Best Buy now issuing return warnings?

[waggy]

Forgot to mention when I worked at Best Buy ('92-'99) a guy bought a Sony video camcorder and paid about $999 IIRC. He returned a few hours later and told customers service that when he opened box that bricks were inside. You could hear him yelling and being upset. Hard to tell if he was scamming/telling the truth since item was shrink wrapped when sold. Not sure how it was resolved since I was doing my Shipping/receiving job. And to think that BB actually accepted returns without checking/opening the box if it was still shrink wrapped. How hard is it not to have a shrink wrapping machine outside the retail store, they were and still are widely available if you wanted one that time. :\

I kinda belive it.

I purchased a 56k modem new. it was shrink wrapped. i took it home and guess what? it had a USED 14.4 modem in it.

I went back to best buy and they refused to exchange it. that was the last "big' purchase i made from them.

 

[Rudee]

I admit I once purchased three different wireless routers earlier in the year to see which one performed best in my network. Ended up keeping the Asus RT-N66U (awesome router btw)

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Home Depot has been doing this for years. People like to "rent" items. Its basically to keep track of how many times you return stuff.

 

[Chrono]

Wait. I am about to return a laptop after using it for 4 days. Nothing wrong with it, I just don't want it anymore. Within their 14 day policy of returning the laptop, I'm not scamming them am I? Haven't done anything but surf with the laptop and tried gaming on it but it's just not cutting it. I've purchased stuff from Best Buy in the past and have not returned anything that I have bought from them ever I believe. Am I still scamming? Hmm...

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Wait. I am about to return a laptop after using it for 4 days. Nothing wrong with it, I just don't want it anymore. Within their 14 day policy of returning the laptop, I'm not scamming them am I? Haven't done anything but surf with the laptop and tried gaming on it but it's just not cutting it. I've purchased stuff from Best Buy in the past and have not returned anything that I have bought from them ever I believe. Am I still scamming? Hmm...

No but if you return it, get another laptop, return that one, get another laptop, return that, get a TV... That's what they're trying to prevent.

 

[jpeyton]

Good, I hope walmart starts doing the same... bunch of freebies playing the system, screw them, shame on you

Walmart does it on returns without a receipt only. Target may do it as well, I'm not sure.

But I agree, these policies only hurt people who game the system and chronically return items. Screw 'em.

 

[RiDE]

Maybe Fry's rent-a-center should try this...

 

[Chrono]

Fry's hhahaha that's the place for renting video cards.

 

[Aikouka]

No but if you return it, get another laptop, return that one, get another laptop, return that, get a TV... That's what they're trying to prevent.

If he pays a restocking fee, would it still count? You would think that the fee helps to cover the loss of selling as an open box item.

 

[SheHateMe]

I will admit that I am guilty of being shady with returns. When I was 14, I begged my mom for a headset so I could play America's Army on Ventrilo and talk to my friends. The headset was a Logitech and it had the regular headphone and microphone jack connectors that were supposed to plug into a USB dongle and work through USB (Sounds stupid, I know)....anyway, these things had a LONG cable attached to them and I tried to get rid of the excess but then my mom called me from the other room and I got up and ran to her and tripped over the wire and snatched the leads right out of the headset.

Needless to say, I was too scared to get an ass whooping for breaking a $40 item my mom bought so I lied and said it was broken, we put it back in the box and exchanged it the next day.

 

[bbhaag]

So I think we've narrowed it down to theft and fraud. For the record I "barrow" $50 worth of products from Walmart every 3 months. Razors. deodorant, hair gel, misc products, ect. I really like the fabric department. My wife "barrows" the same amount. We can return them for a $100 worth of store credit. Then we can buy what we really want. It rocks. Right?:thumbsup:

I don't get why Bestbuy is being such a bitch about their return policies. I mean really...who would abuse it?

 

[sirplayalot]

Ohh how I dont miss the days of working at Best Buy. People would abuse returns every single day. This became an even bigger problem after they did away with their re-stock fee. I see no issue with the company trying to protect itself from more fraud.

 

[Ms. DICKINSON]

Good. We'll see less of "unboxing" videos on YouTube.

 

[Sephire]

About f****** time!

Retailers lose billions because of this scams.

 

[bradley]

Approximately ten years ago, I attempted a return at Best Buy of two PNY PC2300 modules due to incompatibilities. After a lengthy wait, a gaggle of employees began insisting and accusing me of switching out DIMMs. It took me by complete surprise and seemed rather odd.

They claimed PNY never used this brand of module. Meanwhile PNY had become infamous for using bottom of the barrel junk. They eventually refused my one and only return. Sure enough, a month later the market was flooded with these same PNY modules, including Staples.

That was the last time I ever shopped at a Best Buy, lucky me, and still has me peeved to this day. Losing customers is what happens when you use too wide of a net.

 

[Itchrelief]

Probably not the response OP was looking for.

Anyways, I don't find it surprising that this popped up in the AVS forums. Some of the people there seem to have returning/exchanging equipment as a kind of hobby.

 

[bradley]

and this is another reason why amazon gets 99% of my business

I'm outraged! Amazon banned me forever because of too many returns
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=552203

Mass Closing of Amazon Accounts by Amazon
http://archive.slickdeals.net/f/908910-Mass-Closing-of-Amazon-Accounts-by-Amazon

Amazon Account Banned?
http://slickdeals.net/f/3828872-Amazon-Account-Banned

 

[brainhulk]

wasn't there some scam that if you broke something out of return window/warranty. Just buy the same item new, put your broken/old item in box and then return it.

 

[Dulanic]

and this is another reason why amazon gets 99% of my business

Amazon goes even further if you are a serial returner. They will just cancel your account and tell you that they no longer want your business.

I don't blame any of these companies. People take advantage of return policies all the time.

 

[Chrono]

Reminds me of the people who abused Costco's return policy. Know how many would abuse the tvs/computers and return them 3-4 years later for a new tv/computer plus a refund? Absurd... which is why Costco has altered their policies. Fuckin' people.

 

[Doppel]

From the AVS forum. Not sure if non-forum members can access this link:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1420497/best-buys-return-warning-it-could-happen-to-you

Good for them. Guy is probably a serial returner. I've come upon one or two on these forums who just return fvcking anything and everything, not realizing what an asshole they are.

 

[Number1]

I purchased a Sony receiver, took it home and returned it within a week because it sounded exactly the same as the one it was replacing.

I purchased another receiver at BB, found a higher end model online for less money, returned the receiver and got BB to match the internet price of the higher end receiver.

I have returned a BBQ after having used it for about 40 days because I did not like it and the return policy allowed it. I purchased another model, I don't like it either but I don't want to push my luck.

I purchased a sub woofer at FutureShop that I had no intention of keeping.

 

[tboo]

Probably not the response OP was looking for.

Anyways, I don't find it surprising that this popped up in the AVS forums. Some of the people there seem to have returning/exchanging equipment as a kind of hobby.

Why would you say that? What kind of response do you think I was looking for?

 

[Northern Lawn]

Are the saying the OP returned so many items lately that his name raised a red flag or..

Everyone is getting these no return warnings?

I shop at futureshop in Canada but I think they are owned by Best Buy. Never had a problem at Futureshop though.

 

[Northern Lawn]

I purchased a sub woofer at FutureShop that I had no intention of keeping.

No surprise there.