Yet another reason not to shop at Best Buy...

[waggy]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
Either way...I had $500 to spend there this last weekend and walked in and bought nothing. They never know ANYTHING about their products. The guy at the camera counter knew more about video cards than the people in the computer department. That's just rediculous. Also...they have a lot of 3rd party partner/vendors in the store now driving business out.

I originally walked in to buy Tivo and walked out realizing that I can get the same thing from Cox now for only $6.00 more per month. Works for me...

I agree on the 3rd party vendors. I was looking at printers a year ago and wanted a nice HP all-in-one. Well they had a guy from cannon there and he started harrasing me about HP. he claimed since i had a Cannon digital camera the cannon printer would work way better then the HP. he claimed it would print out the pictures in better clarity. pfft.

But on the Tivo you are kind of wrong. While i agree why get a Tivo when you can get a DVR from the cable company (i got a nice dual turner from dish network) it does lack some of the features that the Tivo has. While the Tivo is better i do not think it is worth buying when you can get it free.

 

[Balt]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Any store would like to get rid of those customers. Those are the people that use loopholes to cause the store to lose money.

I'm certainly not defending the Ferengi, but the fact is that companies like Best Buy have those policies set up specifically to attract customers. They know that a high percentage of their customers will never use their rebates or price-matching policies but will still be attracted by them.

Now if Best Buy could just figure out a way to keep these attractive policies in place without ever actually having to honor them, they'd be happy. That seems a little unrealistic, though.

 

[Banana]

I don't think Best Buy gives a flying rat's ass what us AT'ers feel.
Best Buy

 

[GoingUp]

link doesnt work

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
gotta :heart: cox

I'm glad you've decided to come out of the closet.

- M4H

 

[ZoNtO]

OK I have two points to make on this topic:

1. Best Buy is a great place to go for cheap media, aka music CDs, DVDs, DVD-Rs etc... Hell they even have decent deals on games sometimes. You can't argue with a 9.99 introductory rate on most music CDs, at least "Punk" CDs which are the ones I buy. I go to Best Buy nearly weekly to check out the new releases. As for computer, etc.. stuff, they are like any other retailer. If you shop around, sometimes BB will have lower prices, sometimes it's CompUSA or Circuit City. More often than not though, these companies are neck and neck during different periods. Just how it goes...

2. I'm sick of people complaining about being offered extended warranties. I know that on a lot of things they are rather pointless, but listen to this situation and YES I WORKED FOR COMPUSA, but I would do this even if I hadn't:

I bought my PNY 6800GT the day they came out for 319.72 which is what it is priced at cost. The extended warranty for two years on the card is 64.99 retail, so for me cost around 35-40 dollars. What this means to me is that if ANY TIME during the next two years, ANYTHING happens to the card (I drop it, it fries, goes out one day, overclock it too much, whatever) I can take it back and I am GUARANTEED at least a 6800GT 256MB card in exchange. However, the beauty of this is that probably within two years, the 6800GT card will get discontinued to make way for the new-gen nVidia cards. If I go back and they don't have the 6800GT anymore, I get upgraded to the next available product with similar specifications but I will NOT get downgraded. Since I know about the card that basically means a DX9.0c card with 16 pipes, and performance no less than a 6800GT. This is a straight up exchange for my card. I take my card in, give it to them, they do a return for the price of the new card, and I get it out the door. I also have the option to rebuy another extended warranty on this new card. CASE IN POINT: I get every single next gen card that I want for no more than $64.99 which is the cost of the 2 year warranty on the high dollar peripherals, instead of paying 400-500 dollars every upgrade. Now who in here can tell me that that isn't a smart idea?? Everyone balks at the mention of a warranty, when sometimes they are rather beneficial!! I also have this warranty on my Audigy2 ZS, mx510 logitech mouse, and my keyboard. I'm set for those upgrades pretty much for life boys, and it costs me only the price of the new warranty.

Another point to mention is that having worked in a retail situation such as this, I understand where the employees are coming from. They are paid to do a task, and some tasks which are defined by the corporate offices involve offering additional products and/or services to their customers. What good does it do to yell and rage and bitch about the company? If you don't to buy the warranty, simply express your opinion POLITELY to your salesman or CS Rep, and if they are any sort of decent they will respect you in return and drop the issue. But please, at least hear them out once and ask questions to clear things up. AFAIK, Best Buy's warrantys are a lot crappier than the ones we sold at Comp, but that doesn't mean every one is bad. Find out all the information before you base your decision, it can save you a lot of money in the long run sometimes guys!

The reason I said "any sort of decent" above is that of course with any company there are exceptions. Some employees will constantly hound you to buy, buy, buy even with repeated "NOs" by you. Deal with it, some people are jackasses. Go somewhere else or ask for another salesman, or leave, whatever suits your personality. But what good does it do to form a petty hatred for an entire company/organization based on the actions of ONE of their measly little retail chain employees/managers. If the president was like that, it would be a different story ya know? I don't hate all minorities because one wanna-be mexican gangster swore at me in high school. GROW UP!

 

[T2T III]

To Best Buy: Sadly, I was in your store today. However, I could have dropped a few $$ here and there. However, I'm beginning to really despise companies - especially those who think they are too good for many of their consumers. Finally, I do have news for you. Don't forget who your customers are because they are those who determine how many millions of $$ you get in your bonus checks.

 

[KK]

I see it as they are allowed to do what they need to survive, and I gotta do what I gotta do to save a buck. Do I care if they cut back on promotions. No, I'll shop elsewhere. Usually the only time I buy anything there is if I need it now, or if the deal they have is better than anywhere else.

 

[phonemonkey]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
link doesnt work

Does anyone have a copy of the article? The link appeared on Fark as well, and the article is now, well, farked.

 

[PanzerIV]

I read the entire article and I'd like to offer a hearty f^ck you to Best Buy. I am not one of the spotlighted problem shoppers but the high prices and dipsh!t sales people are not big draws for me to begin with. Thanks to the 'net I can get cheaper prices and I am better informed about products by doing my own research online.

 

[Farvacola]

Can't say I like BB, but I must say they have some pretty good cd prices. When I don't want to wait for an online order, I stop by there.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
Either way...I had $500 to spend there this last weekend and walked in and bought nothing. They never know ANYTHING about their products. The guy at the camera counter knew more about video cards than the people in the computer department. That's just rediculous. Also...they have a lot of 3rd party partner/vendors in the store now driving business out.

I originally walked in to buy Tivo and walked out realizing that I can get the same thing from Cox now for only $6.00 more per month. Works for me...

I worked in the warehouse at CC. I knew more about computers than the people we had selling them, with the exception of the manager of that department.

So did a few other people in other departments. Oh well, I'd rather than carry TV's around that try to sell computers to the general populace.

 

[mugs]

Most of the people on these forums are in the 20%, so do you really think Best Buy cares if they lose you as a customer? They'll make more profit without you than with you. The best thing you can do in their eyes is stop shopping there - that's the whole point. So have fun sticking it to them by not shopping there.

Edit: And if you fault them for making a profit, you must be mistaking the United States for a communist country.

 

[Anonemous]

hehe, he doesn't even mention AT. I guess we're no threat to him.

Mr. Anderson's campaign against devil customers pits Best Buy against an underground of bargain-hungry shoppers intent on wringing every nickel of savings out of big retailers. At dozens of Web sites like FatWallet.com, SlickDeals.net and TechBargains.com, they trade electronic coupons and tips from former clerks and insiders, hoping to gain extra advantages against the stores.

And anyone whoever shops there because of a good deal are devils while those that buy the items with the higher profit margins are angels.

 

[UTmtnbiker]

It's a slippery slope they're going down. Although I think it's in their right as a for profit company, I quesion how far they're going to go with this. What's next, a credit check before you can enter the store? Maybe if you don't fit a certain profile, you're not welcome there. It's CAPS II with consumer electronics. :Q

It's one thing to close loopholes to prevent abuse of policy (opening, returning, and then rebuying as an open box is one), however, if you're working in THEIR SYSTEM and buying their loss leaders, what's wrong with that?

 

[T2T III]

If BB allows an item to be returned because the UPC symbol is missing because the purchaser scraped it off to send in a rebate, then BB is at fault. I don't see how they can point the finger back at the customer because of something they missed from the beginning.

 

[PhlashFoto]

Also, BBY purchases Musicland and Media Play. Which according to the aricle were unsuccessful. So whos fault is that?? The consumers??


I use to work for BBY years ago. Bunch of assclowns. Glad to see they keep the tradition alive. I hope they fall like 'Nobody beats the Wiz' stores years ago...

 

[phonemonkey]

Wow. I finally got to read the whole article. I'd like to know where this guy buys his crack from and how much it costs. I haven't shopped there very much over the past few years, and now I won't be going back at all until they get rid of this asshat.

I love the part where they want to "redeem" the devils by offering them more of their worthless protection policies. Apparently he's got his head so far up his ass he can't see that the people who are shopping there for deals don't care about the warranties that they're trying to sell.

Still, the best one I've seen was a clerk trying to sell my friend a protection plan for $10 on a $20 MS mouse that had a 5 year warranty already. I mean, who buys this crap?

 

[preslove]

Other than firming up their system to prevent rebate/return abuse, this looks like alot of BS. Anyone notice how "technology enthusiasts" were one of the 5 target demographics? Well, that includes ATer's and Fatwalleters. They are targeting the very people they want to ignore.

It looks like they just hired an overpriced consultant to give them a bunch of mumbo jumbo. He's the one that makes out. They should just focus on their core infrastructure, not go off on some weird marketing philosophy.

 

[TrueBlueLS]

I only buy their warranty when I can't fix something. Like my cell phone for example. I've only paid $285 for 3 different SprintPCS cell phones. I've gone from a Samsung N400 to a Sanyo 8500 to a Samsung RL2500. The funny part is I'm still on top in the end.

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
gotta be an R...but I'm as lazy as a reposter when it comes to proof.

Originally posted by: VictorLazlo
Thats a big ten-fouR

If you jackoffs can't be bothered to link to the original, I'll just have to post here...

They buy products, apply for rebates, return the purchases, then buy them back at returned-merchandise discounts. They load up on "loss leaders," severely discounted merchandise designed to boost store traffic, then flip the goods at a profit on eBay. They slap down rock-bottom price quotes from Web sites and demand that Best Buy make good on its lowest-price pledge. "They can wreak enormous economic havoc," says Mr. Anderson.

Why, Mr. Anderson? Why do you do it? Why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something? For more that your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom? Or truth? Perhaps peace? Yes? No? Could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson. Vagaries of perception. The temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or purpose. And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself, although only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it, Mr. Anderson. You must know it by now. You can't win. It's pointless to keep fighting. Why, Mr. Anderson? Why? Why do you persist?

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
I only buy their warranty when I can't fix something. Like my cell phone for example. I've only paid $285 for 3 different SprintPCS cell phones. I've gone from a Samsung N400 to a Sanyo 8500 to a Samsung RL2500. The funny part is I'm still on top in the end.

Do the warranties cover everything? Accidental damage?

 

[ZoNtO]

Originally posted by: Ornery

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
gotta be an R...but I'm as lazy as a reposter when it comes to proof.

Originally posted by: VictorLazlo
Thats a big ten-fouR

If you jackoffs can't be bothered to link to the original, I'll just have to post here...

They buy products, apply for rebates, return the purchases, then buy them back at returned-merchandise discounts. They load up on "loss leaders," severely discounted merchandise designed to boost store traffic, then flip the goods at a profit on eBay. They slap down rock-bottom price quotes from Web sites and demand that Best Buy make good on its lowest-price pledge. "They can wreak enormous economic havoc," says Mr. Anderson.

Why, Mr. Anderson? Why do you do it? Why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something? For more that your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom? Or truth? Perhaps peace? Yes? No? Could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson. Vagaries of perception. The temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or purpose. And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself, although only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it, Mr. Anderson. You must know it by now. You can't win. It's pointless to keep fighting. Why, Mr. Anderson? Why? Why do you persist?

I'm thoroughly impressed with the quality and relevance of your post. Who wouldda thunk the Matrix has actual "real-world" applications! ?!??!

 

[SelArom]

Originally posted by: KK
I see it as they are allowed to do what they need to survive, and I gotta do what I gotta do to save a buck. Do I care if they cut back on promotions. No, I'll shop elsewhere. Usually the only time I buy anything there is if I need it now, or if the deal they have is better than anywhere else.

yeah! stop arguing fellas. if they want the rich people only and that bothers you then don't shop there. Either they'll realize they made a mistake and go back to the old way, or they'll prosper and totally abandon everybody but the rich. Does it really affect you either way? nah, there are hundreds of other places to shop...

besides, a new TV isn't THAT important, is it? hell, even if it is, just buy it from somebody else.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
I only buy their warranty when I can't fix something. Like my cell phone for example. I've only paid $285 for 3 different SprintPCS cell phones. I've gone from a Samsung N400 to a Sanyo 8500 to a Samsung RL2500. The funny part is I'm still on top in the end.

You must have terrible luck with phones, or you're really careless.