BEST BUY SUCKS!!!

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by wade moore

Well, and just again from a common sense standpoint, when it comes time to fulfill your contract I have to imagine (sounds like Vinatieri knows better than me) that you're fighting a tough battle to prove what you were told. If we just based legal cases on what people say they were told, that is a scary, scary America imo.

Yes, you are right that evidence of what was said is key. However, faced with a he said/she said, the judge or jury has to pick who to believe. I'm guessing many would believe the consumer.

But also too by the way, virtually every case comes down to what people say they were told. It thus always comes down to who the judge/jury believes.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Man, this thread just keeps going and going and going.

I hate BB and other stores that pull this crap. That's why I won't give a pass on it.

Plus, I'm trying to up my post count.

Anyways, seeing how you've had enough, I'm moving on.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Just to wrap this up...

I wrote a nice email to the Best Buy executives and it was forwarded by Brian Dunn's office to someone who could help me, and did.

I used the $329 to purchase an 80gb ipod. Best Buy is sending me a check for the extra $21.68 that I paid for the ipod, plus a gift certificate for $50.

I also got an apology.

I got one hell of a laugh too when they asked if I would like a three-year service plan on the ipod!

[Flasch186]

would you care to put your email, the one you wrote up here? out of curiosity sake.

[Joe]

I worked at best buy for a few months during college. yes, they suck.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

would you care to put your email, the one you wrote up here? out of curiosity sake.

No problem!

Mr. Dunn,

I have purchased many items from Best Buy and had never encountered
and major problems until now. In 2004 I purchased a Panasonic
DMR-E80H DVD recorder with built in hard drive. The salesman stressed
the importance of purchasing the PSP, claiming if the unit failed and
Best Buy could not repair it they would replace it with a new model
for an even exchange. I was skeptical of this claim and brought up
that the new model cost twice as much as I was paying for the floor
model. He informed me that the price of the replacement model would
not matter, since to effectively replace the unit would require
replacement with a model of comparable features. When I brought to
his attention that the extra $200 for the warranty would bring the
price close to the price of the new model he continued pressing how it
was still cheaper to purchase the older floor model with the four year
PSP, and repeated the claim of replacement with a comparable model
regardless of the cost. I did not purchase the PSP initially, but
called 888-BEST BUY a few days later for clarification on the terms of
the PSP. The representative was very nice and confirmed what the
salesman had said about the PSP. I purchased the PSP based on the
information given by your salesman and confirmed by the telephone
associate.

Two years later, upon failure of the unit I find the PSP had been
grossly misrepresented by both associates. Had I been aware the PSP
would not replace the unit in the event of failure, but would provide
the sale price in credit toward another purchase I would never have
paid an additional $200 for a PSP on a unit that cost $329.
Unfortunately I based my purchase of the PSP on incorrect information
provided by your associates.

Once I had been informed my unit would not be repaired, but an
exchange would take place I called 888-BEST BUY to speak with customer
service in regard to my exchange options, since I found Best Buy does
not carry the current comparable Panasonic model in the U.S. I asked
about the remaining two years on the PSP and whether they could be
transferred to any model I would accept in trade and was informed that
it was nontransferable, but that since there was two years left I
would receive a prorated portion of the value in credit. I have since
found this to be incorrect also.

I had the opportunity to speak with the store manager, Todd. He
offered an exchange for a model listed on your website for $499 if I
would pay the difference. Todd did not even acknowledge an
understanding of my problem with the misrepresentation of the PSP and
his attitude was extremely condescending, increasing my frustration
with this entire process. I informed him I found paying extra for a
model I wouldn't purchase in the first place unacceptable. He then
generously offered to take an additional $50 off the $499 for me,
which turned out not to be as generous an offer as he made appear
since the model is on sale on the website for the same price he was
willing to offer.

Once again I called 888-BEST BUY in an attempt to determine what my
options were, since the only option offered at the store was $329 in
store credit, which I could use toward a different model. The
associate was very nice and offered to split the difference, sending
me a $65 gift card. Her supervisor (Augie) then informed me I would
have to purchase the model before I would receive the $65 in yet more
store credit, not even toward the purchase price! With much of the
same disinterested, condescending tone as the manager he continually
repeated the same information and asked "Is there anything else I can
help you with?"

As it stands, I have had to pay $450 elsewhere to replace a model I
was misled to believe would be covered by the PSP sold by Best Buy.
If I had not been mislead into purchasing the PSP I would have my
original Panasonic unit, which was still usable with the exception of
the failed DVD burner drive (there was a fine HDD recorder in the unit
as well.) I would also have the $200 paid for the PSP, which could be
applied toward either repairing the unit, or purchasing the
replacement. All that has been offered by Best Buy is $329 in store
credit, which did nothing to replace the unit I purchased. I informed
the store I would have reluctantly accepted this amount if my unit
would be returned to me, but they reused that as well.

I hope you can understand why I am very upset over the original
misrepresentation of the PSP. In addition, I am extremely
dissatisfied with the complete lack of acknowledgement by any
associate of Best Buy (besides the one nice CSR) that there is a
problem. I do not wish for anything unfair in compensation, but would
like recognition that there is a problem. Until I receive any
acknowledgement I cannot accept the store credit as offered, as the
idea of shopping at a store that treats its customers in such a manner
is extremely unpleasant.


Thank you,

[jbmagic]

Did you send any documents with this letter?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Originally Posted by jbmagic

Did you send any documents with this letter?

Nope. The gentleman with whom I delt looked me up in their system and had everything.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

Just to wrap this up...

I wrote a nice email to the Best Buy executives and it was forwarded by Brian Dunn's office to someone who could help me, and did.

I used the $329 to purchase an 80gb ipod. Best Buy is sending me a check for the extra $21.68 that I paid for the ipod, plus a gift certificate for $50.

I also got an apology.

I got one hell of a laugh too when they asked if I would like a three-year service plan on the ipod!

Is it wrong that I'm hoping your ipod breaks?

[Ksyrup]

After all that, you settled for an extra $21 plus a throw-away gift certificate?

I'm sorry, but based on all of your posts in this thread, you were duty-bound to press for what you originally claimed was "owed" to you. Instead, you essentially confirmed what we all said you were due, plus you squeezed them for the "I'm a whiny bitch so they gave me this GC to shut the fuck up" door prize.

Looks like you won this one!!!

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

After all that, you settled for an extra $21 plus a throw-away gift certificate?

I'm sorry, but based on all of your posts in this thread, you were duty-bound to press for what you originally claimed was "owed" to you. Instead, you essentially confirmed what we all said you were due, plus you squeezed them for the "I'm a whiny bitch so they gave me this GC to shut the fuck up" door prize.

Looks like you won this one!!!

He can claim a moral victory.

[Ksyrup]

For what? He didn't get what he wanted or even an acknowledgement that he was right. He got the money they initially offered him and a little extra unrelated to his main argument about the warranty.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

After all that, you settled for an extra $21 plus a throw-away gift certificate?

I'm sorry, but based on all of your posts in this thread, you were duty-bound to press for what you originally claimed was "owed" to you. Instead, you essentially confirmed what we all said you were due, plus you squeezed them for the "I'm a whiny bitch so they gave me this GC to shut the fuck up" door prize.

Looks like you won this one!!!

I heart Ksyrup.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

For what? He didn't get what he wanted or even an acknowledgement that he was right. He got the money they initially offered him and a little extra unrelated to his main argument about the warranty.

guy answered his email.

that's something.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

guy answered his email.

that's something.

Yes, and on top of that he got approximately $400 in Best Buy Money that he has repeatedly told us in this thread is worthless to him since there's nothing at Best Buy he wants.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Yes, and on top of that he got approximately $400 in Best Buy Money that he has repeatedly told us in this thread is worthless to him since there's nothing at Best Buy he wants.

see, there's always a bright side to these things.

he said he got an apology. I'm sure it was a darned good one too.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Yes, and on top of that he got approximately $400 in Best Buy Money that he has repeatedly told us in this thread is worthless to him since there's nothing at Best Buy he wants.

Hey, I could buy 300 chicken sandwiches at McDonald's and get that too.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

To those who got a laugh and put me in the "whiny bitch" category...

Getting what I had been promised was not going to happen. They lied to me and I was stupid enough to think that information confirmed be another associate in another location was sufficient enough. I should have taken the time to sit down and prove the sales associate and the CSR liars, but I did not.

What infuriated me was that there was absolutely no acknowledgement bu anyone at Best Buy that I may have been naive, but right. I found it ridiculous that the best option according to them was to spend an extra $130 to purchase something I would not purchase in the first place.

If I had not recieved any response I would have accepted the $329 in credit just to put the whole thing in the past and get anything in return. If I could go back in time, I would have still purchased the same unit, but not the PSP.

There was nothing at Best Buy that I needed. Did I need the ipod? No. Would I have bought it on my own? No. But I at least got an acknowledgement from someone at Best Buy that luying about terms on a PSP is not appropriate, and I got better value on the PSP.

As for hoping that the ipod breaks, why not go a step further and wish a cripling back injury upon me that leaves me in almost constant pain?

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

see, there's always a bright side to these things.

he said he got an apology. I'm sure it was a darned good one too.

I would never doubt the sincerety of a 17 year old clerk

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

As for hoping that the ipod breaks, why not go a step further and wish a cripling back injury upon me that leaves me in almost constant pain?

Now that would just be piling on.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

As for hoping that the ipod breaks, why not go a step further and wish a cripling back injury upon me that leaves me in almost constant pain?

isn't there a few steps in-between? How about a coldache the next time you eat ice cream?

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

isn't there a few steps in-between? How about a coldache the next time you eat ice cream?

What the heck is a coldache? Brainfreeze?

[Desnudo]

yes, didn't realize it was a regional dialect

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

But I at least got an acknowledgement from someone at Best Buy that luying about terms on a PSP is not appropriate, and I got better value on the PSP.

Either you got an email that no one at Best Buy actually approved before it was sent, or you just took "we're sorry for your inconvenience and/or poor shopping experience" as something far more than it was meant to be.

But if you feel vindicated, I guess that's all that matters. To you.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by wade moore

What the heck is a coldache? Brainfreeze?

Yeah, I've always heard of it as brainfreeze or an ice cream headache.

SI

[Ksyrup]

May 25 2007 4:15 AM

Blumenthal sues Best Buy for 'bait-and-switch' tactics


By Dirk Perrefort
THE NEWS-TIMES

High-definition TVs are on display at a Best Buy store. Connecticut?s attorney general announced a lawsuit Thursday against the nation‘s largest consumer electronics retailer of deceiving customers with in-store computer kiosks and overcharging them.

DANBURY -- Some area residents who say they've been swindled by Best Buy said Thursday they will never shop at the electronics store again.

[Alan T]

Interesting article, I remember buying my Dvd player about a year ago due to it being on sale online at a great price. When I went into the store, they stated that the online store was a different "store" so to speak so they had different prices. I flat out told them if I couldn't buy it for the price they listed online then I wasn't going to buy it. The Sales person had to actually get management approval to mark it down to the price listed online, but they did and I took it home. Haven't had any problems or complaints with it since I bought it however.

[Ksyrup]

It is interesting because that's precisely how they operate - they are 2 different business entities. That's why you can order CDs through the website that the physical locations cannot get for you in-store. They either have them in stock, or you have to buy them through the the website. At least, that's how I've heard it explained numerous times.

And with electronics, they regularly post "online" prices that are different than the in-store prices...but I just assumed they were offering a better price in order to get me to do business online, not that they were trying to lure me into the store to unwittingly buy the same product for a higher cost...?

Where this gets sketchy is the fact that they are claiming them to be separate businesses, yet they have that online purchase/in-store pick-up service. So theoretically, you could get the online price but go pick it up in-store, whereas if you just went to the store, you'd pay a higher price.

[Butter]

I actually got them to refund me $50 on a TV a while back because their online price dropped on the item I bought less than a week after I bought it from the store. Had no problems. Have never really had any problems with BB.

[sterlingice]

And I'm sure the class action lawsuit where everyone gets 20% off coupons and the lawyers walk away with millions will be a win for everyone.

That said, BB needs to be taken to task for their shady business practices.

SI

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

I actually got them to refund me $50 on a TV a while back because their online price dropped on the item I bought less than a week after I bought it from the store. Had no problems. Have never really had any problems with BB.

I'm in the same boat - never really had a problem with BB specifically. I've run into my share of moron employees, but they're everywhere . I'll make sure to pay better attention to internet vs. in-store pricing now.

[BrianD]

I had a slight intervet/in-store pricing problem with BB, but I thought they eventually handled it well. I was planning on buying a new receiver and found one on sale online. I wanted it right away, so I ran down to the nearest store. The price was higher there and the cashier couldn't find the sale price online (it only showed up during the online checkout. He told me that I couldn't get the price I was asking for, but if I brought in proof of the sale, they would match the price. I printed out the online price and brought it in the next day. They did match the price.

[Fighter of Foo]

So that's where the bait & switch part comes in...

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by BrianD

I had a slight intervet/in-store pricing problem with BB, but I thought they eventually handled it well. I was planning on buying a new receiver and found one on sale online. I wanted it right away, so I ran down to the nearest store. The price was higher there and the cashier couldn't find the sale price online (it only showed up during the online checkout. He told me that I couldn't get the price I was asking for, but if I brought in proof of the sale, they would match the price. I printed out the online price and brought it in the next day. They did match the price.

Yeah, what I've noticed they do is not give you the price when you pull up the item, but tell you to put it in the "basket" and the price will show up there. But again, my thought on how that worked was that I was getting an online deal that I couldn't get at the store - I don't think they tell you that, but that's how I took it.

[Ksyrup]

Looking at their site right now, there are a couple of different ways they show prices:

Our Price: $37.99

Reg. Price: $399.99

On Sale Now:
See price in cart



Basically, I think the "regular price" they show is consistent with what you'd find in the store. But the items that show as being on sale, you get a better deal online than in the store. But nothing tells you that, at least not on the pages where you are shopping, and as I mentioned above, I think the issue they're going to have is explaining why I could get the sale price if I bought online and did in-store pick-up, as opposed to coming down to the store to buy. Are they going to argue that I'm using less of their resources (staff costs) by ordering online and picking up as opposed to coming into the store, talking to a clerk about what I want, taking it up to the checkout counter, etc.?

[BrianD]

Is it just me, or does none of what we have been talking about actually sound like bait-and-switch? I'm seeing lots of potentially false advertising, but nothing that constitutes bait-and-switch...or has that phrase changed to include all false advertising claims?

[Ksyrup]

That's true. The usual bait and switch would involve an advertised item that the store doesn't have in stock, but they offer you a more expensive alternative. This is just a possible misleading pricing issue. Although I guess you can use the terminology generically to refer to the misleading ad as the "bait" and the higher price as the "switch."

[BrianD]

Sorry. It probably really doesn't matter, but this has come up a few times recently (here and in other places), and it has been on my mind to say something.

[stevew]

I am so tired of pitching "protection plans." The pressure to sell is just unreal on them. On some things, maybe it makes sense, but a lot of times we'll be selling a 1800 dollar TV and it'll be 500 bucks. Like honestly, that makes no sense whatsoever, especially for just 3 years.
[/end rant]

[Karlifornia]

I used to defend BB..but I can't anymore. I may have posted this story in this thread or another BB-related one, but here it is again:

When I worked there, we were instructed to only sell ps2's or Xbox's to people who were willing to purchase the replacement plans and/or all the accessories. If they didn't want the replacement plan or any accessories, we were told to say that we were out of the consoles. This was all because detailed stats were kept of add-ons to every sale, and the higher our department ranked company-wide, the more bonuses and shit the sups would get. Ugh. In retrospect,Best Buy went against every fiber of my being.

[Ksyrup]

When did you work there?

[Passacaglia]

How could you possibly ask about replacement plans before telling people if they are in stock?

[st.cronin]

I don't shop at Best Buy because everything they sell is available somewhere else for a lower price. For Christmas, somebody gave us a BB gift certificate. We were pretty stumped on what to do with it, since their prices are so much higher than anybody elses - it just didn't feel right to use it, even though it didn't actually cost us anything..

[Ksyrup]

There was a great CD shop in Tallahassee that used to take any stores' gift cards. So I would take the BB gift cards I got for XMas and use them at that store to buy the hard-to-find CDs I knew I could get at BB.

[Karlifornia]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

How could you possibly ask about replacement plans before telling people if they are in stock?

It ain't that hard....they come in and ask about the Xbox....you try to add on stuff. They refuse, you say "Let me go grab one out of the stock room". You come back out "Sorry, it looks like we're actually fresh out. Gee whiz I'm so sorry!"

It's not exactly the hardest game to play.

[Karlifornia]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

When did you work there?

October of '03 to February of '05

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

It ain't that hard....they come in and ask about the Xbox....you try to add on stuff. They refuse, you say "Let me go grab one out of the stock room". You come back out "Sorry, it looks like we're actually fresh out. Gee whiz I'm so sorry!"

It's not exactly the hardest game to play.

People I work with, and even I will sometimes "walk" people if they want to buy unprofitable(read it doesn't pay us anything in commision) merchandise, and/or are not interested in a warranty. If the sale pays something, I don't usually care about the no warranty part. If you're close to the warranty "parity" factor though, I find myself less likely to sell anything at all. I mean, shit, I don't want to have to go in early on a sunday and sit through another warranty meeting. Basically for generations stores have thrived on the buisiness model off sell sell sell.....we seem to be moving towards sell, but it depends on other stuff.

[Ksyrup]

The business model is sell sell sell the profitable stuff. There are so many electronics/appliance dealers now, all with price guarantees, that the margins are too small to make much money strictly selling the merchandise. Warranties have become the true money-maker. Which is why I've got the clients I do. Money-making opportunity = legal business.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

And I'm sure the class action lawsuit where everyone gets 20% off coupons and the lawyers walk away with millions will be a win for everyone.

That said, BB needs to be taken to task for their shady business practices.

SI

Just to clarify. The real win for the customer is that BB will stop the practice and the payout's size will motivate them to stop future shit. And unless the lawyer can make some cash (after spending a ton of his own money with no guarantee of winning) fighting a corporate giant with deep pockets to spend on lawyers, he's never going to run with the case. And if he doesn't run with the case, then BB keeps on doing their shit, and every other retailer follows suit.

[sooner333]

I'm still not sure if I got screwed on my 10% off coupon for my TV I bought in January. They said that it wasn't valid since the product was at a "special price". I think it could have been legit, just because they scanned the coupon and the system rejected it. I almost didn't buy the TV, but I knew I was going to get one soon anyway and didn't really feel like buying from Fry's.com (plus, this TV was bigger).

I ended up getting the extended warranty, just because it is a Westinghouse and the brand is somewhat unknown. I think if I were buying a more expensive set with a better brand, I would have been more likely to pass on it. I felt pretty good about the warranty after I took the set home and it didn't work and had to exchange it. Even though that was covered in the 30 day exchange in the first place, I knew that at least one had already failed out of the box.