Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[jcllings]

<chuckle>

1. How many expert testers work for that cheap, i.e. the price of a single computer? ;-)

2. You don't actually have to do it that way. You can offer a discount on a machine, instead, for example, for a Linux user willing to test and post high-quality analysys. You also don't have to make that discount available to more than say 5 expert users. 

3. You are right about the various distros but if I find that my distro doesn't work out-of-box and there's another one that does it indicates that there IS a work around and that it IS possible to get it working. Linux users aren't as tied to individual distros anyway. We like to try different systems by our nature. 

[hydrogenwv]

1. I'm not sure what you mean. I don't know many experts that will spend their time, unpaid, testing distributions of a laptop that will be discontinued within 6 months. I also don't see Best Buy being willing to invest any money in it, because the information gained from their expense will be useless when the model is discontinued. Unless you have a group of people that will do the testing for free, then I wouldn't get your hopes up.

2. Ok, assume they offer a discount... What's the point? Margins on computers are slim anyway, so offering a discount to someone that will test leaves us in the same situation as #1... Information is useless after 6 months and not worth the price.

3. Valid point.

 It still remains, though, that less than 2% of desktop computers are running linux, and an even smaller proportion of laptops are running linux. And, let's be honest, people that use linux (aside from Android and Ubuntu) are not exactly in Best Buy's core demographic.

 No matter how you slice it, there is no way it'd be a good business decision for Best Buy. Sure, it'd benefit a few people, but not ebough to cover the expenses that would be incurred.   

My suggestion to you would be to hunt down a retailer/MFG that will guarantee the machine will work with Linux, such as Puget, ThinkPenguin, etc... or, adversely, contact a manufacturer directly to customize a computer, and inquire about linux compatibility with them.

[jcllings]

Comments inline:

>1. I'm not sure what you mean. I don't know many experts that will spend their time, unpaid, testing distributions of a

>laptop that will be discontinued within 6 months. I also don't see Best Buy being willing to invest any money in it, because

>the information gained from their expense will be useless when the model is discontinued. Unless you have a group of

> people that will do the testing for free, then I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Linux guys do it all the time. I was just trying to point out the reletive value of the work vrs. the hardware. 

Also, remember that BB doesn't just sell computers. The folks we are talking about are hardened technophiles who buy computer parts, phones and pads and peripherals, Oh my. Engaging them makes good general marketing sense.  BB doesn't have to do this alone either. The manufacturers might also be engaged in such an endeavor. It's in their best interests as well. 

>2. Ok, assume they offer a discount... What's the point? Margins on computers are slim anyway, so offering a discount to

>someone that will test leaves us in the same situation as #1... Information is useless after 6 months and not worth the

>price.

See above. 

> 3. Valid point.

Thank you sir. :-)

>It still remains, though, that less than 2% of desktop computers are running linux, and an even smaller proportion of

>laptops are running linux. And, let's be honest, people that use linux (aside from Android and Ubuntu) are not exactly in

>Best Buy's core demographic.

>No matter how you slice it, there is no way it'd be a good business decision for Best Buy. Sure, it'd benefit a few people,

>but not ebough to cover the expenses that would be incurred.   

Linux users don't exist in only one demographic. Most of us have Windows partitions. Many of us also own Mac devices

and computers. Esepcially since Mac's are a Unix variant. It's probable that most of us also own Android devices. BB sells all of these. It was a Linux guy who built the first Tivo. It was a Linux guy who created the first digital picture frame. I know a tech firm that had a Linux guy put Linux on like 5 video game console systems (Sony, I think) to use as automated web spyders for thier enterprise. Not bad for a guy with no highschool diploma who was only a tester before that. We are ideal customers. We buy stuff and DON'T CARE if we break it in an experiment. We root and ROM our phones and pads and if we F! it up we will gladly buy another one and to H! with the warranty. 

>My suggestion to you would be to hunt down a retailer/MFG that will guarantee the machine will work with Linux, such as

>Puget, ThinkPenguin, etc... or, adversely, contact a manufacturer directly to customize a computer, and inquire about linux

>compatibility with them.

I've already done this. My latest gear is a smoking hot Ubuntu Linux certified Quad Core I7 (32 cores!) with an SSD which I got for about $1.4k. :-)  Can't wait till she gets here. 

[Aaron-BBY Community Connector]

Hello jcllings,

I can imagine why you’d be upset!  I’d be frustrated too if I encountered driver issues with not one, but two different computers.  Your disappointment at learning Best Buy does not support Linux is also understandable, especially if it’s your preferred operating system.

Although I may not be able to undo your recent experiences, rest assured that the appropriate parties will be notified of the situation.  We rely on customer feedback to improve our product and service offerings, so your thoughts are appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to post.