Small Business & Home Office

[Bearmann]

I really could not find anything online to match my needs. Perhaps because I wanted 2 hard drives for date security.

[businessowner]

Allow bussiness owners to purchase items at the store, if not, at least in the regional warehouse. every time I want to buy more then 2 of anything, I would get refered to BBFB. reat, I needed it now, and not pay ridiculous overpriced items with huge shipping costs. The same item found at BBFB is usually 20 -30% MORE expensive then buying from the store. I am not even talking about "AS ADVERTIESD" items. Many of the items not on sale is like that as well. It would be cheaper for me to buy from synnex/ingram micro/tech data/D&H directly then pay the markup at BBFB.com

I wonder if anyone @ Best Buy will actually read this and have a resonable response.

[Nokia]

I know wayyyyy back, when BBFB was still young, BB employees were told that if someone is purchasing more than three of something, make them go to BBFB first. Might've just been my store, though.

[Viggenjet123]

As a Best Buy for Business Associate, I figured I'd chime in. Our b2b division maintains an Inside Sales Team at phone number (800) 373-3050. In addition, select major metro markets are supported by Outside Sales Reps (called BTCs - Business Technology Consultants). Our Outside Reps can arrange on-site technology assessments (site surveys) for either IT or AV needs. Either group can provide commercial grade solutions such as business grade large format LCDs including digital signage, 70 volt speaker based commercial audio systems, HP notebooks, Proliant Servers, Geek Squad business services and commercial pricing. BBFB does not offer extended terms (personal) financing, however they do offer volume purchase pricing, drop shipping, prepaid store pickup, net 30 terms against Purchase Orders for qualified public sector and enterprise accounts - and leasing.

[Viggenjet123]

I work for BBFB. For pricing or configuration assistance,  re: commercial grade solutions found on www.bbfb.com  - call BBFB Inside Sales at 800 373 - 3050. They can set you up with a no obligation BBFB "account." Multiple payment forms are available. Reward Zone points apply on purchases made by  private sector business customers. Amongst other benefits, you can either call or create your own quote then request your Account Representative adjust it as your business levels determine.

[Viggenjet123]

Dear BusinessOwner -

Thanks for posting your comments and questions. I work for Best Buy's b2b division.

The challenge you describe - being referred to BBFB when you wish to purchase immediate multiple quanitities of either sale priced or non-sale priced store based items - is due to the nature of retailing verus reselling. As most aggressive retailers do, Best Buy often offers very attractive promotional pricing and competitive pricing on regular non-sale products. They are able to do so due by leveraging the buying power of a 1000+ store chain. These terrific offerings are primarily targeted towards retail consumers and small business end-user customers. Promotional and sharp non-promotional pricing is in essence a reward for visiting and shopping Best Buy stores. The natural caveat is in-store promotions and aggressive prices are intended for quantity one or perhaps quantity two sales. If Best Buy allowed business customers, including direct retail and web competitors, to purchase unlimited quantities of these aggressively priced items - there would be none left for core consumers.

Best Buy for Business, Best Buy's b2b division is designed to service both small business customers as well as larger corporate and public sector clients. Repeat business customers benefit from dealing with an Assigned Account Manager who offers multiple payment forms, electronic quotes, one call order convenience, complete solutions including Geek Squad and nationwide drop shipping. For on-going volume order customers, BBFB may offer commercial pricing as well.

Best Buy's business model is primarily designed to service end-user consumers and (via BBFB) end-user business clients. Since you mention being able to purchase from three of the largest tech distributors in the nation, I'm guessing you may be a reseller. These 3 wholesalers are specifically designed to service resellers which may explain why they sometimes represent a better fit for you. In either case, we appreciate your business.

[Wintermute]

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AS1 wrote:

You can start by offering Corporate credit accounts in addition to the individual ones offered on the site. My small business has many technology requirements (computer/phones/cameras [still & video]/audio equipment/cell)  and we would love to take advantage of the same types of no interest/low interest offers as individuals.

If we had a Corporate Best Buy account, we wouldn't end up purchasing our equipment through six different vendors and would be able to make all our purchases here.

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I agree this would be a very good thing. This is why I am purchasing through Dell right now.

[oldorchard]

Not to sound like a sourpuss, but just a little follow-through from your business reps would be nice. Rather than buy from Dell, per usual, I tried Best Buy this summer to see what it might offer.

A nice rep at my local store identified himself as the business sales liason, took my contact info, and said a rep would call. A rep called before I was out of the parking lot. So far, so good. I gave him details on the kinds of purchases I wanted to make in the short-term and long term - basically up to 40 laptops in batches over the next two years. He promised to get back to me. He never did. Weeks later the store rep followed up. I explained I was in a meeting, but that I had never heard back from the sales rep and that I would appreciate a call the following day. Instead, I got an almost immediate return call from a new sales agent who wanted to start from scratch and did all he could to stop me from continuing with my meeting. I explained that I occupied, but that a call would be appreciate later in the day. I'm still waiting. While we would naturally have loved great pricing on our purchases, we value good service even more. Since I initiated contact with Best Buy eaerly last July, I have purchased 15 laptops from Dell. I did purchase 3 laptops from Best Buy over the counter (and 3 TVs) - but now I see in this forum that customers are extremely unhappy with the company's follow-through on the free Windows 7 Upgrade. We haven't attempted to redeem our upgrades yet, but the sales people in the store stated in crystal clear terms that our purchases were eligible. If we do run into trouble, we will most likely cease all business with Best Buy. Again, we appreciate a good buy, but good and truthful service is more important. As a business, we simply do not have time to jump through hoops for each piece of equipment we buy. FYI, the free upgrade to Windows 7 on our Dell purchases has been seemless.

[aznlilboi1987]

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businessowner wrote:

Allow bussiness owners to purchase items at the store, if not, at least in the regional warehouse. every time I want to buy more then 2 of anything, I would get refered to BBFB. reat, I needed it now, and not pay ridiculous overpriced items with huge shipping costs. The same item found at BBFB is usually 20 -30% MORE expensive then buying from the store. I am not even talking about "AS ADVERTIESD" items. Many of the items not on sale is like that as well. It would be cheaper for me to buy from synnex/ingram micro/tech data/D&H directly then pay the markup at BBFB.com

I wonder if anyone @ Best Buy will actually read this and have a resonable response.

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haha i laught at the excuses behind what everyone's coming up with i know the REAL reason why they referr you to bestbuyforbusiness.com

if you tell them you want to get two computers, and have geek squad black tie protection so this way u'll let geek squad handle your IT needs, and tell them you want microsoft office installed on them before you leave the store, i can guaranteed you will get your computer in the store in the same day.

[aznlilboi1987]

if you want to do two hard drives and raid them, unfortunately best buy in store do not carry those. you'd have to find some one local, like a mama-papa shop to help you do that.

best buy mainly focus on family computers. and small portion on gamers. less than 1% of the customers are looking for raiding their hard drives. that's why they don't even bother doing so.

i'd say 5-10% people are looking to play games, the rest just want a simple computer amongst the family to use word documents and internet