Best Buy Musical Instruments Section

[KawabeAP]

So how does TB feel about Best Buy's musical instrument section?

[mrpackerguy]

Seemed like the vast majority was more entry level stuff, a few higher end Fenders. Just can't see myself buying anything from there. There was a good article on MSN the other day about one guy's prediction of best buy failing ala Circuit City in the near future.

[fenderhutz]

I heard they are going to be killing off music gear soon. It wasn't a good move for them.

[Waffles and Scotch]

Originally Posted by mrpackerguy

There was a good article on MSN the other day about one guy's prediction of best buy failing ala Circuit City in the near future.

Working in the A/V industry, I see evidence of this all the time. Pretty sad as I like Best Buy, but it's tough to keep a brick and mortar electronics store profitable these days...

[steamthief]

I saw a NOS 08 MIA P-Bass for $589 (!) and considered buying it. Went back three days later and it was $999. :/

Every so often I see a piece on clearance for a really low price, but to me, most of what they stock is "meh."

[Jhengsman]

Since there are plenty of Guitar Center's and Sam Ash's within easy range along with many mom & pops they really don't have a unique market niche. Its better then buying a starter pack at Targets but with the specialist store a few blocks down the road, with a larger in store stock to try out, I would only go to Best Buy to save time on a small accessory purchase or an impulse purchase should I be at the mall with a Best Buy and not the mall with a Sam Ash

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I heard they are going to be killing off music gear soon. It wasn't a good move for them.

That is what I thought to until a friend showed me a jobs posting Best Buy is running here (this is their home).

Of all the stores in the Twin Cities metro only two have musical instruments.
As of this morning Best Buy is looking for mangers and workers for every store in Minnesota and western Wisconsin for their music departments.

Around here they have good gear. Very little of the entry level stuff and a lot of upper end at very good prices. The one store by me is very well stocked and is right up the street from a GC. Best Buy beats GC prices on everything on the shelf.

[TrevorOfDoom]

everytime someone mentions Best Buy selling gear, i always think of the story someone told on here about seeing Pete Wentz walking into a Best Buy and buying his own signature model Squier.
cute story.
I like the fact that they're trying, but as Jhengsman said, with the real deal just a few blocks away, why would you go anywhere else?

edit: i can see myself on the road, in a jam for some piece of kit (possibly even a back-up bass) and wandering into the first Best Buy i found. so to that end, i hope they persevere.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I heard they are going to be killing off music gear soon. It wasn't a good move for them.

Agreed. If you're gonna sell musical gear less than a mile away from Guitar Center (as is the case in my town), then you'd better have a different product mix and better pricing than the GC. I checked out my Best Buy music store when they opened, realized they had the exact same gear and pricing as the local GC, and have only been back there probably two more times in the last 3-4 years.

I'm not quite sure what Best Buy execs were thinking... but then that company has made a ton of mis-steps the last few years. I see a Circuit City type demise in their near future.