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48. Best Buy CEO was talking about himself

Tue Mar 5, 2013, 04:12 PM

Mar 2013

Yet another reminder that you can't always believe what you read: Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune story left the wrong impression that the CEO of Best Buy described employees as "disposable." The fact is (and the quote below makes clear), he was talking about himself.

Here is the actual, full quote:

“In a turnaround transformation, direction needs to come from the top. I make sure to get to a conclusion based on fact. You need to feel disposable as opposed to indispensable.”

"Direction from the top" is, of course, a reference to himself. "I make sure to get to a conclusion based on fact" is the second reference to himself. Finally, "you need to feel disposable as opposed to indispensable" is clearly the third reference to himself. It is not yet clear why the local paper would interpret this quote in any other way then the way in which it was intended. When I find out I will let you know.

Matt Furman
Best Buy

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Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly: Workers should feel disposable, not indispensable [View all] Aquavit Mar 2013 OP

Maybe that's why I feel so uncomfortable in his stores. aquart Mar 2013 #1

Or it could be the echoes of no customers. Best Buy is in a death spiral ... SomeGuyInEagan Mar 2013 #79

It's a horrible place to shop. aquart Mar 2013 #86

In a just world, CEOs would feel the same way... nt Buns_of_Fire Mar 2013 #2

^^^^THIS!!^^^^^^^^^^^^ HereSince1628 Mar 2013 #5

They do... Aquavit Mar 2013 #12

Good point uponit7771 Mar 2013 #85

That attitude Dyedinthewoolliberal Mar 2013 #3

^^^___^^^ this nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #24

Hell yes! daleanime Mar 2013 #43

"Shouldn't feel indisposed." Prism Mar 2013 #4

That might require them to make a dent in their $16 billion annual profits! Initech Mar 2013 #8

They need that $16 billion! Prism Mar 2013 #13

They work on commission EC Mar 2013 #19

Incorrect Aquavit Mar 2013 #30

No, they don't. They barely get more than minimum wage. LeftyMom Mar 2013 #31

So explain to me how a 30 second interaction with an employee generates a comission? Earth_First Mar 2013 #32

Commission was long gone years ago olddots Mar 2013 #109

LOL!!! beachgirl2365 Mar 2013 #53

So these assholes finally admit it. Where do we get the pitchforks and torches again? Initech Mar 2013 #6

Walmart I think has some Leslie Valley Mar 2013 #27

From China. WinkyDink Mar 2013 #72

Here you go. Union Scribe Mar 2013 #97

I'll make it a point to stay away from BB even more than I have previously. lpbk2713 Mar 2013 #7

Same here. EOTE Mar 2013 #18

Mr. Tact he's not but there's truth to what he says jmowreader Mar 2013 #9

This doesn't affect retail operations.... Aquavit Mar 2013 #22

Indeed. He's not a native speaker of English. gravante Mar 2013 #135

I've been working continuously since I was 16. aristocles Mar 2013 #10

There's a difference between 'no one'...... daleanime Mar 2013 #45

It's sad if that's what you've learned after so many years. DaveJ Mar 2013 #54

Actually, what you should have learned,... Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2013 #56

The time you believe you are indispensable is when they dispense of you. aristocles Mar 2013 #61

I know someone who said he was the guy everyone went to over the supervisor.... Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2013 #66

I've seen this too Aquavit Mar 2013 #103

I've mentioned this before and it fits here.... Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2013 #105

I agree but Protalker Mar 2013 #65

I would argue that a responsible owner Nevernose Mar 2013 #94

work isn't happy play time datasuspect Mar 2013 #116

I don't think that's the issue adieu Mar 2013 #131

Message auto-removed zmbrgy Mar 2013 #11

I smell a whole lot of bullshit in this post... Earth_First Mar 2013 #29

Report me to Penn & Teller n/t aristocles Mar 2013 #34

No problem Mr. CEO, we humans feel disposable Rex Mar 2013 #14

Yeah, Our People Are Our Greatest Asset. jsr Mar 2013 #15

he's not special, pretty much every CEO feels that way... KG Mar 2013 #16

Well, Hubie, you just lost my business for life, fucko. HughBeaumont Mar 2013 #17

I'm going to contact this jerk. Skidmore Mar 2013 #20

Buy refurbished...Apple, Dell, HP whatever.....save hundreds of dollars n/t aristocles Mar 2013 #26

I build my own computers. I will never deal with Geek Squad or Staples. Initech Mar 2013 #106

COSTCO will be your best bet harvey1941 Mar 2013 #130

Best Buy is good for one thing. Fuddnik Mar 2013 #21

After being followed my the resident meat-heads Kencorburn Mar 2013 #47

Lol I couldn't afford to shop at his store to begin with now I wouldn't period Arcanetrance Mar 2013 #23

He said what they're all thinking... joeybee12 Mar 2013 #25

oh I already feel disposable....(i don't work for best buy) Fresh_Start Mar 2013 #28

That's not news. Most of their employees work there for less than a year. LeftyMom Mar 2013 #33

Adding it to Whole Foods wryter2000 Mar 2013 #35

adding this place onto my list of not too shop/eat at. diabeticman Mar 2013 #36

This is what we need! CrispyQ Mar 2013 #112

I have been doing this for decades--starting with all the states that refused to ratify ERA niyad Mar 2013 #113

Companies hate nothing more than an indispensible employee Orrex Mar 2013 #37

If you treat your employees like crap how do you think they will treat your customers? BrotherIvan Mar 2013 #38

WTF- their workers started a ROWE program (work from home) and bettyellen Mar 2013 #39

Try that with our "employees." Igel Mar 2013 #40

Wow. Really? Aquavit Mar 2013 #92

Nice post, Mr. Joly Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #111

Sure, ask Circuit City how well that attitude worked out ThoughtCriminal Mar 2013 #41

I was just going to post the same thing Mnpaul Mar 2013 #44

he should be disposable noiretextatique Mar 2013 #42

He's probably just another conservative Obama hater deliberately thumbing his nose in defiance Populist_Prole Mar 2013 #46

Best Buy CEO was talking about himself BestBuyPR Mar 2013 #48

Really? Best Buy PR GiveMeFreedom Mar 2013 #55

At least they're honest about their intentions Renew Deal Mar 2013 #84

Not sure if Matt Furman ellisonz Mar 2013 #87

Feel free to post the full text of his remarks at your convenience hatrack Mar 2013 #88

this sounds like him to be honest with you BellaLuna Mar 2013 #99

Thanks for a link to prove you didn't just make that up! Rex Mar 2013 #124

Welp, I'm done shopping at best buy. n/t Kurska Mar 2013 #49

Why the false dichotomy? caseymoz Mar 2013 #50

And I suppose this asshole thinks he's indispensable? raccoon Mar 2013 #51

He doesn't care..he'll walk away with the fat payoff BellaLuna Mar 2013 #96

What a prick. Taverner Mar 2013 #52

this is why i don't feel badly using his stores as a showroom.. frylock Mar 2013 #57

An asshole, just like his predecessors geardaddy Mar 2013 #58

Well now that will be my Best Bye Bye!!! malaise Mar 2013 #59

What an idiot. Best Buy has impressed me lately, and I'm not easily impressed Schema Thing Mar 2013 #60

doesn't the CEO (or owner) have some constitutional right rurallib Mar 2013 #62

This. Aquavit Mar 2013 #78

Nice little distortion you got there. In context: "[does] not apply to Best Buy�s store employees" DRoseDARs Mar 2013 #63

I'm not distorting at all! Aquavit Mar 2013 #69

Get ready, workers, Bainbridge Bear Mar 2013 #64

Now I really have an excuse to stay out of Best buy. Go to Frys instead they'e privately owned and kimbutgar Mar 2013 #67

This is why we need to start going more towards cooperatives that are employee owned. Cleita Mar 2013 #68

"After an investor presentation" moondust Mar 2013 #70

Looky, Best Buy cares what DU thinks. geardaddy Mar 2013 #71

I wish CEOs were disposed of regularly. nt valerief Mar 2013 #73

Sounds like more "showrooming" is in order n/t durablend Mar 2013 #74

Same way they view their customers in my experience riqster Mar 2013 #75

Haven't been there The Wizard Mar 2013 #76

Never again Rider3 Mar 2013 #77

As a Tech (and other techs I know) ..we don't buy shit from Best Buy. Their "Rocketfish" brand of BlueJazz Mar 2013 #80

Bingo Downtown Hound Mar 2013 #81

One of my customers told me that one time, a Best Buy saleswoman told her.. BlueJazz Mar 2013 #82

I had a friend who worked for Geek Squad Downtown Hound Mar 2013 #89

That's how I feel about Best Buy. City Lights Mar 2013 #83

That's the same way I feel about stores toddwv Mar 2013 #90

All I can say is Budgies Revenge Mar 2013 #91

He must think he is in China.. AsahinaKimi Mar 2013 #93

I used to work under him in a company owned by Vivendi a while ago. BellaLuna Mar 2013 #95

After actually reading the article.. BellaLuna Mar 2013 #98

I don't give a shit attitude B Calm Mar 2013 #100

As a former union rep.... Jasana Mar 2013 #101

I believe Best Buy Jenoch Mar 2013 #102

Only shopped there once - never again. alittlelark Mar 2013 #104

Best Buy Fading Fast kurt_cagle Mar 2013 #107

that is the problem Skittles Mar 2013 #108

Meh -- I've felt that way for most of my working life. AngryOldDem Mar 2013 #110

BB sucks. Their service sucks, probably due to the fact of how they treat their employees. we can do it Mar 2013 #114

Attitude flows downstream in a corporation. I remember a business owner that would verbally alfredo Mar 2013 #117

True, and just how much motivation does one have at minimum wage and hateful management? we can do it Mar 2013 #118

Treat your employees like shit and they will return the favor. alfredo Mar 2013 #121

any wonder why they are doing the slow death spiral? nt Javaman Mar 2013 #115

This is the inherent problem with American business.... Swede Atlanta Mar 2013 #119

I wrote to Best buy and received a response Marrah_G Mar 2013 #120

Start with the CEO, Pay him a miserable $10 / hr until he does job better! on point Mar 2013 #122

Another A-hole CEO exposes himself. HCE SuiGeneris Mar 2013 #123

I won't purchase ANYTHING from Best Buy. Never. Ever. Auggie Mar 2013 #125

As an IT professional, I've bought tonnes of products from BB. Rex Mar 2013 #126

Wow! Rainngirl Mar 2013 #127

Corporations should feel equally disposable. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2013 #128

Yes. Corporations have come to believe that they should be guaranteed Skidmore Mar 2013 #132

With that attitude adieu Mar 2013 #129

Joly was misunderstood! gravante Mar 2013 #133

Mr Joly has been working for American companies since 1982 azurnoir Mar 2013 #134