BB $5 off coupon fails...

[ben12]

So I go in and grab a GC memory card (251). The price is 19.95. I pick up a gift card, put $1 on it, and then tell the guy I want to use the card and the coupon to buy the memory thingie. He rings it up, but the computer won't take the coupon. The reason - the coupon is for items costing $19.99 and up. It wouldn't take it because the item I wanted cost 4 cents less!! ARGH!!! I couldn't find any video game related item that cost less than a dollar (no quarter strategy guides here). I didn't want to cause trouble, so I didn't ask to speak to a manager or anything. Should I have? Would I have gotten my discount? This was at the Westwood BB, for all you SoCal folks.

[Copenhagen]

It shouldn't work for items under $19.99, it just is sometimes you get cashiers that will make it work for you without any problems.

[ben12]

But isn't it ridiculous that I couldn't use it for an item that's 4 CENTS LESS? That was the point of my post.

[FlashStash]

Originally posted by ben12
But isn't it ridiculous that I couldn't use it for an item that's 4 CENTS LESS? That was the point of my post.

SO what would not be ridiculous...8 cents? 20 cents? The coupon is for $19.99 and up, and you didn't meet the criteria...why is that ridiculous?

FS

[chucks888]

It didn't really fail, since the price didn't meet the requirement.

[porieux]

Is it off the item or off the total order? If the latter you should have grabbed another gift card package and put 4 cents on it :)

[ben12]

Originally posted by porieux
Is it off the item or off the total order? If the latter you should have grabbed another gift card package and put 4 cents on it :)

I don't know about the first question. Your suggestion wouldn't have worked because I don't think the coupon is valid for gift card purchases.

And all you people who disagree with me...are you nuts? (I'm not seriously calling you out here, so don't think I'm flaming). The coupons' for 19.99 and up and my item was 19.95!! Yeah, it's technically lower, but C'MON!!

[porieux]

If you feel that strongly about it I think you should have taken it out on the manager, that's what they're there for ;)

[GatorDeb]

I think the point being made is when is enough enough? 1 cent? 4 cents? 25 cents? A dollar? What if after you someone comes and says well he got it for 19.95, and mine is only $19.91, only 4 cents, come on!!

There has to be a hard set limit.

And it's per ITEM, not order.

[RVP]

The BestBuy near me won't even let me use the coupon at the time I purchase the gift card. So I have to buy the Giftcard and come back with the coupon later.
Also I belive they are good for any item $19.99 or more, so adding other things to your order wouldn't count.

Maybe you should have just bought Animal Crossing with the free memory card, and used the coupon to get them for $25.00.

[ben12]

Originally posted by GatorDeb
I think the point being made is when is enough enough? 1 cent? 4 cents? 25 cents? A dollar? What if after you someone comes and says well he got it for 19.95, and mine is only $19.91, only 4 cents, come on!!

There has to be a hard set limit.

And it's per ITEM, not order.

I see your point, but that would never happen because (1) the people who could see me weren't trying to use the coupon on an item that cost $19-19.98 and (2) nothing in the store costs $19-19.94! I checked! The entire store!

[Galanthas]

I purchased that GC memory card a month or so back using the coupon and 10 $1 gift cards too heh. I did ask a manager if I could use it first and he said it was fine. YMMV it seems.

[Decker]

Hmmm, I never have any problem even when buying an Xbox Ehibition disc that only costs $4.99 -- I get them for free. Did you use the Green one or those new black/ metallic gift card coupon?

[Trevor]

Originally posted by Decker
Hmmm, I never have any problem even when buying an Xbox Ehibition disc that only costs $4.99 -- I get them for free. Did you use the Green one or those new black/ metallic gift card coupon?

Yes, please let us know which coupon you used.

Also, did the cashier scan the coupon or not? And did they hit the F12 button or whatever it is that then searches for the package price?

My experience with the old coupons that expire 12/31/03 is that if scanned, the computer will apply the $5 off any video game related item as a 'package price', even if that item is only 1 penny, making items less than $5 free.

[Revoltor]

The coupon didn't fail....you did.

[ben12]

It was the older green coupon. He did scan it in and the computer wouldn't accept it. Maybe the computers in LA are reprogramed so they work correctly? Because I tried to use the coupon to pay for a $5 item once. I stood there for like 5 minutes while the spazzy cashier tried to get the coupon to apply. Then he looked at the coupon and realized it said it was only for items >$20. He showed it to me and I had to act all surprised like I'd missed it myself... It was kind of fun. I don't complain about that because I really shouldn't be able to use it in that case. But when I'm 4 CENTS SHORT!

[Revoltor]

You must've voted for Gore.

[nickdawgy]

I think I would have asked if they could let me get by this one time. Chances are they would allow it if you were to say "Well I guess I'll have to go to ______ to get it then."

But, 4 cents is 4 cents, and the coupon clearly states $19.99 or more. If they accepted the coupon from everyone that tried to use it for $19.95 stuff, pretty soon the 4 cents would add up to hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars. If they allowed you to get away with it, we'd all get away with it, it'd be anarchy!!!!

:D

[Shagrath]

I purchased a GC Memory Card a couple weeks ago using the $5 Gamer Coupon with no problem. The lady didn't think it wouild take, and I told her "just charge me 4 cents extra then, so I can use the coupon. I don't care", and she scanned it, and it worked. Don't know if she had to apply that extra 4 cents or not.

[SmackDaddy]

Wow....your mad because YOU did not meet the requirements of the coupon and the store wouldn't cut you a break?

Why didn't you buy a soda or bottled water, most BB's I've been to sell them right by the register, or a pack of cheap batteries?

[Static Cling]

Buying anything additional wouldn't have helped. The coupon is for $5 off a $19.99+ single video-game related item.

[Joshic]

I ran into this same problem when I bought a GCN memory card at Best Buy for $19.95 several months ago. The cashier said the computer wouldn't take the coupon. So I just said, "Can you mark up the price of the memory card by 4 cents?" They said sure, and the computer scanned the coupon fine. Next time, ask them to do this and it will work for you.

[ottolam]

I think the last two-digit of the price has a meaning in the pricing system. I know some stores use .97 or .88 as clearance item. So, I guess setting the coupon to $19.99 & up is to prevent people from using the coupon on clearance items.

[~~ PAL ~~]

Like Decker, I don't have any problems using the $5 gamer coupon, even for things less than $19.99. In fact, if the thing costs less than $5, it would just ring up $0. Different regions must have different POS database.

[retihsuhnt]

Originally posted by ben12
The coupons' for 19.99 and up and my item was 19.95!! Yeah, it's technically lower, but C'MON!!

"Come on I only blew a point .09 on the breathalyzer. Im not drunk!"

"I didnt know she could get pregnant if I had sex with her."

All of the above statements, including ben12's follow the same logic.

[DVDKrayzie]

Originally posted by RVP
The BestBuy near me won't even let me use the coupon at the time I purchase the gift card. So I have to buy the Giftcard and come back with the coupon later.

same here for one of the best buys. most of them just let me rip off the coupon, then throw away the card, which simplifies things, so i go to a different one than usual and start ripping them off on the counter as shes ringing stuff up and cashier flips out "WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" i explain to her im trying to make it easier and quicker for her by just giving her the coupons ( i was buying 2 games). She then goes and gets a manager. manager says I need to put $10 on each of the cards to use the coupon. i say fine and add the $10 and then try to use them, then she tells me i cannot use them till the next day as the "system needs to update first with the amounts overnight" which i know is BS because i use these all the time. i just left with my giftcards and coupons and used them at the BB that was on the way home.

[Josh H]

I just buy one or two of these in there everytime I go to buy a CD or DVD, then I have them when I want a game.

As for the $19.95 thing, I wouldn't get to upset over that. They likely set that price just to keep people from using the coupon as they probably don't make much profit on mem cards. It would be nice if you could get the cashier to mark it up 4 cents, but it's certainly lame to get pissed over them not doing it IMO. We should just be happy that they do this at all, not looking a gift horse in the mouth.

[PixyJunket]

I make sure I have a card or 2 on hand to advoid problems. When I use my last one I just buy another 2 with whatever I'm getting and put $5 on each. That way, whenever something comes out I want to buy, I've got $10 off it already.

[Josh H]

Originally posted by PixyJunket
That way, whenever something comes out I want to buy, I've got $10 off it already.

Exactly. I wanted to pick up Sly Cooper or Rachet and Clank yesterday, but I'm already over budget for this month. So I just spent $5 on a gift card.

Now when I pick it up next month or whenever I'll only have to pay $9.99 plus tax out of my pocket.

[~~ PAL ~~]

I don't know why people feel necessary try to circumvent the system. Yes, these GCs are meant to be given to people as gifts, which none of us do. But at least go along with the flow so that you can get the benefits. Just buy the gift cards and throw a few dollars on it, you'll be using it anyway. Behaviors like ripping the coupons right out of the case and throwing the gift card away is bordering on vendalism. I seriously doubt if BB would go as far as to press charges, but just stand back and look at such an act objectively, you'd see that it is in actuality destroying BB's merchandise that could've been sold for future sales. It's just not that cool.

How would people like it if he/she is the BB manager, and everyday 20 customers come in and each rips off 5 coupons so that you lose 100 gamer gift cards per day with no sales generated? Again, everybody can do whatever they feel is appropriate to get these coupons, but just ripping them off really isn't.

[DVDKrayzie]

Originally posted by ~~ PAL ~~
I don't know why people feel necessary try to circumvent the system. Yes, these GCs are meant to be given to people as gifts, which none of us do. But at least go along with the flow so that you can get the benefits. Just buy the gift cards and throw a few dollars on it, you'll be using it anyway. Behaviors like ripping the coupons right out of the case and throwing the gift card away is bordering on vendalism. I seriously doubt if BB would go as far as to press charges, but just stand back and look at such an act objectively, you'd see that it is in actuality destroying BB's merchandise that could've been sold for future sales. It's just not that cool.

How would people like it if he/she is the BB manager, and everyday 20 customers come in and each rips off 5 coupons so that you lose 100 gamer gift cards per day with no sales generated? Again, everybody can do whatever they feel is appropriate to get these coupons, but just ripping them off really isn't.

in the end, would it really make any difference if i ripped up the coupon in front of the cashier, didnt use the gift card, then they threw it away, or first she scans it, puts $ on it, then i hand it right back to her to scan.and then they throw it away again? hell, someone else could still use that giftcard since i didnt activate it yet with the 1st option.

hell i wouldnt even be buying most of my games from best buy if this gift card didnt exist snce it usually takes them 2-3 days longer to get the game in than everywhere else.

[porieux]

Either way you are still spending money with them, which is the point of the promotion. There is something to be said for not 'rocking the boat' though :)

[sniper308]

Originally posted by ~~ PAL ~~
I don't know why people feel necessary try to circumvent the system. Yes, these GCs are meant to be given to people as gifts, which none of us do. But at least go along with the flow so that you can get the benefits. Just buy the gift cards and throw a few dollars on it, you'll be using it anyway. Behaviors like ripping the coupons right out of the case and throwing the gift card away is bordering on vendalism. I seriously doubt if BB would go as far as to press charges, but just stand back and look at such an act objectively, you'd see that it is in actuality destroying BB's merchandise that could've been sold for future sales. It's just not that cool.

How would people like it if he/she is the BB manager, and everyday 20 customers come in and each rips off 5 coupons so that you lose 100 gamer gift cards per day with no sales generated? Again, everybody can do whatever they feel is appropriate to get these coupons, but just ripping them off really isn't.

I agree with you... however, the funny thing is that when we put a couple of bucks on it and immediately use it, it is probably costing them a transaction fee from American Express or whoever processes these transactions for them... so by doing it "legitimately" we are probably costing them a few cents. Of course they more than make that up on the item that they are selling, even with the $5 off.

[Superboy]

I bought the 251 mem. card before, and the CSR was really cool about it. He gave me the discount even though i was short 4 cents.

[tanman]

Originally posted by ben12
So I go in and grab a GC memory card (251). The price is 19.95. I pick up a gift card, put $1 on it, and then tell the guy I want to use the card and the coupon to buy the memory thingie. He rings it up, but the computer won't take the coupon. The reason - the coupon is for items costing $19.99 and up. It wouldn't take it because the item I wanted cost 4 cents less!! ARGH!!! I couldn't find any video game related item that cost less than a dollar (no quarter strategy guides here). I didn't want to cause trouble, so I didn't ask to speak to a manager or anything. Should I have? Would I have gotten my discount? This was at the Westwood BB, for all you SoCal folks.

I totally understand you. Yeah yeah you can use the excuse that where is the limit 2c 4c a dollar. But it is really not a strong arguement. For one it is in fact FOUR cents. The Mem cards USED to be 19.99 as is the great majority of BB's stock; ending in 99. I know that they do it on purpose so that the card will be negated. But it is an insult to specifically and stealthily circumvent their own promotion on a technical snafu of FOUR cents. I would feel much different if they wrote on their coupons that "mem cards are not valid with this offer" or something along those lines. It really is in the way that they present it. I'm very surprised when people side for the company when employing such tactics. Do people really belive things are/should be so black and white?

[tanman]

Originally posted by retihsuhnt
"Come on I only blew a point .09 on the breathalyzer. Im not drunk!"

"I didnt know she could get pregnant if I had sex with her."

All of the above statements, including ben12's follow the same logic.

I am really not following the last example. I'm really not following your logic.

I understand the breathalyzer analogy but by the same token don't you think that the judge/officer would take into consideration whether or not that person blew a .09 versus a 1.5 or if it was a first time offense or a fifth. I guarantee that they would. The world is not nearly so cut and dry as people want it to be. As I stated before I really don't understand people's mentalities that things should be so absolute when they really aren't.

[rfduncan]

Originally posted by tanman
I understand the breathalyzer analogy but by the same token don't you think that the judge/officer would take into consideration whether or not that person blew a .09 versus a 1.5 or if it was a first time offense or a fifth. I guarantee that they would. The world is not nearly so cut and dry as people want it to be. As I stated before I really don't understand people's mentalities that things should be so absolute when they really aren't.
Then you'd be REALLY bad at running a business. Best Buy did NOT issue this coupon for haggling. There are clear "cut and dry" stipulations for its use (companies pay BIG money to make sure this small print is exact). That some people got away with it is neat, but technically they should not have been able to use it. THAT is like saying "Well so-and-so, from DVDTalk was doing 90mph the other day and didn't get a ticket so why should I?" Why not ignore the "video games & accessories" part and try to use it on a DVD that is $19.99 or higher? Choose one where the special features include a "game", right?

BTW folks, you don't need to add so much to those GCs. Once I was buying 10 of them and asked the cashier to put a buck on each. She said, "Why not just put a penny on each if you just want it for the coupon?" -eek- So I did. :lol:

[tanman]

Originally posted by rfduncan
Then you'd be REALLY bad at running a business. Best Buy did NOT issue this coupon for haggling. There are clear "cut and dry" stipulations for its use (companies pay BIG money to make sure this small print is exact). That some people got away with it is neat, but technically they should not have been able to use it. THAT is like saying "Well so-and-so, from DVDTalk was doing 90mph the other day and didn't get a ticket so why should I?" Why not ignore the "video games & accessories" part and try to use it on a DVD that is $19.99 or higher? Choose one where the special features include a "game", right?


Yeah I probably would be bad at running a business. Glad I wasn't a business major.

I'm sure that many people are happy and alive that hospitals don't always take such as absolute policy towards its patients.

I guess people don't care about paying for their DVD's as long as they don't have to pay for their healthcare. (statement not to be taken seriously)

[Doug Schiller]

Umm, let's see.
Coupon is for $19.99 and up.
Your item is $19.95.
What failed again?

For God's sake, buy something else you cheapo. Best Buy is the only store that offers these $5 deals, so support them. Buy a cheap CD or something.

Again, the card didn't fail, you did.
There has to be hundreds of items that are $1-2 (soda?) and you argue with a manager over 5 cents?

[GatorDeb]

Again, it's not per ORDER, it's per ITEM :) So buying a $1-$2 item doesn't help.

[tanman]

Originally posted by Doug Schiller
Umm, let's see.
Coupon is for $19.99 and up.
Your item is $19.95.
What failed again?

For God's sake, buy something else you cheapo. Best Buy is the only store that offers these $5 deals, so support them. Buy a cheap CD or something.

Again, the card didn't fail, you did.
There has to be hundreds of items that are $1-2 (soda?) and you argue with a manager over 5 cents?

Are you even paying attention? At least three other posts and a plethora of other threads have mentioned that THIS ONLY APPLIES TO ONE Video game or acces.!

You can't add another item to bring the total above 19.99 the OP tried to do that. I'm sure he would have been more than happy to have purchased something else.

The card didn't fail, the OP didn't fail, you failed....reading comprehension (alright that was a little much).

[GatorDeb]

Originally posted by tanman
I totally understand you. Yeah yeah you can use the excuse that where is the limit 2c 4c a dollar. But it is really not a strong arguement. For one it is in fact FOUR cents. The Mem cards USED to be 19.99 as is the great majority of BB's stock; ending in 99. I know that they do it on purpose so that the card will be negated. But it is an insult to specifically and stealthily circumvent their own promotion on a technical snafu of FOUR cents. I would feel much different if they wrote on their coupons that "mem cards are not valid with this offer" or something along those lines. It really is in the way that they present it. I'm very surprised when people side for the company when employing such tactics. Do people really belive things are/should be so black and white? Talk about paranoia!

MOST businesses do not things like these to circumvent coupons, it's just a way to mark discontinued inventory. For example, at Wal-Mart, items ending in $0.88 mean one thing, those ending in $0.95 mean another, and those ending in $0.99 mean yet another thing (for example, regular price, sale, special sale, discontinued, clearance).

So BBuy might just be clearancing or discontinuing them.

[GatorDeb]

Originally posted by DVDKrayzie
in the end, would it really make any difference if i ripped up the coupon in front of the cashier, didnt use the gift card, then they threw it away, or first she scans it, puts $ on it, then i hand it right back to her to scan.and then they throw it away again? hell, someone else could still use that giftcard since i didnt activate it yet with the 1st option.

hell i wouldnt even be buying most of my games from best buy if this gift card didnt exist snce it usually takes them 2-3 days longer to get the game in than everywhere else. A few days ago I went up with a GBA game and told them "I'm just going to use the giftcard right away and just want it for the coupon. Do you want me to do the giftcard thing or can you just take $5 off?"

He took the $5 off.

I don't know if it helped that my nephew got his $1000 computer there in the same transaction :D

[Josh H]

Originally posted by tanman
Do people really belive things are/should be so black and white?

In the business world, yes. The coupon says for any item over $19.99, simple concept. To expect them to break this rule is lame IMO. We shoudl just be happy they offer these coupons at all. No one else gives you $5 off almost every game and accessory they sell.

[Josh H]

Originally posted by GatorDeb
Talk about paranoia!


Actually, he's probably right. Retailers make next to nothing on first party hardware, so they probably intentionally knocked the mem cards down the 4 cents. If they gave the $5 off they'd probably be making very little profit on them.

[tanman]

Originally posted by GatorDeb
Talk about paranoia!


But haven't you seen the black helis that they have there. You have haven't you.....HAVEN'T YOU! circling around once the store closes....inventory they say. INVENTORY! do they need special men in black suits to do INVENTORY! circling....circling....circling...circling....

[GatorDeb]

Ok, now. Step away from the computer, sir. Everything will be all right. Bruno here will help you into this nice comfy white sweater.

:lol:

[Trevor]

One way to solve the original poster's problem....

Just buy the memory card at Circuit City. They are 19.99 there, and they will take the BB coupon.

[GatorDeb]

Trevor, not all Circuity City's do :)

[Copenhagen]

They should.

[Trevor]

Originally posted by GatorDeb
Trevor, not all Circuity City's do :)

Company policy says they do. I've had to ask for a manager once or twice, but I'll never leave a CC w/o them accepting it. :)

[retihsuhnt]

Originally posted by tanman
I am really not following the last example. I'm really not following your logic.

I understand the breathalyzer analogy but by the same token don't you think that the judge/officer would take into consideration whether or not that person blew a .09 versus a 1.5 or if it was a first time offense or a fifth. I guarantee that they would. The world is not nearly so cut and dry as people want it to be. As I stated before I really don't understand people's mentalities that things should be so absolute when they really aren't.

Okay tanman, you keep thinking that until a family memeber is killed by a drunk driver.

No one can have a 1.5 blood alcohol level. That is saying 150% of your blood is alcohol, so thats some really good math on you part.

And Im sorry, but at least in the state of OR if you blow a 0.08 your are drunk. It is black and white, you get behind the wheel after you have drank you are committing a Class A Misdeamnor, and on your fourth one in ten (10) years its a Felony (in the state of OR).

The world should be cut and dry, grey areas are for those that want to "skirt the system" like the clown I was refering to in my post about his logic. Its only four (4) cents so a coupon should work that reads it needs to be $19.99.

[sdcrym]

Originally posted by retihsuhnt
Okay tanman, you keep thinking that until a family memeber is killed by a drunk driver.

No one can have a 1.5 blood alcohol level. That is saying 150% of your blood is alcohol, so thats some really good math on you part.

And Im sorry, but at least in the state of OR if you blow a 0.08 your are drunk. It is black and white, you get behind the wheel after you have drank you are committing a Class A Misdeamnor, and on your fourth one in ten (10) years its a Felony (in the state of OR).

The world should be cut and dry, grey areas are for those that want to "skirt the system" like the clown I was refering to in my post about his logic. Its only four (4) cents so a coupon should work that reads it needs to be $19.99. ...nevermind

[tanman]

Originally posted by retihsuhnt

The world should be cut and dry, grey areas are for those that want to "skirt the system" like the clown I was refering to in my post about his logic. Its only four (4) cents so a coupon should work that reads it needs to be $19.99.

Alright when you are Lord high supreme commander of the alpha world then we will bow down to your black and white supreme form of government and all the people (henceforth known as clowns) will bow down to thy awesome presense and never stare in the face of Big Brother again. Until that time the rest of us will live out our lives in reality.

And yes I did make a mistake. I meant 0.15. So jail me up and throw away the key because I've commited such a haynous act.




s*** I mispelled a word

[Static Cling]

I think this thread has run its course.