My team brought me this idea in response to a post about Best Buy employees on Gizmodo yesterday. Frankly, I didn’t think it was that funny and wasn’t sure it aligned with my core values. I was excited though that the team was thinking about new ways to use new media so I have decided to support their thinking and publish it. So I will be curious to hear your feedback.
We are not sure how many of you read Gizmodo, the uber gear and tech blog, but those of you who do read it likely noticed this post yesterday. While we would argue that the employees of Best Buy are far too diverse to fit into one of 7 categories (aspiring musicians, perhaps?), it was a pretty funny post. We couldn’t resist taking a stab at classifying the seven types of Gizmodo bloggers, but then we realized there’s really only one type of Gizmodo blogger. Here’s that description:
You’ll find this guy on his couch, sporting an ironic t-shirt with a delivery-food stain of some kind. He “commuted” minutes earlier by rolling out of bed and over to his laptop in his shoebox-sized Brooklyn (Williamsburg) apartment littered with empty Redbull cans. He came to Gizmodo 9 months ago after deciding that “traditional media” wasn’t edgy enough (read: required pants and didn’t like it when he powered down walls of TVs). He only puts on pants in order to put electronics down them, and he gets very upset if you mess with his Star Wars legos. He genuinely believes that the hot PR girl is into him and not just trying to get a post. He overuses the word “fail.”
So i have a question for Barry Judge. How is it that your employees are so diverse that they cannot be fit into 7 categories, but with your “customer centricity” initiative you classify your customers into 5. I dont know about you but that math is wrong, there are definitely more bby customers than there are employees. I think gizmodo was just following your example of generalizing your employees as you generalize your customers. Oh and FAIL.
Hah I love the Aspiring musician quip. I could be an aspiring astronaut but working at Best Buy wouldn’t get me any closer and the wage made there is laughable for the crap your employees have to put up with from both the inside and outside sources.
I’m sure there were some brown nosing underlings that are trying to be noticed and said this would be a fantastic idea and to a point it was entertaining but like another poster said you really need to take a look at some of the people you hire and stop going to the best performing stores in La Jolla or other “nicer” places and hit the more obscure and I’m sure you will be surprised.
nice. giz fans need to lighten up. this was funny. how much do bloggers make any way? about as much as the guy who delivered his pizza! j/k. it’s all good.
[...] caricatures and everything. Pretty funny, right? Well, Barry Judge and his fellow Best Buy peeps thought to respond in kind which is fair, despite them only finding one type of Gizmodo bloggers. Which sparked targeted [...]
[...] is an excerpt from Judge’s blog: “We couldn’t resist taking a stab at classifying the seven types of Gizmodo bloggers, but [...]
I thought the 7 Kinds of Best Buy Employee’s bit was hilarious.
Your response was even funnier! Way to go! I just wish you hadn’t added the disclaimer to it. There’s no need to apologize Barry.
This was much, much better in the original, pre-disclaimer version. The addition of the serious corporate jargon takes away from the humor, which, by itself, showed a wonderful thick-skinned, confident attitude. When life gives you viral attention and an opportunity to chime in on the meme, go with it, is my advice.
Gizmodo’s response (to the original) was awesome and showed they had a sense of humor about themselves, and the combination of the three posts is the stuff that most viral marketing efforts can only dream of, and I honestly cannot see what harm it does to Best Buy to play along without apologizing and backpedaling. Getting written about in Gizmodo involves being snarked about — they snark, it’s what they do — but it also involves a great deal of traffic and publicity. Rising to the occasion by showing a sense of humor about yourself/your company equals making the best of that publicity.
Barry, give me a job :/
[...] Barry Judge: The One Type of Gizmodo Blogger [...]
“I was excited though that the team was thinking about new ways to use new media?”
seriously? new ways, huh?
you know, being the CMO and all, i kinda figured it was part of you job to maybe help your company avoid customer backlash. shouldn’t you be concerned about the image of best buy and the fact that the image portrayed gizmodo’s comic is a sentiment held by a large portion of the population rather than trying to show how hip and with the new media you are?
[...] caricatures and everything. Pretty funny, right? Well, Barry Judge and his fellow Best Buy peeps thought to respond in kind which is fair, despite them only finding one type of Gizmodo bloggers. Which sparked targeted [...]
Please leave your “core values” in the conference room.
So who wrote this, Barry or Bust Out Solutions? (you’ll find a link to them in the footer) I can just imagine the conversation between Bary and Bust out on how to handle the Giz post. Looks like it was an awkward compromise.
@jcy@ – what are you 13?
Pretty awesome Barry. I think you hit the target dead on.
It was a better response before the CYA post at the start — now its just cheese
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fenomenal http://is.gd/1xiSc la respuesta [link to post] el contraataque http://is.gd/1xj1i. Well isn’t that just great viral marketing.
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Nice job on posting in responce to Gizmodo. As a Gizmodo reader and a Best Buy customer, It is nice to see that you can have some good hearted fun.
Boom goes the dynamite.
You GO Gizmodo. I praise you for your GREEN commute to the couch. At least you are not the CMO, CFO, C3PO stealing my parking spot in the lot.
Anyone ever seen this site before today? Gonna see it again? Anyone? Bueller?
Gizmodo helps move products you sell – sometimes better than your sales associates ever will. I’m not their frequent reader, but if I were you, I wouldn’t be so bitter. I never visit Best Buy for the exact reasons they listed – truth hurts.
P.S. Their stereotypes were way more thorough than yours – you are unconsciously bashing your most loyal fans
As a keen Gizmodo reader, I thought the Best Buy Employee post was pathetic.
A well deserved put down.
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Pretty entertaining “friendly blog battle” between @BestBuyCMO and Gizmodo [link to post] Looking forward to my meetings at BB manana
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funny as hell
I thought this was great until i read that you weren’t sure it aligned with your ‘core values,’ and don’t think it’s funny. That intro paragraph is just awful.
It made me smile –to be honest, all of it. Good back and forth, and not pulling out the traditional PR shield.
We ask companies to be part of the conversation in the market –and here’s a marketing leader that’s living it.
Of course, now comes the challenging part: fixing this impression Gizmodo and others may have. What could blue shirts do to talk about what makes them unique and stand out to help customers?
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This made me giggle: @Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy @BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post]
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@jowyang I loved it as well, although some of the comments left on Barry’s site were a little harsh. @BestBuyCMO- I got your back.
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@jowyang at the same time, there is some truth to comments – http://bit.ly/m2JRC
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@ConversationAge Valeria thanks a lot for taking time to write an email to me
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@jowyang have you seen the BestBuy reaction http://su.pr/8dszrp
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@Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy @BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post] via @jowyang Blog Battles
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I think your team had the right idea. Nothing wrong with a sense of humor!
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@Gizmodo parodies BestBuy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy (via @jowyang) @BestBuyCMO responds [link to post] >that’s how you do it
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RT @jowyang: This made me giggle: @Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy @BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post]
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LOL Applaud @bestbuycmo sense of humor RT @jowyang & @Gizmodo parody Best Buy http://bit.ly/DHBsy his reply [link to post]
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Classic, love it LMAO @Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy @BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post] (via @jowyang)
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Kudos to playful pokes! RT @jowyang @Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy @BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post]
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Lots of comments on the response!! > RT @jowyang @Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees @BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post]
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RT jowyang This made me giggle: @Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy @BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post]
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Great work and response. Those characters exist in every business and at every family reunion that’s why people could relate to it.
Your response was great. Social media is about listening, transparency and connecting. Your response made Best Buy more human and added a personality to the brand. I had a good laugh too, on both sides.
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RT: @jowyang: This made me giggle: @Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy @BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post]
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great response by bb cmo! RT @shanegibson: Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy @BestBuyCMO response [link to post]
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LOL RT @jowyang This made me giggle: @Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees http://bit.ly/DHBsy @BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post]
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still not a fan of the BB, just a glorified electronics show room
try again, this time in your stores not online…
lame
Frigging EXCELLENT and hysterical response. Excellent, Barry!
I agree with several comments, Barry. Your original post was spot on. I read Gizmodo religiously and shop at Best Buy once in a while (let’s say, when I actually buy new electronics, I usually get them there), and I thought your response was clever and sharp. Those Giz guys don’t cut anyone any slack, and it showed some moxie to roll with the punches and give them a poke back. However, when you reposted and added the “disclaimer” at the top, it took a bit o’ wind out of your sails. Next time, stick with the original post and don’t try to patronize the audience or hedge to avoid blowback. Nice work!
I still won’t shop at Best Buy. The employees are clueless teenagers and the prices are too high. NewEgg all the way!!
You are a good story Barry, loved the response!
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gr8 riposte! RT @jowyang:This made me giggle:@Gizmodo parodies Best Buy employees@BestBuyCMO rolls with it [link to post]
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I 100% agree with Greg Edwards, posting the wussy disclaimer at the top totally ruined your otherwise funny response.
the real issue here is the spotty experiences consumers are having with Blue Shirts. For me most have been average, a couple have been great and several have sucked. Until there’s feedback from the consumer and accountability by Best Buy, I think you’ll have a tough time solving this.
Please never mention “core values” in a blog ever again.
Ain’t this funny! Good response there!
How many Extended Service Plans did it take for you to afford the time for this witty remark?