DSGi running scared of Best Buy

DSGi has locked down its sales figures on core products as it looks to hide vital information from emergent retail giant Best Buy – leaving GfK-ChartTrack with no
choice but to ban the firm from its panel.

The retailer, which owns PC World, Currys and Dixons, told GfK-ChartTrack last week that it could only submit ten per cent of its weekly sales data, and that it would not release any information about PC hardware, software and peripherals.

However, GfK-ChartTrack told MCV that fellow retailers have been warned and are satisfied with its decision.

GfK-ChartTrack MD John Pinder told MCV: DSGi has a new policy about restricting data to external agencies. They only wanted to give us around ten per cent of their data, which was for areas in which they’re not very strong.

They didn’t want people knowing the sales of their core product. We can’t allow retailers to pick and choose what they show us – otherwise we’ll end up with a chart of the worst-selling products rather than the best-selling. We’re obviously disappointed we have had to drop them from our panel as they’re well known in games.”

MCV contacted DSGi to ask if their decision had been a direct reaction to Best Buy’s imminent arrival in the UK. An official spokesperson said that the retailer did not comment on rumour and speculation regarding our commercial relationships.”

However, a source close to DSGi admitted that the firm felt exposed” by the figures – and that it was concerned by Best Buy’s ability to monitor its weekly sales.