Ohio Sues Best Buy

Nick5324

Diamond Member
Aug 19, 2001
3,267
0
0
Hope this isn't a repost, did a search and couldn't find anything....

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro yesterday sued Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer-electronics retailer, for engaging in allegedly deceitful consumer practices. Among other things, Petro charges that the company repackaged used items to sell as new.

The suit accuses Best Buy of several other violations of the state?s Consumer Sales Practices Act including failing to honor rebates, failing to honor extendedservice contracts and failing to honor refunds and exchange programs.

The suit seeks a fine of $25,000 from the Minnesota-based retailer for each violation. Petro said 300 people have complained over the past 2½ years, but the total number of violations has yet to be determined.

Petro also said he is trying to get the company to reimburse consumers who have lost money as a result of what he called the company?s unfair and deceptive practices.

"The sheer number of complaints coupled with the types of allegations my office received prompted us to file this lawsuit," Petro said. "The primary objective of this lawsuit is to bring Best Buy into conformity with Ohio?s consumer-protection laws and ensure that Best Buy?s Ohio customers receive the service they deserve."

Best Buy spokeswoman Erin MacMillan said company officials are aware of the lawsuit and "are investigating the claims, but cannot comment further on pending litigation."

Petro cited a customer who tried to register a "new" laptop computer he bought from Best Buy with the manufacturer but learned the same laptop had been registered twice.

Another customer discovered that a refrigerator he bought as new actually was refurbished, while another purchased a video-game system that had been used and contained a video game already in the console, Petro said.

Best Buy has 619 stores in 48 states, but Ohio is alone in this suit, Petro said. The company has 28 store statewide, with six in Columbus.

Richard Andrew Irwin Jr. of the Northeast Side filed a complaint with the state against Best Buy after the $699.99 Sharp TV/DVD/VCR combination television he purchased from the company?s Morse Road store last year malfunctioned.

Irwin said he paid $100 for a four-year warranty on the TV, but Best Buy did not service it correctly when the DVD tray failed to eject the discs. It took the company two months to replace the TV, and when it did, it replaced it with a lessexpensive model, he said.

"We were longtime Best Buy customers, but after that experience, we canceled our Best Buy credit card and now refuse to ever shop there again," Irwin said.

Colleen Rayburn of Lancaster also canceled her Best Buy credit card after the retailer charged her a $300 restocking fee to return a $2,400 Sony laptop computer that her husband bought her for Christmas.

After six months of complaining to the attorney general?s office, the Better Business Bureau and the media, Rayburn said the company refunded the fee. *


I heard about this and it made me :D
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
17,254
44
91
Petro charges that the company repackaged used items to sell as new.
They're clearly labled as open box items and often look like they've been through a shredder, not only that but they charge less for open box items.

The suit accuses Best Buy of several other violations of the state?s Consumer Sales Practices Act including failing to honor rebates, failing to honor extendedservice contracts and failing to honor refunds and exchange programs.
I cant be sure on that one, I know I've gotten rebates from them, been able to exchange items, and I'll never buy a service contract so that's moot for me ;)
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Originally posted by: Modeps
Petro charges that the company repackaged used items to sell as new.
They're clearly labled as open box items and often look like they've been through a shredder, not only that but they charge less for open box items.

Read it again. He's saying AS NEW.
 

desiplaya4life

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2004
1,449
2
81
Originally posted by: Nick5324
Hope this isn't a repost, did a search and couldn't find anything....

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro yesterday sued Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer-electronics retailer, for engaging in allegedly deceitful consumer practices. Among other things, Petro charges that the company repackaged used items to sell as new.

The suit accuses Best Buy of several other violations of the state?s Consumer Sales Practices Act including failing to honor rebates, failing to honor extendedservice contracts and failing to honor refunds and exchange programs.

The suit seeks a fine of $25,000 from the Minnesota-based retailer for each violation. Petro said 300 people have complained over the past 2½ years, but the total number of violations has yet to be determined.

Petro also said he is trying to get the company to reimburse consumers who have lost money as a result of what he called the company?s unfair and deceptive practices.

"The sheer number of complaints coupled with the types of allegations my office received prompted us to file this lawsuit," Petro said. "The primary objective of this lawsuit is to bring Best Buy into conformity with Ohio?s consumer-protection laws and ensure that Best Buy?s Ohio customers receive the service they deserve."

Best Buy spokeswoman Erin MacMillan said company officials are aware of the lawsuit and "are investigating the claims, but cannot comment further on pending litigation."

Petro cited a customer who tried to register a "new" laptop computer he bought from Best Buy with the manufacturer but learned the same laptop had been registered twice.

Another customer discovered that a refrigerator he bought as new actually was refurbished, while another purchased a video-game system that had been used and contained a video game already in the console, Petro said.

Best Buy has 619 stores in 48 states, but Ohio is alone in this suit, Petro said. The company has 28 store statewide, with six in Columbus.

Richard Andrew Irwin Jr. of the Northeast Side filed a complaint with the state against Best Buy after the $699.99 Sharp TV/DVD/VCR combination television he purchased from the company?s Morse Road store last year malfunctioned.

Irwin said he paid $100 for a four-year warranty on the TV, but Best Buy did not service it correctly when the DVD tray failed to eject the discs. It took the company two months to replace the TV, and when it did, it replaced it with a lessexpensive model, he said.

"We were longtime Best Buy customers, but after that experience, we canceled our Best Buy credit card and now refuse to ever shop there again," Irwin said.

Colleen Rayburn of Lancaster also canceled her Best Buy credit card after the retailer charged her a $300 restocking fee to return a $2,400 Sony laptop computer that her husband bought her for Christmas.

After six months of complaining to the attorney general?s office, the Better Business Bureau and the media, Rayburn said the company refunded the fee. *


I heard about this and it made me :D


that puts a smile on my face too:):laugh:
and i used to be ex-employee of BB... man i hated how they practiced business
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Originally posted by: Modeps
Petro charges that the company repackaged used items to sell as new.
They're clearly labled as open box items and often look like they've been through a shredder, not only that but they charge less for open box items.

The suit accuses Best Buy of several other violations of the state?s Consumer Sales Practices Act including failing to honor rebates, failing to honor extendedservice contracts and failing to honor refunds and exchange programs.
I cant be sure on that one, I know I've gotten rebates from them, been able to exchange items, and I'll never buy a service contract so that's moot for me ;)


dude, cant you read?
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: Modeps
Petro charges that the company repackaged used items to sell as new.
They're clearly labled as open box items and often look like they've been through a shredder, not only that but they charge less for open box items.

The suit accuses Best Buy of several other violations of the state?s Consumer Sales Practices Act including failing to honor rebates, failing to honor extendedservice contracts and failing to honor refunds and exchange programs.
I cant be sure on that one, I know I've gotten rebates from them, been able to exchange items, and I'll never buy a service contract so that's moot for me ;)

You can't be sure on either.


the article says they have repacked used items to sell as new. thats a far cray from open box items that are reduced.

Not sure what you are complaining about. You can't possibly know every sale that happens at BB. so how you can say that the article is wrong is beyond me.
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
17,254
44
91
Wow, I forget to recheck this thread and I'm getting hammered. Rereading what I quoted, I assumed they were complaining about open box items being resold. My mistake everyone. I bow to yous! :beer:
 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Originally posted by: Nick5324

Colleen Rayburn of Lancaster also canceled her Best Buy credit card after the retailer charged her a $300 restocking fee to return a $2,400 Sony laptop computer that her husband bought her for Christmas.

After six months of complaining to the attorney general?s office, the Better Business Bureau and the media, Rayburn said the company refunded the fee. *

Um, it says right there on the receipt there's a 15% restocking fee if it's not defective.
 

MonkeyK

Golden Member
May 27, 2001
1,396
8
81
I once bought a video card for my dad from best buy. Got home and opened the box to find a token-ring network card.

When I went back to the store, the manager accused me of trying to steal their card!

Took half a day of arguing and my mom threatening to get an article writen in the local papers (mom was involved in local politics at the time) before the manager backed down and refunded my money.

I always liked BestBuy before that.
 

bozack

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
7,913
12
81
I don't know how I stand on the "used" as new issue...I mean really what consititutes used as "used"....I can understand how the fridge purchase would piss someone off as that was a refurb...but say someone buys product A as a gift and gives it to their friend, their friend opens it as it seems like it is almost what they want but when they get it out of the box and never actually use it they decide that it isn't what they would like and they decide to return it.....

Now best buy takes this thing back, which has never been used but it has been opened and then what?....do they sell it as "new" as for all intents and purposes it is really "new" or are they forced to sell it as used since someone opened the box?...honestly I think some people take this must have it new never breatehed on mentality a little far...if the item is clearly used then that is one thing....
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: MonkeyK
I once bought a video card for my dad from best buy. Got home and opened the box to find a token-ring network card.

When I went back to the store, the manager accused me of trying to steal their card!

Took half a day of arguing and my mom threatening to get an article writen in the local papers (mom was involved in local politics at the time) before the manager backed down and refunded my money.

I always liked BestBuy before that.

i purchased a 56k U.S. Robotics modem and inside it was a 33.6 modem. I tried it in 3 diffrent systems and every one found it as a 33.6.

I took it back to BB and they refused to refund my money. I made a huge stink about it in the store. I called corprate and the local paper but they refused to do anything.

Granted this was years ago before all of this trouble. I was really ticked off. i spent a LOT of money getting that modem.

After that i NEVER buy anything expensive at BB without first checking if it is the right item. Of course computer parts are hard to do. so i just order from newegg and save myself the hassle.
 

AmericasTeam

Golden Member
Feb 4, 2003
1,132
0
0
Originally posted by: desiplaya4life
Originally posted by: Nick5324
Hope this isn't a repost, did a search and couldn't find anything....

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro yesterday sued Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer-electronics retailer, for engaging in allegedly deceitful consumer practices. Among other things, Petro charges that the company repackaged used items to sell as new.

The suit accuses Best Buy of several other violations of the state?s Consumer Sales Practices Act including failing to honor rebates, failing to honor extendedservice contracts and failing to honor refunds and exchange programs.

The suit seeks a fine of $25,000 from the Minnesota-based retailer for each violation. Petro said 300 people have complained over the past 2½ years, but the total number of violations has yet to be determined.

Petro also said he is trying to get the company to reimburse consumers who have lost money as a result of what he called the company?s unfair and deceptive practices.

"The sheer number of complaints coupled with the types of allegations my office received prompted us to file this lawsuit," Petro said. "The primary objective of this lawsuit is to bring Best Buy into conformity with Ohio?s consumer-protection laws and ensure that Best Buy?s Ohio customers receive the service they deserve."

Best Buy spokeswoman Erin MacMillan said company officials are aware of the lawsuit and "are investigating the claims, but cannot comment further on pending litigation."

Petro cited a customer who tried to register a "new" laptop computer he bought from Best Buy with the manufacturer but learned the same laptop had been registered twice.

Another customer discovered that a refrigerator he bought as new actually was refurbished, while another purchased a video-game system that had been used and contained a video game already in the console, Petro said.

Best Buy has 619 stores in 48 states, but Ohio is alone in this suit, Petro said. The company has 28 store statewide, with six in Columbus.

Richard Andrew Irwin Jr. of the Northeast Side filed a complaint with the state against Best Buy after the $699.99 Sharp TV/DVD/VCR combination television he purchased from the company?s Morse Road store last year malfunctioned.

Irwin said he paid $100 for a four-year warranty on the TV, but Best Buy did not service it correctly when the DVD tray failed to eject the discs. It took the company two months to replace the TV, and when it did, it replaced it with a lessexpensive model, he said.

"We were longtime Best Buy customers, but after that experience, we canceled our Best Buy credit card and now refuse to ever shop there again," Irwin said.

Colleen Rayburn of Lancaster also canceled her Best Buy credit card after the retailer charged her a $300 restocking fee to return a $2,400 Sony laptop computer that her husband bought her for Christmas.

After six months of complaining to the attorney general?s office, the Better Business Bureau and the media, Rayburn said the company refunded the fee. *


I heard about this and it made me :D


that puts a smile on my face too:):laugh:
and i used to be ex-employee of BB... man i hated how they practiced business

If you used to be an ex-employee of BB, then doesn't that mean you now work for them again?
If you hated their business practices, why did you go back?
:confused:
 

pyonir

Lifer
Dec 18, 2001
40,856
321
126
Originally posted by: Modeps
Wow, I forget to recheck this thread and I'm getting hammered. Rereading what I quoted, I assumed they were complaining about open box items being resold. My mistake everyone. I bow to yous! :beer:

On your knees!
 

MeanMeosh

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2001
3,805
1
0
Originally posted by: bozack
I don't know how I stand on the "used" as new issue...I mean really what consititutes used as "used"....I can understand how the fridge purchase would piss someone off as that was a refurb...but say someone buys product A as a gift and gives it to their friend, their friend opens it as it seems like it is almost what they want but when they get it out of the box and never actually use it they decide that it isn't what they would like and they decide to return it.....

Now best buy takes this thing back, which has never been used but it has been opened and then what?....do they sell it as "new" as for all intents and purposes it is really "new" or are they forced to sell it as used since someone opened the box?...honestly I think some people take this must have it new never breatehed on mentality a little far...if the item is clearly used then that is one thing....

not the point... they're charging the person a 15% restocking fee anyway, and the open box discount is only like 10%. they're still making money on the deal. the point is that a person paid full value for what he expected to be a new-in-box item, not something opened and looked at and returned.
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Not honoring rebates is something I understand. I've sent in ALL the required info and more to BB and never got a check back.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Not honoring rebates is something I understand. I've sent in ALL the required info and more to BB and never got a check back.

when BB had the GF3 ti-200 on sale at the black friday sale a few years ago. it was somethingl ike $50 with rebate.

It took them almost a YEAR to get me my rebate. i had called everyone i could think of about it (BBB, states attorney etc) heck i even kept calling BB for like 5 months. then finally out of the blue it was accepted and sent.
 
Dec 4, 2002
18,211
1
0
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: Nick5324

Colleen Rayburn of Lancaster also canceled her Best Buy credit card after the retailer charged her a $300 restocking fee to return a $2,400 Sony laptop computer that her husband bought her for Christmas.

After six months of complaining to the attorney general?s office, the Better Business Bureau and the media, Rayburn said the company refunded the fee. *

Um, it says right there on the receipt there's a 15% restocking fee if it's not defective.

Only if its been opened
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
17,254
44
91
Originally posted by: pyonir
Originally posted by: Modeps
Wow, I forget to recheck this thread and I'm getting hammered. Rereading what I quoted, I assumed they were complaining about open box items being resold. My mistake everyone. I bow to yous! :beer:

On your knees!

$100?
 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Originally posted by: CheapArse
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: Nick5324

Colleen Rayburn of Lancaster also canceled her Best Buy credit card after the retailer charged her a $300 restocking fee to return a $2,400 Sony laptop computer that her husband bought her for Christmas.

After six months of complaining to the attorney general?s office, the Better Business Bureau and the media, Rayburn said the company refunded the fee. *

Um, it says right there on the receipt there's a 15% restocking fee if it's not defective.

Only if its been opened

Yes, but neither you nor I know if it was or not. If it wasn't, they probably wouldn't have charged her a restocking fee. Restocking fees normally apply only to opened items, hence the term "restocking" fee.
 
Dec 4, 2002
18,211
1
0
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: CheapArse
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Originally posted by: Nick5324

Colleen Rayburn of Lancaster also canceled her Best Buy credit card after the retailer charged her a $300 restocking fee to return a $2,400 Sony laptop computer that her husband bought her for Christmas.

After six months of complaining to the attorney general?s office, the Better Business Bureau and the media, Rayburn said the company refunded the fee. *

Um, it says right there on the receipt there's a 15% restocking fee if it's not defective.

Only if its been opened

Yes, but neither you nor I know if it was or not. If it wasn't, they probably wouldn't have charged her a restocking fee. Restocking fees normally apply only to opened items, hence the term "restocking" fee.

Im fully aware of what a restocking fee is and where it normally applies. I don't think she would go to all the trouble she did to fight something that is clearly written on the receipt as well as a big board in the store. Since this suit is about BB not doing the norm and putting customers out in the cold, although im assuming, I think this would make more since if she was fighting it if she didn't open it.

Like you said though, neither of us know if she did or didn't and there are some ignant people out there that don't care if it on their receipt.