Pizzi said Currie Technologies had invested heavily in supporting Best Buy, but he said the experience was still positive.
Then, just like that, they left the marketplace, saying they wanted to use more floor space for appliances. It was pretty substantial because it gave us sort of national exposure for the IZIP brand."
IZIP E BIKES INSTALL
"They planned on staffing this section, and then they were using their audio install department, their mechanics and techs, and they purchased tools and repair stands from Park Tool and everything so they could set up and assemble and provide limited test rides and the after-service. "They created displays, counter service, where you could get detailed information about the product," Pizzi said. "They can't test ride them in the parking lot, and even more importantly, they don't have the skill to properly fit a customer to the right electric bike."Įven without Pedego, Best Buy created a portfolio and invested heavily in a limited number of stores, between 25-30, Pizzi said. "The problem is, selling electric bicycles in any mass retailer is that there's no opportunity for customers to try them out first," DiCostanzo said. DiCostanzo said he was pessimistic about Best Buy's plan then and declined. Pedego was one of the brands that Best Buy contacted before its 2009 e-bike venture, confirmed Pedego's CEO Don DiCostanzo. "There were a couple people on their strategic development team that were pretty high-ranking in the organization that had experienced e-bikes, and they approached us along with a couple other brands," Pizzi said. When Best Buy last decided to sell e-bikes, it was partly in response to having open floor space, with videos and music rapidly going online at the tail end of the 2000s. "We definitely see our expertise from our Blue Shirts and Geek Squad agents as an advantage and a key asset." "Part of what makes Best Buy stand out as a retailer is our ability to not just sell products to our customers but to serve their needs throughout the entire process," the spokesperson said. Offering that service component will be key, much like successful IBDs, who can explain the price differences by noting component spec', offer test rides, and accessorize after the sale. Best Buy is not servicing e-bikes at this time but is "continuing to look at ways we can better serve these customers' needs,'' the spokesperson said. The store's Geek Squad will offer at-home assembly, setup, and advice for $99 for those buying online or in-store. The retail stores have had bikes on the floor since the beginning in October. Many - if not all - of the senior-level decision-makers from the 2009 venture are no longer there, Pizzi said.Ī Best Buy spokesperson did say, "The world of e-transportation is growing and innovating quickly, and these products are becoming more technologically advanced than ever, which makes them a great fit for Best Buy, knowing we're the experts in tech and the services that go along with it."īest Buy currently has some e-mobility models available through its website and a handful of retail stores in Austin, Texas Los Angeles Miami New York Orlando, Florida Puerto Rico San Francisco Seattle and Tampa, Florida. They also would not comment on its previous foray into the market. The retailer's representatives declined to say if it will be holding inventory or having brands dropship.
They may have a broader plan."īRAIN contacted Best Buy in September to uncover its retail strategy this go-around. What it looks like they're doing is sort of leveraging their website traffic and getting most of the brands to dropship. "I think what they're doing now is a bit of an unanswered question. "I had to smile when I heard they were coming back in," said Pizzi, now Alta Cycling Group's chief commercial officer. The president of Currie Technologies then, Larry Pizzi, remembers well Best Buy's initial foray, which lasted about two selling seasons. If this rings a bell, back in 2009 Best Buy announced it would hold inventory for six different IZIP e-bike models and two different e-scooter models from Currie Technologies, at the time the country's biggest e-bike distributor. In this latest go-around, Best Buy will be offering e-bikes from Bird, Huffy, Quietkat, and Swift, along with a selection of e-scooters and e-mopeds. (BRAIN) - Best Buy's announcement in August that it would enter the e-mobility space is actually a return to the marketplace for the big-box behemoth.
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