Looked at all 4 pages for a thread on this, but didn't come across any. As if Best Buy couldn't get any more lamer...

Minneapolis (MN) - Headsets, cables, and controller charge kits for the Xbox 360 are all going for $3 more than they used to at Best Buy, with demand for these items expected to jump for the release of Halo 3.

In what many people have called the "Halo 3 tax", Best Buy has increased prices of the Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit, Quick Charge Kit, VGA HDAV cable, official headset, and rechargeable battery pack to be $3 more than the manufacturer's suggested retail price.

Just a few weeks ago, the electronics store was reportedly selling these items at MSRP. Some are suggesting this is a way for Best Buy to get some extra cash from unwitting new adopters for the Xbox 360 with the September 25 release of Halo 3.

It's not the first time Best Buy has come under this kind of scrutiny. In 2002, the Minnesota-based retailer was accused of raising prices of numerous DVDs by as much as 20%, speculatively to curb a major acquisition cost of the mall store chain Musicland and to generate higher margins for holiday sales.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33394/98/

But BestBuy does price matching.. so whats the point?
Are they counting on people not doing comparison shopping?

But BestBuy does price matching.. so whats the point?
Are they counting on people not doing comparison shopping?

Yes, they probably are counting on that.

But BestBuy does price matching.. so whats the point?
Are they counting on people not doing comparison shopping?

Only savvy consumers price match. This will mainly effect the many that don't price match, either because they don't know about it, don't care to, or because they'll figure it's the retail cost everywhere.

Best Buy will obviously make off very well in the end.

Majority of people dont price match. The think Best Buy is the best store to go to, and they buy from them. This kind of stuff drives me absolutely crazy that consumers arent more educated to stick it to Best Buy. They used to be the best store around for almost anything, but they have certainly lost that goodwill with me! Their prices are ridiculous even if they do price match. Consumers shouldnt have to ask them "Can I buy this for as cheap as it is at Circuit City?". Its only a matter of time before Walmart overtakes them as the #1 electronics retailer.

As much as I love the fact that this news has hit many many sites, the original article was published at XBLRadio: http://xblradio.com/blogcast/?p=595 . Every other site then took notice, and ran with the story (some going so far as using his graphic). Don't believe me? XBLRadio's article was posted August 11th, a couple days before any other site mentioned this issue. I only bring this up because the writer is a friend of mine.

This has been the case at our local BB for about six months!

The rewards zone program was also significantly weakened about a year ago (Right when I bought my TV from them). Id say you get about half as much in rewards zone money as you used to.

Best Buy's "idiot tax" goes back far longer and has happened on more items than just with this Halo 3 business. Many times video game accessories sold there will be priced at $1-3 more than MSRP.

And to address the point about the Reward Zone, yes, the company has weakened it over the years. It used to be $5 in certificates for every $100 you spent, then it was $150, and now it's $250.

Strangely enough, I have no problem with this. It is capitalism at its best!

I shop around for everything...and I mean everything. Doesn't matter if it is a $20 play and charge kit or a $2K DLP.

For the record, the article is true.

Current Best Buy Price $22.99

Current Amazon Price $14.99

Strangely enough, I have no problem with this. It is capitalism at its best!

Me either. If people are willing and/or dumb enough to pay it, the store should charge whatever they want. These places rely on the not-so-savvy consumer. They know darn well that there will always be people who will price match and so forth.

I cant stand Best Buy anyway, I walked into their store last december with $4000 cash in my pocket to purchase a new 1080p lcd, after 20 mins of walking around through the tv section and even asked one guy for help..no one came...I took my money down the street and spent it and never looked back. This move is nothing more than greed...pigs get fed and hogs get slaughterd...

I noticed the slightly elevated 360 accessory prices in Best Buy ages ago. They weren't in effect last Christmas, but it couldn't have been too long after Christmas when it happened. It has nothing to do with Halo 3.

I didn't realize it was news worthy, or else I would have broken the "big story" on my blog (a blog I have yet to start).

I cant stand Best Buy anyway, I walked into their store last december with $4000 cash in my pocket to purchase a new 1080p lcd, after 20 mins of walking around through the tv section and even asked one guy for help..no one came...I took my money down the street and spent it and never looked back. This move is nothing more than greed...pigs get fed and hogs get slaughterd...

Same thing here man. Went to buy a tv asked for some help some stupid kid came over. Every thing I asked for was no (like that commerical with the goat..really). Would do nothing for me, price matching not even an attempt to talk to the supervisor. Screw him went next store to Circuit city told them about best buy and got a discount right there. No problems or crap. Best Buy is a bunch of scrubs now I guess its even the big guys.

When the 360 came out, they have elevated prices on some items then. The 1600 pt card was $24.99 there for the longest time.

Oh well. If you're going to pay $150 for an HDMI cable, might as well pay a bit more for everything else. I wont do either so no big deal to me.

Best Buys sucks. They advertise their "no commissions!" sales people as if it's a good thing. Sure it means no pressured sales, but at the same time none of the kids working their give a **** about you, and it just makes their job easier if you go somewhere else.

So why are they the top retailer for electronics then? Sorry you all had some bad experiences but not everyone there is kids. You just got a bad apple out of the bunch. I worked at Best Buy for 6 years in the Home Theater department. 1 in Northern Cal and the other in North Little Rock, Ark. I work part time at Circuit City now. As far as which place I would work at it would be Best Buy for the fact that they stay busy on a daily bases. Not much traffic comes through CC at all except on the weekends. Budget for our store is to sell 7k in the electronics department for a day. The same day at Best buy is looking at 60k at the store across the street.

Add another consumer to the 'bestbuysucks' club.
I've boycotted that chain ever since my horrid rptv nightmare.
I'd rather spend 30 minutes checking all the e-tailers for a product
than take a 5 minute walk down the street to BB and pick it up.

Best Buy has been trying to repair my laptop for 3.5 months!

sounds like a job for...GEEK SQUAD!!!

worstbuy blows.... i never shop there anymore. although i may go down to look for the hidden clearances on tv stands.

Cheaper everything at Amazon.com. Guaranteed to be factory fresh too.

So why are they the top retailer for electronics then? Sorry you all had some bad experiences but not everyone there is kids. You just got a bad apple out of the bunch. I worked at Best Buy for 6 years in the Home Theater department. 1 in Northern Cal and the other in North Little Rock, Ark. I work part time at Circuit City now. As far as which place I would work at it would be Best Buy for the fact that they stay busy on a daily bases. Not much traffic comes through CC at all except on the weekends. Budget for our store is to sell 7k in the electronics department for a day. The same day at Best buy is looking at 60k at the store across the street.

I'd say most people that have any type of clue about the product they're looking for and go through Best Buy would have to disagree. The odd experience tends to be finding someone that knows anything about the products they're selling.

The reason they are #1 is because they are the source for the masses. They're basically the Wal-Mart of electronics. They stock a lot and have OK prices on many items. The majority of the workers there know more than the average joe about the items in their department, and there are a few that display true expertise, but they are by far the majority.

I think the issue most people here have with BB is that we know going into the store that we probably have more knowledge about items in every department of the store than the BB trained "experts" we have to talk to. Now, I'm sure you were one of the exceptions and knew your stuff when you worked there, but finding a rep like that at BB is not easy.

Just because they're #1 in sales doesn't mean they're the best.

Best buy usually isn't the "best buy". This is regarding other products, not only gaming accessories.

great laughs people.

guess it helps to know people that work there...

never any probs here. even knowingly or unknowingly got things free.

Just another way Best Buy is trying/suceeding at screwing over its own customers.

Gamestop, Fry's, Newegg, Amazon. Why even bother with anyone else (unless you've got one of those 10% off coupons like I just got one for Best Buy; I'll probably read the fine print on the back and find that anything that uses electricity is excluded).

Too many bad experiences here too... don't plan on getting anything there ever again unless they're the only one that carries it.

One particular instance was the last straw... during a return of a 1 day old router, the store agent accused me of swapping routers and returning an old one....."are you sure you never bought one of these before?"

I had to ask for the store manager who issued me a refund...no apology! Never again.

Frys gets most of my HDTV money now. Costco gets my 360 hardware $$.

I stopped shopping there a long time ago since the only time I buy retail games is when it is a must have title (very few are) and since they usually don't get new titles till a day or two after everyone else has them.

I stopped shopping there once I got myself an account with a wholesale AV distributor:) I love shopping there:)