Can someone explain the whole $400 free $$$/MSN/Best Buy fiasco from a few years back?

[NFS4]

I heard someone make reference to a promo that Microsoft had with Best Buy a few years back where you got like $400 worth of stuff for free from Best Buy by signing up with MSN, then you could call and cancell the subsription and keep the loot. I also heard that some BB's had bare shelves after the gorging:Q

 

[Kevin]

I thought you had to stay with MSN for 3 years @ 21.95 or pay some kind of penalty...

 

[murphy55d]

I remember this too, I didn't get the whole picture because I don't have a BB near me... I only heard about the aftermath.

Heck, I just recently found out what the WMC ordeal was all about.

 

[wnied]

I think that deal was the one where you signed on to use MSN as your main ISP provider for 3 years, and you got like 400 off any computer you bought from BB. So people would buy the computer at BB for 800-1200 bucks, then sign up with MSN for 3 years and get a 400 dollar discount, then because of some of the laws in certain states(California is the only one I can remember of at the moment) they said you didnt have to be locked into the MSN deal. So people would opt out of the MSN deal AFTER MSN gave them the 400 dollar discount.

~wnied~

 

[Dudd]

Originally posted by: kevin000
I thought you had to stay with MSN for 3 years @ 21.95 or pay some kind of penalty...

That's the plan, but somehow someone was able to find a loophole and cancel anytime. That has to have been the ultimate hot deal, too bad I missed out on it.

 

[shopbruin]

Originally posted by: wnied
I think that deal was the one where you signed on to use MSN as your main ISP provider for 3 years, and you got like 400 off any computer you bought from BB. So people would buy the computer at BB for 800-1200 bucks, then sign up with MSN for 3 years and get a 400 dollar discount, then because of some of the laws in certain states(California is the only one I can remember of at the moment) they said you didnt have to be locked into the MSN deal. So people would opt out of the MSN deal AFTER MSN gave them the 400 dollar discount.

~wnied~

yup yups. it was on the news everywhere. you should have seen the rush to buy stuff...

 

[spanky]

then because of some of the laws in certain states(California is the only one I can remember of at the moment) they said you didnt have to be locked into the MSN deal

interesting

 

[kt]

This wasn't just with BestBuy, you can get the $400 from any stores that MSN has a contract with. I believe other stores like Office Depot offered this as well. It was the wording in the MSN contract that someone found a loop hole via California state law that state consumers are not obligated to be locked into MSN contract and STILL can keep the "rebate". Everyone remembers BB because I think that's the only store that has the $400 instant rebate. Basically, you walk out with $400 worth of stuff for free. I remember the 3 BB's there were within 20 miles from where I live are packed.. and I do mean packed. The line wrapped around the store. It was ridiculous, but for $400 worth of toys you betcha it was worth the line up.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: Dudd

Originally posted by: kevin000
I thought you had to stay with MSN for 3 years @ 21.95 or pay some kind of penalty...

That's the plan, but somehow someone was able to find a loophole and cancel anytime. That has to have been the ultimate hot deal, too bad I missed out on it.

The cancellation wasn't the problem. If you cancel your MSN, you were supposed to give back the $400. But thru some California law loophole, MSN has no right to get back the $400 that they supposedly have given us. I think the other state law with the same loophole is Oregan.

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: kt

The cancellation wasn't the problem. If you cancel your MSN, you were supposed to give back the $400. But thru some California law loophole, MSN has no right to get back the $400 that they supposedly have given us. I think the other state law with the same loophole is Oregan.

It wasn't a loophole per se. MSN misinterpreted CA and OR law, and allowed CA and OR consumers to keep the money. After Best Buy's shelves were emptied of computers and electronics, MS checked with the CA Attorney General's office, and quickly changed the terms to include a "penalty" clause.

I got a free monitor out of it, but then a year later, MSN unbelievably sent me to collection (with ZERO prior notification) claiming I owed money for cancelling MSN Internet. In my case, I sent in a paper claim to MSN (i.e. like a rebate program), which clearly stated there was no penalty for service cancellation. I did not participate in the Best Buy deal where you get instant $$ for signing up.

 

[brtspears2]

the instant $400 was also good at micro center. Little known, but lets just say I had many new toys that year.

 

I wonder what happened to the attorneys that wrote the contract. Wow!

I heard about the fiasco, but I missed out. I really didn't care for it. I would get poor if I went with the deal, since it wasn't some free after rebate program. */Me is cheap! *

 

[dethman]

mehe...sweetass promo, got $800 shopping spree at best buy courtesy of microsoft...

best deal EVAR.

 

[RossMAN]

Talk about a flash back, this was over 2 years ago and I vividly remember it.

I first read about it on DVDTalk.com's Hot Deals forum.

Basically there was a clause in MSN's legal mumbo that said CA and OR residents can sign up for MSN for 3 years and receive a $400 instant discount at the store. But the kicker was if you cancelled your MSN account you would NOT be charged $400 or an early cancellation fee. Once this hit the mainstream media there were lines of HUNDREDS of people at BB's in CA. Since we didn't have BB here in Oregon at the time I visited OD. Bought a Brother HL-1240 laser printer for FREE. My roommate picked up a Palm Vx (which was then "THE SH!T") for $450 - $50 off coupon - $400 MSN = FREE.

I called MSN the next day to cancel my membership, the CSR who thought he knew everything said I would be charged a cancellation fee. Even though I read him the fine print he still insisted that I would be charged. Never was

$400 free = Hottest Deal Evar!