Best Buy

HDguru.com's Gary Merson shared his story of logging into his account on Best Buy’s website where he noted that the system experienced some glitch corrupting many users’ accounts.

Merson found that his shipping address and telephone number had been changed to someone else's. If he'd bought something and whisked through the shipping info page without paying attention, his purchase would have ended up in Houston instead of his home in New York.

Apple, AT&T, Target, and Best Buy have reduced prices for the 8GB iPhone 3GS to $49 (with a two-year contract).

The price cut is permanent and reflects Apple’s move to compete with low cost smartphones offered by some mobile operators. Verizon, for instance, sells pre-owned original Droid phones for $50 on contract. Motorola's Backflip also sells for $50 with AT&T.

Apple's iPhone 3GS product page says the phone "starts at an amazing new price" and "takes advantage of all the great features of iOS 4."

Shares of Best Buy Co declined over 15% on Tuesday as the largest online retailer reported an unexpected decrease in fiscal third-quarter profit and cut its outlook. The No. 1 U.S. electronics retailer’s (BBY 35.52, -6.18, -14.82%) profit dropped as lower demand for televisions, notebook computers and videogames led to a sales shortfall in the U.S. While margin widened slightly, analysts said they were concerned that it came at the expense of sales.

According to Best Buy’s CEO announcement, iPad sales has dampened laptop sales by as much as 50%,

Announcing sales of $11.3bn and profits of $254m for the second quarter Best Buy's boss Brian Dunn said internal research found that half of potential laptop buyers had chosen an iPad instead of a traditional laptop.

According to the latest study from Best Buy, about 50% of mobile phone users don't know when they're contracts expire.

Besides, the company’s representative noticed, when it comes to mobile solutions available today, many consumers are not armed with the right information to truly get the most out of their mobile phone.

Credit card defaults on store-branded accounts hit near record levels during the holiday shopping season and the trend is likely to continue this year, Fitch Ratings analysts said Thursday.
Fitch's report shows that more than one in every eight dollars of receivables was written off as uncollectable during the November collection period on an annualized basis.

Wednesday, Nokia assured it will close its two flagship North American retail stores, in New York and Chicago, on the heels of a similar plans to close its store in London.

 Nokia didn't still unveil when the US stores to be closed, but the store on London's Regent Street reportedly will be closed in the first quarter next year.

 Since the majority of consumer purchases in North America are made through wireless operators, Nokia will focus on working with those operators and with retailers like Amazon.com and Best Buy.