Worst Buy

[mredskins]

Ever try to return something at Best Buy? Awful just awful.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Ever try to return something at Best Buy? Awful just awful.

Yep. I tried to return a video game there once, and they only said I could return it for an opened copy of the same game, instead of a refund. And it was the day after I bought it for 20 bucks. I was pissed off. I took it to Gamestop and they offered me 2 dollars for it. Sigh. I just took it back home and gave it to a friend instead.

[los panda]

Originally Posted by mooby

Yep. I tried to return a video game there once, and they only said I could return it for an opened copy of the same game, instead of a refund. And it was the day after I bought it for 20 bucks. I was pissed off. I took it to Gamestop and they offered me 2 dollars for it. Sigh. I just took it back home and gave it to a friend instead.

they told me that before, i took the unopened one, went to another best buy, and got a full refund. a hassle, but worth $50 to me

edit* misread, they did not say opened copy to me

i said the game did not work properly

[mooby]

Originally Posted by los panda

they told me that before, i took the unopened one, went to another best buy, and got a full refund. a hassle, but worth $50 to me

edit* misread, they did not say opened copy to me

i said the game did not work properly

Yeah the one I returned was opened, and she said it could only be returned for another copy that they actually opened in front of me. This is to prevent customers for taking an unopened copy back to another store and getting their full money back.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by mooby

Yeah the one I returned was opened, and she said it could only be returned for another copy that they actually opened in front of me. This is to prevent customers for taking an unopened copy back to another store and getting their full money back.

That is pretty true for most stores. No one will give you a refund for a open new game.

My problem with their returns is the line is always a mile and they have like one person working the return register.

Maybe someone in retail can explain to me how returns work...does it hurt the store or the vendor? Target and Wal Mart don't seem to give a crap if you return something as long as it is in their grace period. Other stores like best buy pitch a fit about returns or make it very diffcult.

[los panda]

Originally Posted by mooby

Yeah the one I returned was opened, and she said it could only be returned for another copy that they actually opened in front of me. This is to prevent customers for taking an unopened copy back to another store and getting their full money back.

i've been scamming for years and have never heard that, smarter on their part.

my personal favorite is to swap a broken controller with a used controller, or get two used controllers for one at gamestop. i justify this to myself. i buy a used one of the same color, go home, make sure it works, then take my broken controller back and tell them it didn't work. i get my money back = 1 completely free used controller or i get another used controller = 2 used controllers for the price of 1.

[Dirtbag59]

The funny thing about Best Buy is people go there to test out items they're thinking of buying and then go online and buy them.

Personally I've had some pretty bad experiences with Best Buy including one that left me without a computer for a month and a half. Of course I bought a TV over Christmas break and returned two before I found the one I liked, and they made it pretty easy to do the exchange.

As for Crutchfield, I think Pwned is right. Their superior customer service is a big part of the reason they're still a powerhouse. It's kind of weird balance though, on one hand they tend to charge a bit more for stuff like TV's and speakers, on the other hand they also sell stuff like head units and amps at retail prices then include key equipment like amp kits and harnesses for free. Also free shipping is nice.

Either way, on simple plug and play electronics price is the biggest issue, with more complicated items customer service and support is key. Best Buy's biggest asset right now is the fact that you can walk into any local store and get what you're looking for the same day. However they're also getting beat by online e-tailers on both fronts (price and/or customer service).

Also Target and Wal-Mart are starting to catch up to Best Buy in terms of selection for retail electronics so that also plays a factor in Best Buy's recent struggles.

This story though reminds me of something I read a little while back.
Red Tape - A lost laptop, a $54 million lawsuit: part 2

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag59

The funny thing about Best Buy is people go there to test out items they're thinking of buying and then go online and buy them.

Personally I've had some pretty bad experiences with Best Buy including one that left me without a computer for a month and a half. Of course I bought a TV over Christmas break and returned two before I found the one I liked, and they made it pretty easy to do the exchange.

As for Crutchfield, I think Pwned is right. Their superior customer service is a big part of the reason they're still a powerhouse. It's kind of weird balance though, on one hand they tend to charge a bit more for stuff like TV's and speakers, on the other hand they also sell stuff like head units and amps at retail prices then include key equipment like amp kits and harnesses for free. Also free shipping is nice.

Either way, on simple plug and play electronics price is the biggest issue, with more complicated items customer service and support is key. Best Buy's biggest asset right now is the fact that you can walk into any local store and get what you're looking for the same day. However they're also getting beat by online e-tailers on both fronts (price and/or customer service).

Also Target and Wal-Mart are starting to catch up to Best Buy in terms of selection for retail electronics so that also plays a factor in Best Buy's recent struggles.

This story though reminds me of something I read a little while back.
Red Tape - A lost laptop, a $54 million lawsuit: part 2

Don't forget about Sears...been around forever for a reason.

[firstdown]

Good!!! Best Buy has the worst customer service I have ever seen and the F'D me once and I never walked back into their stores again. It was over a stupid $49 DVD player I purchased for my daughter to take to college. It never worked and by the time we could return it the 30 days had expired. They would not exchange it and wanted me to pay some stupid amount to ship it back for warranty work. The dumb ass MGR kept telling me I should have purchased the extended warranty. I told him all he was saying is that I had to buy their customer service. F%$K them.

[That Guy]

i buy from newegg at basically wholesale, and it gets here in 2 days exactly as promised. in fact, i pretty much never shop outside of my house anymore, outside of some clothes or shoes, there's no need. shoes are probably the only thing i wouldn't buy online, since I have wide feet, and, depending on brand, i'm somewhere between 11W and 13R.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

I worked at the one by Springfield Mall when i was 16. More than 10 years later it is still by far the worst job ive ever had.

Bestbuy was a great story of a record show owner who had a massive sale because of a hurricane (maybe Andrew??) and learned that he could make more money by moving a large amount of product at small mark up than by selling a few records at a big mark up.

But they become a corporate juggernaut who prized themselves for bankrupting Circut City (headquartered in Richmond of all places!). I remember a huge mural in the break room of the bestbuy “tag” and the circut city “plug” boxing and the bestbuy tag knocking the circuit city plug out.

Ive always been disgusted by this:

The clock-in machine and the coat room were on opposite sides of the store. They made a real big deal about dropping off your coat first then walking to the clock to clock in. Same thing with leaving; clock out then go get your coat. Well the problem with that is that its nearly impossible to walk across bestbuy in a blue shirt and khaki pants without having to help a customer during busy hours. Could be something simple, could easily turn into a 5-10+ minute thing.

They made a really big deal about it. Their explanation was that yeah, sure you may lose a few cents, at worst case a dollar, of earned money but bestbuy the company looses hundreds of thousands or more a year of employees putting their coats away. They would say things like it really hurts the company and has little or no material effect on you. In reality I believe the percentage financial loss was either the same or more for the individual than for the company. It really ground my gears.

God that place had one of the worst parking lots ever; especially over by the home depot.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by mredskins

God that place had one of the worst parking lots ever; especially over by the home depot.

Still is one of the worst parking lots ever, hence why I never go shopping over there.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by mooby

Still is one of the worst parking lots ever, hence why I never go shopping over there.

I cant remember is there a Barnes and noble in there as well?

[mooby]

Originally Posted by mredskins

I cant remember is there a Barnes and noble in there as well?

Maybe? I haven't been there in a while and I know B&N shut down a lot of their stores in the last year or so. I remember one used to be over on that side of the mall.

[mlmpetert]

Im pretty sure when i worked there it was a Petsmart or other box pet store. There was also a Maggie Moos in that parking lot. Seriously the best milk shakes you can get. They make a pumpkin one in the fall, its ridiculous.

Also i remembered that if you smoked you could take all sorts of 5 minute breaks on the clock, if you didnt smoke, just the mandatory ones. I started smoking.