Target -- the big box retailer best known 'round these parts for its
preferential Blu-ray treatment (back in the day, of course) and its infatuation with
releasing new Xbox 360s
early -- is finally diving head first into the home installation realm. Not content to just let competitors rake in all that extra cash for simply following a customer home and plugging in
a few wires, the outfit has teamed up with Zip Express Installation to offer home install packages anytime a consumer makes a "large CE purchase." Furthermore, Target.com shoppers will soon be graced with a notification that their shiny new HDTV can be delivered and installed by professionals should they so choose, with services starting at $129 and ranging from TV setup, wall mounting, home theater arrangement, computer networking and furniture assembly. We have all ideas most of you will just brush this off, but don't be alarmed to hear that your grandmother just threw down some extra cash for a nice young man in a bulls eye-emblazoned uniform to setup her new gear.
[Image courtesy of
JSOnline]
posted Aug 4th 2008 5:13AM
Fully equipped? You do realize that this isn't done by Target employees, right? Zip's been around for a while. More than capable for what the average Target customer (your average engadget reader doesn't buy their HDTV from Target) would want/need.
Great, does this mean we will see another service that is overpriced and will hire anyone who claims they can set a clock on a VCR (sync a iPod, install ram or whatever it is today) like GeekSquad or Firedog?
They can set a clock on a VCR? Daaaaang - they must have been in the industry for YEARS!
I would feel sorry for the poor installer that has to organize the cables behind my HT Rack. I think the floor behind my equipment was China's real inspiration for the new Beijing Olympic stadium.
Damn that's an old picture, you got Xbox signage and the guy is holding an original xbox in his hand.
Still Target offers 2 year extended warranty for a $1200 TV or $75 rather than the $300 other places charge.
Why would Target want to get involved in this type of customer service? I cant think of any home installer team from any of the big box retailers that have a good reputation.