A Best Buy employee shared a tip about purchasing returned products at a discount. However, they warned that occasionally, these items are mistakenly placed back on sale at their original total price.
Best Buy Staff Reveal Secrets on Reddit
Best Buy employees recently shared insights on Reddit about purchasing returned items at discounted prices. In a discussion on the r/Bestbuy subreddit, an employee described how returned products are inspected and sold as open-box items at a discount based on their condition.
Customers can explore these deals through Best Buy's online outlet, where savings can reach up to 60% on major appliances and up to 40% on select TVs. The outlet features returned items from major brands like Apple, HP, and Samsung, available online and at 25 Best Buy outlet stores across the US.
However, the employee warned that sometimes, returned items are mistakenly placed back on regular store shelves. They mentioned, "Sometimes items slip through the cracks and are put back on the floor for sale when they shouldn't be." This has led to online criticism and conspiracy theories when such errors occur.
Additionally, the employee shared that Best Buy has a low markup on electronics like laptops and gaming systems, sometimes leading to no profit during sales. Employees can use their store discount only when purchasing with their credit cards.
Not all returned items return to the shelves; many are sold to liquidation companies, selling them in 'as-is' condition at significant discounts. Resellers often buy these pallets and profit by reselling the goods on platforms like eBay.
The employee also highlighted that Best Buy staff can play video games in the break room during their downtime and addressed the issue of theft, where large items like laptops are occasionally stolen directly from the store. These insights provide a closer look at retail employees' operations and challenges in a major electronics store.
Best Buy to Close Dozens of Stores
In related news, ABC7 reports planned store closures. According to a recent announcement from the company, Best Buy is set to close 24 stores this year and plans to shut down another 10-15 stores by next year. This move comes as the electronics retailer faces significant challenges in the retail sector.
During a recent earnings call, Best Buy's Chief Financial Officer, Matt Bilunas, shared the company's strategy details. "As our ongoing practice, we will continue to close existing traditional stores during our rigorous review of stores as their leases come up for renewal," Bilunas stated.
The company has closed 24 stores in the current fiscal year and expects to close 10 to 15 more in the 2025 fiscal year.
Best Buy, which operates over 1,000 stores across the U.S., has not yet disclosed the specific locations of the upcoming closures. The company expressed that these closures enhance the overall customer experience.
Best Buy announced during a recent earnings call plans to close up to 15 stores next year after closing 24 this year. According to Chief Financial Officer Matt Bilunas, these closures are part of a strategy to improve customer experience by ending leases on larger stores and opening more minor, more vibrant locations in new markets.
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