You're already buying TVs, washing machines, cheap keyboards and cell phones at Best Buy, why not a $12,000 electric motorcycle? That seems to be the thinking going on at Brammo HQ, where an infusion of cash from Best Buy's investment arm last year has now led to plans to sell the $11,995
Enertia at five West Coast Best Buy stores in May. Okay, sure, but we're way less optimistic about plans to let the Geek Squad handle basic repairs and maintenance -- we don't let those fools near our
laptops, god forbid Pimples McUpsell touch something that could actually kill us. Eventually Brammo wants to sell bikes at every Best Buy location around the world, but we'll see how this initial test works out.
posted Feb 28th 2009 3:39AM
it's not like we are in a recession or anything....
these will be flying off the shelves at only $12,000 a pop!
Actually motorbikes make sense when it comes to cheap transportation. Especially electric ones. So in a recession, whem interest are low, they might actually be snapped off the sheves. Sorry to dash your pessimism.
Sorry to dash your optimism, but buying shit we don't need with money we don't have is EXACTLY what put us in this position.
Actually, extending credit to people who were not capable of repaying it put us into this situation. Extending credit at a low rate to capable borrowers is exactly what we need in a recession. Buying things we don't need with money we don't have is pretty much what the American economy is based on. The trick is making sure that the person you're handing money to can actually pay you back at some point.
Extending cheap credit with non-existent money causes the boom-and-bust cycle. People need to save and live below their means for a period of time in order to correct the financial troubles. I am sure the conservative view is not something you want to hear, and will be happy to go right along with the program. Enjoy your rewards.
okay so spend as little as possible is your antidote to a recession?
Just one question. Does it move faster than a Segway?
Wow 0-60 in 4 seconds in fact? That's actually pretty neat.
0-60? their site says 0-30 in 3.8 seconds. that's a little bit less impressive.
$12000 for a 50mph top speed and a 45 mile range at 25mph. this is really sad. even the vectrix beats it out by a little bit. sorry, but it's hard to justify this thing over a 70mpg ninja 250 that can actually go on highways.
yeah, especially when my Ninja250 only cost me $3500 (they now go for $3999 retail)--that's $8500 - $8000 left over for a LOT of gas--and the Ninja is most likely more reliable than this electric POS.
Until it can to 0-60mph in 3 seconds or less I'll stick with my Suzuki SV650s. I would, however, be very tempted by an electric motorcycle. It'll be hard to live without the VROOM for a while, but I could fall in love with a "Whizzzzzz" given enough time, and if it's fast enough.
hmm..an electric bike or a 37 MPG 4 passenger car for same price
hard to decide
Considering that the electric cycle is orders of magnitude cheaper to run, yes.
Buy a $2000 car and never have to worry about replacing an ultra expensive battery every five years, that is a hard decision. BTW good luck buying groceries and staying warm on your $12000 bike...
I could buy a Yamaha R1 for that price.
"Pimples McUpsell"... nice.
I, too, found it quite amusing.
I used to work at best buy and that is HILARIOUS.
too funny.... best laugh all day
I to feel this was quite the proper burn. I can't wait to use it the next time they try to sell me their dubious service plan.
I wonder what my company will say about the the 200ft extension cord I'll be running out into the parking lot :-B (It's like free gas!)
I hope economies of scale bring this price under $10,000. This would be an awesome summer vehicle.
It suffers of pioneer disease. I like it tho.
Wow, that's real professional.
Now what is Snoody McKnowEverything going to insult next?
Next headline "Online retailers are overpriced... learn how to manufacture motherboards in your own garage!"
http://www.geeksquad.com/services/computer/category.aspx?id=231
I'd say their comments on Geek Squad are pretty valid.
Just because you can log into a blog and read Wikipedia doesn't make you an all-knowing genius. I am sick of the arrogance of how people behave online.
Does Midas overcharge for replacing brakes? Hell yes
Do car wash places overcharge for something you can do at home? Hell yes
Does Geek Squad overcharge for removing viruses? Hell yes
Does EVERY retail store overcharge for products and services? HELL YES
Just because you are a computer "expert" doesn't mean every one else is. Just like if somebody knows how to repair their car inside and out thinks that going to a repair shop is a rip off.
Yes, because EVERYONE is comfortable dealing with computer issues.
Ignorance is sinking this economy.
I love you Engadget.. but I agree with Verlin.. I don't think there's any need to be putting Geek Squad down, they've been nothing but helpful to me in the past.. and there's usually at least one GS agent there that actually knows what they're talking about..
now..
I agree that its pretty stupid for Best Buy to carry this.. the Best Buys here in my area carry Segways too.. and they've told me there before that they've never actually sold any.. and i'd think they'd have a better chance of selling a $5k Segway than a $12k electric "motor"cycle.
hahaha what the hell is your problem
Do they not train geek squad people to up sell? I used to work for bby044 as a pc upgrade tech back in 99 and they want us to up sell.
I think its a funny comment. Get the stick out of your back side.
wow, people don't actually hate (with every fiber of their being) the predatory upselling that goes on at best buy? i know i do. what about totally gouging you on cables and surge protectors?
Pimples McUpsell = apt
I appreciate what you're saying, but the snooty know-it-alls we're talking about here are geeks, too. And I'm a geek. Most of the folks on this site are prone to geek culture. And AFAIK, most geeks have a pretty good sense of humor about their geekdom and make sport of self-deprecating humor. Hell, NBC is making a mint off of the show Chuck. So no hard feelings, Nilay. The geek shall inherit.
I think everyone low rated you because you made a good point and it hurt their feelings...
crazy that a company would like to be profitable?
maybe they should just do charity work and fix computers for free?
come on people its a business what do you expect?
id rather my dad go to best buy for help than call me to walk him through trouble shooting anyday
Electric motorcycle eh? So not only will people not see you, they won't hear you either.
....Genius
1. When a motorist does not see a motorcycle or bicycle has to do with their inadequacies as a driver if said two-wheeler follows ll the road rules.
2. Tyres are responsible for a considerable amount of the noise a vehicles creates, so unless these bikes float they will be nowhere near silent.
Just because it's not going to sound like a Hardly then I don't think people will not see them.
I assume you mean Tires and Harley.
Motorcycle noise saving lives is one of the biggest old wives tales in existenance among bikers. Sound projection being what it is loud exhaust point behind you. Every study from the "Hurt Report" to the UKs MoT study both concluded that motorcycle vehicle noise doe not contribute any noticeable reduction in motorcycle vs car collisions. Or any other type of accident. Having worked in the industy for over 20 years I know this is a topic of much debate among riders still. But my own experience of daily commuting in California(a state you can lane split in and I do) and averaging about 45k miles per year with no accidents in the past 10 years I have not been seen because they heard me. I prefer the stealth mode of being quiet for by the time they hear you your are already past. In the past when Ihave had bikes with loud pipes I have had people close the gap as they hear then see me approach from behind. Although this is illegal to do if an accident is caused by the car drivers action it happens alot.
The largest % of collisions is from left turns in front of a motorcycle.People in a rush or distracted do not look long enough and they miss seeing the rider behind an A pillar, or some other distraction ie: mobile phones, kids, shaving, makeup or some music adjustment. So a quiet bike that could be a commuter if the speed was better with the range would be great. This tech is still in its infancy and there are large forces pushing against it so it will be a slow push for development. Till then I will continue getting about 45 to 50 mpg and shaving about one hour off my commute on average on my gas burner bike.
I have to laugh at the Harley crowd who all cleave to the "Loud Pipes Save Lives" bullshit that lets them sleep at night after completely ruining motorcycling for the rest of us who ride responsibly. These same idiots (largely) don't wear helmets either, and use their $25,000 worth of steel and chrome to go bar-hopping on the weekends--and then trailer their "babies" to the big events like Daytona and Sturgis rather than hassle with actually -riding- them there.
The truth is this: The American Motorcyclists Association not only thinks the LPSL argument is a giant steaming pile of corn-studded crap, but it ranks loud motorcycles as the NUMBER ONE contributor to the negative view of riders by non-riders. Allow me to quote Ron Dingman, President and CEO of the AMA:
"The single greatest threat to motorcycling in America -- both on- and off-highway, including ATVs -- is excessive exhaust sound. Nearly everyone we talk to in the motorcycling and OHV (off-highway vehicle) community echoes this concern. For many riders, their machines are an extension of their personalities, and this includes the distinctive sound of their engine's exhaust. I completely understand that. But as motorcyclists, we have to realize that we live in a world already filled with unwanted distractions, and chief among them is sound that is so excessive that it becomes a nuisance to the general public. Excessive exhaust sound plants targets squarely on the backs of all riders, even those who ride with reasonably quiet exhaust systems."
Source: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=609
There you have it. Q.E.D.
That being said, I myself ride a BMW K1200LT--second only to Honda's Goldwing as the largest production motorcycle in the world (with stock exhaust, thank you very much)--and I still routinely get ~45mpg even on my 1,200cc monster, going about 250 miles on each 5.5-gallon tankful (the tank holds 6.1 gallons total).
Sadly, as remarkable as it is, this machine looks very much like a solution looking for a problem.
So guys, with all this hating on Geek Squad and Best Buy,
What would you suggest to do to make a profit when stores are selling laptops anywhere from $50-$150 BELOW cost besides trying to make a profit off of accessories, service plans, and services? Because it's such a travesty for companies to try to stay in business by charging a premium.
Do ALL of you only shop online?
There will be a day where there will be no more deals because people were too cheap to buy any extras. There will be a significant markup on the core product because that will be the only way to stay in business.
Because you bought too many black friday deals and nothing else.
Why do people from countries outside the US purchase computers in the US? Because in their culture, everything is a ripoff so they buy nothing extra to help the retailers out... so those foreign retailers now charge a premium to make up for all the cheap people.
It will happen here people. The time will come that we will ALL be paying more because people were too cheap or arrogant.
I'm hoping that my sarcasm meter isn't registering a false positive. I can't stop laughing for the life of me.
"Buy more overpriced service plans and accessories that you don't need, in order to keep our failing business model from destroying us! Please! PLEASEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Oh a related note, I love you Amazon, Newegg, and others for never offering me a magazine subscription, a service plan, a "computer clean up" on a brand new computer, a TV "Calibration" via a part-time kid that has no idea what he is doing, or any of the other BS that these companies are having to resort to in order to stay in business. I also love you for your rock bottom prices, lack of sales tax, speedy shipping, and great customer service. If only I could say that for ANY brick and mortar store, other than maybe Costco.
Oh, I never said it wasn't a failing business model....
But you do have to understand, you are still paying for markups from online retailers as well.
Once brick and mortar stores are gone, you can count on EVERYTHING going up in price. The online retailers will have no stores to undercut, so their margins can then improve.
But I guess some people like enjoying their lives with a 5-7 business day lag.
Hopefully you run into a day where you NEED product XXX or you can't get XXX done and lose XXX amount of time or money.
That's where the fun will start, when you realize that you were paying for convenience.
Everyone will just do their own taxes, grow their own food, build their own electronics, build their own cars, manufacture their own fuel, create their own energy, cut their own hair, create their own clothes..... CAUSE YOU KNOW, every can do that stuff by themselves.
Ignorance is the downfall of the economy.
I think this is this first time I've ever heard anybody connect good customer service with Costco.
@BananaBoat
I hope you realize that Best Buy offers better prices on NEW core computers.
Online retailers cannot go (or try to avoid) below cost on their products. Whereas Best Buy can offer them at lower prices. But you wouldn't know that because you don't buy your computers at Best Buy... right? right? (This is me hinting at he does go buy core products at the stores but buys nothing with them, only helping worsen the economy)
And it's always fun and sarcastic to point out that your cheapness will help in the cause of 20,000 people losing their jobs. Feels nice doesn't it?
@cwj - I've always found that they have good customer service. If you've had a different experience, that is certainly understandable.
@bencomps - You are wrong. First of all, brick and mortar stores will never cease to exist. It's just not going to happen. Second of all, prices will not go up, because competition will keep the margins low. If I could buy something for 10 dollars with free shipping at one store, or 5 dollars with free shipping at another store, which would I buy? Obviously I'd buy the 5 dollar item, and save 5 dollars. The store selling the item for 10 dollars wouldn't last very long, since its prices aren't competitive. Since online stores basically have very little overhead, they are free to charge prices that aren't inflated by their need to hire employees, or to pay rent on large retail stores. Taxes will eventually be brought to all online purchases, of that I am sure, but the cost will still be lower buying online. The only advantage to buying in person (as you've stated) is that you can get your item that day. In that regard, things like grocery stores will never go anywhere, because above all else, people need to eat when they need to eat. Do I really need a DVD the second it goes on sale though? How about a book? I've got a little thing called patience, that lets me live for the four or five days that free shipping takes. If that patience fails me, I can have something shipped to me via air, and have it by the next morning. Depending on how much tax would have cost me, and how much extra I'd have paid to subsidize a brick and mortar locations retail stores (including employees that are about as helpful as a loaf of bread), I'd still probably come out ahead.
Let me put it this way; If you think that a business which desperately needs to sell 100 dollar HDMI cables (5 dollars to make), 30 dollar USB cables (a dollar to make, if that), a warranty most people won't use, services they don't need (like the aforementioned "calibration"), and magazine subscriptions, deserves to stay in business, you are beyond help.
Also, I'm fairly sure my sarcasm meter wasn't wrong.
@BananaBoat
i like your opinion alot:)
Wow, changing your name to make it look like other people share your crazy opinions? Cool tactics bro.
cwj- I took my rrod 360 to costco two years after buying and they gave me a full refund in cash.
"I'm hoping that my sarcasm meter isn't registering a false positive. I can't stop laughing for the life of me.
"Buy more overpriced service plans and accessories that you don't need, in order to keep our failing business model from destroying us! Please! PLEASEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Oh a related note, I love you Amazon, Newegg, and others for never offering me a magazine subscription, a service plan, a "computer clean up" on a brand new computer, a TV "Calibration" via a part-time kid that has no idea what he is doing, or any of the other BS that these companies are having to resort to in order to stay in business. I also love you for your rock bottom prices, lack of sales tax, speedy shipping, and great customer service. If only I could say that for ANY brick and mortar store, other than maybe Costco."
Oooooh, another McKnowItAll. Thinks he can calibrate his own TV because he can turn down the brightness and sharpness and can "clean up" his new computer by deleting the shortcuts on his desktop.
What a concept... offer products, services and protection that "MOST" people can't do by (or won't bother with) themselves. Sure is a failing business model indeed. What company do you work for and what do they provide to the world? I'm sure there are people out there who are McKnowItAll's who you think are full of BS.
verlin
stop
you're ... you're killing me
I seriously can't stop laughing