Best Buy gets busted
We've ragged on Best Buy before for how annoyingly frustrating it can be to shop there (we're at the point where we'll only shop there if it's a dire gadget-related emergency), but they've managed to piss off someone a lot more powerful than us this time. The Ohio state attorney general is suing the chain, charging them with "a pattern of unfair and deceptive acts and practices", and alleging that they've been repackaging used electronics as new (which might explain why that external hard drive we bought there a few years back had so much porn on it—not that we bothered returning it) and failing to honor rebates, refunds, and exchanges.
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lars Groeger @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
( which might explain why that external hard drive we bought there a few years back had so much porn on itnot that we bothered returning it ) Grrreaaat Laugh at midnight hour !! Thank You ! Thank You !
I really like this site so much.
David Chen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
They seem to have great deals, so I did some research about them and they had an astonishing amount of complaints about unhonored rebates. Then I asked my mother about her shopping experience there (I knew she had bought a camera) and she said that her rebate was never honored either. I get the feeling they systematically ignore a certain percentage of the rebates.
bermuDa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
that they stuff carts like CRAZY? Best Buy is where you go ONLY if you know exactly what you want, and nobody else has it.
PixelBrat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
It's about damn time...
Of course, it doesn't matter that this has been going on for ages and countless consumers have already been hosed by Best Buy. It took a big-wig to get screwed before anything worth-while happened to fix the problem.
Jynxed @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I ended up having to contact the BBB because they had taken a great deal of pre-orders on an item and not fulfilling that obligation. Rather than honor the agreement they shipped all the stock out to their physical stores.
The end result? They didn't care what the BBB had to say and they were only willing to give me 10% off their other overpriced merchandice, while I had to look elsewhere for the special edition item and pay a mark-up of 40 bucks because they were extremely limited.
Needless to say this was unacceptible and so I have never shopped there again.
I hope a class action suit for the rest of the screwed consumers gets started sometime and everyone gets what is coming to them. Best Buy should be shut down.
jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
They kicked me out of a Best Buy last fall for trying to purchase 3 telephones at the same time. They accused me of being a reseller. Morons.
shrinkydinx @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
these guys are arseholes. i bought a laptop there last year, the guy said it had usb 2.0 and build in wireless.
guess which of the two it had? if you guessed usb 2.0, or wireless, youre wrong!
Joe McCullough @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I bought both Apex and Morrowind at Best Buy, and had to return bpth. They were scratched to the point that they wouldnt play, and the map that comes with Morrowind had what looked like a coffee stain on it..."Best" Buy my a$$.
jm @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
i like best buy....beats compusa. well i take that back. i absolutely REFUSE to buy a computer from best buy. a) they are all teenagers who don't have a clue b) they just want your money c) things are better in threes.
i go there because i like the giftcards, and buy dvds and they have a nice selection of sound equipment. which reminds me... has anyone else noticed everyone has jacked up the prices of dvds?!! it seems to have happened right after the cd shpeil.
Dave M. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
had this problem a while back. I bought a HD from them. When I got it home, the box had a unwrapped HD in it. That's it. No paperwork, no anti-static wrap around the drive. I promptly took it back and got my money back. Then went to Best Buy... Funny that...
Brett @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I hate Best Buy and they deserve this. I had tons of trouble with them when I bought an "Open Box" iPod. It was used and a huge mess and I now have a Rio Karma. I live by Cleveland so I'll definitely be filing a complaint now that I know about this!
Abe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I use to go to Best Buy practically every Sunday and would usually leave with around $50 worth of stuff. Things have changed recently, though, and now they have their floor staff hounding you every few steps you take. It was worse enough being asked 3 times if I wanted to buy a $50 warrenty for a $40 printer, but now I'm constantly hassled with "help" that I don't need and surveys that I don't want to take.
I refuse to buy anything from them and now I take my business to a previously hated store, Circuit City (the only two electronics stores in Green Bay), because they no longer hound me when I go there.
Vihtuous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
.At Best Buy the only thing that matters is profit.
Billy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I work at BBY and I think we have a great staff and service. I read a lot of former BB employees about being taught to lie and such but I've never been taught to lie, in fact we're taught to not to ever lie to a customer and to ask someone else if we don't know. I really wonder what these other stores are like, we are a top ranked store and maybe its for good reason. I was a customer at BB before and so I know how I would want to be treated and treat my customers the same way. Just my 2 cents.
Charssun @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
Abe was hounded by salespeople, while I found no help there at all! At least, until I began working there...
Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
... of the computer department of a Best Buy in Toronto I can say with certainty that their open box products are not of high quality. I would frequently catch my seniors and supervisors throwing products in boxes missing cables and manuals, discounting 5-10% off and still claiming that it was the exact same as a new product, only returned. Aside from that, if we were out of stock on a new item we would sell the open box item for the price of the new item.
As far as extended warranties, if you were sales staff and not constantly selling them you would get fired. Warranties are the huge profit that they make (aside from technical services). On their sales charts, they even have separate columns for percentage of service plan of the total sales. During meetings and throughout the day, low-level sales associates were constantly harangued about pushing more PSP to "boost the numbers".
As you can probably tell from my post, I was not the happiest of employees. However, everything in the post is complete fact and not embellished in any way.
Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I ordered a Maxtor 120GB external HDD from BestBuy online, because they emailed me a coupon for $15 that was only valid for online purchases. So, i decided that i could pick it up at the local store. So I selected 'in-store pickup'. i got an email, 'item not found at store' so i call the 1888 number like they say to, and i switch to another store. over 8 hours pass (they say it should take under 2 hours) before i get fed up and call the store to see if they had any in stock. at first, the customer service lady was very rude. she said she was busy and that i should call back in 15 minutes. so i was nice, and gave her 25 minutes. so i called back, she said yes, we have 4 of them. so i said, "great! when can i come get it?" her response was something in the order of "i do not deal with the online orders, you will have to wait for your confirmation email" and she hangs up on me again. so i go to check my email, and almost mysteriously, an email comes in saying 'ITEM NOT FOUND AT STORE' and obviously i get really confused and disgusted. the lady who works at the store told me they have 4. i call the 1888 number again, and the man on the other line, who speaks so quietly that i can hardly understand him, says that the store i selected does not have the item. all i kept saying was, "if the store has it, why cant i go get it?" i just got completely fed up, and cancelled my order.
the next day, i went to compusa and bought one with a 2 year service plan. when i got home, i got an email with a $30 coupon to staples, and went "oh no!" so i drove back to compusa, told them i wanted to return it because i found a better deal at staples. they gave me back every penny. (compusa charges a 15% restocking fee on opened products, but the nice customer service guys working there waived the fee) then i headed to staples where i finally bought the 120gb HDD.
in short, i will never shop BestBuy again, but compusa can still have my business.
peter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
"Posted Aug 21, 2004, 1:02 AM ET by Vihtuous
.At Best Buy the only thing that matters is profit."
welcome to america - land of opportunity ;)
Brad S @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
A few years ago this happened to me. I bought a radio CD changer combo. I had problem with the radio and took it back and got a new one. Well, a few days later I had problems with it so I took it back and got a "New" one. When I got home opened the box I noticed it was the one I took back the other day!!! (it still had the wire connectors and cut wires)
So I took it back to a different worst buy and told them what happened and there were not surprised that happened from a corporate showcase store!
Either way at this time neither store would take the whole thing back because it was used. At least it still works.
Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I have had so many bad experiences at best buy, very seldom do you find educated staff; not just about what they sell, I can accept that; but they often dont even know how to check stock on their own inventory system.
More over getting someone to help you, I mean really help you (eg not its somewhere back there) is also dificult.
My favorite BB expereince; fry's was opening a new store, I printed out a add for a ATI 9800 PRO that they were selling super cheap; I called Fry's they had the item but I didnt want to drive an hour to go get it so I figured I would stop at BB.
BB looks at the ad and tells me I produced it, I swear I didnt so they go away for a few minutes and come back and they tell me fry's or more specifically "jason at fry's" also said I manufactured the ad. They then go into further detail telling me I am attempting to steal from them; this was the last time I wen't into a BB; and my gadjet habbit has me spedning 6-10k a year; their loss.
Ryan
Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
does it surprise you?
http://www.bestbuysux.org/
Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I purchased a Panasonic Replay Plus, which came with a $100 rebate. The recipt clearly showed that the rebate expired within one year. Sitting on it for six months (yes, I should have done it sooner) I finally sent it off. Six months later, and still no rebate, I went to the Best Buy location I purchased it from. They claimed that the rebate was not honored by best buy (being handled by a different company), and there was absolutly nothing they could do to help me out, or check on the status of the rebate. BEWARE when you purchase from this store.
BTW - Is it just me, or does it offend anyone else when they go through your merchandise when leaving the store, even if you payed at a counter right in from of the front door 'check point'? Once I pay for the item, it's mine, right? They should have no right to insist on going through my personal items.... Perhaps next time I will run through and see if they follow me.. ;)
Binary @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2000-09-20&res=l
I'm always unhappy with the COmpUSA store locally. The general attitude of the sales staff can be summed up with "whateva"
As for BestBuy - yeah, they push that PSP crap. I say no the first time - the second time I tell them to ask me again and I'll leave. I've left three times.
I've never been flubbed on a rebate - but I can imagine it's a crap shoot. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if it was a company policy to shread 10-15% of the mail in rebates. And then sit on the rest until the very last second to accrue as much bank interest as possible.
It's corporate america - the folks everyone else loves to hate.
Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
"BTW - Is it just me, or does it offend anyone else when they go through your merchandise when leaving the store, even if you payed at a counter right in from of the front door 'check point'? Once I pay for the item, it's mine, right? They should have no right to insist on going through my personal items.... Perhaps next time I will run through and see if they follow me.. ;)"
I believe they don't have the right to do that actually. When I first found out about the bestbuysux website I sat and read it for a while just to see what everyone was so hyped up about (read: i live in boston, don't really need to buy stuff from bestbuy aside from dvds and i get all my high ticket items from the internet). Someone was saying that you when they *ASK* you, you can deny them. I think this makes sense because just because they put a sign there shouldn't mean jack. I mean, what if they had a sign saying "we will punch you in the face when you leave" would you take it because they had a sign? Ever since I read that I have decided that if they ever ask me I will just be like no. Hell, I don't steal anything so it isn't like anything will happen to me.
Robert @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
best buy sucks but it is better than compusa
the only things i do buy from bb are cds
http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=compusa_sucks
Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
Yeah, I hear the only question they ask BBY employs at hiring is what their shirt size is. At least some store try and train their employs. Also, the prices seem to be higher.
Brian Behrend @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
Give me a break about searching your "personal items". They glance in the bag of items you just purchased, just like Fry's does and just like pretty much every other store does too.
Theft is an enormous problem in retail and any measure to reduce it that can be taken, should. (Yes, including RFID tags.) I'm not a thief so why should it be a problem. If you don't want any security measures, feel free to shop somewhere else and pay a lot more for it.
As for the rebate that was good for a year. I've never seen a rebate that didn't say it had to be mailed within 30 days of purchase. Yeah the promotion may have been good for a year, but you still have to mail it in within the alotted time period. And a ton of the rebates they give are manufacturers' rebates, Best Buy has nothing to do with it once you get out of the store.
I posted the rest of my comments here: http://www.brianbehrend.com/archives/2004/08/best_buy_being.html
Chilly Willy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
While I've never been taken by Best Buy, I have had pretty bad experiences there just shopping... from being followed (stalked) around the store by an employee who assumed I was going to spend a shitload of cash in the store (not sure where he got that assumption from) to having no one intelligent to answer my questions. The "best" was when I bought a car stereo there. They had to check the unit 4 times before they would let me take it out of the store... only to have to hand deliver it myself, accompanied by a BB employee, around back to their install area where my car was waiting to have the deck installed. Puzzles me to this day why I couldn't just purchase it and then have them verify my receipt and take it to the back of the store where the install bays were to have it installed. Either way, I still had to show my receipt (which I didn't mind doing) when I got around back.
Back 6 years ago, I was hoping for a Best Buy here because the one I used to go in Las Vegas was great and had great customer service. Turns out they expanded and service and annoying drones got bad.
I'm pretty happy with how Circuit City is and how I am treated there, which is where I go now for my electronic needs. Have yet to have a bad experience there.
bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
My name is Hospitalman Dyer. Im in the United States Navy. I have also been a die-hard customer for Best Buy for years. My family has always shopped at Best Buy for our home, and work appliances. I used to drive twenty miles out of the way to bypass your competitors (Circuit City, Office Depot, CompUSA, Media Play), just so I could get the superb customer service. We have bought everything from computers to refrigerators from youre company and never had a problem, which is why Im writing this letter. Im concerned about the treatment Ive received from your customer service department.
Last February I bought a laptop for twenty-five hundred dollars plus peripheral devices that brought the total to about thirty-three hundred and fifty dollars. I spent my whole savings account on this one device because I thought that if I had a warranty I would be covered and it would be a great investment. Last April, I flew to Chicago, Illinois to Pensacola, Florida per military orders. A security guard was looking through it because of the security issues raised by September Eleventh. He ended up dropping it on the table and the LCD screen cracked. The crack was a partial crack, causing a small part of the screen to be blackened. For the last year and a half, Ive used the computer like a desktop, in that you can press Function and F3 to switch the laptop monitor to a monitor connected through the pins in the back of the laptop. The computer has worked fine for the last year and a half. Its been a hassle not having the screen fixed, but its something I could live without as long as I had a computer to use.
The internal power supply went out on me in June. I took it with me to Brockton, where my wife lives and while on leave left the laptop in Best Buys possession. July 1st was the day I turned over the computer to the geeksquad. The gentleman I turned the computer and information to took my wifes card and mine also to put the information down in the system. We left with the promise that we would receive the computer back repaired in two weeks. I had absolutely no problem with this, because I understood it took a while for it to be analyzed and repaired. I left Brockton, moved to South Carolina where Im currently stationed. I made several calls after the Estimated Time of Arrival passed. Several times I was told that it would be on the next shipment, and then they would be surprised that it hadnt been seen yet. I never received a call, till I called the Brockton store for sixth time and found someone who had found it on the next shipment on the twenty sixth of July. My wife came to pick it up and found it covered in dust with absolutely no repairs made to it. The information in the computer was for someone who lived in Iowa, instead of my Georgia phone number and permanent address. My wifes information, which is based out of Brockton, wasnt on the computer either. It took several attempts for us to get the information changed over to where my wife and I are currently. So we sent off the laptop on the twenty-seventh again. I was told it was going
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to take three weeks this time. So I accepted my fate and moved on till the computer got back. I didnt receive a call till I made the phone call on the fourteenth I believe. I was told that my computer was in. I had my wife come pick up the computer and then she mailed it to me. We were charged a fifty-dollar deductible for looking at the LCD screen, which is cracked. I told them to ignore it both times that it was sent off. I knew that it was going to cost more than the computer was worth to fix the screen. So I resigned my fate to having a laptop, which is now used as a desktop. She mailed it to me for thirty-five dollars through the post office with many boxes and packaging to make sure it was safe. I received the package on the twenty third of August. I found the laptop with dust, a completely black screen and not turning on at all. This wasnt how I left it. The problem was it would turn on, and then turn off at the log in screen. Now it wont even turn on. I spoke to several managers at the Brockton store who informed that they would turn it into corporate who would then get back to me within forty-eight hours. I agreed to wait to receive a resolution. I didnt receive a phone call back till I called them and asked them what was going on with the resolution. So they transferred me to a customer service manager named Michael Wall (ID#60174). He informed that I had three options. The first option is to pay the 1285.90$ to fix the LCD screen, which I dont want to do because its too much money for a screen when the computer works fine as a desktop. The second option is to contact a third party to take the laptop and make an estimate to fix the screen and power supply. VPR Matrix is a company that works exclusively through Best Buy. The same third party contractor is the one that you guys have a contract with to fix problems with appliances. It would be the same price and same answer as number one. The third option is get a refund on the Performance Service Package that cost me about three hundred and fifty dollars. So I would get a prorated refund and a broken computer, which does me absolutely no good. So none of these options are practical and work.
Ive received absolutely no help from the customer service department that is quoted to being the best. Actually, Ive received quite a bit of hostility from the customer service and tech bench that was supposed to have taken care of this situation. I was taking a full load of college courses through the University of Phoenix for my degree. I was using student loans, fafsa, and government loans. There is quite a lot of paperwork involved in a situation of this magnitude. The government and UOP allow a 28-day leave extension. I took this leave extension thinking that my computer would be back in time for me to go back to school. I actually have two weeks to spare, considering the estimate I received the first time. I was dropped from school, lost my loans, and the paperwork had to be renewed all over again, which caused me quite a lot of stress and emotional distress. I received a 1.5 in my class for my final grade, because I had to finish my class in public libraries and off my cell phone. I hope you can understand where Im coming from.
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In an interview I read you claimed that Best Buy has four core goals. Honesty and integrity, embrace challenges and change, to unleash the power of people, and to have fun, while being the best. I can appreciate these core goals, because in the Navy we believe in similar goals of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. These are instilled in use to give us the honesty and integrity to do our job to the best of our ability. Im in the medical field and if I was allowed to mediocre work, I would be kicked out the Navy or going through court-martial. My grandfather taught me two things through his tutoring as a businessman. One is to always do your customer right, because hell stay with you if he knows you have his best interest in mind and are willing to take care of anything that happens. The second principle is that an angry customer will tell ten people with a negative impact about their shopping experience. A happy customer will tell a few, but its better to have a long-term customer who spends his money and spreads the word about his positive experience, than to have a bad customer who spreads the negative influence that takes away money from the company and gives it to competitors. I do appreciate youre reading this and putting into short action a resolution that is quite accommodating to both of us. Thank you very much for your help.
Very respectfully yours,
HN Bryan Dyer
Koreen Micals @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I purchased a laptop from Best Buy in NOvember of 2002, with it I purchased an extended three year service warranty. Recently my computer would not boot up so I took it to best buy, they then sent it to a best buy store out in California. They were to call me before fixing anything and I was guaranteed by the computer repair manager that Best Buy always calls first. Well they didn't call first. What they ended up doing is wiping my harddrive clean and restoring my computer, failing to customize it as i had when I purchased it. I called to check on my computer one day and they told me it was being shipped back to my house via ups. It arrived on August 8th around 9:30 - 10 am. I was still in bed but signed for it. Later upon opening it I noticed the box was damaged and not completely sealed. I opened the box and found it not very professionally or safely packed. I took pictures. I booted up my computer and noticed that there was no sound and it wasn't customized and I could not get the cd player to open. I called best buy and they told me to bring it in. I did, they took it behind the counter to customize it and look at the cd player. My daughter poked me in the arm and pointed at them behind the counter and I seen that they were prying open the cd player. Moments later they gave it back to me and showed me that the cd player now worked and it was customized. However when the guy behind the counter tried to open the cd player it still would not open on the first try, he proceeded with three more tries before it opened. I told them that I was not satisfied with its delayed response to open because that is not how it was when I dropped it off. It was at that time my daugher pointed out that the speaker was raised up kind of funny and the keys were caved in. I had not heard her and not noticed it right away myself. I took the computer home but my daughet again pointed out the speaker and keys. It was then that I was upset that they had done something to damage my computer. I went home to get the box it was deliverred in and took it back up there with the camera I took pictures of when it first arrived. I first spoke to a Jeff (manager) and he appeared shocked that Best buy would send it back to me via ups, and proceeded to try and calm me down. Then Tom stepped in and acknowledged the damage as did the techs previously that day. Tom explained to me that it would be UPS' responsibility since they delivered it and gave me their phone number, he then gave me Huelett Packards phone number and told me to contact them if UPS wouldn't do anything. I contacted UPS and did not hear anything for days. I contacted HP and spoke to someone from india telling me it was Best buys responsibility because my warranty was with the. I called Tom back from Best buy and he was rude to me and pretty much told me to keep bugging ups and HP. I was upset with him and raised my voice, he then hung up on me.
I filed a complaint with the BBB and in the mean time Best Buy in Independence sent them a note stating that I told them I was going to go break my computer and bring it back. Now why would I do SOMETHING that lame? That never happened and I have two witnesses. They lied to the BBB and to me. The computer cannot be repaired unless you replace almost every piece because of the damage they did to the case affecting the mother board. I spoke with a couple computer experts and they both told me that if they merely fixed it I would have problems with it forever. THat is not how I purchased that computer and I refuse to give up on how they treated me. I worked too hard for that computer and expect better service than that. I no longer want anything more to do with Best Buy period.
Devestation @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
Noticed several posts stating that they buy their Dvd's and Cd's from Best Buy, I purchase mine from an online store www.Supermediastore.com bought 100 Dvd +R's the other day for $48.00, way cheaper than best buy as you can see for yourself.
Christopher Nice @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
For those of you who don't know, a few years back Best Buy Enterprises went on a shopping spree. At this time they acquired a lot of there competition. They acquired Musicland Group (Media Play, Sam Goody, OnCue, and Suncoast), Magnolia Hi-Fi, Future Shops (Canada), Red Line Entertainment, and Geek Squad. At the time of these aqusitions I was a store manager for Sam Goody, and I saw how the machine runs. Its true our stores were border-lining bankruptcy beforehand because of the CD decline, however Best Buy destroyed the chain before the divested Musicland. Gone was our personality and opinions. Each type of sales was physically scripted for us. We spent more time evaluating our coworkers on paper than assisting the customer. Our individuality was taken away as we were told what to say and what to wear (Musicland had no uniform till Best Buy). We had time limits for assisting customers. We were also told to focus more on selling Warranties, Frequent Shopper Cards, and the evil subscriptions to Entertainment Weekly (which a lawsuit is currently pending against the company for misuse of customers credit info) than selling core products such as CDs. Our ideas didn't seem to count, people who had worked for Musicland for 30+ years and knew what worked and didn't were ignored by the corporate system. This is a company with no personality, just a profit generating engine. Ok I'll admit I may be a little bitter because there mismanagement of Sam Goody closed 800+ stores and cost me my job!
M.Martin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
Dear BestBuy
I just received your letter today by mail. Oct
25th, 2004.. I figured
you'd try to rip me off for my lousy $20 Rebate with
"Your submission did not fully comply" jive.
First off all, I sent in EVERYTHING you
requested..NOTHING was said about some
"Online" receipt
being needed on the original order or rebate
instructions like your
NOW telling me in your letter I just received. You
we're sent a copy of the receipt I received (Along
with the Bar Code and form that you want filled out
below here) when I got the monitor in question like
you asked for. Then you tell me in your current letter
that I need to go to your site www.bestbuy and click
on my account and follow the instructions to retreive
a copy labeled "My bestbuy.com" receipt. You ask for a
5 digit Offer number but all I have is a 4 digit Best
Buy offer number here in your letter. On top of that
your Bestbuy website doesn't even list my
online monitor (MAG/Proview CRT Monitor)
purchase BUT you managed to get my other
online (No rebate)purchase that I made a week or so
later on there OK. I will be forwarding my complaint
to The Nevada BBB and my State Attorney General. And
NEVER again will I be doing any business with your
store and will spread the word about your conduct
online to many others. I guess you never get tired of
being sued by other states for ripping people off on
there rebates you offer.
Another customer you've lost..Michael Martin
775-355-8549
PS- Try adding a "Rebate Problems" to your "Choose A
Topic".. I'm sure
it would get the most hits !!
................................................
Mail-in Rebate Form for Best Buy Rebate
Offer
Please PRINT this form and then clearly hand-print the
information in
each blank. Note: Forms with typed-in responses WILL
NOT be accepted.
NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
DAYTIME PHONE:
BRAND:
MODEL:
SKU:
REBATE:
OFFER DATE:
POSTMARK DATE:
Proview
771FS-S
PROOF OF PURCHASE REQUIREMENTS:
1. This Rebate Form
2. Copy of Receipt
3. Photocopy of UPC barcode from box
MAIL ALL OF THE ABOVE TO:
Best Buy Rebate #51970
PO Box 9100
Calais, ME 046199287
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Limit of one rebate per household per offer. All
eligible products
must be purchased during the promotion period (as
stated above) and
must be identified on one receipt. All rebate
submissions are subject
to purchase validation, returned products are not
eligible for rebate
payment. Product may not be returned for full purchase
price once the
rebate has been fulfilled. Customers who receive a
price match will
not be eligible for the rebate. Those who receive a
rebate and later
receive a price match, will have the value of the
rebate deducted from
the price match. In-store rebates are valid on
in-store purchases
only. BestBuy.com rebates are valid with online
purchases only. Gift
Receipts are not accepted as proof of purchase. Best
Buy and its
fulfillment companies are not responsible for
incomplete, illegible,
late, lost, mutilated, misdirected or postage-due
requests. All rebate
materials and requests for each rebate must be sent in
separate
envelopes, postmarked by the offer deadline, and sent
to the address
listed on the Rebate Form. Fraudulent submission of
multiple requests
and/or providing false information disqualifies this
rebate request
and could result in federal prosecution for U.S. Mail
Fraud. Best Buy
reserves the right to deny and/or disregard any rebate
request if
deemed to be false or fraudulent. Rebate checks are
paid in U.S.
funds. Information submitted with any rebate request
will be handled
according to the Best Buy Privacy Policy, which can be
found on
www.BestBuy.com or by calling 1.888.BESTBUY. Offer
void where
prohibited or restricted by law. Requests from Best
Buy employees will
not be honored or acknowledged. Keep a photocopy of
all materials
submitted for your records. BB51970
REBATE CENTER POLICY:
Permission is granted to electronically copy and to
print hard copy
portions of this site for the sole purpose of
obtaining a rebate. Any
manipulation or alteration of the rebate or other use
of materials on
this site, including reproduction for purposes other
than as noted
above, modification, distribution or republication, is
strictly
prohibited. Fraudulent submission could result in
federal prosecution
under mail fraud statutes (Title 18, United States
Code, Sections 1341
and 1342). By submission of this rebate form, you
agree to be bound to
all rules and regulations placed upon the rebates by
either the
manufacturer, Best Buy Co., Inc., or BestBuy.com.
You should receive your rebate within 8 weeks.
If you have questions or wish to check on the status
of your rebate,
please call the Best Buy Rebate Center at
1-888-BESTBUY.
...................................
k smith @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
i just came across this article and live in a different state and reminds of my experience at bestbuy. i was looking for a dvd burner and asked and employee and he told me "no we dont put used stuff back on the shelf". i then buy it and open it and realize something fishy. i compare online what is supposed to be included and there is no burned cd of the retail that is supposed to be included not to even mention the drive looked used because of the top label damaged. i then took it back and they didnt ask for identification or even look inside to see what was supposed to be in there. i got my money took it else where and bought it down the street. so in conclusion i am not buying from bestbuy because of that and hope they didnt put it back on the shelf.
maxd @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I purchased a computer from BB. Filled up all the rebate forms and sent them. Finally, I had to ring them up to check the status. They say ' their records indicate the check has been issued and cashed' ! Beats me, as I never received the check, not to mention cashing it. what does one do now ?
Griff Martin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
Rebate rip off.
I purchased a computer with 5 separate rebates totaling $350. They paid all but one claiming that I did not enclose the original bar code label. I told them that I could not send them something that they already had. One rep at the rebate center said that they would accept a copy (which I fortunately had), then they denied it again. I wish I lived in Ohio!
Wade Hampton @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
After some rather unhappy experiences with Best Buy fixing items under warrenty, yesterday I really got pissed off. I brought in a Panasonic microwave less than a year old and still under MFG warrenty for all labor and parts for Best Buy to send of and fix. They gave me a document stating product was under MFG warrenty for parts and labor further stating that their would be $0.00 charge. After plugging it in the service person made a notation that the microwave was not working and that it would be checked and fixed under warrenty. They said they would have to send it to an place in California authorized repair Panasonic appliances. I got the microwave back and they said I owed them 25 dollars for labor because they checked the unit and found nothing wrong with it. According to Panasonic, "During the 'labor' warranty period there will be no charge for labor." According to the Best Buy document I agreed to "a minimum charge for trouble shooting my product in the event that such labor charges are not covered by my product warranty" I pointed this out to the Best Buy manager and he said I would have to pay because nothing was wrong with the Microwave and that it was sent to a Best Buy service center. I asked what would happen if the Microwave stopped working again when I took it home since they did not fix the problem. He says, bring it in again and we will send it off. At no time did anyone quote me any minimum charge or estimate of one. I was forced to pay the charge to get the Microwave back. I took the microwave home and sure enough it quite working again. I am furious. I don't know what you call this but the word "fraud" comes to mind. I am taking the microwave to an authorized Panasonic Service Center located here in Phoenix today. Panasonic said they would cover the charge by Best Buy if I bring the receipt and hopefully they can find out what is wrong. I am not buying anything ever again at Best Buy anymore. And I would like to know where I stand legally. Wade Hampton Phoenix AZ.
best buy employee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
INSIDER FACT
i am currently a best buy employee..
i am a computer sales rep... i am customer-friendly to the best of my ability...
customer friendly equals to trouble w/ upper management... i am a college student.. i went to best buy for my first job.. (11 months and counting) because i thought i could use my knowledge on the job.. but the reality of things isn't so. knowledge has little to do with it. i'm really just a sales person trying to shove as much stuff down innocent customers' throat.
cooporate pushes for customer-centricity on the retail level.. usually by.. a lot of customer contact... and offer total solutions.. but somehow.. the good concept is pretty ugly when it's carried out.
there are what we called a "basket" in computers.. and other depts too. it's basically... bunch of accessories.. and performance service plan.. PSP PSP PSP PSP... that's what it is all about. service is pure profit so... it is better to go directly through the manufactuer than best buy... (faster and better service) but i still offer them regardlessly..
the fact is.. there is very little mark up on computers themselves.. that's why the sales person does not usually upsell you in a purphase.. but he steps it up in terms of accesories.
there is no product knowledge training for a department as technical as computers... if you're lucky.. you might get a sale like myself or a few of my coworkers (who actually have souls).. otherwise.. you just might end up w/ a guy who has barely enough knowledge on computers (or any other products) to fool you into trusting what he is talking about. as long you can push sales... the managers will be happy.
as for me... i don't really like my job.. (i used to when i had a manager who believed in the same thing i do).. i try my best to only recommend stuff that i personally would buy.. (example: NOT battery backup).. and but i often find myself in a position that i get lectured for carrying out the company principles...
In the end, it's more about the profit than customers.. i can't really blame them... since it is a business.
Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I recently purchased a television from Best Buy and upon opening the box at home noticed that the TV was badly damaged. I quickly put the box back into the car in anticipation of returning the TV only to have the shock of having Best Buy not accept the TV and claim that I had dropped the television! I have never been so angry in my life, it was bad enough I had to deal with the fact that I had just lost $400, but to be accused of lying on top of that was just icing on the cake.
When we asked to speak with another manager, we were quickly brushed off and told to call 888-best-buy. I have spoken with a Public Relations VP and his customer service skills are as bad as the manager at the store offering only a $50 dollar gift card which would have barely covered the taxes. Just wanted to post my experiences in hopes that I can save someone the pains I've experienced by purchasing from Best Buy.
kevin Liu @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
BB is bad, I used to work there. It's a fact alot people don't get their rebate. It's always some bullshit reason too. I was an employee and i didn't get my rebates either. but compusa is even worth in trating customers. I hate Compusa. I ordered a computer the first day on promotion, and i was told later, it was on back order. 2 wks later, still no ETA, the rebate is about to expire and no one cares to compensate me for time lost and the other deal i missed from DELL waiting for my order. It's the worest service ever, and reps at compusa don't even care to help you. They refused to give me customer care's number, wouldn't let me speak to a manager and when i insiste, i got hung up on. Oh, i forgot, the same product that's on back order and can't be send to me is for sale in their stores. But i can't get one because ......(whatever bullshit they said) I will never buy anything from compusa ever again. So all is aware.
MJM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
Best Buy Rebate Scam
In May of 2005, I purchased a DLP Toshiba T.V. ($2,500) from Best Buy. As a promotional offer they were offering a $200 mail in rebate. I completed the proper paper work and mailed the information to the rebate center at the end of May.
Best Buy has an online rebate tracker. The online tracker stated they mailed my rebate on July 27th and to allow up to 15-days to receive the rebate. I waited, yet never received the rebate. I called the rebate center and told them I never received the rebate. They then re-issued the rebate and I received confirmation the rebate was sent to me on July 27th. I waited for 15-days, but the rebate never arrived.
When I called the rebate center to explain that I never received the re-issued rebate, they stated that they have a one re-issue policy. Therefore, they would not reissue another rebate and Im out of luck. I raised holly hell to no avail. I have spoke with other customers that have had similar issues with Best Buys rebate center, and I believe they are running a scam.
I believe they never sent the first rebate, so I would issue a re-order. Then they never really re-issue the second one. When you call to state you never received the re-issued rebate, they state to bad we have a one re-issue policy.
nicole @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
I was recruited by best buy and they paid a lot of money sending me to atlanta for training. an attempt to save thier appliance department...which is so horribly ran its silly. best buy tries to act as if it wants to always be about the customers but it never is, and more importantly they dont care about thier employees! it's very sexist,which is mostly everywhere, but whats really discusting is how so many people allow them selves to be puppets and even worse how they treat their customers! best buy is the worst company to work for and more so to shop at! -nicole
nicole @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM
i love to see when a big box retail outfit craps on its customers but they in return put out blogs and fun sites to warn off others! most consumers shop places on word of mouth reccomendations and if it takes me all the rest of my life i will warn people of best buy and thier horrible practices, lack of customer care( which happens to be one of thier teachable point of views), grand master of puppetry, and a little man named J.D Wilson who purly sees dollar signs instead of people! After being asked by a best buy manager to please work for thier company to bring revenue to thier store and push numbers... accessories and warrenty, on customers who in the end got burned... I watched and listened to managers create rumors, bad mouth employees, and run smart, educated people out of the store. My supervisor, James Patterson actually spread rumors about one of my co-workers being an alcoholic, which is a complete lie. Gordon Bond (another manager who doesn't care about anyone but himself) got James this supervisor position, who sucks by the way, and has done whatever it takes to protect his friend. The RENO NEVADA STORE is full of corrupt dirt balls. And the few good managers are so concerned with thier future with the company that they sit back and allow bad bad terrible things happen to good people! Roger Atkins the store manager thinks he is invincible and treats people badly! This company only likes puppets not people with ideas, feelings, or that have families. They fed me so much crap in my interviews..I mean Gordon really shoveled it down my throat! Crap about family being first and blah blah blah...how they spend 28 min. in 30 min. reviews telling you how great you are and how other companies focus on the neg. HA HA these people couldn't give a compliment to jesus if their life depended on it! I left a great job and friends to work for this company to end up getting fired for things that weren't my fault! I witnessed ( things were said directly to me) from James's mouth about my co-worker having a drinking problem! I knew he wanted her to get fired, so he was creating a negative atmoshphere and when I spoke to a manager DANNY STARKS about this he some how managed to protect jim, sweep a legal matter under the rug( or so he thinks) and fire me..the messenger! I'll tell you something else about that little snake in the grass..rat bastard DANNY STARKS..He's a thief who steals money from his friends and lies lies lies! He treats customers as if they are stupid, and employees even worse. He is dirt as is much of the corporate and management staff at best buy! If ever shop at the RENO store and come across any of these people mentioned... run screaming...it's better that you stay far away. These are people who have done bad things and hurt people in the process! Best Buy as I have seen it, blows off customers, makes them feel like idiots and does even worse things to thier own staff!!!! And customers wonder why customer service sucks?? If you want to know...go ask a manager...if you can find one!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! -Nicole