I haven’t been to Best Buy in years. They pissed me off when I bought a CD-ROM drive from them and what was in the box was a non-working drive that was not what was shown on the outside of the box. I tried to take it back but they basically called me a liar and refused to exchange it. Thanks to that, I was part of a class-action lawsuit against them and got a $100 gift card. After I spent the gift card, I never again set foot in Best Buy.
Yeah, I did that when I went to use my gift card. As far as getting a computer that didn’t have Windows on it, I would consider that a bonus, as long as I didn’t have to pay the Microsoft tax.
I don’t know if it’s still a problem, but ages ago when I worked at one of these places I seem to remember there being occasional issues with thieves who would buy something, take it home, replace what was in the box with some piece of garbage, and then re-shrinkwrap the thing right at home – so unless the service reps tear open every returned package to make sure that didn’t happen (which would make it pretty much unsellable – nobody wants a box that’s been previously opened) there was no way for them to know. I can imagine if you’re returning one of these it’s a tough call for the management – how to tell if you’re a scamm-er or a scamm-ee?
Well they certainly opened up the package when I went back to return it. I was even honest with them and told them what happened before they opened it. If they had done it with the package when it was returned the first time (if it was ever bought and returned, for all I know someone could have replaced it while it was on the shelf) or even shrink wrapped it before they put it on the shelf, then I wouldn’t have had any issue.
I had at one time between bouts of employment applied for a technical sales position. Turns out what they wanted was enthusiastic hard sellers and not actually knowledgeable people.
To this day, if I ever find myself in one of those shops I do go out of my way to give any sales drone not only a hard time but make them uncomfortable, and if possible, go crying to the stockroom.
How do I manage that? Easy peasy. I use my powers of instruction as an electronics engineer for evil … Mwahahahahahahaaaaa ha
Yup. Having salespeople who know why you don’t need a $1000 gold-plated Monster HDMI 5.1 cable forged by Thor himself doesn’t make as much money as having salespeople who’ll happily sell it anyway. Plus more knowledgeable people demand more pay.
I’m sure they make a huge profit on extended warranties, but I doubt it makes up for all the customers (like me) who won’t go there anymore because of the interminable sales pitches.
And then you have to live with the embarrassment of people knowing you’ve bought something there because everything they sell they somehow manage to rebrand as their own along with the name brand.
Problem is for people working in retail, we’re always under pressure to solicit the customer with random BS from the upper management. Don’t blame us, we’re forced to do it
I’ve been through the two hour soliloquy. Oh, and thank you for showing me how to spell that word. Not that I use it a lot, but still…
we don’t receive a commission at best buy, however we do enjoy your suffering
I KNEW it!
*buys a pack of gum*
“Would you like a 3 year warranty on that? For the low low cost of $59.99….”
“Covers theft, loss, lightning strike… No? OK, your total is $20.48.”
I haven’t been to Best Buy in years. They pissed me off when I bought a CD-ROM drive from them and what was in the box was a non-working drive that was not what was shown on the outside of the box. I tried to take it back but they basically called me a liar and refused to exchange it. Thanks to that, I was part of a class-action lawsuit against them and got a $100 gift card. After I spent the gift card, I never again set foot in Best Buy.
A while later, I saw this article about a couple who had a similar but much more expensive experience with BB:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-11-27-pasta-camcorder_x.htm
Damn!
That’s why I always open stuff (expensive stuff) before leaving.
Especially when Circuit City was going out of business.
I knew there was Zero chance of returning anything.
Although, I did bring a computer home one time and it didn’t even have Windows installed… So, there’s that.
Yeah, I did that when I went to use my gift card. As far as getting a computer that didn’t have Windows on it, I would consider that a bonus, as long as I didn’t have to pay the Microsoft tax.
I don’t know if it’s still a problem, but ages ago when I worked at one of these places I seem to remember there being occasional issues with thieves who would buy something, take it home, replace what was in the box with some piece of garbage, and then re-shrinkwrap the thing right at home – so unless the service reps tear open every returned package to make sure that didn’t happen (which would make it pretty much unsellable – nobody wants a box that’s been previously opened) there was no way for them to know. I can imagine if you’re returning one of these it’s a tough call for the management – how to tell if you’re a scamm-er or a scamm-ee?
Well they certainly opened up the package when I went back to return it. I was even honest with them and told them what happened before they opened it. If they had done it with the package when it was returned the first time (if it was ever bought and returned, for all I know someone could have replaced it while it was on the shelf) or even shrink wrapped it before they put it on the shelf, then I wouldn’t have had any issue.
I had at one time between bouts of employment applied for a technical sales position. Turns out what they wanted was enthusiastic hard sellers and not actually knowledgeable people.
To this day, if I ever find myself in one of those shops I do go out of my way to give any sales drone not only a hard time but make them uncomfortable, and if possible, go crying to the stockroom.
How do I manage that? Easy peasy. I use my powers of instruction as an electronics engineer for evil … Mwahahahahahahaaaaa ha
Yup. Having salespeople who know why you don’t need a $1000 gold-plated Monster HDMI 5.1 cable forged by Thor himself doesn’t make as much money as having salespeople who’ll happily sell it anyway. Plus more knowledgeable people demand more pay.
Teach me your ways, O electronics master.
I’m sure they make a huge profit on extended warranties, but I doubt it makes up for all the customers (like me) who won’t go there anymore because of the interminable sales pitches.
Reminds me of a story by Adam Savage (yes, the Mythbusters one) in his “Tested” podcast on YouTube:
“Oh I’ve never used that ‘do you know who I am?’ line! Oh wait, yes, I did once…”
So he’s in a Best Buy, getting a huge fancy new TV. He goes to buy it, and the cashier is cool and starts ringing up the sale, no spiel.
Well, this manager steps up and starts bullshitting about how he needs a power filter and a warranty and this and that and the other.
So Adam stops him, looks him in the eye, and goes “Dude. Who are you talking to?”
He says the manager absolutely SLUNK away in shame and he felt kind of bad about it.
Adam bein savage
And then you have to live with the embarrassment of people knowing you’ve bought something there because everything they sell they somehow manage to rebrand as their own along with the name brand.
The best part is that after I laughed my ass off reading the strip, I scrolled down to see an Ad for Best Buy and laughed harder
Best Buy has been pushing warranties for 20+ years. Can’t blame them, getting people to pay $20-$50 for a piece of paper is a pretty good gig.
Problem is for people working in retail, we’re always under pressure to solicit the customer with random BS from the upper management. Don’t blame us, we’re forced to do it