I’ve talked to Geek Squad people. When I walk in and ask “Yeah, I’m looking for a half-height, PCIx video card” and the “geek” in question stares at me in a way that I’m expecting him to drool anytime, it doesn’t build my confidence in your service, ya know what I mean? I don’t want that to be a reflection of all the Geek Squads but you won’t see them in my home any time soon.
Now word has come out that Walmart intends to offer similar services. The company says that they’ll come over and install that nice new HDTV for you for $99. Other services could run you around $399 depending on what you’re looking to have done.
The one glimmer of hope I could find in the article I read was that Walmart will be sub-contracting these services. This at least gives them a chance to choose quality local representatives and who knows, in areas like mine, it just might mean chance for new small businesses to start as there aren’t any major home theater or PC retailers in the area who might be able to cover something like this.
Time will tell but when people shop at Walmart they’re generally trying to save money. These aren’t the people I envision shelling out an extra hundred bucks to have a TV hung. Most of the people who I see at my local Walmart or DIY kinda folks. I’m not sure I see them springing for these services.
via ZDNet
