1) Best Buy is thelargest consumer electronics retailer in the United States, with 2015 sales ofnearly $50 billion. The company competes aggressively on price with such rivalsas Costco Wholesale, Sam’s Club, Walmart, and Target, but it is also known byconsumers for its first-rate customer service. Best Buy customers havecommented that the retailer’s sales staff is exceptionally knowledgeable aboutthe company’s products and can direct them to the exact location ofdifficult-to-find items. Best Buy customers also appreciate that demonstrationmodels of PC monitors, MP3 players, phone mobiles and other electronics arefully powered and ready for in-store use. Best Buy’s Geek Squad tech supportand installation services are additional customer service features that arevalued by many customers. How would you characterize Best Buy’s competitivestrategy? Should it be classified as a low-cost provider strategy? A differentiationstrategy? A best-cost strategy? Explain your answer.
