Get ready to say goodbye to Best Buy, Upper West Side. The retail giant of consumer electronics has more than 1,100 locations across the United States, but a sign in the window at 1880 Broadway, between West 61st and 62nd streets, says that location’s last day will be October 29.
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While walking around the store on Friday, September 23, we saw some glaring writing on the racks. For starters, an entire section of Bluetooth headphones was empty.
Also, the third level downstairs, which specialized in home theaters, never reopened after it endured flooding from Hurricane Ida in September 2021.
Target opening across the street probably didn’t help either.
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In an August 30 story, the Wall Street Journal reported that Best Buy’s “U.S. same-store sales declined 12.7% year over year in its quarter ending on July 30.” It went on to point out how during the pandemic,”many shoppers spent freely on a range of products such as electronics and outdoor heat lamps as they had more time at home,” but that trend has started to change amid the rising costs every day goods.
Inflation was another observation made, while “the company said more customers are trading down to private label TVs, for example. Customers are still willing to pay up for mobile phones and video games, categories in which they tend to be pickier about brands.”
We asked a Best Buy staffer if any big sales could be expected for the close. We were told, “No, they’ll just take what’s left over and send it to another store.” Best Buy operates five other Manhattan locations, but the rep was not sure if any of those stores would be closing too.
That sucks.
Big Time…..
Never been impressed.
It’s where you go when B+H or Adorama is closed for a holiday.
Also they severely limit what websites the Macs can read/view.
Best Buy/Magnolia/Geek Squad service has been declining in recent years. Geek Squad screwed up an installation and Best Buy UWS refused to rectify it. That ended our relationship of many years and many referrals. Plus, high staff turnover is never a good sign. No loss.
Tony:
I think they’re all working on a steep commission that’s one of the reasons they leave, combined with the place not having stuff, or having stuff that’s decent, but online sources and brick and mortar NYC retailers offer better selection and frequently better pricing.
Haven’t shopped there in years, so hadn’t noted the high staff turnover. You’re right, it’s not a good sign, but somehow Morton Williams manages, at least for cashier — Fairway (Wakefern/ShopRite) isn’t doing too well having driven so many of the old staff, cashiers and managers to leave.
Well this really sucks.
Went in there numerous times , lots of employees couldn’t get anyone to wait on me so I left and bought my camera and lenses at B&H same day. Their loss $3000. Guys playing in their phones . Jumped up and down say can anyone help. Got disgusted and left.
Carol:
And the sales people at Best Buy work with a good bit of commission, while the B+H people don’t. But where did you get better service, likely a better price, and most assuredly better selection presented by a more knowledgeable staff? B+H of course.
This makes perfect sense.
The bottom level never reopened. They’re losing money based upon rent vs net sales.
Get out of the lease and only sell things online — shipping thins is much cheaper than paying for a retail space.
Covid accelerated the move away from brink and mortar spaces which were just making landlords rich.
After all the J&R outlets closed, this used to be my go-to place for headphones — I use the old-fashioned kind, with cords — but, speaking of Hurricane Ida, a lot of their headphone stock was destroyed in the basement flooding also.
There’s still PC Richard, but they’ve really gone whole Bluetooth. Hate to think I’ll have to order good headphones online, but that’s where it looks like things are heading.
B+H has a huge headphone display, and likely more are available but not on display.
Best Buy was/is awful for audio. And B+H is not strong, but it has a serious headphone department.
Sometimes you just need to pick up something right away, within walking distance, without having to take a subway down to B&H, or waiting days for an online order delivery. Its strange to think that in the UWS of Manhattan that is getting harder and harder.
Exactly! Others don’t seem to understand. Also, they would prive-match, so the prices were always great.
Phil:
B+H is not a long walk from Columbus Circle, use 9th or 10th avenues.
The problem is that Best Buy doesn’t have a lot of the stuff one would just nip into the store for.
It will sell you a camera, a laptop, and AC unit, some smartphones, but need a keyboard, or a fast capacious SD card; the staff would be puzzled. And there’s plenty of stuff that B+H doesn’t have.
You’re confusing Best Buy with the gone Radio Shack.
Union square location is much nicer. This location was always terrible and low inventory. Seems like a good move hope something better moves in.
Yes because who on the Upper West Side wants to go to Union Square when they could just go to the Upper West Side
There’s a Best Buy on Broadway?
Uh, yeah.
https://goo.gl/maps/MA7ToJDGzjGNisGB7
Well I’m gonna miss this Best Buy location!!! I buy my favorite snacks and bottled water there!!!
I am so bummed. Gonna have to leave the city to get the shopping convenience NYC used to have. This is bad.
What did you conveniently purchase at Best Buy?
Also not sure shopping for everything, just in Manhattan, was ever convenient.
I don’t see how Target opening up had anything to do with the Best Buy store closing. That Target doesn’t really sell any electronics and Best Buy doesn’t sell groceries, clothing, makeup, etc.
More Nitpicking- The home theater section wasn’t on the now closed bottom floor, its in the middle level. The bottom level which got damaged, sold computers, video games, movies, and had the Geek Squad down there I believe.
I live 5 min away and this is where I would go for everything – bought my first TV there! Also have brought my PC in twice for repairs. Can’t see dragging it further away.