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Best Buy profit pinched by discounting ( HGTV, DSL, Flat screen tv's ) ( Merry Christmas )
MarketWatch ^ | 01/05/2007 | Jennifer Waters & Angela Moore

Posted on 01/05/2007 7:28:09 AM PST by george76

Best Buy Co. turned in disappointing third-quarter results on Tuesday as the battle to sell flat-panel TVs, MP3s and other hot electronic gadgets has slashed prices and cut into profit.

the nation's largest home-electronics retailer said the "very competitive climate" -- plasma and LCD TV prices dropped 25% to 30% -- held its profit to $150 million, or 31 cents a share, up nearly 8% from last year's income of $138 million, or 28 cents a share, but short of Wall Street's expectations. That sent shares lower by 5% to $51.30.

The total results were mixed compared with Wall Street's forecast, but notably below the per-share profit expectation.

On a conference call with analysts, the retailer's top executives were unapologetic. "We understand that this is viewed as a miss," said Chief Executive Brad Anderson. "We are not disappointed in our performance. We realize we may have a contrarian point of view, but from our perspective we are having a healthy year."

(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News
KEYWORDS: afa; antichristian; bestbuy; bestbuyco; christmas; dsl; hdtv; hgtv; lcd; merrychristmas; mp3s; plasma; tv; waronchristmas; waronchristmas2006
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Best Buy bans MERRY CHRISTMAS in their stores

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1 posted on 01/05/2007 7:28:11 AM PST by george76
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To: Gopher Broke

2 posted on 01/05/2007 7:29:18 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

And charges $35 to run a virus scan on your computer(or so my dad claims).


3 posted on 01/05/2007 7:29:52 AM PST by RabidBartender
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To: george76
HGTV?


4 posted on 01/05/2007 7:31:04 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: george76

What does the network HGTV have to do with it? (just curious)


5 posted on 01/05/2007 7:31:27 AM PST by MizSterious (Anonymous sources often means "the voices in my head told me.")
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To: RabidBartender

They make all their money from selling warranties and financing.


6 posted on 01/05/2007 7:31:45 AM PST by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: dcnd9

ht to dcnd9


Send email to

dawn.bryant@bestbuy.com


7 posted on 01/05/2007 7:32:39 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: MizSterious

See the headline...


8 posted on 01/05/2007 7:33:16 AM PST by ContemptofCourt
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To: ContemptofCourt

I did. It says HGTV, which is a network, not an electronic gadget. I read the article, and could find no further reference to it.


9 posted on 01/05/2007 7:34:14 AM PST by MizSterious (Anonymous sources often means "the voices in my head told me.")
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To: Moonman62
"They make all their money from selling warranties and financing."

You are correct. Our firm was involved in a lawsuit against Best Buy and discovery revealed that some stores' entire profit margin was a result of the extended warranties they sell. But for these warranties those stores would would have been in the red.

10 posted on 01/05/2007 7:35:12 AM PST by joebuck
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To: george76
What's your point? Sales jumped but profit margins shrunk...has nothing to do with them not saying "Merry Christmas," as obviously more people came into the stores.

To be sure, BBY's story is the same as all the retailers this year...decent sales but only because everyone heavily discounted.

11 posted on 01/05/2007 7:35:13 AM PST by ContemptofCourt
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To: ContemptofCourt
Did they mean HDTV?
12 posted on 01/05/2007 7:35:22 AM PST by null and void (Propaganda doesn't have to make sense. Hell, it often works better if it doesn't.)
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To: MizSterious

HGTV is supposed to be "HDTV", or high def TV


13 posted on 01/05/2007 7:35:51 AM PST by ContemptofCourt
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To: george76
Best Buy bans MERRY CHRISTMAS in their stores

Their CEO is a genuine patriot, having contributed significant dough to conservative candidates and causes.

14 posted on 01/05/2007 7:37:41 AM PST by dollar_dog
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To: ContemptofCourt

Hey, you're the one who told me to "see the headline." If the headline makes no sense, it's not my fault.


15 posted on 01/05/2007 7:37:43 AM PST by MizSterious (Anonymous sources often means "the voices in my head told me.")
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Also, note that Best Buy is now selling MP3s (according to the article, anyway).


16 posted on 01/05/2007 7:39:27 AM PST by vollmond (Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!)
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To: joebuck

Thank the new bankruptcy laws for Best Buy's problems. Because it is true that they make all their money from extended warrenties and financing, they have been hurt by marginal consumers thinking twice before going into long term debt for toys. Best Buy needs broke people who need instant gratification, for them to succeed in straping them with a high interest loan for that 50" HDTV that they cant afford, but would have otherwise just defaulted on with no penalties. Best Buy would get the write off on the debt as well.


17 posted on 01/05/2007 7:41:24 AM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: ContemptofCourt

Shhhhh. Let these people delight in their glee by thinking that a Christian boycott of Best Buy made the retail giant suffer, feel agony, regret, shame and sorrow for their failure to exploit religion as a part of their marketing plan.


18 posted on 01/05/2007 7:47:58 AM PST by Diverdogz
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To: MizSterious; martin_fierro

My mistake.

It should have been : HDTV


19 posted on 01/05/2007 7:48:13 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

;)


20 posted on 01/05/2007 7:51:09 AM PST by MizSterious (Anonymous sources often means "the voices in my head told me.")
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To: ContemptofCourt; Salvation; lowbridge

One of my points was to say that retailers who disrespect their customers may lose some of their customers.



Dawn Bryant, a spokeswoman at Best Buy Co. Inc., says their advertising will not be using the term "Merry Christmas."

While many other retailers have decided to return to the traditional "Merry Christmas", Best Buy will not be among them. Best Buy considers the use of "Merry Christmas" to be disrespectful.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737764/posts


21 posted on 01/05/2007 7:53:17 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: dollar_dog; george76

http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/bestbuy.asp




In the middle of this controversy, Best Buy took a strong stand against Christmas. Many of us are boycotting them.


22 posted on 01/05/2007 7:55:48 AM PST by ansel12 (America, love it ,or at least give up your home citizenship before accepting ours too.)
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To: ansel12; PhilDragoo; potlatch

Thanks.

We have choices.

Many of us choose to spend our money at retailers who do not take stands against us.


23 posted on 01/05/2007 8:01:20 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: joebuck

It's been my experience that once a store starts pushing warranty extensions and the like, they are in financial trouble ie: Montgomery Wards.


24 posted on 01/05/2007 8:02:46 AM PST by Yankereb
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To: ContemptofCourt

Don't show that you realize what the numbers ACTUALLY say....

That's verboten on boycott threads....


25 posted on 01/05/2007 8:04:36 AM PST by MikefromOhio (Go Bucks!!!!)
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To: george76

What discounting? Best Buy's HDTV prices are 15-20% above Internet retailers.


26 posted on 01/05/2007 8:05:27 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ("When the government is invasive, the people are wanting." -- Tao Te Ching)
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To: ContemptofCourt

And actually the profit margin didn't even shrink, it was just lower than expected. This is one of those "no really it's bad news" stories.


27 posted on 01/05/2007 8:07:18 AM PST by discostu (we're two of a kind, silence and I)
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To: george76

< |:)~


28 posted on 01/05/2007 8:07:26 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Yankereb; Coleus
bttt

once a store starts pushing warranty extensions and the like, they are in financial trouble ie: Montgomery Wards.

29 posted on 01/05/2007 8:08:18 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: Mr. Jeeves
Another reality...thanks.

Best Buy's HDTV prices are 15-20% above Internet retailers.

30 posted on 01/05/2007 8:09:44 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: Yankereb

Best Buy has been pushing warranty extensions since day one. It's a good way to make money on non-geeks buying electronics they don't understand. Non-geeks look at the price tag and think "I don't want to have to replace it if it breaks", geeks know the life cycle better and know that if it breaks in two years they'll be able to get the identical thing for half the price or something three times better for the same price. But the majority of customers are going to be non-geeks.


31 posted on 01/05/2007 8:11:54 AM PST by discostu (we're two of a kind, silence and I)
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To: RabidBartender

And I won't start on their "rebate" program.


32 posted on 01/05/2007 8:15:07 AM PST by TET1968 (SI MINOR PLUS EST ERGO NIHIL SUNT OMNIA)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

"What discounting? Best Buy's HDTV prices are 15-20% above Internet retailers."

BINGO! Go directly to the front of the class.


33 posted on 01/05/2007 8:18:46 AM PST by TET1968 (SI MINOR PLUS EST ERGO NIHIL SUNT OMNIA)
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To: Pukin Dog

"That's the beauty of it. If you can't afford it, f'ing finance it!!!" - Judge Reinhold, Ruthless People


34 posted on 01/05/2007 8:20:49 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: george76

Looks like they didn't push enough of their OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive Moster Cables. Anyone who buys ANY cables/accessories from Best Buy should have their head examined.


35 posted on 01/05/2007 8:21:47 AM PST by SengirV
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To: george76
Best Buy Co. turned in disappointing third-quarter results on Tuesday

------

held its profit to $150 million, or 31 cents a share, up nearly 8% from last year's income of $138 million, or 28 cents a share, but short of Wall Street's expectations. That sent shares lower by 5% to $51.30.

The total results were mixed compared with Wall Street's forecast, but notably below the per-share profit expectation.

If you own BestBuy stock the company you're invested in has an 8% increase in profits but because of some nitwits at Wallstreet you lost money...That's the fraud at Wallstreet. The fact that they can manipulate stock value with phony "expectations" is in itself a fraud and cause for concern.

The pressure from nitwits at Wallstreet for endless increased profits and it's hunger for your money is what drives corporate corruption and fraud.

36 posted on 01/05/2007 8:22:31 AM PST by lewislynn (!)
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To: MizSterious

HGTV, that's funny! Sounds like Jen and Angie need to do their homework!


37 posted on 01/05/2007 8:22:53 AM PST by Lijahsbubbe
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To: discostu

Usually if you negotiate with the salesperson, you should be able to talk them down considerably on the cost of extended warranty service contracts. I've never paid full price for once, I've always got them to cut the price of the contract by at least half.


38 posted on 01/05/2007 8:23:26 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: george76
Best Buy bans MERRY CHRISTMAS in their stores

You're right! I went in yesterday and said "Merry Christmas" to everyone I saw and they looked at me like I was crazy!

39 posted on 01/05/2007 8:25:07 AM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: joebuck; Moonman62

Way back when I just starting in IT, I worked as a service tech at a "Beast" Buy. They did not care on whit on repairing things just on getting the warrantee and selling installs of software for $30. I was glad when I left.


40 posted on 01/05/2007 8:26:39 AM PST by Hydroshock ( (Proverbs 22:7). The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.)
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To: george76
Best Buy bans MERRY CHRISTMAS in their stores

But Christmas occurs during the 4th quarter, these figures are from the 3rd quarter.

41 posted on 01/05/2007 8:28:43 AM PST by Gabz (If we weren't crazy, we'd just all go insane.)
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To: Mr. Jeeves
What discounting? Best Buy's HDTV prices are 15-20% above Internet retailers.

And Best Buy is usually among the worst if you have problems that need to be resolved. I would never buy a big-ticket item there. Tapes, CDs whatever, occasional computer supply (cable or something) because it's convenient, but that's about it.

42 posted on 01/05/2007 8:30:21 AM PST by Tanniker Smith (I didn't know she was a liberal when I married her.)
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To: SengirV
Their very expensive ( gold plated ? ) monster cables must be a huge profit margin.

Anyone who buys ANY cables/accessories from Best Buy should have their head examined.

43 posted on 01/05/2007 8:30:23 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: Gabz
But Christmas occurs during the 4th quarter, these figures are from the 3rd quarter.

D'oh!

44 posted on 01/05/2007 8:31:03 AM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: dfwgator

Even at half price they're probably not worth the money. Unless you're going hardcore bleeding edge (like getting a DVD player the first year or two they existed) most household electronics are cheap to replace.


45 posted on 01/05/2007 8:34:03 AM PST by discostu (we're two of a kind, silence and I)
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To: Larry Lucido
Best Buy must be happy losing many sales.

I went in yesterday and said "Merry Christmas" to everyone I saw and they looked at me like I was crazy!

46 posted on 01/05/2007 8:34:06 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: discostu
Hi discostu
I bought an HP laptop from BB this year - their price was very competitive with other retailers and web-based stores. They offered an extensive array of warranties and services with the unit. Most of the time, they are not worth the $$$.
47 posted on 01/05/2007 8:41:27 AM PST by stainlessbanner
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To: george76

48 posted on 01/05/2007 8:45:09 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: discostu

I've only gotten extended warranties on a projection TV I bought years ago, and intended to keep for years. (Back then the prices weren't falling), but I got 75% knocked off of the contract price they quoted, so I figured it might be a good deal.

As it turned out it was. I easily saved several hundred dollars on repairs. Sometimes they do make sense. But in general, they don't at any price. Just depends on how long you want to keep the thing, and what you think the replacement cost will be.


49 posted on 01/05/2007 8:45:42 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: george76
This credit cycle is coming to an end. Foreclosures, tightening loan terms, truck tonnage way down, Home Depot and retailer woes....

Before the next party can begin, debt must be paid down and people start saving again.


BUMP

50 posted on 01/05/2007 8:47:18 AM PST by capitalist229 (Get Democrats out of our pockets and Republicans out of our bedrooms.)
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