Best Buy maybe banned from selling iPad or how Apple is expanding the "Walled Garden" - Page 3

Hellmark · 04-08-2011, 06:34 PM

I can understand some reasoning for what Best Buy does. When I worked at Toys R Us, we ran into similar issues when the Wii was hot. If the Wii was going to be in an ad, we had to make sure that we had some on hand. Usually they would try and time the shipments, to where they'd get through the system, and on the shelves at the store right when the sale started, but not always. Granted, we had advanced notice of when they would be putting it in the ads, and if it wasn't going to be, we could sell all we had.

kennyc · 04-10-2011, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpy3b

haha! yup that is it for sure. Zillionaires squabbling over our copper pieces. It could be titled "As the Apple Sours" these are the days of our lives.

Love it!

kennyc · 04-10-2011, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

But if there aren't laws about lying to the customer about the item not being in stock, with the express intent of bringing the people back another day to try to sell them other things, then there damn well should be. That is fraud.

Businesses lie to consumers every day.

kennyc · 04-10-2011, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Yet another reason to *never* buy from Best Buy again. Thanks for the heads up.

I was on that train many years ago.... Best Buy is pond scum.

kennyc · 04-10-2011, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkeene

Sounds like Apple needs to just declare the iPads are sold under the agency model. Then they can control retail just like a publisher.

Exactly what they have in mind, control everything. This is why I hate them.

OtterBooks · 04-10-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkeene

Sounds like Apple needs to just declare the iPads are sold under the agency model. Then they can control retail just like a publisher.

Apple already has control of just about everything associated with their products already, don't they? I rarely see prices vary between resellers, which may be due to tight pricing margins rather than price being dictated. They also have high control of any third party software or accessories. The control Apple has over its product market makes publishers look like anarchists.

"Our stores have been asked to temporarily hold non-reserved iPad 2 inventory for an upcoming promotion. This is a customary practice for us when there are supply constraints."

Maybe that's understandable. If there's an upcoming promotion, they don't want to be out of stock. But what kind of promotion? I've never seen a reseller specific "sale" of Apple products unless it was old generation hardware clearance, so the only promotion I can imagine would be one organized by Apple.

I find it hard to believe they withhold them to increase demand. They would probably sell out their 'hidden' stock as soon as offered.

edited for clarity.

jkeene · 04-10-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

Apple already has control of just about everything associated with their products already, don't they? I rarely see prices vary between resellers, which may be due to tight pricing margins rather than price being dictated. They also have high control of any third party software or accessories. The control Apple has over its product market makes publishers look like anarchists.

Apple keeps prices controlled rather effectively, just like Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft do with their game consoles and first party games. But now they seem to be trying to control retail timing, something that after release date seems unusual. I recall during the initial months of the Wii some electronics chains were holding back product so their printed fliers could honestly state some minimum number would be available in every store on a given Sunday morning. I don't think Nintendo fussed over that one.

As for publishers looking like anarchists, yes, when referring to printed book pricing. In my effort to produce something brief and snarky I didn't call out my context of e-book pricing. Memo to self, next time - verbose snark!

elcreative · 04-10-2011, 01:22 PM

Who's "them?" And if they control everything, they're not doing a very good job... anyway, isn't that the Illuminati...

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Exactly what they have in mind, control everything. This is why I hate them.

kennyc · 04-10-2011, 01:34 PM

Now we know!

Dulin's Books · 04-10-2011, 02:12 PM

this is just internet controversy stirred up by a best buy employee over a policy he/she didnt understand. Best Buy is going to be running an Ad with the iPad 2 in it and want the stores to have stock on hand over the weekend for when the Ad hits.

They aren't always doing this every day. As pointed out they were holding all sales after a certain Thursday. The quota isnt " you can only sell this many a day" its " you have to sell this many a day" The memo is just telling them not sell any above their quota on that Thursday to preserve some for the AD.

This is not an unusual practice for any business when they are preparing for an ad and have tight inventory.

move along . nothing to see here.

Avarwen · 04-10-2011, 05:47 PM

Wait so let me get this straight Best Buy was basically refusing to sell a POPULAR product they had on hand? How ass backwards is that. Where I work we sell cigarettes the shipments come at the end of the week. One day a brand that sell pretty well did not come in so I asked my boss should I hold some for as long as I could. He told me no and that it was first come first serve. If Best Buy is pulling that crap Apple should pull it's product and move on.

Dulin's Books · 04-10-2011, 07:11 PM

Many states have laws that say if you put something in an AD your store has to have it in stock. Thats to help stop bait and switch tactics. Its why you see car sales ads that say "1 in stock at this price" or "limited to 3 on hand" etc.

If they ran out before the AD date they could be in violation of this type of law. This is actually a GOOD business practice not a bad one.

entropy · 04-10-2011, 11:57 PM

At the central London Apple shop, people queue daily when a popular item is released. Only a certain number are available per day.

Is this because Apple is taking them directly from the factory to the shop and the factory simply can't match demand? Or are they setting an arbitrary quota to keep the "rarity" artificially high? Or maybe doing the same as Best Buy in advance of their ad, and making sure they have the promised number in stock for the next day's customers?

bjm542 · 04-11-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpy3b

Apple should instead be asking why they, Apple, cannot deliver to meet the demand, Apple is perfect in all they undertake, correct?

Here is an article you might find interesting.
http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/New...or-iPad-2.aspx

Several of the components of the iPad 2 are made in Japan, and as you know Japan has been plagued with a series of earthquakes. Yes a surplus would have been nice, but they also have to distribute the iPad 2 to other countries and not just cater to the US.

WillysJeepMan · 04-11-2011, 10:53 AM

I find it amusing how some people who slam Apple for supposed legal-but-unethical business practices are defending Best Buy's legal-but-unethical business practices. It just reveals that at the root of the bias is not based on some ethical standard but an emotional one.

For the record, I find neither Apple nor Best Buy to be ethical.

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04-08-2011, 06:34 PM	#31
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	I can understand some reasoning for what Best Buy does. When I worked at Toys R Us, we ran into similar issues when the Wii was hot. If the Wii was going to be in an ad, we had to make sure that we had some on hand. Usually they would try and time the shipments, to where they'd get through the system, and on the shelves at the store right when the sale started, but not always. Granted, we had advanced notice of when they would be putting it in the ads, and if it wasn't going to be, we could sell all we had.

04-10-2011, 01:34 PM	#39
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,904 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Now we know!

04-10-2011, 02:12 PM	#40
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	this is just internet controversy stirred up by a best buy employee over a policy he/she didnt understand. Best Buy is going to be running an Ad with the iPad 2 in it and want the stores to have stock on hand over the weekend for when the Ad hits. They aren't always doing this every day. As pointed out they were holding all sales after a certain Thursday. The quota isnt " you can only sell this many a day" its " you have to sell this many a day" The memo is just telling them not sell any above their quota on that Thursday to preserve some for the AD. This is not an unusual practice for any business when they are preparing for an ad and have tight inventory. move along . nothing to see here.

04-10-2011, 05:47 PM	#41
Avarwen Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 12170 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: EZ_ Reader, Nook wifi, Kindle 3G	Wait so let me get this straight Best Buy was basically refusing to sell a POPULAR product they had on hand? How ass backwards is that. Where I work we sell cigarettes the shipments come at the end of the week. One day a brand that sell pretty well did not come in so I asked my boss should I hold some for as long as I could. He told me no and that it was first come first serve. If Best Buy is pulling that crap Apple should pull it's product and move on.

04-10-2011, 07:11 PM	#42
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	Many states have laws that say if you put something in an AD your store has to have it in stock. Thats to help stop bait and switch tactics. Its why you see car sales ads that say "1 in stock at this price" or "limited to 3 on hand" etc. If they ran out before the AD date they could be in violation of this type of law. This is actually a GOOD business practice not a bad one.

04-10-2011, 11:57 PM	#43
entropy Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-350	At the central London Apple shop, people queue daily when a popular item is released. Only a certain number are available per day. Is this because Apple is taking them directly from the factory to the shop and the factory simply can't match demand? Or are they setting an arbitrary quota to keep the "rarity" artificially high? Or maybe doing the same as Best Buy in advance of their ad, and making sure they have the promised number in stock for the next day's customers?

04-11-2011, 10:53 AM	#45
WillysJeepMan Guru Posts: 656 Karma: 2877892 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kobo Touch, KFHD7, GTab 8.4 Pro, iPadAir 2	I find it amusing how some people who slam Apple for supposed legal-but-unethical business practices are defending Best Buy's legal-but-unethical business practices. It just reveals that at the root of the bias is not based on some ethical standard but an emotional one. For the record, I find neither Apple nor Best Buy to be ethical.

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