Samsung is setting up shop – literally – with a new plan to open mini-stores within 1,500 U.S. Best Buy stores by June. But is the electronics giant getting in front of where consumers really buy their technology?
The new in-store shops will have Samsung employees demo and sell a wide range of Samsung’s products, including smartphones, tablets and televisions. Five hundred of these mini-stores will be open by April 8, in time to help promote the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone.
In an interview with ZDNet, Ketrina Dunagan, VP of Retail Marketing for Samsung Mobile’s U.S. unit, said something interesting:
“This is our first opportunity to demonstrate connected mobile products in a location with educated Samsung employees able to walk a consumer through the experience. About 70 percent of U.S. population is within 10 miles of a Best Buy.”
This got me to thinking: is proximity alone enough of a draw for consumers? For me, it isn’t. I have a long-standing arrangement with Best Buys and similar stores: don’t bother me. If I walk in to one, I usually know what I want and am not interested in talking to the sales staff. I would much rather just get my tech online, where I can save some money.
But that’s just me, of course. Where is it you go for your general tech needs? Most of us, usually, hit our carrier’s storefront for our phone needs, but what about the rest of your tech purchases?
For instance, do you visit large electronics/appliance stores like Best Buy or Fry’s? Or is a megastore like Wal-Mart or Mejer’s more your speed? Some people want to go even deeper on discounts and will shop at warehouse stores like Costco or Sam’s Club.
True Apple fans will find the nearest Apple store, of course, and Microsoft also has a slowly expanding base of brick-and-mortar outlets. Or do you buy direct from the vendor, shopping at their online commerce site?
Amazon is also a popular place to buy tech, and many people shop for bargains at such third-party outlets, both online and physical.
Or are you the diligent type of bargain hunter, who visits Ebay or Craigslist to find what you need?
Take the poll below and let us know where your preferred tech shopping takes place.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock.