SHOPPERS GET WISE TO BEST BUY PROMPTING A NEW PRICE STRATEGY

For years, Best Buy was doing fine with its tactical pricing strategy. Yes, its regular prices were high, but the chain would offer blowout discounts on specific items to entice customers. The promotional strategy worked well, especially when Circuit City imploded.

But now shoppers are getting wise. They price-check on their smart phones. They know what deal they want. And they know that items will eventually get into Best Buy's sale rotation. So they wait.

Shoppers are so smart, in fact, that Best Buy is questioning its entire pricing strategy. "Why do we carry inventory when we train consumers only to buy it" on sale, executive Mike Vitelli asked at a recent staff meeting, Bloomberg reports. MSNMONEY