Woman files $54m lawsuit against Best Buy for losing laptop
By Nilay Patel 
posted February 12th 2008 1:40PM
posted February 12th 2008 1:40PM
We've definitely heard some horror stories about Best Buy, but it looks like a DC woman named Raelyn Campbell has had enough: she's opening up a big can of America Sauce on the retailer in the form of a $54m lawsuit after it lost her laptop during warranty service. Campbell says she bought a laptop and $300 extended warranty from Best Buy in 2006, and took the machine in for service when the power switch broke last May. Told repairs would take two to six weeks, she set off on a business trip, only to find that her laptop had gone missing when she returned in August. Fast forward through several more weeks of run-around and delays, and the best the Buy would offer for losing a $1,100 machine with all her data on it was a $900 gift card. After being informed of the potential for identity theft, Campbell filed the multimillion-dollar suit, which prompted Best Buy to up its offer to a whopping $2,100 plus a $500 gift card. Campbell says she's not dropping the case until she finds out what happened to her machine -- and she wants ol' Blue to train its employees on privacy issues and revamp its warranty policy. Honestly? We'd say she has a better chance of getting the $54 million.[Thanks, David]
BEST BUY IF YOU WANT TO CHECK SOME THING CHECK YOUR HOLIDAY EMPLOYEES TO SEE HOW MANY STORES CASH STOLLEN CHECKS FOR MERCANDISE THEN SELL THAT MERCHANDISE. NO PICTURE I.D. OF THESE TRANSATIONS. THEN YOUR STORES TURN THE POOR PEOPLES CHECKS THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN OVER TO ANY COLECTION HOUSE THAT WILL BUY THEM. THIS IS A DOUBLE SCAMM. THEY GET AWAY WITH FELONY THEIFT, AN NO ONE CAN PROVE A THING.
54 mil is too much. However if you have ever had your id stolen. It amounts to alot of headache and pain alot of footwork. Who knows where the laptop is.What info is on it and in whos hands. 54 mil is alot. She needs to lower it and get a life..
I'D bet she would settle for 5.4 million in cash and the rest in stock. If she happens to read this and is both fiesty and cute, please drop me an email!
THAT is why I deal with my local, independent computer guy. I know where he lives, where he sleeps, where to go to hunt him down if anything happens to my data while my machine is in for repairs. Peace of mind to me and it keeps my dollars flowing in the local economy.
I just thought about it and it's time we make identity theft a capital crime, punishable by death and or dismemberment.
After being a victim of Best Buy's poor and unreasonable customer service a month ago, I'm not surprised that she had to do this just to get their attention. They are not a company focused on the customer. With proper systems in place, even though she was away for an extended period, they should NOT have lost her computer. I'm sure they are many other Best Buys horror stories out there. I think the company needs an intervention.
I wish this woman all the luck in the world. I don't know of too many people who have not had a problem with Best Buy and their repair service on computers. We had the same sort of problem. We marked our computer and the components to find out what we actually got back that was said to be changed or replaced. You would be amazed at how many people might be paying for replacement parts that were never replaced. Maybe this woman can get even for all of the rest of us and get them on their toes on warrantied work. Wouldn't that be nice. Now if they could just teach their 'geeks' manners, too.
I found this article interesting since I am having a similar problem with my camera repair. It has been out for 45 days and now Best buy says the repair facility said they sent it to another repair place???? Thet do not know where it is at basically or why the first repair facility did not repair it. Two things I learned, Don,t buy at Best Buy and Don,t buy one of those "new age" Nikon cameras.
That's what i'm talking about - "go lady"! I HATE BEST Buy -- it's more like Worst Buy
Go Raelyn!!! I was in the market for a TV last year, and found what I wanted online at Best Buy. For 4 months I was told they were 'out of stock', even tho they were never off the website!! I told them I would even pay shipping, but since the TV was still out of stock there were none to ship. I waited the full 4 months, then found the exact TV at Sears for about $30 less, and just went & got it!! Last time I looked, the TV was STILL on the website. False advertising, and I don't think their prices are all that great. Oh, and included in the final price (still $30 less) was a years warranty from Sears!!! Best Buy stinks!!!
Same thing happened to me. I had taken a stereo system in for warranty repair work (good thing for us we wrote down the serial number) we got to the store and were told the stereo was lost. Come to find out a few days later it was back on the store shelf for sale. I will never buy anything at Best Buy ever again. It is sad the way the "loose things". This has happened to a lot of people we know. Good Luck!
Best Buy is crooked and I hope she wins. Go Girl!
What happened to this lady is really a bad thing .. however; I'm inclined to make a suggestion to her to protect herself. Her getting any amount of money will not stop identity theft. So, what is my recommendation ... here it is:
http://www.lifelock.com
No one has asked the real question here. Why the hell was it going to take 2-6 weeks to replace a power switch?
Ian...Every company has employees and every human makes mistakes. That doesn't lift the liability from the companies hands. You can surely argue that the company was lax in hiring a negligent person for the job. In any case, if she truly knew who it was who lost her laptop, then she could sue Best Buy AND the person. The fact that BB lied to her should definitely help her case. Again...she won't get $54M, but generally civil lawsuits are less about money and more about principle. She wants to hit them where it hurts. Getting $900 for the laptop is like slapping someone on the wrist for grand theft auto. Judge should make an example here not for the loss of the laptop, but for the business practices.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of a compujter from Best Buy, but that should be expected from such an inept business. I wish her luck in her upcoming battle against a company that lacks customer service and apparently lacks any form of security. They didn't loose a computer it was stolen from one of their employees because the firm does not have a good security program.
Although I think the 54 million is outrageous (unless she is a Diplomat or has some sort of high security clearance)- I think the case is definitely warranted. I cannot tell you how many times I have been taken to the cleaners by Best Buy. Takes forever to get something back - or not at all. No communications from their various groups. You trust them with all of your information then whammo.
Why do some people think the consumer will pay here? BB isn't a monopoly. They raise their prices and shoppers go elsewhere to buy electronics. If they can't stay competitive, then bye bye.
Best Buy is not the place to buy computers or expect customer service. Now it seems they lack common sense in determining thefts and want to call them "lost."
this lawsuit is absurd. first off, only a few people having an identity worth fifty four million.
secondly, if she is truly one of the few that have that kind of worth then why would she trust it to a discount electronic store? wouldnt she have taken it somewhere and just waited for the service? it was only a switch.
so many people have comments on best buy but they should remember it, like many other establishments is a DISCOUNT store. no one complains about the great prices they offer, but they sure stand up and scream about the sometimes questionable service. for instance, frye's sells reconditioned equipment and has horrendous service, but there is always a line of shoppers.
basically, she got what she paid for and most likely signed a contract limiting the value if it were lost. she should take what they offer. lesson learned.
Better call in the "GEEK SQUAD" for this one......
Ohhh I love how they offered her a "gift card", so basically she would be forced to buy more crap at Best Buy, and Best Buy would only lose half what the gift card is valued at. FYI, 50% mark up.
Good for Her - I hope she does take them for a good chunck. I know Best Buy has screwed me over a couple of times, it couldn't happen to a better store.
Oh goodness how I hope this lady wins her lawsuit! Best Buy Best Buy Best Buy...I don't even want to start with them...I worked for them for a few months and would never ever ever go back. I mean the discount was great, but that's about it. If you are thinking about work there, DONT!!!!! : )
wow!! i thought i was all alone in hating a store as i do with best buy! feels good knowing there's others out there! LOL
I have dealt with Best Buy many times as has my family, now none of us will set foot in there because of the way we have all been treated on different occasions, the people they hire are absolute jerks, rude jerks. It's about time someone had there day with Best Buy! Wahoo!
Hard to believe there are so many angry people with so much--too much--time on their hands. Best Buy is a great store. The young people who work there are courteous, efficient, knowledgeable. Mistakes rarely are serious, and always resolved in reasonable time.
For those of you who are sreaming at this GREAT COMPANY, I say: Get a life.
It must be noted that frivolous lawsuits like this cost us all money. Best Buy, and every other business, must carry very expensive insurance to protect itself against financial ruin that could come from what is most likely a computer stolen by an employee. This just adds to the cost of doing business that is ultimately refleted in the price of products sold by all businesses.
get into an accident with a drunk lose your ability to work or ??? you get the oppurtunity to file bankruptcy you let a company lose your laptop you get 54 mil or spill coffee on yourself you get 50 mil sounds fair and just to me and people wonder why i have an attitude i think this is entirely too greedy but then again this is america, as the oil companies say you pay it well charge it
I had to comment on this story, BC you know how when Halo 3 came out it was a big STINK, well they had the Halo 3 eddition XBox 30 and my Boyfriend wanted one really bad, so i spent over $430+ to buy one for him from the web site, well when i went to go pick it up they never took my card so that it didnt reconized that it was picked up, so I never got changed the $430+ they where suposed to, basically i bought him the XBox 30 for $50 and that was only for the extended warranty.
Before that my boyfriend bough new subwoofers from them.. well only one.. when he went to go pick it up, he got 2 for the price of one.. over $100.00 lost there b/c they screwed up. So its there loss!!! AHAHA
Best Buy sucks. I will never buy another computer from them. I had a similar experience with them last year. I bought a laptop and was talked into the extended warranty. They did not tell me that they would not repair it on site but send it out of state for a month. When I finally got it back a month later, it looked liked it had been run over by a truck. The case was not my original case nor did it fit properly. The keyboard didn't fit either. When I complained to Best Buy, they told me, "tough shit." I have made it my life mission to tell others about Best Buy's terrible service and extended warranties.
i WOULD LIKE TO SEE HER GET THE 54 MIL. iTS TIME THESE COMPANYS ARE HELD TOTAL RESPONSIBLE FOR THERE CALUSNES OF THERE CUSTOMERS AND IN GENERAL THERE SLOPPY BUSINESS PRACTICES. iF SHE WERE TO WIN IT WOULD MAKE ALL BUSINESS BANKS ETC TO SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE THAT THEY MAY BE NEXT.
This woman is related to Paul McCartney's gold digger, right?
Good luck to the lady in collecting any amount of money. Shame on Best Buy for letting themselves getting into this situation. LOL! Hum.....because of the excessive amount of money the lady is suing Best Buy, I am curious of a couple things. Just exactly what personnel info she feels is worth that amount Best Buy lost or stole or pilfered? And how did she come up with an odd number like $54 million? I would have rounded it off t $55 million or an even $50 or $60 million.
Lady has mission to wake up the company to their poor service, systems, and response to the people that keep them in a job..
Personnally, I will never even go into a BB after I was treated very rudely when I asked a basic question about internet routers. So far they have lost 2 years of my money, with hopefully 30 more to go...I wish BB the WORST >>GO CIRCUIT CITY
I hope she gets every single dime!! The Best Buy Company are now, and always have been crooks!
Why be worried about identity theft. All someone needs is access to the laptop; replace the power switch, copy the files and return the laptop. You don't need the machine once you have the data. In fact, the laptop turning up missing simply alerts the owner to the theft. Seems to me some geek just wanted a shiney new machine for free.
You go girl! Bought a demo computer. Speakers didn't work in screen - took it back - 45 miles @ 3.50 a gal. Went back for 5 more trips over several weeks. Told it was sent out. Told later, it was still out - - was real sure it was on the shelf where I saw them put it - when I got loud and tole other customers standing there, the pulled it off the shelf and said the factory said it could not be repaired, to give me another one. I'm 55. I remember when the guy who owned the store lived in your town, knew your name, cared for your repeat business, and shook your hand for tjhe deal - good as gold back then. NOT TODAY!!!
I had a long runaround and Best Buy screwed me over on a TV that went bad , the extended warranty plan they have sucks . Marc Thompson
$54 MILLION??? sounds like the idiot judge in D.C. who sued for millions for a lost pair of pants... use the publicity, get your laptop replaced, count your blessings and move on
hey there Scuba Steve
where did you read that he laptop was stolen by someone in the store?
going from a lost laptop to a stolen one is a pretty big (illogicial) leap dont you think?
as fas as the 54 Mill. My identity MIGHT have been stolen this morning when I filled up my gas tank, maybe I should sue ExxonMobil...
as far as removing the HDD first... most people think computers are run by little green faries, how is the average comsumer supposed to remove the harddrive? most people dont even own a screwdriver small enough to start...
$54M is such a small price for these inconsiderate and cold-hearted corporations. I'm sure Best Buy's top guy is one of those bigwigs who's managed to rake in more than that for overworking and underpaying the Americans. I hope Rachel will get every bit of that $54M and I don't think this is another publicity stunt for personal gain. Everyone's voice should be heard!
I'm with her. I would do the same thing just out of shear inconvience. There is a big threat of identity theft. $54,000,000. was the figure used from some judge whose dry cleaning was lost....where he came up with that figure, I dont know....so she is doing the same. However, It's not the Company's fault. It's managements. But I guess you have to go directly to the top in situations such as these....lax workers....corporations pay!
THE MUSLUMS HAVE HER LAPTOP. OSAMA THE RACIEST OBAMA STOLE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE MUSLUMS HAVE HER LAPTOP. OSAMA THE RACIEST OBAMA STOLE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEST BUY IS THE WORSE. WHEN IT COMES TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IT'S OUT THE WINDOW ONCE THE SALE IS COMPLETE.
@ Dan: "Is your identity worth $54mm? I know mine sure isn't. Steal my identity, maybe you can get $20 or $30K worth. I highly doubt her identity is worth $54mm either."
Ok, so after your identity theft, how much will that mortgage go up because your credit is tanked? Your car payments? Your car insurance? Heck, you could even be dropped by your bank. Not to mention the time, phone calls, police reports, lawyer bills, financial consultant bills and just plain headache of trying to jump through the hoops of the three major credit reporters, trying to get your credit back to where it was before some lazy a'hole decided to steal it. And that's not even counting running up credit cards, opening false store cards (that you could never ever know about), emptying your bank accounts, screwing with your phone service...oh, and let's not forget if the thief decides to use your identity for illegal purposes!
Would you like me to go on? Do you still think it would be $20,000-$30,000?
$54 million...yeah, that's about right.
I think it is about time these big companies are made to be held accountable with regard to customer service. They come into a area, drive all the little guys out, but deal on quantity, not quality of service. I myself would never again buy anything at Best Buy. If you do here's a shopping tip, open the box before you leave the store, don't be surprised if the box is empty. Just try to get Best Buy to resolve this.
Good enough for them! I bought a digital camera from them the night before I left to go on a trip.It was not just a trip,but a very important milestone that I had accomplished with this company that I work for! Needless to say,the camera did not work,so I had nothing to visually document my trip with except for the disposable "fun shot" colorful,plastic 3 pack camera,that I purchased.No there were no BEST BUY's in the Bahamas.Then they had the NERVE to ask me if I wanted another camera or a refund.And no it was not an "open box" maybe I should have bought the "open box",at least I would have known that it worked before I left the store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm one of the people who have put up with Best Buy's crap, and it's good to see someone finally sick of putting up with it. I'm in college and I had to go almost 2 months without a computer after THEY broke it and tried to blame it on me. It took them so long because they had to prove the damage wasn't my fault and then try to get corporate to prove them giving me a new computer. It took them less than a week for them to decide that it wasn't my fault and the rest of the time for corporate to decide that it was going to be okay for them to give me a new computer.
So, how long have you been working at Best Buy?