Visited my Best Buy last night - they DID have the Insignia TUNER unit for $104, but did NOT have the portable, nor a clue about even what department would stock it. They also added a Slacker 'radio' to the XM/Sirius display - I doubt they're happy about that one!
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BEST BUY FORUM: IS THE INSIGNIA PORTABLE PLAYER LEGIT?
- Thread starter Savage
- Start date
Oh, and one more question - does the "Insignia® - HD Radio Portable Player" include the AM band, analog or HD? The BB website doesn't mention AM at all?
Savage said:
First of all, it's not unusual for me to go to a store and find they don't have a product in their advertisement. Just a few months ago, I went to Best Buy looking for an external drive, and they didn't have any. Regular feature of corporate big box stores.
Second of all, Best Buy placed the ad, not iBiquity. So it's a black eye for Best Buy. Not the first time, I might add.
Savage said:
Personally I don’t think it matters which retailer they used, the result would be the same. I have yet to find a major retailer that educates its salespeople about the products they sell. A few months ago, I was looking for a flat screen TV, and was shocked at the things the salesman told me. This was at Sears, by the way. I ended up dismissing him, and suggesting that when I needed his help, which would simply be for processing my credit card, I’d call him. The state of the retail business, in particular with regards to electronics, is hideous. Some areas are fortunate to have small, private audio/video dealers, and they often have educated salespeople. But their prices are usually higher, so they probably won’t be in business for long.
This is part of a bigger problem that has existed for the past 20 years, since the hardware companies like RCA, Westinghouse, and others, got out of the radio station ownership business. Radio in general, and HD radio specifically, is dependent on the kindness of strangers to create and market products that will benefit its growth. There is no co-ordinated effort, and there really can’t be. XM and Sirius spent hundreds of millions of dollars to attempt to control the manufacture and distribution of their radios, and how many did they sell?
Here’s the reality: Unless you’re Apple and you own the stores where your products are being sold, you’re dependent on third parties, which means you’re probably in trouble.
Fair enough. (Parenthetically, I never claimed the BB situation was a "black eye for iBiquity," just a "black eye for HD Radio.") But my point closely parallels the old saw, "there is no 'reasons' column in a profit and loss statement." At the end of the day, it's up to HD's promoters to get receivers out to the public in a way which is universal, easy and makes sense to the consumer in terms which are relevant to them. Who cares about the internal problems of big-box stores? The availability of the Insignia portable is being hailed as a big step for HD. I could counter: no, it isn't, if it's not easily and widely available, and especially if it's being advertised in areas where it isn't.
I think the point of this thread is: this looks like yet another marketing misstep for HD Radio. In markets where the Insignia portable is being promoted BY OUR NATIVE MEDIUM - radio, the guys HD-boosters insist will benefit from its widespread adoption - the retailer advertising the product doesn't have it in stock. The problems presented for HD by this situation shouldn't be brushed off. It's a huge mistake for an already-troubled "innovation." It's like McDonalds putting a coupon in the paper for $1 Big Macs, and when interested customers show up in the restaurants, they're told sorry, we don't got. Want a fish sandwich?
So: it's a black eye for HD Radio. And, actually, it's a black eye for radio, period, because the HD debacle is making us all look like the Gang Who Can't Shoot Straight.
I think the point of this thread is: this looks like yet another marketing misstep for HD Radio. In markets where the Insignia portable is being promoted BY OUR NATIVE MEDIUM - radio, the guys HD-boosters insist will benefit from its widespread adoption - the retailer advertising the product doesn't have it in stock. The problems presented for HD by this situation shouldn't be brushed off. It's a huge mistake for an already-troubled "innovation." It's like McDonalds putting a coupon in the paper for $1 Big Macs, and when interested customers show up in the restaurants, they're told sorry, we don't got. Want a fish sandwich?
So: it's a black eye for HD Radio. And, actually, it's a black eye for radio, period, because the HD debacle is making us all look like the Gang Who Can't Shoot Straight.
Savage said:
From what I've read, here and elsewhere, most people are able to find this radio and buy it. Are there exceptions? Sure. But my point is that it's going to be a problem regardless of the product. Speaking of McDonalds, they're experimenting with a new Angus burger. It's not available everywhere. They're trying to control advertising, so you can only read about the burger in places where it's available. But the web is such that local stories about the product are available everywhere. So there are disappointed customers looking for Angus burgers at some McDonalds, and there's not much they can do. Is it a black eye for McDonalds? Sure. But that's just how it is.
I'm sure you'll disagree but the comparison of McDonalds as a brand and a dining experience with HD Radio is inapposite. McDonalds is one of the world's most internationally famous brands. Actually they spend more in electronic advertising every year than Burger King does in gross sales. They don't need to educate the public about what they are or what they do. Contrast that with HD - which nobody knows about or cares about, other than navel-gazing radio industry types, radio journalists and pundits and radio collectors.
Yes, McDonalds does market-specific product rollouts and limited-time offers. The Angus is one, the McRib Sandwich is another. Maybe a small number of consumers become aware of these products from the Internet or other sources, but I can absolutely guarantee that McDonalds NEVER advertises the special products in markets where they're not available. Nor are their employees uneducated about the Angus or the McRib or whatever. Bet on it: if the chain advertises it, the stores have it, know about it and promote it, from production to window banners to couponing. And McDonalds workers earn no more than BB ones do, so "quality of employee" is a cop-out.
Yes, McDonalds does market-specific product rollouts and limited-time offers. The Angus is one, the McRib Sandwich is another. Maybe a small number of consumers become aware of these products from the Internet or other sources, but I can absolutely guarantee that McDonalds NEVER advertises the special products in markets where they're not available. Nor are their employees uneducated about the Angus or the McRib or whatever. Bet on it: if the chain advertises it, the stores have it, know about it and promote it, from production to window banners to couponing. And McDonalds workers earn no more than BB ones do, so "quality of employee" is a cop-out.
Savage said:
It appears Best Buy did not do a good distribution of the radios.
Our folks in Houston independently got 5 of them today, and 4 people in San Antonio got them. In both (very flat) markets, they said the HD was good and stable on all the full power FMs. In New York, among the buildings, those who bought them said the FM was fluttery at times and the HD was worthless.
Savage said:
No, I agree. A lot of that has to do with the control the corporation has with respect to the franchises.
Radio in general, and HD radio specifically isn't run like a franchise. Perhaps if it was, there would be more quality control. But there would probably be first amendment issues and other legal and managerial problems. Plus we see the reaction critics have to centralized corporate radio. Not exactly positive either. So it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. Radio has two choices: 1) Do nothing and become a museum piece, or 2) develop new products with independent manufacturers, and take a chance that some of those new products either won't work or won't be universally available. The latter is the case for HD Radio. Oh well. That's what happens when you depend on independent operators to carry out their responsibilities.
TheBigA said:
Isn't Insignia Best Buy's house brand?
Who's the "third party"?
Almost all HD radio advertising has been placed on "free" unused station airtime by the "HD Radio Alliance", to incentivize retailers to carry their dreck. This is probably more of the same.
Link:
http://www.hdradioalliance.com/
Isn't Insignia Best Buy's house brand?
Who's the "third party"?
Almost all HD radio advertising has been placed on "free" unused station airtime by the "HD Radio Alliance", to incentivize retailers to carry their dreck. This is probably more of the same.
Link:
http://www.hdradioalliance.com/
Besides Ibiquity, a few high and mighty industry types and radio geeks, consumers probaly enjoy more and have greater top of mind awareness for McDonald's McRib Sandwich,than HD radio. So did the marketing for HD, heard on radio fail, or does the market have no interest in this idea?
Nobody here would admit HD radio failed because of radio. So it must be the marketing, right?
Nobody here would admit HD radio failed because of radio. So it must be the marketing, right?
pocket-radio said:
I go back to Savage's point earlier in this thread.
As much as I try to pour barbecue sauce on my radio, it simply doesn't taste very good. I eat every day. I haven't bought a radio (or a radio-only device) in 20 years. I own lots of devices through which I can hear radio. In fact, I just bought a new car that included a radio. And I'm currently listening to an FM stream on my laptop. But I haven't bought a radio in 20 years.
I'm getting hungry. Too bad they're not offering McRibs any more. MMMM...ribs.
TheBigA said:
The "HD Radio Alliance" has run free HD Radio ads for Radio Shack, Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield and others.
Currently:
Radio Shack:
http://www.hdradioalliance.com/commercials.php?id=122
Best Buy Insignia portable HD Radio:
http://www.hdradioalliance.com/commercials.php?id=121
TheBigA should take his own advice:
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