Dummy Apple SKUs materialize in Best Buy's inventory system?
By Ross Miller 
posted February 15th 2010 8:47PM
posted February 15th 2010 8:47PM
[Thanks, Ryan]
posted February 15th 2010 8:47PM
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I could go for the bobbleheads, and some new MBPs.
"dummy"s? more like "iPads"
@abbas350
LOL
@abbas350 There's a difference? *accepts the inevitable downrank*
Ipads@ 16 32 and 64gb = Three new SKU's?
Best guess anyway.
@charles hamilton
But there's 3g versions of each, so it would be 6 sku's
@oproski
3G isn't coming yet... 3 more SKUs... next month
@charles hamilton Note the department that's shown (computers), unless Best Buy in their infinite wisdom chooses to categorize iPods as computers.
@charles hamilton How about... Three new Macbook Pros. 13" 15" and 17"
It does say mobile computers. After thinking about it though I would say it is Macbook pro's. The iPads are over a month away yet.
@Branhower Evidently I am the only one that say the irony in having "infinite wisdom" and "Best Buy" in the same sentence. However given that Apple is trying to say this belong between laptops and smartphones it would be practical to see them in either location. However given the limited shelf space in most Best Buy wireless and portable electronics sections and the form factor of the iPad I would see it taking up residence with the laptops.
@Branhower where else would they put it. can't make calls, so it's not a phone. does more than play music so it's not a PMP. Computing makes the most sense.
If we weren't still waiting for the ipads I might think that it could be laptops. but we are, so it's likely not.
but what I wonder is the timing. this is like a month before the release window, seems really early. is it possible that 60 days could be closer to 45?
Wondering if the ipad is showing up at Shoppers Drug Mart yet..
What the hell is a Dummy SKU for anyways?
@Jaylittles531
To make us wonder WTF is coming next...
No its really more to get the store ready to accept new stock of whatever item will be coming without actually saying what item is coming.
But this is positioned with the old macbook pro models. I have to think that these are placeholders for the macbook pros (13, 15, and 17 inch, maybe?)
you'd think the guy would remember to blank out the store location and date when he's leaking stuff that could get him fired, lol~
Already read about it in Big Whoop Magazine.
@CMA
Sorry. No one reads magazines anymore. I mean the Big Whoop Blog...
@CMA I subscribe to their podcast.
The all new Apple Dummy.
Innovative, magnificent and beautiful, it brings you the full Internet without a screen, keyboard or mouse. Wiggling around uncontrollably is all it takes to navigate around the revolutionary "Geppetto" interface - if you know how to get down when completely intoxicated, you already know how to use the Dummy. Available in May for the price of 899$ for the 32GB version, and 1299$ for the 64GB version, exclusively on AT&T. 24 month contract required. Add 99$ for a complete custom designed wood finish. SDK release date is to be announced at a later date.
probably 3 new macbook pro units that'll be announced tomorrow on the apple site. 13", 15", and 17" refreshes.
OMGWTF THE APPLE STORE IS DOWN!!!1!!111111!!!11one (not really)
New MacBook Pros tomorrow. What better way to knock Windows Phone news off the front page of all the tech sites?
@Luddy I hope it's the new Pros
Having been an employee of Best Buy and geek squad I can say this.......These skus are either for the upcoming iPads or they are for geek squad repairs to be sent out from the store. Geek squad requires an identifiable sku in order to ship an item out for repairs, so these "dummy" skus could be a solution since there weren't some in the system for certain apple items. Everyone calm down. There's nothing to see here.
@sholman85
So you admit it COULD be for the ipad, but then say nothing to see here. Make up your mind please...
@Joe McG Perhaps I should have made my point more clear for the board trolls. Having "been" a best buy/geek squad employee, meaning that I am no longer, clearly states that I cannot confirm it is the iPad. Additionally, my explaination of the dummy skus should have been elaborated more as well. In their system there are numberous "dummy" skus for different brands that need to go out for repair but aren't immediately searchable in their database for various reasons. Since a sku is required for an item to be repaired, sometimes generic "dummy" skus are created. Hence my stating that there is nothing to see here. Whenever they get a new item it isn't put into the system as a dummy sku, but with a full item description. Hope this clears things up for your friendly neighborhood board trolls.
Might I also add that the iPad seems to be an incredible waste of time and money, much like all these delightfully inept e-readers.
Kthnx bye.
@Joe McG. given that we know the ipad is coming and it is the most likely source for exactly 3 skus in the computer department (for the 3 wifi models) it is nothing to see.
now if all six ipads were out or at least fully sku'd and these popped up pre an item announcement it would be something
iPads with 3g would be in a whole other category if it was a typical laptop with a wireless broadband provider...BUT the way you can start & stop the internet on the iPad makes me think they will fall in the same category. Anybody can edit the name of an item in that system. 'Dummy Sku A' one day, is 'Apple Jackass 1' another. (yep, not a fan of their non-discountable drm crap. once that changes, then i will. easiest to use product means nothing when it takes away freedom)
On a more serious note, when the FUCK is Apple going to put out a Nehalem based laptop? Seriously, everyone else is already at the party and they are enjoying the after dinner deserts...Apple has yet to show...Maybe their invite got lost in the mail?
@GenericMessage
where?
I can 100% for sure say these are the new macbook pro's. I am a current employee of best buy, and you know it isn't the iPad because it would be in a different category than computers. These are the SKUs for the new Macbook Pros
@jwborc39963
Now, i dont know much about best buy. But arent there 2 versions of the macbook pro 13", and another 3 for the 15" and then a 1 for the 17. Wouldnt these all have different skus?
when will they tell us?
Removed from current planogrammed assortment:
To correct your correction, it means that there is a scheduled map change for the area of the store the MBPs are located. The ONLY time that happens as most stores that carry Apple computer products mostly all carry the same set of SKUs (no customization), means they are on their way out.
"Deleted" means that there is no further resupply from the vendor typically. It is currently "gone once warehouse quantities are depleted." You can still order it if the store is out of stock and the warehouse has remaining quantity unspoken for.
Might be 2 15'' MBP and a 17'' MBP as usual.
13'' might not get updated.
Well looking at the SKUS immediately below the Dummy Skus are for Macbook Airs
And as an ex-BB employee (it's only been 6 years since I left ;), Dummys are not new to Retek/RSS. and an iPad would show up in Wireless/Mobile, not Computers.
@Parry
based on your experience working at BB, would timing indicate the release for tomorrow, another week, another two weeks?
@roman7927
DummySkus need more than two days to pop.
Figure anywhere from 6 days to 3 weeks.
@sholman
If the Geek Squad needs to send out an item to get serviced, they do not use Dummy SKU's, under the SKU for a product their is FF-Factory Fresh, OB-Open Box, Demo-Demo, Defective-Defective, I.E you do not need to make a Dummy SKU, the product that needs to be serviced gets put as a defective on the SKU description for the particular product it is.
BTW Best Buy 460 is the Best Buy in 2001 South RD Poughkeepsie NY,
@Ucuz Actually in order for an item to be entered into geek squad's ticket system for in-store or shipped out repairs, it has to have a sku assigned for it. That way everything is acccounted for properly in the internal store inventory as well as items needing to be shipped. What you are reffering to with FF, OB, etc. are the item descriptions of their conditions when being entered into the system and not an actual item sku for internal inventory tracking. I don't know what best buy you work at, but that's the way it's supposed to be done. I left Best Buy due to their multiple systems being such a clusterbomb of needless and uncoordinated databases making all the horror stories you hear about geek squad mostly true.
@sholman85
What I am saying is that when an item is brought to the Geek Squad, when the Geek Squad enters it into the computer it gets entered in a defective condition in RSS, that is how it is tracked. I have never encountered a Dummy SKU when searching, but when an item is about be released yet is not in fliers and on the website, the full name description is still their, RSS just states that their is 0 in all the stores and distribution sites.
Although now that I think about it, it could be for repairs of a unit that did not have a SKU at Best Buy before, lets say someone gets a Dell model never sold at Best Buy and brings it to get serviced and it needs to be sent out, what you are saying might make sense, but this is in the Apple computers section, a Mac laptop never sold at Best Buy?
Whatever it is for sure not the Ipad.
dammit I want a new MBP with core i7, C'MON APPLE, RELEASE IT ALREADY!!
well from experience with best buy's RSS inventory system (that sucks shit mind you), its not a ipad or ipod, due to the fact that ipods are under "mp3-devices" and the ipad would most likely be under "e-reading devices" ...
actually no, that wasnt what i was thinking