Geek Squad: Let Us ‘Sync’ Your 3D Glasses

I’ll get them to do this when they come over to top off the plasma in my Pioneer Kuro this month.

they also will tell you that you need rear facing glasses for the surround sound feature to work in 3D.

So does that mean every time I wanna watch something in 3D they’re gonna have to come over and make sure my 3D glasses are in line of sight from the emitter?

Do they check the brake light fluid every 500 hrs?

Correction : There is a USB connector on the glasses. It is used for charging the battery I believe.

The “expert” at my local best buy says they have to be plugged in to the TV via USB all the time… Yeah.. OK..

Looks like blue shirts need to learn some more..as we all do…

Perhaps they are thinking of the bluetooth glasses that will need some kind of syncing, but the Samsung in the ad is not one of those types of TVs.

Obviously this is a generic description of the 3DTV installation SKU.. And not the last typo we will see in an electronics catalog.

It’s sad really, just sad. I wouldn’t let the Geek Squad install a new roll of toilet paper at my house. This is what happens when the driving force in sales become price over everything else.

Funny link for anyone who wants a laugh (just replace Radio Shack with Best Buy):
http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays/status/4035831685

Jason Brown
http://www.asktheadvisors.com

Typical BBY.  When something is actually complicated they gloss over the details, and when it is easy they make it hard.

Big Papa…first you have to check the muffler bearings…..

So, people over the past 12 years that refuse to buy anything in a B&M store are surprised by this?  With retailers having to scramble to find sources of revenue that the Internet has eaten alive, the only thing left is to provide services that can’t be undercut.  Of course, it’s Best Buy, so a description of a service is misrepresented by the average blueshirt, but it’s still amazing to me that most consumers think they can receive 100% of a solution for 75% of the cost.

Best Buy Responds To “3D Glasses Syncing Service”
(March 23, 2010) We asked Best Buy’s media relations department last week why Best Buy’s Geek Squad offers a fictional 3D glasses syncing service? (link to our original story). Below is the corporate response.

“I wanted to address any lingering confusion about the characterization of services support in the Best Buy Samsung 3DTV offer that was advertised in yesterday’s (March 21) insert.  We by no means intended to confuse our customers or offer fraudulent services.  The offer is new to our stores, and our own employees were trained on it just this past week.

Let me clarify the services that are included with this offer. Geek Squad will:

1.      Set up and connect your TV + up to 5 components (Blu Ray, Cable Box, Satellite Box, etc )

2.      Add your internet enabled Blu ray/Gaming Console or internet enabled TV to your existing wireless network so you can access online content such as Netflix and Pandora.

3.      Make sure your 3D glasses work – some solutions we sell need TV settings adjusted so that 3D glasses are enabled – there are both 3D and non 3D settings for viewing

4.      Review and teach you how to use all of your new gear.

We have some customers who aren’t quite sure how the 3D glasses work, or that the glasses automatically sync with their new 3D TVs.  So we wanted to convey that they can depend on Geek Squad to answer their questions during installation and set-up. There is no additional charge for this – and the Geek Squad 3D installation and networking services are included in the total price of this offer.

You know we’re as enthusiastic about 3D as you are, and equally committed to help educate consumers about how to get the most from this home entertainment experience.”

I see no difference between this type of snake oil and the rest of high end audio.

I think what many forget is that things need to be kept simple and terms that people understand need to be used. It is obvious what they meant by syncing as it is explained above. What I find amusing is that once those who are quick to cast the first stone or ride the bandwagon express are stifled, they respond by, well, ignoring it…

I personally could care less what BB does, but a small business owner, it saddens me to see such herd mentality without looking at things from the general consumer (read ignorant) perspective

@YAK: Let’s not forget that the crux of the issue is what the actual store employees said to the inquiring consumer. Sure I would expect that there is at least one person at BB corporate that knows how a 3DTV works (maybe even two or three). But the “blue shirts” in the stores through their own ignorance are blatantly misinforming the customers.

Our world is confusing enough without them spouting incorrect nonsense nation-wide. I think most of the small business owners bashing BB feel that, given a fair shot, they could not only take a sale from BB, but they may even be able to better qualify the client and get them into a more appropriate TV rather than just the one with an extra $50 spiff.

The victim here is the “ignorant” consumer, lured in by loud TV and radio commercials and awe-struck by the gigantic well-lit warehouse-full-o-crap. Often they have no idea what they need and are depending on the salesman for accurate information and guidance, which according to this article, is not possible when shopping for a 3DTV at BB.

Jason Brown
http://www.asktheadvisors.com

I bet you have to use monster cable to get the “true” 3D effect…..