it fills that need when I’m grocery shopping, but if I’m gonna go buy something I want, then it makes it more exciting. If I got nothing else planned for the weekend, might as well.
The only problem is that I only have BB for electronics. So the options are a bit limited.
I also am limited to BB nearby and go for the same reasons you listed.
I also like their price matching and have used it quite a few times although they’ve gotten more strict about Amazon listings.
Id rather buy electronics at somewhere like Best Buy instead of Amazon. You never know what you’re going to get from Amazon (open box/counterfeit).
Big box retailers is mostly expensive electronics for me. TV’s and computer parts. After getting bricks from Amazon on a GPU purchase I won’t get anything I can’t open on the spot in a store to make sure I am getting what I paid for. I’ll also drop in for stuff I don’t want to wait on shipping for like console accessories and headphones if mine broke.
Online is exclusively for things I can’t find locally.
It’s just faster. With a physical store, I can have my product in my hand just minutes after I decide to buy it. When I order online, I have to wait days.
There’s an electronics store across the road from where I work, but even if I’m at home - it’s only about 15 minutes drive away (depending on traffic).