MINNEAPOLIS –
Best Buy has added a
third-party marketplace to its e-commerce site.
The addition of third-party sellers — a strategy
that has also been employed by
,
, Walmart and Sears, among other
merchants — will expand Best Buy’s online assortment
by about a third in time for the holiday
selling season.
Offerings are “complementary” to Best Buy’s
existing online assortment, the retailer said, and
will be integrated throughout
.
During a second-quarter earnings call, CEO
Brian Dunn said Best Buy will collect a sales
commission on each transaction, and that the
program will expand the company’s online assortment
and range of price points as it looks
to double its web revenue over the next three
to five years.
is among eight initial sellers within
the Best Buy Marketplace, along with ANT Online,
Beach Audio, Cameta Camera, Electronic
Express, Mambate, SF Planet and Wayfair.
Each has “a strong track record of superior customer
service and satisfaction,” the CE chain
said, while new sellers will be evaluated against
a set of standards including their tenure in business,
overall customer satisfaction, order-cancellation
history and back-order history.
Items fulfilled by third-party sellers are clearly
indicated on the site, and share the same shopping
cart and checkout process as Best Buy
inventory. Sellers handle shipment and returns,
and are responsible for collecting taxes where
applicable.
Purchases are backed by a “Marketplace
Guarantee” to ensure customer satisfaction,
Best Buy said. The guarantee is not a product
guarantee or warranty, but a commitment to
work with the seller and “take reasonable steps”
to resolve product or service issues. Purchases
from Marketplace sellers will also earn Best Buy
Reward Zone loyalty points for customers.
“Best Buy Marketplace is a key development
to our multichannel platform,” Dunn said in a
statement. “As we continue to grow our online
business, Best Buy Marketplace is an element
that enables consumers to shop how they want
and encourages additional reasons to visit and
purchase at
.”
John Thompson, senior VP and general
manager of online operations, added that “increased
assortment of products, brands and
price points is exactly what people have told us
they want,” while Neel Grover, president/CEO
of
, said, “We’re happy to be among
the first to open up new sales opportunities
through this partnership with Best Buy.”
