re: Ann: JB HI-FI NOW to change the way Austr... Agree...

re: Ann: JB HI-FI NOW to change the way Austr... Agree takeprofits. I also conducted a bit of research today. As I was in town, I visited the 3 city stores in Brisbane. The first,in Adelaide St at about 10 am, had a steady stream of customers- tho nothing spectacular. It featured a range of TV panels, plus all the other regular items. The staff anticipated it would get busier during the day

The second store, just off the mall was frenetic. The staff I spoke to characterised it as being 'crazy', and having been so all week. Lots of people purchasing. Range of items, but, as it was a downstairs store, no flat screens. They anticipated it would get even busier during the day and over next week. The third store, further down Queen St, was off the pace and had been fairly quiet all week- tho they were almost out of x-boxes and had had a steady demand for i pads.

All of these stores had the new music streaming subscriptions available, but the uptake had not been big as yet. Needs further promotion imv. Heaps of potential tho- and the prices, at $25 per month, $50 for 3 months and $80 for 6 months of unlimited downloads, are very reasonable.

Later in the day, I visited the suburban Indooroopilly store, and it was the busiest of the 4. Hectic. People were constantly purchasing, across a range of items.

The staff in all 4 stores were friendly, upbeat and pro-active.

I then went to the nearby mall and had a look at the Dick Smith store- quiet. Then the Harvey Norman store- busy, but the staff were more stand offish and less helpfull. The prices of the TVs were higher and overall sales seemed less dynamic.In general, the mall itself was very busy, and I did spot a few of those distinctive yellow JBH bags in people's hands as they shopped about.

Next week we have late night shopping all week, then the Boxing Day sales the week after. The second half may not be spectacular, but it will not be a disaster either. JBH looks to have oversold written all over it imo.