Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Shopping Discussions > Store Forum
Reload this Page >

Beware of Best Buy

Community
Search
Store Forum Share Your Shopping Experiences at Stores both Online and Off.

Beware of Best Buy

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-02-02, 04:36 PM
  #1  
jaw
New Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Beware of Best Buy

I just had a horrid experience with BestBuy.com. I received a gift from BestBuy.com that I wanted to return/exchange. I called and they suggested that I come into the store. After receiving incorrect directions from one of the people at the store, I finally arrived to return my gift. There were 15 people ahead of me, and four clerks, and it took me over an hour to speak with a clerk. I handed the clerk the receipt, the gift, and my credit card. Without saying 2 words to me, he did something and handed me a new receipt. I asked him why he hadn't even looked at my credit card. What he did was credit the card of the person who bought me the gift which causes two problems: 1) the person now knows I returned his gift and 2) I have no gift. The store would not give me a store credit nor let me exchange the item. So, basically I had to keep the item, or get nothing, but the clerk did not even explain that so I could choose to keep the item. I spoke to a store supervisor and a supervisor on the 888 number. They were rude and unhelpful, and basically told me not to bother them. Thus, if you plan on getting anyone a gift DO NOT USE BESTBUY.COM. I will never use them again and you should all do so at your own peril.
Old 12-02-02, 04:42 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Menifee, CA
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think this should be in the store forum
Old 12-02-02, 04:46 PM
  #3  
Moderator
 
Groucho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 71,383
Received 122 Likes on 84 Posts
I don't think that it is normal policy to do it this way is it? When I've exchanged gifts I get store credit, sometimes cash (depending on the store).

Also, never ever try to return something this close to Black Friday if you don't want to wait in a huge line.
Old 12-02-02, 05:09 PM
  #4  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 4,476
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I've never heard of them not giving store credit for a returned item, so I'm not quite sure what went on. For money back, however, it would have to go on the original credit card.
Old 12-02-02, 05:25 PM
  #5  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Shoveler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
Posts: 4,727
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
If you had the receipt, then I think this is done to protect people from getting deliveries at the wrong address and then return them for credit or other merchandise. I believe you have a legitimate gripe about the lack of an explanation, but I can understand if that is their policy.
Old 12-02-02, 05:29 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 837
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think the twist here is that the item was purchased at BestBuy.COM. I haven't experienced it but I've certainly read/heard of several horror stories of trying to return/exchange anything bought from bestbuy.com at their B&M.
Old 12-02-02, 05:32 PM
  #7  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,784
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
its scary how many people have had problems with bestbuy.com. and its usually simple things like this that they mess up on.
Old 12-02-02, 05:43 PM
  #8  
DVD Talk Legend
 
DeputyDave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,080
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally posted by Shoveler
If you had the receipt, then I think this is done to protect people from getting deliveries at the wrong address and then return them for credit or other merchandise. I believe you have a legitimate gripe about the lack of an explanation, but I can understand if that is their policy.
Sorry, but thats BS. There is no reason for them to have that policy. The item is new in the box AND you have the receipt, they should at least give a store credit. They do not lose anything that way. I used to love Best Buy but this Holiday season they are quickly losing my faith.
Old 12-02-02, 06:07 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego to Los Angeles
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
yeah this thread belongs in the store forum...

the thing is with Best Buy is that bestbuy.com and the actual best buy brick and mortar store are 2 separate companies or something. so they wont do exchanges. kinda stupid if you ask me. i preorderd BoB and i didnt get it til after that week when it came out. when i got it it was dinged up so of course i want to exchange it. went to the b&m with my packing slip and receipt printed from the email, grabbed another BoB and said hey i want to exchange this and they were No can do, bestbuy.com does their own thing is what the clerk said. of course by now the price went up 10 bucks, so i was like alright just return it. i later went to cc and they still had it at 79.99. if i was thinking wisely i should of just bought it at Frys when it came out for 69.99. would of still gotten the $25 gc. eh...........
Old 12-02-02, 06:22 PM
  #10  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by duy37
yeah this thread belongs in the store forum...

the thing is with Best Buy is that bestbuy.com and the actual best buy brick and mortar store are 2 separate companies or something. so they wont do exchanges. kinda stupid if you ask me. i preorderd BoB and i didnt get it til after that week when it came out. when i got it it was dinged up so of course i want to exchange it. went to the b&m with my packing slip and receipt printed from the email, grabbed another BoB and said hey i want to exchange this and they were No can do, bestbuy.com does their own thing is what the clerk said. of course by now the price went up 10 bucks, so i was like alright just return it. i later went to cc and they still had it at 79.99. if i was thinking wisely i should of just bought it at Frys when it came out for 69.99. would of still gotten the $25 gc. eh...........
not my experience ... I returned a bestbuy.com order to the store and had absolutely no problem. I had the enclosed invoice and they credited the card with no issue and by the time I got home the order was updated with a status of returned and I still got my digital coupon for ordering.
Old 12-02-02, 06:59 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 712
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Recently, I got Made for $7.99 from bestbuy.com and when it arrived, I could tell the disc was loose inside the case. I took it to the B&M store w/ my receipt, and had it exchanged.

The clerk messed around with the computer for a couple of minutes and mentioned something about it being a complicated process. In the end, he let me grab a new one off of the shelf. By the way, the in-store price was $9.99, but I didn't have to pay any extra to make the exchange (not that I would've let them get away with that if they tried).
Old 12-02-02, 07:02 PM
  #12  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by duy37
yeah this thread belongs in the store forum...

the thing is with Best Buy is that bestbuy.com and the actual best buy brick and mortar store are 2 separate companies or something. so they wont do exchanges. kinda stupid if you ask me. i preorderd BoB and i didnt get it til after that week when it came out. when i got it it was dinged up so of course i want to exchange it. went to the b&m with my packing slip and receipt printed from the email, grabbed another BoB and said hey i want to exchange this and they were No can do, bestbuy.com does their own thing is what the clerk said. of course by now the price went up 10 bucks, so i was like alright just return it. i later went to cc and they still had it at 79.99. if i was thinking wisely i should of just bought it at Frys when it came out for 69.99. would of still gotten the $25 gc. eh...........
wow sucks to be you b/c I got an exchange Pre-ordered BoB from bestbuy.com but the set had some glitches so I went to a B&M store for an exchange. Granted I had to 'return' my set to bestbuy.com (the store took it) and rebuy the set from the B&M store (which they adjusted the $10 difference) but really its still just an exchange.

I guess it really just depends on which store you go to or what kind of employees you end up dealing with.
Old 12-02-02, 07:54 PM
  #13  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Heat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 16,702
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Looks like their policy is along the same lines as what you experienced, returns only.
What is Best Buy’s return and exchange policy?

Returns and Exchanges Are Easy

Whether you purchased an item online or at one of our stores, we will fully refund most items within 30 days of purchase.

Return Policies

Best Buy will fully refund most items within 30 days of receipt.

This return policy may vary slightly from the store and catalog policies. All returns, exchanges and price adjustments must be made in the country of original purchase. Please adhere to the following return policy:

[some general information here regarding a 14 day return limit on monitors, computers, radar detectors, etc)]

30 days from date merchandise was received
Refunds available on the remainder of our merchandise.

[and a few exceptions here, none of which fit into the unopened category]
I agree that a store credit would make sense (and would be beneficial for Best Buy since some credits would be lost, thus never redeemed), but their policy does discourage returns, which I suppose is their goal. But they didn't single you out for harsh treatment, they do this to everybody (bestbuy.com returns to b&m stores).
Old 12-02-02, 08:13 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Newport Beach, CA
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I have never had one bad experience with Best Buy, as a matter of fact they always bend over backwards for me. I have returned so many movies there and some without reciepts. Never once have they denied me. I think its how you come off that decides what kind of experience you will have. It's just my opinion, but I can speak first hand that if someone comes off bad (which I'm not saying you did or didn't) they'll get crappy service and I would never bend over backwards for them. Anyway, it's just my two cents.
Old 12-03-02, 01:05 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego to Los Angeles
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by dvde
I have never had one bad experience with Best Buy, as a matter of fact they always bend over backwards for me. I have returned so many movies there and some without reciepts. Never once have they denied me. I think its how you come off that decides what kind of experience you will have. It's just my opinion, but I can speak first hand that if someone comes off bad (which I'm not saying you did or didn't) they'll get crappy service and I would never bend over backwards for them. Anyway, it's just my two cents.

kind of offtopic but these days alot of places don't require a receipt anymore, im thinking if you use your credit card, they'll have a record of it. since i buy most of my stuff on credit card i usually never have to worry about receipts. i don't have a major deal with best buy the store itself, it's just bestbuy.com's policy with exchanges at b&m bestbuys.
Old 12-03-02, 01:09 AM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego to Los Angeles
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by seisui
wow sucks to be you b/c I got an exchange Pre-ordered BoB from bestbuy.com but the set had some glitches so I went to a B&M store for an exchange. Granted I had to 'return' my set to bestbuy.com (the store took it) and rebuy the set from the B&M store (which they adjusted the $10 difference) but really its still just an exchange.

I guess it really just depends on which store you go to or what kind of employees you end up dealing with.

I'm guessing the clerk i had was a seasonal worker she wasn't too bright, i didnt really care, if i did i would of probably ask to speak to a manager. no loss for me, best buy lost out 70 or so bucks. i usually dont preorder cause it takes too long but in the case of Bob 25 bucks was an offer i couldnt refuse..
Old 12-03-02, 02:52 AM
  #17  
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,982
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here's what you do!
Take it to Wal-Mart and they'll give you a gift card for the vaule of the merchendise. And spread the word BestBuy sucks, shop at Circuitt city or Wal-Mart.
Old 12-03-02, 01:47 PM
  #18  
Cool New Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Best Buy can only return the .com orders to the credit card it was purchased with.
Old 12-03-02, 01:49 PM
  #19  
Cool New Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Best Buy can only return .com orders to the credit card that it was purchased with

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.