The last time I was in a WorstBuy that sold Macs, I overheard a sales person talking a customer out of an iMac because "...we don't even sell Macintosh software." I picked up two hybrid games and walked over to the two of them and said, "I don't mean to interrupt, but there is plenty of Mac compatible software over there."
The sales guy looked quite annoyed that he wasn't going to sell another PC

Been there, done that. History will repeat itself, once again and Macs will be pulled from the shelves. As someone who made the mistake many years ago of working for BB, I can say with some knowledge that they will fail to promote the Macs. Why? Price margin. There's little profit to be made for BB in selling a Mac over...say an E-Machine, (or whatever the piece of c*** du jour is). That is what management pushes and that is what gets sold. I made the store I worked in the number one Mac seller east of the Mississippi and it did no good in managements eyes. Didn't work then...won't work again, now. Bad move, Steve.

... if this happened (again) because 1) Apple is "cool" again and thought to bring in some sales, 2) Apple gave Best Buy a better deal this time (instead of some of the silliness of before like having to buy one of every iMac color even hough only 2 colors sell well), 3)Best Buy wanted to sell iPods and had to accept Apple computers as well, or some combo of the above. Still, as long as the salespeople aren't little PC-centric snots when it comes to pushing compu-iron, this is probably a good thang.

This will fail. Why, you ask?

Because of all those PC using punks that work for a dollar an hour that only want to sell PCs.

Trust me, every sales guy there will talk bad about Apple stuff and everyone will be turned away.

OK, I currently work in the computer section at a best buy in VT. Let me sum it up from my point of view.

First of all most of the people that come in want an entire system for under a grand. This is why e-machines sell so well. It's extremely easy to get someone to spend $400 on a computer, monitor, printer. I have sold very few machines in the thousand plus range. Most people say this, "i need a computer to go on the internet and check my email. maybe type a few papers." In order to push into the market apple needs a sub $600 PC. The amount of reventue and profit are very important today, but they really just need to push out a lot more computers.

"It's extremely easy to get someone to spend $400 on a computer, monitor, printer. I have sold very few machines in the thousand plus range."

Here is the problem with most computer "sales" people: they don't know s*** about selling. Sure, anyone and everyone can pimp out the super-cheap ultra crappy winbox that only costs $400. But a real salesperson with real sales skills will have no problem upselling those people to correct machine for their purpose, even it cost $3000. At Best Buy, an aftermarket ATI 9800 pro video card costs $400 and those things are flying off the shelves. Where is the value in a $400 CARD when you can have a complete "system" for $400? The people who buy the $400 video card know that you get what you pay for. You need to capitalize on this and use it to your advantage when showing the more expensive computers and macs. People will pay more than $400 for the extra value and productivity they will benefit from the better machine. They don't know that a $49 inkjet printer is c***, slow and will cost them an arm and leg on ink cartridges. If all you can sell are the cheapest priced shitbox pc's then the problem is you and your sales skills, not the customer. Try taking sales training courses to improve your skills. Then you will have no problem selling the Macs.

are the rebates instant rebates or mail in rebates? 1149 for an iBook is certainly a good deal and just in time for back to school sales. i'll be looking into one if everything looks good.

Best Buy has a lot smaller computer department and a lot smaller software shelf (for any computer) than they had a few years ago. I used to go into best buy and see all sorts of PC HW addons and rows and rows of software. Now there is one small row of PC HW addons and a small row of budget SW and a small row of the most recent PC games. No one I know goes to Best Buy to buy stuff anymore. It is more a glorified TV and Stereo store and CD store now.

Here is the problem with most computer "sales" people: they don't know s*** about selling. Sure, anyone and everyone can pimp out the super-cheap ultra crappy winbox that only costs $400. But a real salesperson with real sales skills will have no problem upselling those people to correct machine for their purpose, even it cost $3000.

Possibly a valid point, except there's too many people (myself included) who would feel they were either being pressured or conned into buying a high-end system in the case you talk about.

Another issue is people who NEED a decent computer (i.e. not a $400 POS but a $3000 Workstation type machine) are NOT going to go to best buy for that computer.

Actually, the nearest apple store to my office is 30 miles. The nearest Apple VAR is 10 miles and he sucks. The nearest Best Buy is 1 block. I would definitely buy stuff from them, if I don't want to go mail order. I like there return policy and exchange policy compared to a VAR or mail order.

Because of all those PC using punks that work for a dollar an hour that only want to sell PCs.

Trust me, every sales guy there will talk bad about Apple stuff and everyone will be turned away.
***
If my first encounter with a Mac user like the poster above, I would first kick his a** and not use a Mac thinking all Mac users and a******* like above.

Actually, I would still use a Mac but still kick his a**.

I swear Mac users can be some of the most negative people out there. It's a good thing Apple will be in Best Buy folks. I don't care what you think of Best Buy or the ignorant sales force that work there. Have you all forgotten that Apple's market share in below 3%. How is having more exposure in such a large electronics store a bad thing?

Yes, software is lacking but as someone said earlier. Not many people buy software during the initial computer purchase. I can see how it might deter them from buying a computer at all if they walk down the software aisles and don't see a Mac section. Most peripherals are compatible and even have work without drivers needing to be installed.

Yes, Best Buy employees are likely going to be biased but they are not all ignorant. What better way to sell a product than to "sell" it to the sales people. That should be the main focus of the Apple reps who will initially be within the stores.

The other matter is that criticizing the sales force at Best Buy for pushing PC's and not Macs is unfair. Best Buy employees do not make commision, instead they work towards incentives for themselves or their dept. Best Buy also makes very little on the sale of computers themselves, rather making their money on the high mark-up of peripherals and of their Perfomance Plan warrenties.

If a Best Buy employee wants to do well, he's going to sell any computer but work hard to get you to buy stuff to go with it, a webcam, printer, scanner, etc. And don't forget the warranty. That is how an employee and dept. is graded.

Sometimes they do push a specific brand. Comapanies will offer incentives to employees if they push thier brand. Monster Cable offered very nice incentives (flying to Florida to drive exotic cars) for the employee who sold the most products. It was very popular and intense. Employees were pushing Monster Cable surge protectors to go with your electric razor. :)

You might find fault with these sales practices but imho, it's better than a commision based practice. My point is this, Apple in Best Buy is a good thing. It has the potential to be a great thing if Apple and Best Buy work together. It is in the best interest of both companies to do so. I think they're both headed in the right direction with Apple reps visiting the stores.

My concern is that Apple keeps the reps there to train sales staff. Only time will tell. Until then, quit complaining.

I swear Mac users can be some of the most negative people out there. It's a good thing Apple will be in Best Buy folks. I don't care what you think of Best Buy or the ignorant sales force that work there. Have you all forgotten that Apple's market share in below 3%. How is having more exposure in such a large electronics store a bad thing?

Yes, software is lacking but as someone said earlier. Not many people buy software during the initial computer purchase. I can see how it might deter them from buying a computer at all if they walk down the software aisles and don't see a Mac section. Most peripherals are compatible and even have work without drivers needing to be installed.

Yes, Best Buy employees are likely going to be biased but they are not all ignorant. What better way to sell a product than to "sell" it to the sales people. That should be the main focus of the Apple reps who will initially be within the stores.

The other matter is that criticizing the sales force at Best Buy for pushing PC's and not Macs is unfair. Best Buy employees do not make commision, instead they work towards incentives for themselves or their dept. Best Buy also makes very little on the sale of computers themselves, rather making their money on the high mark-up of peripherals and of their Perfomance Plan warrenties.

If a Best Buy employee wants to do well, he's going to sell any computer but work hard to get you to buy stuff to go with it, a webcam, printer, scanner, etc. And don't forget the warranty. That is how an employee and dept. is graded.

Sometimes they do push a specific brand. Comapanies will offer incentives to employees if they push thier brand. Monster Cable offered very nice incentives (flying to Florida to drive exotic cars) for the employee who sold the most products. It was very popular and intense. Employees were pushing Monster Cable surge protectors to go with your electric razor. :)

You might find fault with these sales practices but imho, it's better than a commision based practice. My point is this, Apple in Best Buy is a good thing. It has the potential to be a great thing if Apple and Best Buy work together. It is in the best interest of both companies to do so. I think they're both headed in the right direction with Apple reps visiting the stores.

My concern is that Apple keeps the reps there to train sales staff. Only time will tell. Until then, quit complaining.

The sales kids will not sell it right. They are all PC centric. It's not their fault. They don't know any better. When I was in a comp-usa store a long long time ago, the sales guy couldn't get over the fact that I used a mac at my pencil pushing job at work. May be if the training by the Apple reps are good then I will be wrong. But I still HATE PC'S AND PC PEOPLE...FOREVER!

So what you are saying is the punk-a** zit-faced pubescent sales kids at Best Buy get spiffs from certain vendors and as a result they "push" those products onto the customer, even if they don't want or need them? Sad. They really need a good sales training program and they need it now. Circuit City pays commission and the service is way better. Their prices are good too. And if you have ever talked to one of the "Apple Reps", you quickly realize that they are knowledgeable of the product line but have no sales skills either and couldn't close a sale on the spot to save their lives. There is more to it than just knowing about the product. And because the Apple Reps don't get paid commission, they do a lousy job of going for the close, and without Mac sales the market share will continue to dwindle. Apple spends a great deal of money designing beautiful hardware and the best software in the world, and they have interesting TV commercials. The problem is that they don't spend a penny on useful sales training for their retailers and retail sales reps. Without sales, you've got d***. The success of any business is dependant only on selling the product or service. If you have the best product in the world and no one buys it, you fold. Simple.

I believe Apple is supplying the employee. After the switch campaign and others, now, people just need to see it. The people who are ready to switch don't need to see it at Best Buy to decide but for those who wonder what it's all about, Best Buy is nice safe place to view - they might not buy it today but seeing it there will make it all seem like it's everywhere ... kind of like when DVD's reached mass market. People have to see it everywhere to feel like the format is staying.

BTW, our local Best Buy has software - Apple software (ilife, .mac (that'll fly off the shelf) - only 3rd party I saw was Toast. No hardware. No ipods though there's ipod accessories. No apple banners or signs.

I checked the Best Buy online store and could only find the iPod. They don't have any other Apple hardware listed. I hope they fix this.

I bought memory for my IMAC dv se 400mhz at Best buy and also my Ipod.

well, first off: you do get perks if you sell more of one product at best buy.

Apple will take off this time because MSN owns Best Buy and they push MSN with every purchase (even a TV...), so ... with MSN for Mac OS X out, and with Apple working with Sony on iLink which is selling DV camcorders like mad but people are returning the PC cards and software because it's too "complicated," I can see how Best Buy would welcome a $999 minimum purchase to that $499 DV camcorder to edit the footage with. Tack on a FireWire HD (they already have them) and some batteries, tapes, cables, and a PSP - you've got yourself covered!

I want to know how AppleCare / the PSP from BB will work out. I *will* buy my next Mac from Best Buy if I can get AppleCare and their warranty back-to-back, that's almost 5 years of coverage and if it dies, I get a new one.

I am a Linux user and have been for a few years now, i also hate PC's, and untill about a year ago, hated macs. I came across a powerbook.. loaded gentoo linux on it and love everysecond of it. Oh, yah.. I also run a computer dept at a best buy store, Even though i may occasionally get some zits, I will sell mac's in a heart beat, and so will my staff. Yes we push certain products, and yeah there are incentives, but this is the case in every sales force in the world. Plus, can anyone name a better place to get your computer produtcs sold in the US?? I doubt it.

welcome mac!! and enjoy your market share increase.