Best Buy completes mobile store rollout

MINNEAPOLIS Best Buy announced that it has completed the nationwide rollout of Best Buy Mobile. According to the company, the conversion of 965 U.S. stores to Best Buy Mobile was finished three months ahead of schedule.

“Customers let us know quickly that they dreaded shopping for a mobile phone anywhere in the United States, whether with us or anyone else. Wireless customers are asking for more choice and more attention to their individual needs, and our new concept provides that,” said Shawn Score, president of Best Buy Mobile. “Where the new experience has been available, our customer satisfaction scores are through the roof – a direct result of the dedication and cooperation of thousands of employees in our stores and our corporate office to develop this unique and exciting set of customer choices and experiences.” 

Best Buy Mobile was created as a joint venture with leading U.K. mobile retailer CarPhone Warehouse (CPW); the chain-wide conversion began in October 2006 and was completed this week, including more than 250,000 hours of intensive employee training, based largely on CPW’s industry-leading training programs in the United Kingdom.

In May 2008, Best Buy and CPW agreed to form a new venture to expand the CPW and Best Buy brands throughout Europe, with Best Buy acquiring a 50 percent stake in CPW’s European retail operations.