Best Buy Has No Sense of Humor, Wants to Fire Employee Over YouTube Video
Best Buy Has No Sense of Humor, Wants to Fire Employee Over YouTube Video
Posted 07/01/2010 at 3:50pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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Young Brian Maupin of Kansas City made a hilarious video on YouTube that over a million people viewed (check out the vid here). The only problem is that Brian also works at Best Buy, and Best Buy has no sense of humor. The videos in question poke a little fun at Apple and the iPhone. Best Buy feels the video disparages a product that it sells, as well as the electronics retailer itself. Heaven forbid your employees have opinions about gadgets that they express in their spare time. Brian is now suspended indefinitely and is probably on the way to unemployment.
The most popular video has a customer at "Phone Mart" insisting that the only phone he (or she, the cartoon is indistinct) wants is the iPhone. Even after being told the Evo 4G could print money and grant wishes, the customer still wanted the iPhone because it has "the Wi-Fis". The weird thing here is that the videos say nothing about Best Buy, and Brian does not announce himself as a Best Buy employee. Indeed, the only connection Best Buy has to these videos is the one it has created for itself by perusing this. Maupin is taking the whole thing in stride saying, " I see it all as a blessing in disguise. I’ve wanted to start my career in graphic design/animation for so long, I see this as my kick in the pants to go get it."
Brian suspects Best Buy figured out who he was by digging through his other videos, which he removed at Best Buy's request. He refused to remove the Evo vs iPhone video as it had nothing to do with Best Buy. We wish him the best in his future video endeavors, and shake our collective fist at Best Buy.
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MRrelabled
July 02, 2010 at 2:59pm
I'm sure it will look good on a resume, no not really
but then again with all the fkdup sales people maybe he'll be in customer service.
I thought it was funny the first few times, now I just think it's sad because these are the attitudes of the sales people these days. They tell you what they think you should buy and you're stupid if you disagree.I guess this is how Madoff got his start, thinking people are just stupid nuisances.
Boze
July 04, 2010 at 7:34pm
Most of the younger sales people aren't completely brainwashed into thinking that the iPhone is the best smartphone on the market.
I worked retail at Office Depot during the late 90s and I can tell you with no reservations that the average person *is* a stupid nuisance. The average person doesn't even know what they need, or why they need it. They saw an ad on television, or their "friend" told them about it, or their "uncle" has one, etc. I loved my job because: 1) Tech sales were commission based (at 1.5% of each dollar sold) and 2) I was in high school and my store manager would schedule me for weekends only. I love tech, I've always loved tech, and with that love comes an objective view of the "best" product. The most user-friendly, the best value, the most sturdy design, etc. I would read as many trade magazines as I could, pour over reviews on the web, and listen to professionals discuss the products (if possible).
Unless you're willing to do as much research as a tech-savvy salesperson is, or more, then shut up and take their advice. If you're not wiling to do the research yourself, then you have no right to complain when they offer their usually well-informed opinion.
And "because its popular" "because everyone has one" "because its cool" is a moronic reason to buy *anything*, and its precisely the reason most people buy an iPhone. 4 years ago, I would agree that the iPhone was easier to use than any other smartphone... compared nowadays to offerings from HTC and other vendors, the iPhone is a joke.
cgamer
July 02, 2010 at 10:16am
I expect that the actual reason for firing will not be the video. True, freedom of speech does not apply when at a company on their grounds or using their systems. They own it and not you. But to fire a person for a video produced such as this, is a lawsuit plain and simple.
It is highly likely that this person has already had "issues" at work, which Best Buy WILL NOT mention due to privacy concerns. Companies have HR & lawyers who are not stupid enough to do something as simple as this article states.
But it is a good way to stir up the masses.
Apple is dead. Long live Apple.
frizzly
July 02, 2010 at 9:55am
I personally didnt find the video funny. but thats probobly becouse I actually know someone like that. But, the guy didnt have his name or Best Buy evan mentioned. So they shouldnt be able to do anything about it. Apple or AT&T may be able to sue him or something. but the fact that they are not just makes Best Buy look evan worse.
Frizzly Mejere
"Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."
Lummoxx
July 02, 2010 at 5:23am
When you're slogging through the dusty back room, trying to hump out that massive refrigerator that weighs as much as a truck, all the while being berated by the customer who knows it all, and a manager who doesn't know crap, all for barely more than minimum wage, that some cubicle dweller at the corporate offices who makes 4x (or more!) than you has nothing better to do than to figure out that you're the poor schmuck who dared make a funny video (that doesn't even mention or imply the company!), and tries to get you fired...in this economy.
Yeah, real nice. Just reinforces why I haven't bought anything from Best Buy in years, and why this policy of mine will remain in effect for what looks like eternity.
Shrody
July 01, 2010 at 10:56pm
I keep hearing about taking bullying out of grade schools but I keep seeing more and more big companies putting the royal smack-down on the average Joe. How backasswards is our world?
Sonickid101
July 01, 2010 at 6:56pm
These videos about best buy are even older and funnier check them out FYI I also got fired from best buy for stupid BS got fired for brining an ipod into work stupid yes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58kQGLv03PU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G7brcoPg7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o-IQCM88s4
chipbowl300
July 01, 2010 at 6:40pm
This video was so hilarious and true, not just with the products but with the general public. It shows how Apple has basically brainwashed the public into liking this brand. And as the one cartoon puts it "they could take a brick and call it an iPhone" For example, I used to work at Circuit City, before it closed, and I would sell MP3 players, I'd tell customers the differences between iPods and Zunes for instance, and many customers, even after me telling them in some cases that the Zune is better than the iPod, the customer went with the iPod "because that is what my son/daughter wants". That is what I heard so often. It didn't matter what I told them. The mass general public has been fucking brainwashed by Apple and its BULLSHIT!
athlon11
July 01, 2010 at 7:28pm
I went with the iPod because it had a bigger HDD and it is more compatible for other things, like car stereos. Doe sthis mean its the best MP3 player, fuck no, not even close to the best, but I have basically been forced to buy it if I want compatibility because it is by far the most popular.
violian
July 01, 2010 at 7:50pm
Yeah, I totally agree with you. The ZuneHD is better than the iPod Touch spec-wise - so I ended up getting the ZuneHD. It's been 6+ months now since I've had it, and I was more happy with my old iTouch that I had already sold. For an example - since its release date, the ZuneHD still only has ~10 apps! I can never get the latest music from Zune Marketplace - I'd usually have to wait an additional 4-6 weeks after a song is released to get it through Zune (I have a ZunePass that for the life of me, have been trying to cancel 3+ times already to no avail). Whereas when I got to iTunes, it's right there and available. Conclusion: better specs does NOT equal better product - there are way too many examples and I have no time to spell it out.
I Jedi
July 01, 2010 at 5:38pm
Best f*cking tech video ever... Honestly, way to go to this guy. And who the hell would shop at Best Buy? Over-priced bs anyways.
MRrelabled
July 01, 2010 at 5:36pm
Just the begining
http://www.youtube.com/user/tinywatchproductions#p/a/u/0/UAOtC9QfXac
Gutter96
July 01, 2010 at 5:32pm
That's the funniest thing I've seen all day! "It has the Wi-Fis & bigger GBs!" Screw you Best Buy and Apple too! Why can't you both just grow up & see what tools you all are! XD
violian
July 01, 2010 at 7:59pm
This is just business. Many electronic retailers gets compensated from the likes of Apple and Microsoft (to name a few) to train their employees to "promote" their products. I've known Best Buy employees, and they know this. So if you're out there bashing your "business partners" - well, I needn't explain. Best Buy could then be liable from Apple for holding on to the employee. Life moves on - there are plenty of retail jobs out there. Live and learn.
mkarias1
July 01, 2010 at 5:20pm
This was the best video I have seen in a long time. Screw Best Buy for firing this guy. Boycott that shitty overpriced store.
MRrelabled
July 01, 2010 at 5:16pm
I guess it was made using State so there really no talent there, it's just the first of more to come.
MdX MaxX
July 01, 2010 at 5:08pm
I must have watched this at least five times, and I laughed hard every single time.
Until this story popped up, the thought of "Phone Mart" representing Best Buy didn't even cross my mind.
And note how they didn't even mention the inverse of this video, which dissed the Evo. It was made by the same guy. I'm sure Apple had something to do with this. I'm not placing 100% of the blame on Best Buy just yet.
I had better go download this before it gets forced off YouTube.
bigm0ney13
July 01, 2010 at 4:34pm
This the funniest thing ever. I have never laughed this hard in my entire life. Apple probably pressured Best Buy into firing him. LMAO.
cc3d
July 01, 2010 at 4:29pm
Freedom of speech does not apply to employment. People always get that wrong.
However, if this guy needs a job, I'll hire him. I've got a sense of humor.
arch20002013
July 01, 2010 at 4:28pm
I watched this last night and could not stop laughting through it. I had to watch it again and heard a few things that I missed that were funny. It is a very poor idea that best buy is thinking of firing him for this. Just another reason why I do not like best buy and do my best to not buy from them. I even have a best buy less than 5min from me and would rather travel 15min to the nearest Frys. I wish Circuit City was still around. They were the best buy arond town. No best buy has no competion and can continue to charge out the ass.
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big_montana
July 02, 2010 at 3:42am
Circuit City still exists as an online store only. Tiger Directs parent company purchased both Circuit City and CompUSA (they have since re-opened 40 CompUSA's and may open Circuit City retial outlets as well depends on well they do with CompUSA).
TechW
July 01, 2010 at 4:18pm
Best Buy's response to this video is a best infantile. And once again, we have a situation where nobody would have thought of Best Buy at all until they made a big stink about it. They should keep this creative employee and put him in marketing and fire the idiots that pursued this.
JMG760
July 01, 2010 at 4:09pm
Whatever happen to Freedom of Speech, etc? 2 Thumps UP, good video and also a good point of view on what type of people support apple; instead of being the type of person that will think crtitically before making a wise investment.
albe23
July 01, 2010 at 4:00pm
Even Best Buy is a buch of Appholes. Crappy people at crappy prices...Best Buy.
"Force has no place where there is need of skill." - Herodotus (484 BC -
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