Best Buy responds to Clark Howard defending devils

dwsscs

dwsscs

CAGiversary!
This is from Clark Howards (a syndicated consumer advocate) forums:

Link:
http://clarkhoward.com/p/boards/ch/...33&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&vc=1#Post449133

Best Buy's Response to Clark's article (Wall Street Journal) about discount shoppers being tagged devils:

Thank you for contacting Best Buy about the recent Wall Street Journal article mentioning Best Buy. I'm Suzanne with Customer Care.

We appreciate your concern about the article you read. Best Buy takes great pride in providing a fun and easy shopping experience for our customers, and we are continuing to look at promotional opportunities that deliver appropriate solutions for all our customers. Please be certain Best Buy does not discriminate against or segment our customers by race, ethnicity, gender or age. We have shared your comments with the management teams from the appropriate departments who will review the situation for improvement opportunities. Rest assured that Best Buy will continue to focus on satisfying our customers every chance we get.

Thank you for sharing your comments with Best Buy. Please don't hesitate to contact us with additional questions or concerns.



Best wishes from Best Buy,
Suzanne and the Customer Care Team
 
Q: Does Best Buy discriminate against customers who bargin shop?

A: "Best Buy does not discriminate against or segment our customers by race, ethnicity, gender or age."

Avoiding the question just like a politician. I hate marketing people.
 
[quote name='Dead of Knight']LMFAO. Exactly what you'd expect from Best Buy. They have the worst customer service of almost any store, online or B&M.[/quote]

It's sad when I'm explaining things about PC's and related items to other customers, since all they have is a puzzled look on their faces, which is the same look that the BB reps have. :D
 
I'm a bit confused.. how can they know who you are before you've purchased to treat your like crap just because you're a bargain shopper? I can see them treating you like crap after the sale.. but they have no idea who you are beforehand.. joe schmoe employee isn't going to know you from anyone else unless you live in the store..

I always thought BB treated everyone crappy equally :)
 
[quote name='Hodaka']I'm a bit confused.. how can they know who you are before you've purchased to treat your like crap just because you're a bargain shopper? I can see them treating you like crap after the sale.. but they have no idea who you are beforehand.. joe schmoe employee isn't going to know you from anyone else unless you live in the store..

I always thought BB treated everyone crappy equally :)[/quote]

The funniest thing happened to me when I was buying my laptop. The girl helping me was flirting with me really hardcore as I was picking out the laptop I wanted then she goes into her sales pitch of tring to sell me the service plan and accessories, still flirting it up. Then when I finally say all I want is the laptop she completely changes her attitude 100% and starts acting like a total bitch. I have a friend who now works as a printer rep in the store I bought my laptop at and he says she still does the same thing to other customers all the time.
 
so basically they look at what you're buying and how readily you accept anything they throw at you and if you bend over and take it all, they're nice to you.. otherwise you're a devil and get treated like shite.. :)
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue'][quote name='Hodaka']I'm a bit confused.. how can they know who you are before you've purchased to treat your like crap just because you're a bargain shopper? I can see them treating you like crap after the sale.. but they have no idea who you are beforehand.. joe schmoe employee isn't going to know you from anyone else unless you live in the store..

I always thought BB treated everyone crappy equally :)[/quote]

The funniest thing happened to me when I was buying my laptop. The girl helping me was flirting with me really hardcore as I was picking out the laptop I wanted then she goes into her sales pitch of tring to sell me the service plan and accessories, still flirting it up. Then when I finally say all I want is the laptop she completely changes her attitude 100% and starts acting like a total bitch. I have a friend who now works as a printer rep in the store I bought my laptop at and he says she still does the same thing to other customers all the time.[/quote]

Girls are evil. I bet she sells a LOT of service plans that way.
 
[quote name='wubb'][quote name='RedvsBlue'][quote name='Hodaka']I'm a bit confused.. how can they know who you are before you've purchased to treat your like crap just because you're a bargain shopper? I can see them treating you like crap after the sale.. but they have no idea who you are beforehand.. joe schmoe employee isn't going to know you from anyone else unless you live in the store..

I always thought BB treated everyone crappy equally :)[/quote]

The funniest thing happened to me when I was buying my laptop. The girl helping me was flirting with me really hardcore as I was picking out the laptop I wanted then she goes into her sales pitch of tring to sell me the service plan and accessories, still flirting it up. Then when I finally say all I want is the laptop she completely changes her attitude 100% and starts acting like a total bitch. I have a friend who now works as a printer rep in the store I bought my laptop at and he says she still does the same thing to other customers all the time.[/quote]

Girls are evil. I bet she sells a LOT of service plans that way.[/quote]

Hope she's at least good on the eyes. :lol:

And it might give a new meaning to the term SERVICE plan, depending on what she offers as an "add-on" for the SERVICE plan. :D
 
[quote name='Hodaka']I'm a bit confused.. how can they know who you are before you've purchased to treat your like crap just because you're a bargain shopper? I can see them treating you like crap after the sale.. but they have no idea who you are beforehand.. joe schmoe employee isn't going to know you from anyone else unless you live in the store..

I always thought BB treated everyone crappy equally :)[/quote]

They don't know your history when you come in the store. I am sure they could use some form of profiling (dress, attitude, carrying another store's salespaper LOL, etc.). Imagine if you were dressed in a polo shirt checking out plasma TVs , vs. young guys in a Tshirt at the video game section with a GGC in hand. Just an example don't get offended.

But as soon as they ring you up they know what your purchase history. They already tracked it by phone number, or credit card. Now they even have the reward zone card for us suckers who bought it (I did because I make a ton of computer parts purchases for work).

BB is just evil, LOL.
 
yeah BB is kinda lame. My dad wanted me to pick up a Nikon D70 (like a $1300 camara) for him.

So I go to BB and in the camra section there are 3 people helping a clueless couple with the cameras. There I am standing in the camra section and no one helps me. I have to go to the customer service desk and ask for someone to help me.

So some one arives and I tell him directly. I want one of those Nikon d70's, I don't ask any questions, just give me the damn camera. And I'm paying cash.

Boom they just made a $1300 sale and it took all of 5 minutes. I hope that guy who did end up helping me did get some type of commision or reward for making the big sale. I bet those other 3 morons ingnoring me are still trying to talk the couple into buying a $200 camera.

[quote name='Hodaka']I'm a bit confused.. how can they know who you are before you've purchased to treat your like crap just because you're a bargain shopper? I can see them treating you like crap after the sale.. but they have no idea who you are beforehand.. joe schmoe employee isn't going to know you from anyone else unless you live in the store..

I always thought BB treated everyone crappy equally :)[/quote]

They can't, but they can black list you when you try to return something. Or they can send special sale & promo invites to "angel" customers that the general public does not have access to .
 
[quote name='dwsscs'][quote name='Hodaka']I'm a bit confused.. how can they know who you are before you've purchased to treat your like crap just because you're a bargain shopper? I can see them treating you like crap after the sale.. but they have no idea who you are beforehand.. joe schmoe employee isn't going to know you from anyone else unless you live in the store..

I always thought BB treated everyone crappy equally :)[/quote]

They don't know your history when you come in the store. I am sure they could use some form of profiling (dress, attitude, carrying another store's salespaper LOL, etc.). Imagine if you were dressed in a polo shirt checking out plasma TVs , vs. young guys in a Tshirt at the video game section with a GGC in hand. Just an example don't get offended.

But as soon as they ring you up they know what your purchase history. They already tracked it by phone number, or credit card. Now they even have the reward zone card for us suckers who bought it (I did because I make a ton of computer parts purchases for work).

BB is just evil, LOL.[/quote]

Oh i didn't know they tracked your purchases by your phone number.
I've always just given bogus phone numbers but i only use 2 different numbers.

when u tell them your number does your history just pop up on the screen?
 
The only way BB statement would make sense is if they were talking about real devils - those little red dudes with horns and pointy tails who like to carry pitchforks and live in hell.
 
Best Buy just made the Gamers Gift card work for only $29.99 or up games now.

So Shaq-Fu them even more! Bastads!
 
If you look in my picture gallery (since my original post isn't anywhere to be found, it seems), you can see pics of the "normal" 2005 GGC, $5 off $19.99 or more, as well as the EA, PS2 and XBox $5 off $29.99 GGC's.

Your store might have 'em, and your store might not, depending on what they've done. In the stores around my area, the $5 off $29.99 cards are in the games area and those, plus the $5 off $19.99 cards are up by the cashiers, on a large double-sided floor stand.
 
last time i was in best buy was on black friday, the regmonkey was trying to sell me some "free" mags or some shit and was offering candy bars and soda pop if i got the free mags. I told him i dont eat that junk and said if it was bottled water or gatorade i probably would have got the "free" mags and cancelled as soon as i got home.

i like best buy, but just dont take them seriously, i dont have too many asshole customer service reps, maybe bc i am in CA and no one gives a fuck, everyone hates their job too much to be an ass to be for being a devil customer?
 
[quote name='alongx']Who the hell is Clark Howard?[/quote]

He is a syndicated radio talk show host, newspaper columnist, etc. His whole focus is about helping consumers (save $, ID theft issues, no customer service, legal and tax issues, basically anything involving $). He is really an consumer advocate, who has a volunteer help center.

http://clarkhoward.com/ if you want more info.

Its really a great information site about all kinds of financial issues.
 
[quote name='dracula']last time i was in best buy was on black friday, the regmonkey was trying to sell me some "free" mags or some shit and was offering candy bars and soda pop if i got the free mags. I told him i dont eat that junk and said if it was bottled water or gatorade i probably would have got the "free" mags and cancelled as soon as i got home.

i like best buy, but just dont take them seriously, i dont have too many asshole customer service reps, maybe bc i am in CA and no one gives a shaq-fu, everyone hates their job too much to be an ass to be for being a devil customer?[/quote]

I love how they were trained to only tell you those mags are free, but right before you sign on the pad to pay for what you bought, the fine prints appear on the screen saying you agree to subscribe X issues of that mag as part of the purchase. I promptly told them to cancel the purchase and startover without the magazine BS.
 
I've decided to quit using credit/debit cards at BB now so they won't be able to track me and label me a devil customer. Cash only and decline to give a phone #. Track that BB bitches!
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue'][quote name='Hodaka']I'm a bit confused.. how can they know who you are before you've purchased to treat your like crap just because you're a bargain shopper? I can see them treating you like crap after the sale.. but they have no idea who you are beforehand.. joe schmoe employee isn't going to know you from anyone else unless you live in the store..

I always thought BB treated everyone crappy equally :)[/quote]

The funniest thing happened to me when I was buying my laptop. The girl helping me was flirting with me really hardcore as I was picking out the laptop I wanted then she goes into her sales pitch of tring to sell me the service plan and accessories, still flirting it up. Then when I finally say all I want is the laptop she completely changes her attitude 100% and starts acting like a total bitch. I have a friend who now works as a printer rep in the store I bought my laptop at and he says she still does the same thing to other customers all the time.[/quote]

I wold have asked her out first. he he he. Then gone out tried to bang her, and if I did, I would have said nah, I dont wnat the service plan after all.
 
[quote name='bignick']I wold have asked her out first. he he he. Then gone out tried to bang her, and if I did, I would have said nah, I dont wnat the service plan after all.[/quote]

:lol: :D :bouncy:
 
I got lucky the last time I was at a Best Buy. I was there to buy a CD, and I figured I'd put $5 on a GGC while I was at it. So when I bring up the GGC and ask the cashier girl to put $5 on it, she kinda looks at me funny.

Girl: "You're putting five dollars on it?"

Me: "Yeah."

[pause]

Girl: "You just getting it for the coupon?"

Me: "Yup! It's a good deal!"

[pause, she kinda looks around]

Girl: "Look, next time, don't even bother putting any money on it. Just bring up the game with the card and I'll take the $5 off. No sense going through all that, ya know?"

Me: "Awesome, thanks!"

So I got a BB hookup now!


Oh and the best cashier I ever got was at GameStop. Cute chick who'd always talk to me about Dreamcast games. None of that service plan bullshit either... she'd flirt and everything, but then she'd give me free stuff and recommend other stores to me.

I did get her number but she kinda turned out to be a flake in the end... but I'll always have my free Mario 3 cartridge!
 
[quote name='trustcompany1013']my only question on the situation is....if you don't want us to buy sale/discounted items...why do you put them on sale or discount them?[/quote]

The best thing about it, is they offer all these small time deals...or limited number of cheap product savings... to trick the consumer into coming into the store. And ripping them on other marked up items + service plans, then it totally backfires, and they not just get upset about it, but want to totally loose those buyers.
 
[quote name='trustcompany1013']my only question on the situation is....if you don't want us to buy sale/discounted items...why do you put them on sale or discount them?[/quote]

Well if we would all just by things full price the day it comes out then they wouldn't have to have sales now would they?
 
I have a story from BB.

It was during BF. After I (well, my brother and his friend) stood in line for an hour, we went to check out. The guy suggested a service plan for the mp3 player I got on sale. He just mentioned about it then put it on while I was thinking. I saw what he did and thought to myself "forget that" and told him to take it off. He seemed pretty pissed. Psh, trying to be slick and all.
 
[quote name='trustcompany1013']my only question on the situation is....if you don't want us to buy sale/discounted items...why do you put them on sale or discount them?[/quote]

Its simple When BB offers Kingdom Hearts: COM for $24.99, they are offering it as a loss leader. meaning that they are willing to cut back their margins or even take a slight loss in order to get people into their store or web-site. BB assumes that once you are in to shop you'll buy more than just the loss leader.

Of course BB is saying that loss-leaders will be a thing of the past and they are only going to focus on their most profitable customers, which they have dubbed angels.

Just because they dont like a certain type of buyer (read: devil) it does not mean that "devils" wont be able to get their items of preference (in our case video games) at a cheaper price. It just means that devils will have to wait until BB gets some type of trade or sales promotion, or until BB decides to liquidate any unsold inventory.

Thats why I just bought Advance wars 2 and KH: COM for 35.00
 
[quote name='Hodaka']I'm a bit confused.. how can they know who you are before you've purchased to treat your like crap just because you're a bargain shopper? I can see them treating you like crap after the sale.. but they have no idea who you are beforehand.. joe schmoe employee isn't going to know you from anyone else unless you live in the store..

I always thought BB treated everyone crappy equally :)[/quote]

Yeah they do treat most people like shit, but BB is attempting to distinguish their "angels" from "devils" through data obtained once a purchase has occured. They are going to keep track of purchasing habits in certain Zip Codes, and what you bought if your signed up with their reward programs. Using these bits of info (as well as other which i'm sure i neglected to mention) BB will determine what type of customer you are. Once thats done BB will decide if you are worthy of their mailed coupons.
 
[quote name='Nirvanaguy777'][quote name='screwkick']sCREW bEST bUY[/quote]

Indeed, id love to shaq-fu a gigantic edifice[/quote]

:rofl:

Thanks man. I was studying for finals in the library and couldn't suppress laughing out loud.
 
They definitely get you on the extras like cables, memory cards, cds, etc.

USB cables are $25 to $40 for a basic cable. Same cables at WalMart $9 to $16
 
[quote name='basketkase543'][quote name='Nirvanaguy777'][quote name='screwkick']sCREW bEST bUY[/quote]

Indeed, id love to shaq-fu a gigantic edifice[/quote]

:rofl:

Thanks man. I was studying for finals in the library and couldn't suppress laughing out loud.[/quote]
Why were you at CAG?
 
[quote name='rebenns']The only way BB statement would make sense is if they were talking about real devils - those little red dudes with horns and pointy tails who like to carry pitchforks and live in hell.[/quote]

The Devil :evil: at one time was the most beautiful angel God created. After his fall the Devil did not change his look. The Devil is still the most beautiful angel :D that God created. If BB wants to brand their customers as Devils and Angels, then do what the Devil does. Deceive :wink: BB. Just food for thought! :idea: Btw, I do not do anything that is immoral or unethical, but I do take full advantage of any sales that BB promotes or otherwise!
 
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