[Eee Pad Transformer General] msbullock:
I need to state that I work for Best Buy, The post below is my opinion and does not necessarily reflect the thoughts and opinions of Best Buy. I am not trying to defend them, or blame them on this situation. I am trying to provide a different perspective to the situation that currently present.

I can see that a lot of people are holding this model change/difference against Best Buy. I would like to state some facts before my explanation

1.) Best Buy didn't

force

ASUS to do anything. By that I mean that Best Buy does not to my knowledge own a majority stock or assets of ASUS, have any power over the products they make, or who they are supply to.

2.) ASUS made the product.

3.) ASUS stamped the product with a different model number.

4.) ASUS packaged it as different model number on the box.

5.) ASUS then placed a different UPC code on the box, identifying two separate inventory quantities, not an update or changeover of existing inventory.

6.) The X and A items are not the "EXACT SAME". It may be identical hardware spec but it's stamped with a different model, and it's a different box that the items come in.

Here is how I believe this retail deal works:

(NOTE ALL BELOW EXAMPLES, MODELS, NUMBERS, AND NAMES ARE FICTIONAL AND ARE FOR EXPECTATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THEIR RESEMBLANCE TO EXISTING PRODUCTS, PRICES, AND SITUATIONS ARE ACCIDENTAL):

Let's say a vendor makes a product we'll call (Bumblebee-A10). They sell Bumblebee-A10 to a retailer for $380.00. That retailer turns around and sells Bumblebee for $400.00 as the vendor suggested MSRP.

Now the vendor is trying to increase popularity and demand, so they decide to promote a sale on Bumblebee. On a typical sale week the vendor pays for a spot in the retailers advertising, they advertise the product at $375.00. Now is the retailer taking a 5 dollar hit on every one they sell? Normally not, the vendor credits the $25 off their suggested MSRP for each unit the retailer sells during that week. (The credit would assumed to be enough that it does not make the product cost the retailer money; thus providing the retailer a reason get the product in front of the customers instead of holding it in a warehouse somewhere.)

Now Black Friday hits. Biggest sales day of the year! The vendor wants to sell Bumblebee for $250.00. On a typical sale week that would be a credit to the store of say $130. Can the vendor afford to do this same type of credit to the retailer? HECK NO! The vendor doesn't know, and isn't going to get exact numbers on how many units the retailer has on it's shelves. Let's say the vendor only wants to credit the retailer for 15,000 unit sold. If the retailer had a total of 20,000 units on hand there is a 5,000 unit difference that carries a price tag of $650,000!

So how can the vendor ensure that they can credit the retailer for only 15,000 Bumblebees and not be stuck with the additional $650k? And how can the retailer ensure they are not eating the cost of their existing inventory (again -$650,000!!!)? The vendor creates Bumblebee-X10, a product nearly identical to Bumblebee-A10. It will look and function the same so that people know it's a similar product and it will carry a similar demand. Now the vendor sets up this limited buy of 15,000 units for the retailer and says that we are selling these to you at a special price. Instead of selling them to the retailer for A10's $380.00; they sell 15,000 Bumblebee-X10's to the retailer for $250.00 a piece.

Now the vendor ensures that they are covering the promotion of only 15,000 units instead of 20,000 units. The retailer now ensures that they have a different UPC and model number so they are not eating the cost of the 5,000 units they have sitting on the shelves.

It's nothing more than a big game of protect your ass(ets), after all, I don't know of a successful electronics company (vendor or retail) that operates in a non-profit model.

If you've followed along this far, I thank you for reading my opinion and understanding and explanation of how these similar models spawn. Let me know your thoughts and Opinions.