Microsoft to Open 605 Stores Inside Branches of Best Buy - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 14 June 2013 / 4,841 Views
Microsoft has announced they will be opening 605 of their stores inside branches of Best Buy. The "stores-within-a-store" will all be in North America, with 500 in the United States and 105 in Canada. They will also be between 1,500 and 2,200 square feet.
"The Windows Store offers a large-scale, hands-on customer experience that will show customers how Windows and Microsoft devices and services can make it easier for them to work and play," said Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of the Windows Division at Microsoft.
"We’re pleased to partner with Best Buy in bringing the latest technologies to consumers at scale in a unique environment where they can explore how Microsoft products fit together across entertainment, travel, music and other scenarios."
The stores will feature a range of Microsoft products, including the Xbox 360, Xbox One, Windows-based tablets and PCS, Microsoft Surface tablets, Microsoft Office, and Windows Phone. The walls will also be decorated with Windows logos.
"Best Buy’s chief goal is to serve our customers as only we can, whether they come to us online or in stores. The Windows Store creates the kind of retail destination we all want to shop in, combining great selection, the latest technology, the best service and the lowest prices," said Jason Bonfig, vice president of computing for Best Buy. "What our customers will see in these 600 stores is something totally new and fully in line with our determination to transform Best Buy."
Microsoft will also train 1,200 new sales associates, in addition to the already trained Microsoft specialists currently working at Best Buy locations.
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So the video game aisle will now just be Nintendo and Sony. Thanks Best Buy for removing the eye sore out of the video game section. Not like it matters considering I buy most of my games from Amazon.
Your an eye sore xbox is awesome
You are an eye sore xbox rules:)
Apparently, I'm a double eyesore. I would be less harsh on Microsoft if they weren't trying to pull so much anti-consumer crap with the xbox one.
I completely agree with the Y2jarmyoffical, the Xbox was awesome, the Xbox360 currently is awesome, that next horrorshow in a box they are putting the name Xboxone on tho, that is an absolute eye sore and doesn't belong near consoles or gamers.
This news has absolutely nothing to do with DRM. Everyone thumbing up and down is going apeshit.
really you think there is no link between Microsoft having to get each game shop to sign a contract agreeing to their method of buying and selling xbone games and them having to open up 605 stores to sell their system and games?
The new apple stores.... but now featuring the Zune.
Great move MS... does that mean BB is one of the approved resellers of used Xbone games? Has MS taken over the BB space formerly occupied by CDs ???
it probably more means that BB wont be selling their system or games since they are going to be selling them within their shops. from the looks of it I would say Best Buy said if you wanna MS games and integrate a big complicated system for it... do it yourselves and offered to sell them some shop floor for it.
It was claimed by some people that Microsoft sent Employees to Nintendo Best Buy Event to try convincing Fans to buy a Xbox One instead of a Wii U. Somehow this article makes it sound like, they are doing this because of Nintendo.
they are doing this because game retail stores are telling them where to stick their used game policy contract.
how stupid and pathetic does that company get every year lmao
-moderated Kasz216
moderated kasz216, but not voted down. ~Excellent.
2 of the 3 comments that got thumbed down aren't even primarily Xbox fans, this sites community is a joke.
I can understand some people see the danger of leaving the games section to Sony and Nintendo, but the success of apple with their own apple store shows that it's an ill-placed concern.
And xbox hate is fashionable nowadays, so that explains it for you.
Props to them I guess.
Pretty cool.
Hoo yes. This is an excellent move by Microsoft.
