Last weekend I visited a store that I have not set foot inside of for probably 2 or 3 years.

I went to Best Buy.

Now, I haven’t been inside the store not because Best Buy made me mad or I have some horrible memory of a guy breaking up with me in the parking lot or anything else dramatic. It just doesn’t come up on my short list of places to visit. If pressed, I’d have to offer the following reasons why:

1. I seem to recall the stores being very busy but also very haphazard. Great customer service, but still intimidating if you were feeling a bit clueless about a particular gadget you were considering. Definitely an overwhelming place to go with kids.

2. I like and DO shop at their online store (I purchased the laptop I am using right this minute at BestBuy.com during the holidays of 2010). Like many other folks my age, shopping online is a very normal thing, and often, is preferable to having to make a trip to the store.

So when I walked into my local Best Buy this past weekend, I was rather shocked by what I saw. The layout was sleeker, easier to visually navigate (lower shelves, less busy-ness), and smack dab in the center of the store was a safe haven for anyone who needed a little bit of help.

 

The area had several employees stationed there, ready to answer any questions about products customers might be considering purchasing, or even about products that they already purchased.

I happened to be signed up for a free technology class that Best Buy offers on saving money by using your smart phone. I love my iPhone, but I do NOT love the monthly bill. I want to make sure my device is working as hard as possible for me to save money wherever I can.

Signing up for this class was very easy. There are several different class options, and there are also FREE one-on-one consultations offered to help you get your specific questions answered. Here are the steps to take!

Step 1 – visit  www.geeksquad.com/scheduling

Step 2 – scroll down to ‘In-Store Solution Central Scheduling’

Step 3 – Click on the ‘Schedule a Reservation’ button

Step 4 – Enter your address or zip code for the available locations near you

Step 5 – Select the location you want

Step 6 – Select the reservation you want (either consultation or a class you want to attend)

Step 7 – Select date and time (very simple drop down options)

Step 8 – Provide your contact information (not only for registration, but you will be sent confirmation and reminder emails, which is so helpful if you are forgetful like me!)

Normally the classes have around 6 people in them, but I hit the jackpot, because I was the only one signed up for this particular class. That meant one-on-one attention! 🙂 The Geek Squad agent showed me a few apps that I already use and love (Groupon and Living Social) but then she introduced me to 4 other apps that I wasn’t using and that I got REALLY excited about trying. One of them will help me easily put together menus and grocery lists based not only on my families preferences, but also on what happens to be on sale that week. Talk about a HUGE money and time saver!

I was really impressed with the agent I worked with, and with the entire concept of Solution Central. Best Buy is working hard to ensure that customers don’t feel like their experience has ended after they have made their purchases. They want to make sure you really enjoy what you purchased, and sometimes that means that you need to have a place to go to get some of your questions answered.

Or, you might be plugging along just fine but not making optimal use of your technology, as in my case with the iPhone. Best Buy gave me some great tips to help me make my device work harder for me and make my life a little bit easier. Isn’t that part of its purpose, after all?

If you are looking to get more out of your technology, see what you can learn through Solution Central at Best Buy. There are many FREE services offered, and it isn’t even necessary for you to have made your technology purchase with Best Buy in order to make use of Solution Central (I purchased my iPhone at the AT&T store, for example).

If you need repair services, know that those are also available through Solution Central, though there is a cost for this type of service. My experience with the technology class, though, was very positive and there was absolutely NO talk of the paid services provided (so you aren’t given any sort of sales pitch while you are there). Current topics for the technology classes include the following:

• Windows 8
• What’s New with Apps
• Different Operating Systems
• How to Watch TV on you Phone

Definitely check out your nearest Solution Central at Best Buy to learn some great new tips and tricks or to get some help with questions you have about products you already own.

Just don’t be surprised if you find your significant other sneaking over to the Wii station for a quick game!

 I have been compensated for my time conducting this review in the form of a Best Buy gift card. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.