A little over a year after teaming up to offer in-store technical support, the folks in Bentonville have dumped Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) as their partner. Walmart (NYSE: WMT) now plans to use its Sam's Club division to help its consumer electronics customers.
Sam's Club will offer free technical support for many consumer electronics products offered in Walmart stores and will even offer home delivery and installation services for a fee. The question I have is this: does Sam's Club have employees with a decent level of technical expertise who can help instead of frustrate customers?
HDTVs, personal computers and MP3 players are all complicated devices (save for the iPod), and consumer electronics are becoming even more complicated, contrary to what manufacturers are marketing. True high-tech can't really be that simple, can it? Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is the lone exception here: simplicity is the hallmark of its entire line of products.
Walmart has steadily ramped up its consumer electronics sections and product lines in recent years (really stepping it up in 2008) to try and take some of Best Buy Inc.'s (NYSE: BBY) pie. At the same time, Circuit City has folded completely and has left valuable market share for the taking. But along with all that comes the need to explain all this technology to the people who buy it -- and hopefully come back for future purchases.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-27-2009 @ 5:07AM
al coholic said...
I really don't think there is a giant market share out there waiting to be catered to. The way people buy electronics is changing. Consumers are much more comfortable with online tech purchases these days. Sure they might go to Best Buy to hold it in their hands but a lot of these window shoppers leave the store empty handed and go home and get a better deal on the Net.
9-28-2009 @ 3:16AM
Anon said...
Walmart, Sams Club, and Best Buy use the same company for technical support now. It was a much better move on Walmart's part. Walmart also offers the technical support/extended warrenties online through sams club. But in reality Sams Club and Best Buy have a contract with a private company to support the extended warrentis and support for their products.
9-28-2009 @ 2:34PM
nordicman23 said...
I've given up on any kind of tech support. I rely on
myself. It's becoming the american way.
9-28-2009 @ 2:49PM
A.G. said...
ANOTHER REASON NOT TO SHOP AT THE EVIL GREEDY walmart
9-28-2009 @ 3:53PM
gr8bsn said...
It's better this way. I have bought things online, but nothing beats holding something in your hand and trying it out before you buy it. No one buys a house without a Real Estate Agent showing them around. No one buys a car without a test drive (well, I suppose that idiots do). The one thing that I do enjoy about online shopping however is the fact that I don't have a salesperson hovering over me the whole time. Also, electronics sites like Newegg are definitely the way to go. When I do buy something, regardless of it being in a store or online, I never EVER buy the store's protection plan. I always call the manufacturer and buy it directly from them. You get better service, factory approved repairs, and direct shipping! I had to send in my HP laptop in for warranty work last summer. Because I bought the warranty straight from the manufacturer, they sent me the Fedex box and packing labels free of charge. A week later, my computer returned as good as new.
9-28-2009 @ 3:54PM
TOIG2016 said...
I said my piece.! if your too CHICKEN to send it! OK!
9-28-2009 @ 3:55PM
Rita said...
WALMART IS THE ENEMY!
9-28-2009 @ 11:33PM
brenharrison00 said...
What about layaways they need them back
9-28-2009 @ 4:34PM
R said...
I used to spend about $200 a week at a Central Florida Walmart Supercenter on groceries and household items. I have only been in there twice in the last month or so and spent maybe $150 total, and part of that was for gas. They did a store reset and took out a LOT of the items I used to regularly purchase. These were the items considered best values based on price per ounce. Most of the rest have seen a package size decrease and a price INCREASE (not the "falling" prices they advertise). It just isn't worth it. The isles are often nearly bare of products on Sunday evenings but full of non english speaking people who bring thier entire families to shop for groceries. They clog the isles and let their children run wild. No manners, no respect, no english, no department help, no products, no savings, NOT ME! I will NOT go out of my way to shop at Walmart anymore. Now I WILL go out of my way to shop elsewhere. Like PUBLIX, where shopping is a PLEASURE, and Target where they actually have the items, or smaller retailers such as Ross, Marshals, Home Goods, even BIG Lots or ANYWHERE that isn't Walmart. They are going to be their own downfall due to GREED.
9-28-2009 @ 4:46PM
xnyann said...
walmart sux, ive spent thousands here in honesdale p.a., weve started a boycott here & we have a pretty good list going.. the electronics manager here didnt know what a wii controller was... havent been back since & cut up that sams club card, got tired of waiting on line, tired of empty shelves & ignorant managers... done, done, done....rather pay more at a real store...
9-28-2009 @ 5:50PM
Dean said...
If you don`t like Wal-Mart just don`t go there. Its really quite that simple.
9-28-2009 @ 6:00PM
tlo9879 said...
It's just a way to boost Sam's Club When those people go there get their tech support they are going to be hounded to Join Sam's Club and get a membership. Its the ultimate plan to boost Sam's Club.
9-28-2009 @ 6:03PM
Silvertlc said...
It's just a way to boost Sam's Club When those people go there get their tech support they are going to be hounded to Join Sam's Club and get a membership. Its the ultimate plan to boost Sam's Club.
9-28-2009 @ 6:10PM
GFL said...
thats weird?
9-28-2009 @ 6:20PM
mjjakey said...
Actually, Dell which came back to the U.S. is going to outsource again and move back to India. Good riddens...anyone who has actually tried to have a conversation with these people probably suffer from high blood pressure. Yeah for Walmart!
9-28-2009 @ 7:14PM
M. Pine said...
For those of you with Dell computers who need help but can't understand the spoken accent of the techs, the best way to go is to chat online. They have perfect English grammar and can even take control of your computer and fix a problem for you that way. I"ve used it many times and they have always fixed my problem. The site to use is: www.dell.com\chat You'll find it a great way to communicate.
9-28-2009 @ 7:23PM
albon28 said...
dell sucks anyway
10-10-2009 @ 7:00AM
shanedieselblack said...
Dell sucks and so does Wal-Mart! Screw them and their illegal immigrant workers!
10-13-2009 @ 3:50PM
jonoz said...
Best Buy and Wal-Mart do *not* use the same company for technical support. Don't confuse companies that underwrite extended warranties with those that provide the actual technical expertise.