Best Buy employee suspended after posting snarky videos poking fun at iPhone zealots

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Worker in trouble for snarky iPhone-Evo video

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Brian Maupin made two snarky online videos poking fun at zealots of the iPhone and the Evo phone, he thought it was just a good way to vent some of the frustrations inherent in selling smart phones.

His employer, Best Buy, thought otherwise, even though the retailer, which sells both phones, isn’t mentioned in either video. The company was mentioned, though, in videos Maupin had made earlier.

Maupin, who’s been selling phones at a Best Buy store in Independence since 2007, said Friday he was suspended from his part-time job after posting two YouTube videos that slam fans of Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4 and HTC Corp.’s Evo 4G.

Maupin, 25, said he was told Thursday he had a “choice to either quit or the HR people can decide what they want to do.” He said he would not quit and was told he could be fired over the matter.

The flap arose after Best Buy found out about two short animated videos Maupin made. The videos depict a “Phone Mart” salesman extolling the virtues of the Evo to an iPhone devotee, who can’t be talked out of the decision to buy an iPhone. The salesman, using loads of expletives, continues to try to show the Evo as a superior product.

“I don’t care,” the iPhone wonk says repeatedly.

That video has so far gotten more than 1.6 million views. Maupin, who said he doesn’t have a “vendetta against iPhones,” made a follow-up video targeting Evo buyers. That video, which had racked up nearly 340,000 views, holds up the iPhone as the better device.

Maupin said the company was also upset by earlier videos he had made pointing out some of the travails that come with selling small electronics — think warranties and less-than-brilliant customers. Those videos did mention Best Buy, and Maupin said he has taken them down after the company complained. Those videos weren’t widely seen at first, but drew more attention after the iPhone-Evo videos were posted.

“The earlier ones were just kind of inside jokes. Crazy customers,” he said. “They took it that I was bashing the company, and stockholders were going to be upset.”

Best Buy spokesman Justin Barber said in an e-mail Friday that the company was still deciding how to proceed with Maupin, whom he called an “aspiring filmmaker.”

“This is an important situation for us because it involves balancing our social media guidelines with a commitment to creating a supportive environment for our employees,” Barber said. “That’s why our investigation into this matter will take some time before it’s concluded, and why we look forward to seeing Brian back on the job come Monday.”

Maupin, who uses a Palm Pre, said he didn’t mean any harm with the videos.

“All the entry-level people thought it was hilarious,” he said. “Maybe corporate should laugh at themselves.”

He said he appreciates hearing about Best Buy’s careful consideration of the matter, though the company had not contacted him Friday. Yet he said he’s not sure he’ll be back on the job Monday. He said he’s been looking for a new job for awhile — and now has the full motivation to do so.