Best Buy's decision to test its Geek Squad services at 28 Target stores in the Denver area left some people scratching their heads. A discussion and poll on RetailWire in August showed significantly more seeing a benefit in the arrangement for Target than Best Buy.
Now come reports that the Geek Squad is branching out again, this time on eBay, with Geek Squad service plans being offered for three months ($29.99) and six months ($49.99). Consumers who purchase one of the Geek Squad plans can get around-the-clock service via the phone, online or in Best Buy stores.
The deal with eBay (neither company announced financial details) comes as Best Buy continues its push to expand the reach of its service organization. According to Bloomberg News, eBay provides a potential market from 100 million active users.
"They're trying to make Geek Squad a ubiquitous, standalone brand that stands for great help around your technical problems," Stephen Baker, an analyst at The NPD Group, told Bloomberg.