Bad experience at Best Buy today

Xevious

CAGiversary!
Ok....Here is my story.

I saw the ad that BestBuy was running: "Spend $75 dollars on games and gaming accesories and get a $10 gift card free"

So I thought: If I buy Halo 2 Collectors Case which is $55 and a platium Hit which goes for $20, then I can get the gift card.

So I went to counter with my 2 games and the total ran up as $74.98 before taxes (Halo 2 was $54.99 and the other game was $19.99). It became apparent that I didn't qualify for the card because taxes were not considered part of the promotion. I called a manager and she wouldn't give me any leeway because it was 2 cents short. She said She can not override the computer.

I was not happy but I broke down and bought another PH game; I guess I didnt think the whole thing through.

Anyways, I'm not happy with Best Buy. I had another incident with them 4 years ago when they were offering 12 months no interest financing on "Home Stereos". I picked out this Sony and they said it did not qualify as a home stereo. Take a look at this picture to see what I am talking about:

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They told me its a boom box. But the thing is so big, there is no way in hell you can carry it around like a boom box. And the speakers on top are only attached by speaker wire. Its not designed to be carried around. Its designed for the home.

Anyways, thats all I want to write for now. I don't think I will do any Xmas shopping at Best Buy this year. Hell, I dont think I will go there as long as I can help it.
 
[quote name='rabbitt']You should have bought a crappy little GBA accessory. Unless you were planning on getting that PH game anyways.[/quote]

I was planning on buying that PH game. Only it happened sooner than I expected.

Also I was kinda tired and I wasnt thinking things through when all of this happened.
 
It sucks, yea, but its not like they ripped you off. They technically were correct, though there is no doubt the manager could have given it to you if they had wanted to.

Also, to me, a home stereo system is not what you pictured.
 
So...what's the problem again? You didn't spend enough to qualify for the gift card, so you spent more money. Your bad experience is not Best Buy's fault. It's not like they went out of their way to screw you, they just held you to the terms and conditions of the offer.

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I like to put the screws to BB as much as the next guy, but c'mon, there has to be a line. I don't know of any "Spend X Get Y" that counts tax in the total.

And I agree...the pic you posted isn't considered "home stereo."

Sorry.
 
That is a boombox, its not a home stereo. It doesn't matter if its 10 feet tall. A boombox is a boombox and a home stereo is a reciever with separate speakers and inputs for dvd/cd/tv. Just because its not portable does not mean its a "home stereo".

Should have thought of the .99 part before, this is how Bestbuy (and a lot of places) trick people. They had a store coupon for $ off a specific item that was $25, and they wouldn't honor it because it was $24.99.
 
That really sucks, I would have told them to bit me and walked across the street to my circuit city and picked up Halo 2 there, 2 cents short? What a bunch of bastards.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']That really sucks, I would have told them to bit me and walked across the street to my circuit city and picked up Halo 2 there, 2 cents short? What a bunch of bastards.[/quote]

There is a CC right across the street form ur BB werid just like mine but I would of went to CC anyways because they treat customers better there.
 
I read all your comments; You guys made some valid points:

Ok...Maybe that is not considered a home stereo.

As for the $75 deal, I have learned to rethink anything I see in a bestbuy ad. I have learned my lesson.

I guess I typed this up when I was pissed off. But you guys have your valid points.
 
[quote name='pimpinc333'][quote name='zionoverfire']That really sucks, I would have told them to bit me and walked across the street to my circuit city and picked up Halo 2 there, 2 cents short? What a bunch of bastards.[/quote]

There is a CC right across the street form ur BB werid just like mine but I would of went to CC anyways because they treat customers better there.[/quote]

Well I've actually seen a few locations like that. I normally would also go to CC first but with the giftcard sale this guy mentioned I"d be tempted to visit BB and if they tried to gip me by 2 cents I'd tell them I'd walk across the street and I'm sure I'd have that gift card quick.

And yes BB employees are bastards and I've posted several times throughout the forums expressing my hatred for them. :twisted:
 
Yeah. There's a CC right down the road (less than a minute drive) from my BB.

There's also a Media Play one street over.
 
As an additional kick in the pants, did you realize if you would have spent 5 bucks more you get a $20 gift card when you spend $100. Just wanted to point that out.
 
[quote name='strayfoxx']My BestBuy sells gum and drinks. You shoulda just bought one of those...[/quote]

It would not have counted as the gift card only qualifies if he bought $75 worht of video games/game accesories.
 
[quote name='strayfoxx']My BestBuy sells gum and drinks. You shoulda just bought one of those...[/quote]

pretty sure they dont count gum and drinks as video games... althought that was what i was thinking at first before i remember he said only video games..
 
[quote name='zionoverfire'][quote name='pimpinc333'][quote name='zionoverfire']That really sucks, I would have told them to bit me and walked across the street to my circuit city and picked up Halo 2 there, 2 cents short? What a bunch of bastards.[/quote]

There is a CC right across the street form ur BB werid just like mine but I would of went to CC anyways because they treat customers better there.[/quote]

Well I've actually seen a few locations like that. I normally would also go to CC first but with the giftcard sale this guy mentioned I"d be tempted to visit BB and if they tried to gip me by 2 cents I'd tell them I'd walk across the street and I'm sure I'd have that gift card quick.

And yes BB employees are bastards and I've posted several times throughout the forums expressing my hatred for them. :twisted:[/quote]

I agree with you. My BB used to be alright, not the best but it still wasn't as bad as now. NO I tend to just go to CC or Fry's. They are much more friendly there.
 
you could have grabbed a 25 cent pack of gum or 2 earthlink internet cd's for 1 cent each oito get to your $75 total. At least you have another game to play now because of it!
 
[quote name='pimpinc333'][quote name='zionoverfire']That really sucks, I would have told them to bit me and walked across the street to my circuit city and picked up Halo 2 there, 2 cents short? What a bunch of bastards.[/quote]

There is a CC right across the street form ur BB werid just like mine but I would of went to CC anyways because they treat customers better there.[/quote]

I'm sure there's a BB across the street from if not damn close to a CC anywhere you go. I have 2 sets near me.
 
I think we should have a new rule:

You can only post about a GOOD experience you had at a Best Buy...All other Best Buy stories need not be posted since we can assume that most trips to Best Buy end up in dissatisfaction accompanied by bad customer service.
 
[quote name='tornadomann']you could have grabbed a 25 cent pack of gum or 2 earthlink internet cd's for 1 cent each oito get to your $75 total. At least you have another game to play now because of it![/quote]

Gum and earthlink cds are neither video games nor video game accessories.
 
[quote name='strayfoxx']My BestBuy sells gum and drinks. You shoulda just bought one of those...[/quote]


soda HAS to be a video game accesory...i mean, come on...we all need caffine to stay up for those late night gaming sessions
 
Sorry Xevious (hey, you're named after one of my favoite games!), but Best Buy was totally right on both counts.

They were merely holding you by the terms of the offer on the $75 thing. And if you were gonna buy the other game at some point, then you STILL saved $10, either way. You just spent it earlier than you though. I can understand why you were upset.

Also, that is definatly NOT a home stereo. A home stereo involves separate components. Something you ABSOLUTLY could not carry...as in, a semi-permanent fixture, sorta.
 
3 Points I want to add:

1. I tried buy a gamer's gift card for $5 but that didn't fly with the manager. I'm sure gum idea wouldnt work either.

2. Someone mentioned that if I spent $5 more I would have gotten a $20 gift card. Thats true. I guess I was tired and I wasn't thinking everything through. I didnt want to buy that many games. It was a ridiculous situation to begin with.

3. Technically, they are right in regards to the $75 promotion. However....The bottom line is that a company that uses that kind of promotional tactic sends a message to the consumer; the message is "Hey, we don't want your loyalty; You are just a number in our sales figures." Remember this is only 2 cents difference that the manager said she wouldn't override.

If there is a case were a DVD is on sale for $14.99 at both Bestbuy and Circuit City, I am more likely to buy it at Circuit City. This is because I am not loyal to Best Buy; They told me (through their promotional tactics) that they are not asking for my loyalty as a consumer. Do you guys understand my argument here?
 
[quote name='Xevious']

3. Technically, they are right in regards to the $75 promotion. However....The bottom line is that a company that uses that kind of promotional tactic sends a message to the consumer; the message is "Hey, we don't want your loyalty; You are just a number in our sales figures." Remember this is only 2 cents difference that the manager said she wouldn't override.


[/quote]

Yeah, they've already blatantly admitted as much. They especially don't want you if you're a deal seeker.

http://cheapassgamer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37452
 
They should have overidden it for you. Technically, yeah you were $0.02 short but I think it was so close they should have made an exception.
 
[quote name='YoshiFan1']They should have overidden it for you. Technically, yeah you were $0.02 short but I think it was so close they should have made an exception.[/quote]

but at that point $0.10 is close, $0.25 is close, shit $1.00 is close
if they made an exception to their rule for one person, they would have to do it for everyone.
 
[quote name='WhipSmartBanky'][quote name='Xevious']

3. Technically, they are right in regards to the $75 promotion. However....The bottom line is that a company that uses that kind of promotional tactic sends a message to the consumer; the message is "Hey, we don't want your loyalty; You are just a number in our sales figures." Remember this is only 2 cents difference that the manager said she wouldn't override.


[/quote]

Yeah, they've already blatantly admitted as much. They especially don't want you if you're a deal seeker.



http://cheapassgamer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37452[/quote]

Wow...thats an interesting thread. It makes sense though.
 
[quote name='tholly'][quote name='YoshiFan1']They should have overidden it for you. Technically, yeah you were $0.02 short but I think it was so close they should have made an exception.[/quote]

but at that point $0.10 is close, $0.25 is close, shit $1.00 is close
if they made an exception to their rule for one person, they would have to do it for everyone.[/quote]

There is close and their is asininely close and if your a store and you want customer loyalty you give people who are under by even a $1 the card, that's how you get customers to feel appreciated.
 
I'm sure that when BB does a promotion like this, they know that the pricing for the games end in .99, so it tends to push a customer into the decision you made, which was buying another game you hadn't planned on buying, all because you were $0.02 short.

Times like this is when you need to find the cheapest piece of video game accessory gear, and use it to get over the hump to the point of the promotion.

I've done similar things with CC and Amazon, when it comes to getting into the point of getting free shipping, I've done an order with each recently and tossed in a pack of AA batteries to get over the hump and into the land of free shipping.

Those .99 ending prices can be a real pain in the ass, can't they?
 
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