Best Buy

[VUDUNEW]

I am hoping that Vudu Management is working with Best Buy to get this main stream. I got mine as a gift for Christmas (great gift!!) and the first place my sister went to look was Best Buy. The guys there hadn't heard of it but thought it sounded very cool. She ended up getting it at Tweeter (another find establishment but with a very small regional footprint). Vudu needs some more name recognition out there which Tivo was able to do early on.

Al

[NA9D]

Re: Best Buy

I can't comment on Vudu's long term plans as I don't know them, but I am fairly sure that their plan is to eventually have the product available at major retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City. Before that happens though, they need to have the infrastructure in place to support it both from a shipments standpoint and a sales force standpoint.

I believe Best Buy owns Magnolia and Vudu is carried by Magnolia stores that are not inside Best Buy - so I think a relationship is there.

You've got a damn nice sister for getting you this toy!

[marvod]

Re: Best Buy

I live in the NW where Magnolia originated. The problem with Best Buy is, now that they own Magnolia and are putting "Mini Magnolias" in the BB stores they are closing the full size Magnolia's.

We used to have 4 stores in the Portland are and now we have 1.

[dvcii]

Re: Best Buy

The Best Buy blueshirts that I've approached are clueless about Vudu, even the ones working in the mini-Magnolias. A few mentioned that Best Buy pushed Moviebeam pretty hard with no success and felt it might make Vudu a hard sell to corporate. I had a mini-Magnolia guy look it up in the system, and nothing showed up. Seems the mini-Mags are operated differently from the free standing stores.

Hopefully Vudu will show up in Best Buy soon-- even if it's just part of their extended online offerings. Vudu could use the awareness from retail presence, and the ability to try it can't hurt, especially when the 70 HD titles are added.

Vudu seems to be following a similar route to market as Sonos which starting with high-end store distribution and word-of-mouth marketing. It then showed up on Bestbuy.com. Last week, I saw a demo model in a store. Presumably they're selling well if BB is willing to move from online to store presence. Based on memory, I think this was a 2 year journey.

[NA9D]

Re: Best Buy

Yes, the mini-Mags have no clue about Vudu.

It will show up at Best Buy eventually.

[mebby]

Re: Best Buy

From my experience - just b/c Best Buy carries a particular product doesn't mean the people working there will no diddly about it.

Try going in there and asking them about the Sonos. They'll look at you like you've just crapped on their toes even though the product you're speaking of is right there in the store.

Having said that - I WILL say that Best Buy stores have their appeal. AND individual stores can be VERY different from one another in terms of their personnel. There happens to be one Best Buy near me that seems particularly well run and is worlds apart from the original Best Buy in town.

[rlauwereins]

Re: Best Buy

I happened into Best Buy yesterday for an appliance extension cord. It took three employees to find a three way grounded extension cord for me - not what I was looking for, since only 14 guage wire. Told that if it wasn't there, they didn't have it. On my way out, looked into another area of the small store and, lo and behold, found an extension cord (along with many others) that were labeled 'appliance extension cords'.

Hard to find help these days, let alone good help!