Wrong drive in box from Best Buy
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wrong drive in box from Best Buy
Many months ago I bought a 120GB Western Digital hard drive from Best Buy. I had intended to use it in a system I was going to build. I eventually bought a new system and opened the sealed box to add the WD drive as a secondary drive. I was surprised to find that the drive in the sealed box was not a WD drive but a Fujitsu 500MG drive. I emailed BB but they said that since it was longer than 30 days from the purchase date I was out of luck. Even if it was within 30 days I would probably have had a difficult time convincing them the WD drive wasn't in the box.
I am incredibly pissed that somehow a wrong drive was put in the box. Either someone bought a WD drive and put their old drive in the box and sealed the box and returned it to BB for a refund or returned it with the wrapper torn and BB resealed it. Or someone at BB, possibly a computer repair person, switched the drive and resealed the box. Either way I got screwed majorly.
If I can get the drive to work I'm going to search it for personal data from whoever had it before and go after the frucker.
Since clear wrapper sealers can be bought by anyone I wanted to post this thread to alert others of the possibility, though incredibly slight, of this happening to you. I guess the lesson is to open the box before you leave the store and make sure what you paid for is actually in the box.
Still I'd hope BB would investigate the issue as maybe they need to examine their return practices if someone let this switch happen.
I am incredibly pissed that somehow a wrong drive was put in the box. Either someone bought a WD drive and put their old drive in the box and sealed the box and returned it to BB for a refund or returned it with the wrapper torn and BB resealed it. Or someone at BB, possibly a computer repair person, switched the drive and resealed the box. Either way I got screwed majorly.
If I can get the drive to work I'm going to search it for personal data from whoever had it before and go after the frucker.
Since clear wrapper sealers can be bought by anyone I wanted to post this thread to alert others of the possibility, though incredibly slight, of this happening to you. I guess the lesson is to open the box before you leave the store and make sure what you paid for is actually in the box.
Still I'd hope BB would investigate the issue as maybe they need to examine their return practices if someone let this switch happen.
#2
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Edison, NJ
Posts: 3,463
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd try to contact BB corporate.. not in email but on the phone. When i worked for CompUSA years ago, people would return things that we didn't even sell because they called corporate and corporate contacted teh store and OK'd the return just to keep a good customer. It can't hurt!
#3
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Ben732
I'd try to contact BB corporate.. not in email but on the phone. When i worked for CompUSA years ago, people would return things that we didn't even sell because they called corporate and corporate contacted teh store and OK'd the return just to keep a good customer. It can't hurt!
I'd try to contact BB corporate.. not in email but on the phone. When i worked for CompUSA years ago, people would return things that we didn't even sell because they called corporate and corporate contacted teh store and OK'd the return just to keep a good customer. It can't hurt!
#4
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 9,379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Darn! It's outrageous! A used, bad Fujitsu 500MB drive in a brand new WD 120GB package?! I hope you can get it resolved with BB corporate.
Btw, did you buy it at the store or ordered it online?
Btw, did you buy it at the store or ordered it online?
#5
Looking at it logically, why shouldn't they believe you?
If you were lying, wouldn't you have done it months ago, when it would have been much easier? Why would someone wait several months to try something like that if they were lying?
It is kind of unbelievable that someone would swap drives like that, though. I'm just surprised that someone would have the guts.
Hopefully you'll get it worked out.
If you were lying, wouldn't you have done it months ago, when it would have been much easier? Why would someone wait several months to try something like that if they were lying?
It is kind of unbelievable that someone would swap drives like that, though. I'm just surprised that someone would have the guts.
Hopefully you'll get it worked out.
#6
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by eau
Btw, did you buy it at the store or ordered it online?
Btw, did you buy it at the store or ordered it online?
#7
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by GoVegan
Looking at it logically, why shouldn't they believe you?
If you were lying, wouldn't you have done it months ago, when it would have been much easier? Why would someone wait several months to try something like that if they were lying?
Looking at it logically, why shouldn't they believe you?
If you were lying, wouldn't you have done it months ago, when it would have been much easier? Why would someone wait several months to try something like that if they were lying?
I'm not necessarily trying to bash BB, but I am upset by what happened.
#8
DVD Talk Legend
You've got to look at it from Best Buy's POV. Do you know how many people try to get away with this kind of scam everyday? They'll come back in 20 minutes later with an empty box, claiming that the wrong thing was in the box...why should we believe them? Returns are checked thouroughly before being put back on the shelf. If you weren't telling the truth (like the many other scam artists), they'd be out another 120 gig HD.
Always open the box of whatever you buy while you're at the store, plain and simple.
Always open the box of whatever you buy while you're at the store, plain and simple.
#9
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Tarantino
You've got to look at it from Best Buy's POV. Do you know how many people try to get away with this kind of scam everyday?
You've got to look at it from Best Buy's POV. Do you know how many people try to get away with this kind of scam everyday?
Originally posted by Tarantino
Returns are checked thouroughly before being put back on the shelf.
Returns are checked thouroughly before being put back on the shelf.
Originally posted by Tarantino
Always open the box of whatever you buy while you're at the store, plain and simple.
Always open the box of whatever you buy while you're at the store, plain and simple.
#10
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
UPDATE:
I received another email response from BB customer service. They are telling me that exceptions to the return policy are made at the local store's General Manager's discretion. So I guess I'll go there and see what luck I have.
I received another email response from BB customer service. They are telling me that exceptions to the return policy are made at the local store's General Manager's discretion. So I guess I'll go there and see what luck I have.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 712
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Tarantino
Always open the box of whatever you buy while you're at the store, plain and simple.
Always open the box of whatever you buy while you're at the store, plain and simple.
#12
I guess I'd better preface this by saying that Game Boy Advance games are roughly one inch by three inches.
A few weeks ago, I picked up a Game Boy Advance Castlevania game at Wal-Mart. I had a three hour class that night, so I left it in my car. While I was on a break from the class, I wanted to spit my gum out, and I must have used the receipt to wrap the gum.
That night, I got home and opened up the game. In the box, the game was missing. In its place was an eraser (roughly the same size as a GBA game).
I spoke to the manager and told him my problem, and he said I could bring it back in and exchange it. He looked up which register I had been on to prove that I'd bought it.
One of the clerks said that sort of thing happened all the time.
A few weeks ago, I picked up a Game Boy Advance Castlevania game at Wal-Mart. I had a three hour class that night, so I left it in my car. While I was on a break from the class, I wanted to spit my gum out, and I must have used the receipt to wrap the gum.
That night, I got home and opened up the game. In the box, the game was missing. In its place was an eraser (roughly the same size as a GBA game).
I spoke to the manager and told him my problem, and he said I could bring it back in and exchange it. He looked up which register I had been on to prove that I'd bought it.
One of the clerks said that sort of thing happened all the time.
#13
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by CaptainMarvel
That night, I got home and opened up the game. In the box, the game was missing. In its place was an eraser.
One of the clerks said that sort of thing happened all the time.
That night, I got home and opened up the game. In the box, the game was missing. In its place was an eraser.
One of the clerks said that sort of thing happened all the time.
#14
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally posted by spyzdope
As a BB employee, when would you suggest as the best time & place to open it (especially on weekends when it's crowded and there are long lines for every checkout lane)? Since there's no convenient place between the checkout lane and the exit to open and examine a package, I guess the best thing to do is to ask an employee if I can open it before I buy it (because I would think it would look suspicious if I just started opening up a package without asking someone first). Perhaps BB could eliminate these kinds of problems, if they would just put up a small table near the exit, so we would have a convenient place to inspect items before exiting the store.
As a BB employee, when would you suggest as the best time & place to open it (especially on weekends when it's crowded and there are long lines for every checkout lane)? Since there's no convenient place between the checkout lane and the exit to open and examine a package, I guess the best thing to do is to ask an employee if I can open it before I buy it (because I would think it would look suspicious if I just started opening up a package without asking someone first). Perhaps BB could eliminate these kinds of problems, if they would just put up a small table near the exit, so we would have a convenient place to inspect items before exiting the store.
good idea. They seem to have room for a table as you come in for BB people to sign you up for a BB credit card.
#15
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Originally From The Keystone State
Posts: 1,859
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Originally posted by ernestrp
I think a table near the exit to open and inspect items is a real
good idea.
I think a table near the exit to open and inspect items is a real
good idea.
Then you have to hire people to staff the table as well, and that's not making any money for the company now is it?
Last edited by dvd-fanman; 04-24-03 at 03:01 PM.
#16
DVD Talk Special Edition
Best Buy stores I go to have security personel at each exit, so just stick one of those people at a table, so that the security person can see the store monitors and check receipts for big-ticket items (like TVs), while people check their purchases, if they please.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by cupcake jesus
Best Buy stores I go to have security personel at each exit, so just stick one of those people at a table, so that the security person can see the store monitors and check receipts for big-ticket items (like TVs), while people check their purchases, if they please.
Best Buy stores I go to have security personel at each exit, so just stick one of those people at a table, so that the security person can see the store monitors and check receipts for big-ticket items (like TVs), while people check their purchases, if they please.