Best Buy camcorder return policy???? HELP!

[Trevelyan]

Hi everyone,

I bought a canon miniDV camcorder two days ago from Best Buy at the recommendation of one of the ladies. I had a Canon camcorder before and was pleased with it, so I thought this one would be fine.

HOWEVER, it really sucks indoors... even when the lighting seems fine the picture will turn out grainy a lot of times.

Soooooo... I decided I want to return the camcorder, but then I see on the website that with opened camcorders, they charge a 15% restock fee, unless it is defective.

My question is: Is there any way around this 15% restocking fee? It would be like $70, which sucks.... Is there something I could say to them that would make them let me take it back.. (Also, I am now back at college and will be returning it to a DIFFERENT best buy)

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UPDATE: Well, it turns out I couldn't get out of the 15% restocking fee, BUT I was able to spend $16 and exchange it for the Sony TRV19, which is a BIG improvement... no more grain!!

 

[isekii]

To me it's defective. Bad quality in low light.

 

[Trevelyan]

Originally posted by: isekii
To me it's defective. Bad quality in low light.

That's what I think... but do you think they'll buy that?

 

[SinnerWolf]

tell them it's grainy, the software doesn't work properly on your PC or won't install, the resolution isn't what you expected, etc...
If you exchange it, it's unlikely they'll charge you. If a customer service rep says no, ask for a manager.

 

[bubbadu]

If it sucks, its defective, thats all you got to say. If they anything, speak to the manager, and worse case, threaten to call corapote. In the end, theres no way you will have to pay that lame restocking fee.

 

[dartworth]

A 15% restocking fee will be charged on returns or exchanges of any opened notebook computer, camcorder, digital camera or radar detector, unless defective.

BB sucks. Talk to the manager for sure.

 

[Papagayo]

Yeah, tell them that you have windows 95 and it's not compatible with the camcorder..

 

[jaybert]

most of the time if you're exchanging it for another item they wont charge you the 15% restocking fee.

if you're returning it for a full refund, then yes and rightfully so.

 

[Trevelyan]

Okay, I guess I will just tell them that its really bad quality recording and the software doesn't install correctly on my PC...

I mean... i can understand if there is a small fee, but 15% is freakin ridiculous.... but the camera sucks on so many levels so I really do wanna return this... SIGH what a PITA.

Think I will have a problem returning it to a different best buy store?

 

[isekii]

What camera is it ?
so non of us purchase it.

 

[yllus]

The 15% fee is in place because people very regularly buy a camcorder, use it for less than 14 days (the return period) to record the event they bought it for, and then return the camera. Perhaps if you explained that you understand this and said you're returning it because it's not up to the quality you're after they would be more willing to refund the entire amount.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Trevelyan

Originally posted by: isekii
To me it's defective. Bad quality in low light.

That's what I think... but do you think they'll buy that?

Bring along one of your tapes - show them how bad the quality is. I'm sure you'll get your full refund back.

 

[imported_Mike]

You could use the defective card, but they will most likely give you store credit. If thats fine with you so you can just choose another camera, go that route. Take it as a lesson learned & buy from someone that doesnt have a restocking fee.

 

[rutchtkim]

what camera and how much did u pay for it. Alot of dv's that cost less than $400 operate poorly. make sure u do ur research in the future.

 

[LS20]

are you sure its just the camera you bought? do you have the programmed AE on the right mode? the graininess is a result of the camera compensating for the low light...

just making sure you have realistic expectations as so not to blame everything on the equipment

 

[Trevelyan]

Okay, the camera is the Canon ZR65MC, and yeah, I should've researched more. It cost $473 from Bestbuy, but I can pretty much find it for around $425 online....

For some reason, it was #10 on consumer reports, so I thought it would be alright, but then after my own experiences, and reading reviews, I find that it has gotten BLASTED for its terrible lowlight performance. Check out camcorderinfo.com to see what I mean.

I wouldn't neccessarily MIND store credit, but they don't carry the camcorder I want, which is the Sony DCRTRV19.

Sigh, I'm gonna see what happens today... at least if I gotta pay the restocking fee I will hopefully learn my lesson...

 

[dartworth]

hmmm...I was looking to get the ZR65 or ZR70 in the next week or so. I might have to rethink this now.

Thanks for the link camcorderinfo.com ...good stuff

 

[Trevelyan]

Originally posted by: dartworth
hmmm...I was looking to get the ZR65 or ZR70 in the next week or so. I might have to rethink this now.

Thanks for the link camcorderinfo.com ...good stuff

Sure, no problem... the ZR65 and ZR70 both have the same problem with low light performance, as do most cameras for $450 or less... I would recommend that you spend another $50 and go for the Sony one, here. It has gotten great reviews, and supposedly has very good low light performance.

 

[Ionizer86]

Now I know why lots of ppl love PMing anything any other local store has to CC. When I was buying an LCD, I asked them about the dead pixel return policy, and they reminded me that I could return the LCD for any reason within 30 days. Great policy at CC

 

[niwi7]

i have a canon zr60 that i got for 300 from bestbuy


it is horrible in low light

we returned it and got sony trv19


it was like the same....we realized the only way u can get better would be to get 1 of the 3 ccd cameras but we didint wanna spend that much...


so we took back the trv19 and got the zr60 again (they gave us same price i fgt how thou)


so we have it...now its winter and i try and turn on many lights as possible but its still not a great picture

i found that in low light situations...
set the little button so taht you can change the settings (i think its to the right...its under the lcd)
then set ur AE to -.75 or -.1
set ur shutter speed to 1/60

and it improves greatly however its still not great

HOWEVER...i cannot wait for the summer/spring!!!! i was outside filming and evreything is SUPER crisp...awesome quality

hope this helps

 

[Trevelyan]

That's weird niwi7... Everyone on Epinions pretty much say recording in low light is still good:

http://www.epinions.com/Sony_DCR_TRV19_MiniDV_Camcorder_Camcorders/display_~reviews

 

[Ornery]

People wonder why I go out of my way to buy at Sears. No way they'd pull this 15% restocking crap. They also match prices by 110%. They list the #ZR70MC for $699, and BB has it for $599, so you could get it from Sears for about $589 and not have that restocking hassle. Not to mention, for 15% of the purchase price, they'll sell you a replacement Agreement that adds one year to the manufacturer's warranty. If anything happens to the camera during that period, they'll give you a new one... as many times as it gets broken! Best Buy's extended warranty will only replace it once, and that's the end of it. Plus, Sears will upgrade the unit, if it's no longer in production...

 

[Trevelyan]

UPDATE (read 1st post)