31Oct/082
Reason #264 Best Buy is Evil:
I need a SATA cable to hook up a new (to me) hard drive to the motherboard of a new (to me) computer. It looks something like this:
I found them online from a reputable retailer for $1.99 each. I bought two. The retailer has a First Class USPS shipping option that only cost me $2, so for $6 I have two cables on my way from North Carolina.
I stopped at my local Best Buy over the lunch hour to see what they have, and sure enough, they have a SATA cable in stock. (Probably the only place in town that does.) Their price: $19.99.
I rest my case.
November 3rd, 2008 - 09:39
Yeah, they’re evil, but it’s not just them. All retailers have insane markup on cables. I quit bothering to look in stores when I need a cable.
Last time I needed one, it was a 6-foot ethernet crossover cable. I think Best Buy wanted $20 for that.
November 3rd, 2008 - 09:42
Heh, yeah, you’re right, Ron. Did I ever tell the story about the day I bought my upconverting DVD player? Walmart sells a nice, inexpensive upconverting DVD player, costs something like $30. But it doesn’t have an HDMI cable with it. Conveniently, Walmart sells HDMI cables (by the same manufacturer), but charges something like $25 for them. Unbelievable.
Went next door to Sam’s Club, they sold a slightly better model for $40 that included the cable. What a scam.