Boycott Best Buy

jonb

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A couple days ago, I bought a printer at Best Buy, only to find out it only printed red. I asked them about it, and, rather than repair it, they tried to sell me a new printer!

Of course, I'm no fool, so I called them on it. Afterward, they escorted me off the premises.
 

D_Barbi_Queue

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i bought a portable dvd player there a few months ago. The special was that if I opened a Best Buy card, I'd get an extra 10% off. When I asked her why it didn't show up upon checking out, she said it would be reflected when I got my first statement. It wasn't. When I called the card company, they said I had to take it up with the store.
 

KinkGuy

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And I've bought a lot of electronic/computer/camera stuff from Best Buy. Never had a problem.....of course, I never needed anything serviced/fixed/replaced either.
 

Pecker

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Attention.

Angry Indian and bitchy woman at Electronics.

Attention, please.

Cleanup at Electronics.

Manager has printer and dvd player up his ass.
 

madame_zora

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I was escorted off the premises of a store this week too! Bought a sewing machine that I desperately needed to use while my better one was in the shop. Upon getting it home found out it had the same problem as my machine that was being repaired. When I pointed out that by the time he could get it back to me I wouldn't need it anymore, so I wanted my money back, I was told that the ninety day warrantee didn't cover returns, only repairs. I filed a report with the attorney general, the BBB, and have place signs around the neighborhood using the owner's name and a detail of our conversation. I'm still out a few bucks, but I will make sure he loses more than I did.

Aloofman, I agree that the world is fraught with shitty service, but if we just accept it, we become part of the problem. I much prefer to deal with small businesses whenever possible because they still feel some accountability to their customers. I'll happily boycott Best Buy, no need to support shittiness!
 

jdoe86

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I have been in Best Buys, but never bought anything there because I never found they had the "best buy". In my area there are other stores that carry the same products for a lot less. My girl friend did buy a computer there a few years ago and was royally screwed by the salesman. It used to be the customers is always right. But according to the latest reports I have seen on the evening news, more and more retailers feel they dodn't have to deal with "repeat returners" and "problem customers". As far as I know, if they want my business, they at least need to understand that if I am not happy with something, I am going to complain; not roll over and take the abuse. Now with the internet and blogs and chat groups, we can stand up against "evil retailers" and not only just tell 10 friends, we can tell 1000's at a time all over the world.
 

BobLeeSwagger

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My experience is that small businesses are not any less likely to rip you off. And Best Buy probably sells millions of items per day. Even if every person I know had a bad experience there, it wouldn't mean that they're in the habit of screwing people. Everybody just shops where they like anyway.

There is only one business that I've boycotted just because of the service: Claim Jumper restaurants. I once had a waitress accidentally dump two pints of beer on me, which was not her fault, and, as I said, was only an accident. The manager's remedy to this was to give me free Claim Jumper t-shirts and sweaters, as if I should be gratified by the chance to be his walking billboard. I called the manager over and told him I'd never eat at any of his restaurants again, and I'd write to corporate headquarters to complain about him specifically. After I did that, the corporate people sent me an apologetic letter and a $50 gift certificate. I tore it in half and mailed it back to them.
 

KinkGuy

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Well, it's almost cliche now days, but WalMart hasn't seen me and my credit cards in over 2 years and will never again see one dollar of my money. I just choose to support companies with at least a somewhat acceptable corporate and human rights philosophy. btw, still won't drink Coors beer either. :angry:
 

D_Barbi_Queue

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i don't like that everytime I call customer service with Dell, I get someone overseas. Now before anyone jumps on me....I AM NOT prejudice. I just want to know why major corporations have a hard time giving jobs to someone in the USA.
 

jdoe86

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Originally posted by aloofman@Nov 29 2004, 03:26 AM
My experience is that small businesses are not any less likely to rip you off. And Best Buy probably sells millions of items per day. Even if every person I know had a bad experience there, it wouldn't mean that they're in the habit of screwing people. Everybody just shops where they like anyway.

There is only one business that I've boycotted just because of the service: Claim Jumper restaurants. I once had a waitress accidentally dump two pints of beer on me, which was not her fault, and, as I said, was only an accident. The manager's remedy to this was to give me free Claim Jumper t-shirts and sweaters, as if I should be gratified by the chance to be his walking billboard. I called the manager over and told him I'd never eat at any of his restaurants again, and I'd write to corporate headquarters to complain about him specifically. After I did that, the corporate people sent me an apologetic letter and a $50 gift certificate. I tore it in half and mailed it back to them.
[post=265162]Quoted post[/post]​
Can I ask you what you wanted from the restaurant? If it was an accident, then what they were doing was quite acceptable. They sent an apology, what more did you want? You could have taken the $50 gift cert and gave it to someone who needed it (a homeless person or somone).
 

SpeedoGuy

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Originally posted by TexAssgirl@Nov 29 2004, 09:14 AM
i don't like that everytime I call customer service with Dell, I get someone overseas. Now before anyone jumps on me....I AM NOT prejudice. I just want to know why major corporations have a hard time giving jobs to someone in the USA.
[post=265211]Quoted post[/post]​

TAG:

It can indeed be frustrating for American consumers to try to work with an electronics tech rep who does not have a good command of English. Dell has regrettably joined the ranks of companies outsourcing customer service overseas.

Funny thing about this was; the customer service reps I spoke with during my third and final attempt at satisfaction with Dell were very plainly from the USA. Worse, they tried to con me into believing a line of bullshit about how I could fix the PC problem myself by opening up the back of the CPU and tweaking the interior electronics. This despite the warning label which clearly said: Warranty Void if Seal Broken.

SG
 

BobLeeSwagger

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Originally posted by geo8x6@Nov 29 2004, 03:08 AM

Can I ask you what you wanted from the restaurant? If it was an accident, then what they were doing was quite acceptable. They sent an apology, what more did you want? You could have taken the $50 gift cert and gave it to someone who needed it (a homeless person or somone).
[post=265218]Quoted post[/post]​

What I expected was to get an apology from the manager. And at least get that round of drinks for free. In fact, I wouldn't even have needed those things if I hadn't been insulted with the clothing.

In hindsight, you're right, it would have been better to give the certificate to someone else who could use it. Even a swap for less cash, maybe. But at the time I was just pissed on principle and didn't consider it.
 

reir

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Originally posted by aloofman@Nov 29 2004, 03:26 AM
My experience is that small businesses are not any less likely to rip you off. And Best Buy probably sells millions of items per day. Even if every person I know had a bad experience there, it wouldn't mean that they're in the habit of screwing people. Everybody just shops where they like anyway.

There is only one business that I've boycotted just because of the service: Claim Jumper restaurants. I once had a waitress accidentally dump two pints of beer on me, which was not her fault, and, as I said, was only an accident. The manager's remedy to this was to give me free Claim Jumper t-shirts and sweaters, as if I should be gratified by the chance to be his walking billboard. I called the manager over and told him I'd never eat at any of his restaurants again, and I'd write to corporate headquarters to complain about him specifically. After I did that, the corporate people sent me an apologetic letter and a $50 gift certificate. I tore it in half and mailed it back to them.
[post=265162]Quoted post[/post]​

Service at Claim Jumper has gone downhill in the past few years. I've had a few similar experiences there, including the spell where the servers would tell you "we all work as a team" so they could disappear halfway through your meal and you'd never see another server again.

As far as your Best Buy experience, jonb, Best Buy is one of the easiest places on earth to get things exchanged/returned (even if you didn't buy it from there, but don't ask me how I know that). You must have really given them the wrong impression for them to attempt to sell you more merchandise. I've noticed they seem to have a company policy of hiring people who aren't entirely knowledgeable about the products they sell; most likely because anyone who knew everything about their products would never sell the ridiculous extended warranties they make so much profit from. That being the case, as long as you work with their customer service reps at their level, you can usually get anything returned/exchanged without too much hassle. I just bought an HDTV monitor from Best Buy that turned out to have a minor defect. After a few phone calls (and some minor communication screwups on their end due to their incredibly inefficient staff), I had a new one delivered and the old one picked up in the same trip.

No big deal. BTW did you check to make sure it wasn't your print cartridge that was defective or seated improperly? These things happen.
 

madame_zora

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Okay, I bought a big screen tv from then a couple years ago, and after getting it delivered to my home found it had a problem with the picture. After days on the phone where they tried to shift blame to the deliverymen, the manufacturer and even to me, they finally sent a tech out to fix it (I had purchased the service warranty, which I rarely do). The same problem reappeared a few days later and I tild them I wanted a new tv of a different brand, of a comparable price, but would pay the difference if there was one. This transaction took over a month during which time I had a 56" tv in my living room that I couldn't watch at all. I won't mourn the loss of dealing with a company that didn't find my satisfaction to be of any value.

Aloofman, I disagree that small business are just as likely to be crappy. Many of them know their customers more personally and treat them with more respect, knowing that their income depends on it. I find myself drawn to them more often becuase I like the feeling of knowing where my money is going, not just sending it down the corporate chute.
 
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Originally posted by aloofman@Nov 28 2004, 10:23 AM
If I boycotted every place that I heard had crappy service, I'd have no place to shop.
[post=265118]Quoted post[/post]​

AMEN!

Or do like my aunt, boycott every company that rubbed her the wrong way for whatever they do. She'd be building her own electronics and growing/raising her own food.
 

jdoe86

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It's funny you mentioned getting something spilled on you at a resturant. This last weekend the waiter spilled coffee on our table and though it didn't get on me, it ruined my meal. They cooked me another steak and gave my meal and desert for the whole table for free without my asking for it. It was a local resturant here in San Jose and I am more than happy to give them more of my business.