Goodbye, Best Buy

I hate to bad-mouth any business, especially one that's based in my home state. However, I had my last buying experience with local electronics giant Best Buy last week. Today was the final straw.

The other day, my Sony MP3 player fizzled out while I was recharging it during a torrential rainstorm. My fault for keeping it plugged in, I figured a power surge or sudden lack of power probably caused the "white screen of death."

I searched Best Buy online for a comparable MP3 player as a replacement, since I was not able to revive the one I have now. I decided to search the local store after work today to see if I could find one that I wanted.

To my dismay, I couldn't find a single MP3 player anywhere of ANY brand. Not a big surprise, I told myself. After all, I was unable to find Nonpoint's latest CD there a few days earlier, after it was in their Sunday ad. I couldn't find a single Nonpoint CD anywhere the last two visits to this particular store.

This was the last disappointment for me by Best Buy. I started shopping with them in the late '80's, when I bought my first rock music cassettes. I could always count on them in the past to have the latest music by my favorite bands every Tuesday. Sadly, this is no longer the case, and it's the only real music option I have in town, ever since the local independent record store closed its doors. In recent years, it's been harder and harder to find the music I like at any local stores.

I just purchased the MP3 player I wanted online from a reputable merchandiser, for a lower cost than Best Buy was advertising it online. I won't have it in time for my birthday, but at least I'll have a product from a company that offers the products and services I want when I want them.

I hate to end a 20+ year customer history, but if I must, I must.

Goodbye, Best Buy.