Best Buy is OK
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Dropped in to the new Best Buy at Eastleigh near Southampton. This is one of the first two stores of this highly successful US tech chain: a US version of Currys or Dixons. I was curious as to whether it was going to be same or different from the UK competitors and what would feel different.
First impression is of a much more spacious and more spaced out retail space. Aisles are wider and the interior lighting is brighter with more daylight. On entering the store, the first thing you see is a set of iPads and the ranks of mobiles and mp3s. The feeling is posh like an airside retail store rather than your typical retail park super store.
Despite the size, I was not overly impressed by some of the stock range: there was limited monitors with no super large monitors. On the other hand there was a wide range of add-ons. Photography looked as did the whole MP3 area.
Where Best Buy stand out is in their service philosophy and the Geek Squad who patrol the salesfloor and offer "impartial" advice. In my case warning me not to buy one item because they had had too many returns and suggesting a browse of Amazon to find another. UK consumers used to the acnied advice of the post pubescent sales assistant at a Curry or Comet will be pleasantly refreshed. Is there space in the market for them? Quite possibly if UK consumers take to their friendly approach and emphasis on service over box pushing.