Best Buy must just hate gamers

sociopharm02

sociopharm02

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I went to Best Buy today to purchase Fable and was going to use the gamer coupon and put 25 on the gift card. After I did this the clerk said that you had to wait 24 hours before you could use the coupon or the gift card. they said they are doing this in order to combat gamers putting 1 cent on the cards for the coupon on the back of the card box. She also said that you had to have 5 dollars on the card in order to use the gift card coupon. She said that the coupon would not activate until there was 5.00 on the card that was purchased with the coupon. I know the girl because my daughter and i are in there all the time and she is always cool with me and has let me use the coupon whenever i have felt the need. So I just got my 25 dollars back and bought the game elsewhere.

While there I bought a DVD and she said that in addition to the ridiculous gamer card policy they are not going to allow people to use their credit card/debit cards as credit cards any longer and that it will have to be used as a debit card.

Is this store out to enrage people or are they just against making money. I have always loved Best Buy but I am going to have to find a new electronics headquarters because Best Buy has officially announced to me that they are just stupid. I dont understand how making someone wait 24 hours to use the coupon or the card is going to help. I also don't understand what their problem is, why don't they just do away with the coupon and save themselves the inevitability of looking like an ass to gamers. They were the ones that created the coupon not the ones that are taking advanteg of the deal they created. In addition they are still making money because you can only use the coupon on games 19.99 or higher so they still get at the very least 14.95 when you factor in the coupon.

Sorry for the post being so long just sick of the backwards thinking of some companies.
 
i say they should demand at least 5 bucks put on each card. its something extra best buy is doing they dont have to do this.

What you should of done was go in get the card check out go outside walk back in and use the card in another line
 
I cashier at Cub Foods and someone mentioned what you just described happening when I rang him through.

He said something like, "Seems like somebody isn't getting the amount of money they think they should be." with a sarcastic tone.
 
So why would you only put 1 cent on a Gamers Card? I'm not really seeing the logic on that one.

If I'm buying a 30 game, I put 25 on the card ... then go to another line and they take the coupon, and the money from the card ... and everything is all set!
 
Hell, you are lucky. They don't even have the Gamer Gift Card anymore in St. Louis. Or at least the Best Buy I go to in St. Louis. Also, at one store in Indiana, the Carmel one, they aren't going to honor the coupons anymore. The only reason that I was able to use it my last time there is because one of the cashiers said that I just bought it, and they reluctantly said that since I had just bought they would honor it.
 
I've heard of BB trying to pull the "wait 24 hours" line to other CAGers here, but never heard of the debit card only rule.

I agree though - if they want to get uptight about the coupon, then just get rid of it. I probably shouldn't be spending so much money on games anyway. :wink:
 
I generally try to keep a couple of the coupon + cards in my wallet, just in case I'm in there and there's a spectacular deal. When I use one, I make sure the next time I go in to pick up another one - 5 bucks on the card. I keep 2 handy in case there's another deal the next time I go in. Never really had a problem - I buy 'em on a separate day from when I use 'em, and 5 bucks on the card is pretty reasonable when you consider you'll be spending at least 15 total to use the coupon. Totals up to just 10 bucks held in reserve, for 20 dollar value when used. Not too shabby.
 
There is absolutely no point putting less that $14.99(+tax) on the card because that's how much you need to take advantage of it.
 
[quote name='Sartori']No credit cards? I'll have to check on this.

I wouldn't be too happy about that.[/quote]

I think from the description that this only applies to cards capable of both functions. I don't use any debit cards and I'd be extremely surprised if BB told me my TRU Visa was no longer welcome.

Debit cards incur less in the way of merchant fees, which is why they can be used in some situations where credit isn't supported at all.
 
[quote name='epobirs'][quote name='Sartori']No credit cards? I'll have to check on this.

I wouldn't be too happy about that.[/quote]

I think from the description that this only applies to cards capable of both functions. I don't use any debit cards and I'd be extremely surprised if BB told me my TRU Visa was no longer welcome.

Debit cards incur less in the way of merchant fees, which is why they can be used in some situations where credit isn't supported at all.[/quote]

I understand the latter, but I can't imagine BB making that decision - it's illogical.
 
IS there anything in the actual text on the coupon stating you have to use it in conjunction with the GGC?
Im pretty sure there is not. It simply stated the coupon entitles the buyer to a discount of $5.00 on any video game or accessory priced $19.99 and above.
Im gonna take just the coupon up there next time im there and see what they say.

I dislike buying all small items with the exception of cd's from BB. the majority of BB employees/management act like the customers owe them for shopping there.
 
[quote name='paz9x']IS there anything in the actual text on the coupon stating you have to use it in conjunction with the GGC?
Im pretty sure there is not. It simply stated the coupon entitles the buyer to a discount of $5.00 on any video game or accessory priced $19.99 and above.
Im gonna take just the coupon up there next time im there and see what they say.

I dislike buying all small items with the exception of cd's from BB. the majority of BB employees/management act like the customers owe them for shopping there.[/quote]

No. I toss the cards after I leave the store and stash the coupon in my wallet.
 
Odd. It worked fine for me today. I just bought the card/coupon, left the store, walked right back in, grabbed my game, then went to another checkout clerk. Piece of cake. Nobody seemed to be the wiser. Were you trying to do them both in the same transaction? I'm not even sure they can tell when the card was purchased...
 
[quote name='eldad9']There is absolutely no point putting less that $14.99(+tax) on the card because that's how much you need to take advantage of it.[/quote]

Yeah, I don't care about putting a bigger amount of money on the card. Why not?


[quote name='E-Z-B']I've heard of BB trying to pull the "wait 24 hours" line to other CAGers here, but never heard of the debit card only rule.

I agree though - if they want to get uptight about the coupon, then just get rid of it. I probably shouldn't be spending so much money on games anyway. :wink:[/quote]

What the hell? I'd rather wait 24 hours and still get the $5 off rather than not having the coupon at all.
 
The purpose of the gift card program was pretty simple: to encourage people to give cards as GIFTS. If they wanted to give $5 off every $20+ game in the store, they would have simply done that instead and not messed around with the extra expense of the gift card itself.

The program has been abused beyond all reason by tons of gamers. Its not surprising that they're cracking down on that.
 
maybe i'm just not seeing it...

why would best buy not let you use credit on a credit/debit card? doesn't credit just subtract from your bank account anyway? i know that i've gotten rejected before, trying to use credit without having sufficient bank funds. is it mainly to enhance transaction security? a lot of stores, (including target, where i work), don't even check signatures anymore, because credit card companies will take the hit if someone reports their card stolen. is it really that bad to use debit instead of credit? someone let me know.
 
[quote name='kristianator']maybe i'm just not seeing it...

why would best buy not let you use credit on a credit/debit card? doesn't credit just subtract from your bank account anyway? i know that i've gotten rejected before, trying to use credit without having sufficient bank funds. is it mainly to enhance transaction security? a lot of stores, (including target, where i work), don't even check signatures anymore, because credit card companies will take the hit if someone reports their card stolen. is it really that bad to use debit instead of credit? someone let me know.[/quote]
It takes longer (usually) for debits and credits to hit your account when using your check card as a debit card.
Occasionally i find that I get charged a small fee by the retailer if I use the debit system. I always use credit.
I cant understand how they can look at a check card with a visa logo on it and say no you must use it as a debit card.

ahhh. it just occurred to me that the retailer must pay a percentage of visa sales to visa. they may be trying to limit that amount, which debit sales would not effect.
If they dont like how the card is being used, then change the rules/limitations on the coupon itself.
 
When you aquire a GGC, you simply put $5 on each card. Therefore you can get 4 or 5 of them at one time. The next time your at BB, use your giftcards to make a purchase and keep the coupons for later use. Personally, I feel this makes it easier than going in and out every time you want to use a GGC. Maybe this is just me :?
 
[quote name='kristianator']maybe i'm just not seeing it...

why would best buy not let you use credit on a credit/debit card? doesn't credit just subtract from your bank account anyway? i know that i've gotten rejected before, trying to use credit without having sufficient bank funds. is it mainly to enhance transaction security? a lot of stores, (including target, where i work), don't even check signatures anymore, because credit card companies will take the hit if someone reports their card stolen. is it really that bad to use debit instead of credit? someone let me know.[/quote]

No, credit and debit are entirely different transactions. Debit is equivalent to writing a check with the added security of realtime confirmation from the bank. Most or all of the fees involve are cast upon the buyer. You may have noticed that many places add a surcharge of debit card usage that doesn't apply to credit purchases, even with the same card. For instance, Carls Jr. restaurants typically add a 50 cent fee for debit card purchases.

Credit cards are a different animal, especially in that they don't draw directly on a bank account. There are merchants fees charged to the retailer when you make a credit card purchase but these are generally considered worthwhile since credit tends to make people more likely to spend, especially for items they might need to pay of over a prolonged period of time. (Weird trivia note: The founder of the National Lampoon also was involved in pioneering the modern credit card.) The percentage of these merchant fees is an issue if they're too high. For many years there were a large portion of merchants who accepted Visa and MAster Card but not American Express. In some case they would take Amex only if a 3% charge was added to the purchase since this was the amount by which the Amex fees were higher than the others.

So it isn't surprising that a merchant would prefer that customers use denit instead of credit. It is, though, the first time I've heard of a merchant forcing the choice for cards that serve as both.
 
That's just weird, that they wouldn't honor somehting like that. But waiting 24hrs.? What is that all about? Just let people use them and don't issue anymore of the gift card deal.
 
It takes longer (usually) for debits and credits to hit your account when using your check card as a debit card.
Occasionally i find that I get charged a small fee by the retailer if I use the debit system. I always use credit.
I cant understand how they can look at a check card with a visa logo on it and say no you must use it as a debit card.
Click to expand...

You are correct. Businesses pay credit card companies ( Visa, MC, Amex, Discover, BB card) a small percentage for each transaction that occurs. Percentages range from 2.5% to 7.8% (avg. depending on retailer, % of sales volume, and finance promos w/BB card purchase) Visa and MC are usually around the 4%. When you factor in all the volume of sales transactions that occur within a month, that 4% becomes an enormous expense. It seems that they are attempting to cut costs, just as they did by removing free shipping to BB.com orders.
It is becoming much harder to continue shoping at BB. :(
 
[quote name='epobirs']
So it isn't surprising that a merchant would prefer that customers use denit instead of credit. It is, though, the first time I've heard of a merchant forcing the choice for cards that serve as both.[/quote]

Family Dollar branch around here forces it.
 
I doubt that those merchant fee's are higher than 2%...probably MUCH less than that considering the amount of volume those stores push. I'd be interested in an actual figure from someone "in the know".

When I was running a custom computer business with a buddy of mine (aobut 5-6yrs ago), we setup a merchant account withe Visa and the usage fee wasn't more than 2% and come to think of it, it was under 2%...

So you can't tell me that a nation wide retailer like BB is getting dinked 4% per transaction.

The whole point of the Visa/MasterCard debit card is that it works just like a credit card. I noticed that Wal-Mart did this to me a while back - noticed that I was using a MasterCard Debit card and asked that I punch in the PIN...I never use the thing, and forgot the PIN so I had to whip out a different form of plastic.

What's the point in having a branded debit card if you can't take advantage of the benifits?
 
While there I bought a DVD and she said that in addition to the ridiculous gamer card policy they are not going to allow people to use their credit card/debit cards as credit cards any longer and that it will have to be used as a debit card.
Click to expand...

I work at Best Buy. The only thing you have to do is hit cancel at the pin number screen. This brings up the "approve credit transaction" box. You approve the transaction, then hand the cashier your card, then continue as a normal credit transaction.
 
[quote name='davidmt']So why would you only put 1 cent on a Gamers Card? I'm not really seeing the logic on that one.

If I'm buying a 30 game, I put 25 on the card ... then go to another line and they take the coupon, and the money from the card ... and everything is all set![/quote]

I don't see the logic in that either, you wait 10 minutes in line for the person in line that is paying with cash, check AND a credit card, along with coupons and gift cards to use just to buy one item. Then you get in line to get a .01 cent gift card?!? I at least put 20.00, that way I'll get a 20.00 game/accessory with that GGC.

And if you can't afford the 5.00 I will loan you the 4.99 ! Is $5 so much to ask?
 
I think this is just your single store being jackasses. Nowhere does it say any of those terms on the coupons. I used one recently to get ESPN hockey, just walked out to my car, dumped the case, and came right back in. Went in the same line and the lady smiled at me and said "back so soon?" No problems at all, and there's plenty on the shelves.
 
[quote name='Trakan']

[quote name='E-Z-B']I've heard of BB trying to pull the "wait 24 hours" line to other CAGers here, but never heard of the debit card only rule.

I agree though - if they want to get uptight about the coupon, then just get rid of it. I probably shouldn't be spending so much money on games anyway. :wink:[/quote]

What the hell? I'd rather wait 24 hours and still get the $5 off rather than not having the coupon at all.[/quote]

My thoughts Exactly.
 
As a best buy employee I occasionally use the GGC when my discount doesn't help much. Last weekend I purchased a GGC and then had the cashier do a transaction for Morrowind GotY immediately after. No problems. Sounds like we have a case of one rogue store doing things their way, which is against store policy by the way. Maybe word of this new procedure hasn't trickled down to us yet but I doubt it.
 
[quote name='jazzman']When you aquire a GGC, you simply put $5 on each card. Therefore you can get 4 or 5 of them at one time. The next time your at BB, use your giftcards to make a purchase and keep the coupons for later use. Personally, I feel this makes it easier than going in and out every time you want to use a GGC. Maybe this is just me :?[/quote]

It'd be nice if you left some for other people to use also....
 
the cashier said that the credit card thing was due to people that credit/debit cards are used taking money out of your checking account and they have been having problems with people using the card as a credit card and then due to the extra processing time the funds were not in the account. it didn't make any sense to me because I can not charge over what my balance is. But she said it would be going into effect in the next couple months.

As for the gamer card, wouldn't you assume that the people that came up with the idea of putting a coupon in the gamer card packaging would know that this was made to be exploited. I mean if they are losing that much money on it then whay do they continue to put out a card and coupon at all. I think it is that they are just pissed that people are using them more then they would like. Isn't the bottome line that regardless of what you put on the card, if it is a penny or a hundred dollars, doesn't Best Buy still get the same amount of money. Example if i buy a card for a penny ( I have never done that by the way I just put whatever the cost of the game is going to be after the coupon on there) and then I use the coupon and card and it takes a penny off the total price don't I still have to pay the remaining balance with some form of currency. Why do they care where the money comes from or how much is put on the card when the bottom line is that they get the same exact amount of money. Not only do they get the same amount of money but they would endear themselves to a group of the market that is more likely to buy other items there if they feel that they are getting a good deal or at least equally a good deal as other places. It would seem to me that they are alienating a group that they rely on to remain on top of the market. My self for example spends too much money to discuss there on a monthly basis and now just because i can not think of any explanation for them doing this I have decided to shop elsewhere and send them my reward card back. I would have more respect for the company if they just pulled the damn cards off the shelves as opposed to some arbitrary waiting period. I just think they are fighting a losing battle the market is too competitive to be pulling stunts like this.
 
[quote name='Trakan'][quote name='jazzman']When you aquire a GGC, you simply put $5 on each card. Therefore you can get 4 or 5 of them at one time. The next time your at BB, use your giftcards to make a purchase and keep the coupons for later use. Personally, I feel this makes it easier than going in and out every time you want to use a GGC. Maybe this is just me :?[/quote]

It'd be nice if you left some for other people to use also....[/quote]

4 or 5 is going to make a huge dent when they have stacks of 10 throughout the store.

They're in infinite supply - why whine?
 
[quote name='Tromack']Hell, you are lucky. They don't even have the Gamer Gift Card anymore in St. Louis. Or at least the Best Buy I go to in St. Louis. Also, at one store in Indiana, the Carmel one, they aren't going to honor the coupons anymore. The only reason that I was able to use it my last time there is because one of the cashiers said that I just bought it, and they reluctantly said that since I had just bought they would honor it.[/quote]

Which BB do you go to? All the ones in the St. Louis side of the river have the GGC, both the 2004 and 2005 ones.

The ones I go to honor the gift card, as long as you follow the rules of putting at least the "real" minimum of $5 on it, which I do. I used to do the purchase price - $5, but I decided that I'd rather have money back than credit back, and $5 seems like a little thing to deal with than more money.
 
[quote name='Repairman Jack']Odd. It worked fine for me today. I just bought the card/coupon, left the store, walked right back in, grabbed my game, then went to another checkout clerk. Piece of cake. Nobody seemed to be the wiser. Were you trying to do them both in the same transaction? I'm not even sure they can tell when the card was purchased...[/quote]

That's the magic formula, buy the card, leave, then walk back in and choose a different line person. I've done that since early 2003 and never had this useless shaq-fu that seem to run into.

And if BB ever decides to limit my debit card to debit-only transactions, I'm calling the AG for MO and let them know what kind of crap that is. Plus, my bank, as well.
 
[quote name='shrike4242'][quote name='Repairman Jack']Odd. It worked fine for me today. I just bought the card/coupon, left the store, walked right back in, grabbed my game, then went to another checkout clerk. Piece of cake. Nobody seemed to be the wiser. Were you trying to do them both in the same transaction? I'm not even sure they can tell when the card was purchased...[/quote]

That's the magic formula, buy the card, leave, then walk back in and choose a different line person. I've done that since early 2003 and never had this useless shaq-fu that seem to run into.

And if BB ever decides to limit my debit card to debit-only transactions, I'm calling the AG for MO and let them know what kind of crap that is. Plus, my bank, as well.[/quote]

I've always just bought the GGC and the game I'm using it on all at once. The cashier will just ring it up as two seperate transactions. Never had a problem with that at my BB. Most of the cashiers just laugh and comment on how some people don't know about that great coupon in the GGC.
 
I've always walked out of the store with multiple GGC's without putting any money on any of them, and just use the coupons. Nobody at BB ever seemed to care.
 
I can understand BB getting peeved about people just "lifting" the gift cards to get the coupon, so I make sure to stick by their rules.

According to one BB rep I spoke with, the "normal" minimum for a gift card is supposed to be $5, though their system doesn't prevent them from putting only $0.01 on the card.

I've done it since the GGC was available, followed that rule about putting $5 or more on the card, and I've never had the issue.

One of the managers did give me crap once about trying to do it as two tranasctions, but I figure if I walk out to my car and back again, I at least give them the illusion that I'm not outright trying to stiff them, which I am. :D
 
They probably don't hate gamers, they are probably tired of people who have abused the deal, and ruined it for you, and everybody else.
 
[quote name='howlinmad']They probably don't hate gamers, they are probably tired of people who have abused the deal, and ruined it for you, and everybody else.[/quote]

Question is, what do you consider to be "abused the deal"?
 
Unless I'm mistaken, there isn't shit on that card that says I have to put .. well.. anything on it. As far as I'm concerned, I'm in the clear.
 
[quote name='paz9x'][quote name='kristianator']maybe i'm just not seeing it...

why would best buy not let you use credit on a credit/debit card? doesn't credit just subtract from your bank account anyway? i know that i've gotten rejected before, trying to use credit without having sufficient bank funds. is it mainly to enhance transaction security? a lot of stores, (including target, where i work), don't even check signatures anymore, because credit card companies will take the hit if someone reports their card stolen. is it really that bad to use debit instead of credit? someone let me know.[/quote]
It takes longer (usually) for debits and credits to hit your account when using your check card as a debit card.
Occasionally i find that I get charged a small fee by the retailer if I use the debit system. I always use credit.
I cant understand how they can look at a check card with a visa logo on it and say no you must use it as a debit card.

ahhh. it just occurred to me that the retailer must pay a percentage of visa sales to visa. they may be trying to limit that amount, which debit sales would not effect.
If they dont like how the card is being used, then change the rules/limitations on the coupon itself.[/quote]

Exactly. By using your card as DEBIT, YOU'RE footing the bill for the service paying for the item. By using CREDIT, THEY foot 2-3% of the Sale Total.

Since DEBIT is a flat rate (Usually at $1) AND the it comes out of the CUSTOMER's wallet, it's a WIN-WIN situation for Best Buy.

That is unless you factor in the pissed-off customers. :wink:
 
The Wal-Marts around here have already stopped taking cards as credit cards, and now accept them only as debit. So we just break out the checkbook instead, as our bank charges us for using it as a debit card. No big deal, right? Just takes a minute or so more to scribble out the check.

But think about this. When Christmas season hits, and everyone starts doing this...those minutes add up to hours pretty quickly. Lines get longer, we all get grouchier.

Suffice to say, I'm not too pleased with either Best Buy or Wal-Mart at this point.

RD

[quote name='Sartori'][quote name='epobirs'][quote name='Sartori']No credit cards? I'll have to check on this.

I wouldn't be too happy about that.[/quote]

I think from the description that this only applies to cards capable of both functions. I don't use any debit cards and I'd be extremely surprised if BB told me my TRU Visa was no longer welcome.

Debit cards incur less in the way of merchant fees, which is why they can be used in some situations where credit isn't supported at all.[/quote]

I understand the latter, but I can't imagine BB making that decision - it's illogical.[/quote]
 
[quote name='sociopharm02']they are not going to allow people to use their credit card/debit cards as credit cards any longer and that it will have to be used as a debit card.

[/quote]

Ummm they cant actually do that...they are tryin to skip out on fees they me be charged....but they cannot tell you you cant use a credit card thats backed by lets say VISA...if its a debit card......no way...a big F>U bitches would come from me!
 
[quote name='Sartori']Unless I'm mistaken, there isn't shit on that card that says I have to put .. well.. anything on it. As far as I'm concerned, I'm in the clear.[/quote]

Legality and courtesy are two entirely different things.
Sure, you could legally get one and put a penny on it... but it's a shifty roundabout way of getting the coupon, and OBVIOUSLY against the intent of the GGC and the coupon affixed to it.

Any reasonable person could see that it is an abusive use of the policy, and when enough people abuse a favorable policy for long enough, the policy gets changed.
 
[quote name='JSweeney'][quote name='Sartori']Unless I'm mistaken, there isn't shit on that card that says I have to put .. well.. anything on it. As far as I'm concerned, I'm in the clear.[/quote]

Legality and courtesy are two entirely different things.
Sure, you could legally get one and put a penny on it... but it's a shifty roundabout way of getting the coupon, and OBVIOUSLY against the intent of the GGC and the coupon affixed to it.

Any reasonable person could see that it is an abusive use of the policy, and when enough people abuse a favorable policy for long enough, the policy gets changed.[/quote]

Shifty? Abusive? If they'd like me to drop a minimum on the card - I'd gladly do so. But why waste time and effort when there's no need to?

Whether I buy the card and drop 15 dollars or a penny on it - the outcome is 100% the same. Get over it.
 
Wouldn't really surprise me, I use to love buying games at Best Buy, but that's not the case anymore. I personally have not seen very good sales there in a long time and my Best Buy's just don't seem to have the Best deals anymore. I normally find better prices and selections elsewhere.

But I really don't think Best Buy hates gamers. There are people who try to abuse deals all the time, and it's a smart idea to not let it happen.
 
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