Bestbuy Coupon Fiasco

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CloakBass

CloakBass

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Me and my brother were at Bestbuy(Panama City, FL) today, hoping to take advantage of the "$10 off any videogame $29.99 and up" coupon(all the fuss on CAG these days) before it expired on Wednesday. We searched for a good while and finally, we decided to get Pokemon Emerald with the coupon. We brought it up to the front counter, had the cashier scan the game and then attempt to scan the coupon(it had been printed off of CAG). I'm guessing since it was a printout, and rolling around in my wallet for about a month, it wouldn't scan properly so he put in the code manually(something we had to do when we purchased Animal Crossing and Mario Kart DS on seperate occasions). My brother payed with rolled up coins and cash. The cashier stared at the coins for a second and then said, "I'll be right back.".

We waited a moment and then the cashier came back with two other workers(one of them was probably the manager). One of them(likely the manager) looked at us and said, "You know what this is? This is an illegal copy of a coupon. This is fraud. We could take you to jail for this. Now I suggest you leave before we call the cops. Next time you guys try this, we will take you to jail." I was shocked, angry and embarassed. However, I just gathered my money and walked out without saying anything. While we were collecting our money, the manager ripped the coupon in our faces and the cashier angrily threw the game against a bin on the wall. I'm quite bewildered and angry at the moment, there was no good reason for Best Buy to act the way they did and treating us like criminals. Doubly so since I know Best Buy themselves hands out photocopied coupons from time to time. Hmm... I wonder if using ones of those coupons is considered fraud. I've also never had one of these coupons rejected before and have never been treated so badly. I can't shake the fact that the only reason the cashier did this was because he was too lazy to do his job and accept the coins.
 
Few things feel better than screwing Best Buy by using a ton of these coupons. I think the manager took things way too far though since I'm assuming you were just using the standard coupon and not the one that said "no copies." Well, the only thing to do is try another BB then...
 
I thought it was illegal to not except US currency rolled or un rolled. Could be wrong but oh well

/edit NM that only applies to federal organizations not private business
 
Same thing kind of happened to me... it amazes me that so many BB managers are on some kind of power trip. Why can't they just say "I'm sorry, we can't accept your coupon" without all the drama?
 
[quote name='Roufuss']Same thing kind of happened to me... it amazes me that so many BB managers are on some kind of power trip. Why can't they just say "I'm sorry, we can't accept your coupon" without all the drama?[/QUOTE]

Amen, brutha. Would it kill him just to not accept the coupon nicely?
 
LOL,sorry it didn't work. But really it said no copies on the paper and in reallity it was fraud so just forget it never happened. I don't know why people thought it was ok to do this but look down on other things like walmart returns. On a side not I used a legit 10 off at BB today and they held it up in the air and rubber the paper and the whole 10 yards to make sure it was legit.
 
Heh, though I probably would have reacted the same way (it's kinda hard to retaliate against such unexpected aggression) I'd like to think I could get an explanation of why it was illegal. And then as soon as they pointed out "no copies", direct them to their own website, and bring up one of the downloadable coupons that say to print them out, and also say "no copies."
 
[quote name='botticus']Heh, though I probably would have reacted the same way (it's kinda hard to retaliate against such unexpected aggression) I'd like to think I could get an explanation of why it was illegal. And then as soon as they pointed out "no copies", direct them to their own website, and bring up one of the downloadable coupons that say to print them out, and also say "no copies."[/QUOTE]

Sounds like they messed up on the no copies on that. Ditto on a plasma I bought today at CC. CC had 10% off and then I had a coupon for 10% off as well but CC said they couldnt take it because it said not to be applied to all offers,I told them what was all offers? I then took them to their website where I bought the TV with the coupon and the extra 10% for a total of 20% off. Laughed in their faces.
 
This is exactly why I do not participate in such acts, too risky. Plus, I can get really arrogant when people pull stuff like that on me, so I probably would have caused a scene and asked them to please call the police.
 
The fact that is says Bestbuy.com on the coupon should clue anyone that they could print as many as they want. They just can't photocopy their printout and attempt to use it or they will go to J-A-I-L. ;)

(Yes, I know, the coupon was given out in-store only, but it's just stupid for them to put bestbuy.com on the coupon, which implies you could print it out from their site or from a Bestbuy.com email, making the "No Copies" thing moot.)
 
[quote name='Michaellvortega']Next time yell "It's because Im black right!?" works for me every time...........[/QUOTE]

Well, I am "brown"(AKA IndoPak), and I suspected they may have decided to pick on us because we were teenagers and/or had facial hair, but saying such a thing seems like it would have just made the situation worse.
 
[quote name='Ikohn4ever']u should have told him it wasnt a copy it was a print out and next time dont be so rude.[/QUOTE]

If you reread, it was the manager who ripped up the coupon and the employee who threw the game.

[quote name='op']
However, I just gathered my money and walked out without saying anything. While we were collecting our money, the manager ripped the coupon in our faces and the cashier angrily threw the game against a bin on the wall.[/quote]
 
[quote name='Kuros']If you reread, it was the manager who ripped up the coupon and the employee who threw the game.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like emothional distress caused by Bestbuy,where's that lawyer guy?
I think we have a case............
 
i feel for ya OP, but this one thing bothers me the most...why oh why bring attention to yourself by paying with rolled up coins?:roll: ...i mean, why? i just dont get that part of this story, it sounds like if you did not have the rolls then you would have been homefree...
 
[quote name='Jedi1979']i feel for ya OP, but this one thing bothers me the most...why oh why bring attention to yourself by paying with rolled up coins?:roll: ...i mean, why? i just dont get that part of this story, it sounds like if you did not have the rolls then you would have been homefree...[/QUOTE]

That's all we had on us at the time, we weren't expecting them to overreact so strongly.
 
If I remember correctly, the coupon said 'no copies' right?

If that's the case, you should've played innocent and said you found the coupon online and didn't think it mattered because it was printed out and not 'copied'.

BB is total sh*t when it comes to their managers. I used to love BB but now they're full of uptight fucks.
 
I worked for BB for 1 week. A saturday morning I showed up for a staff meeting to which I was told all new people were to get on the return counter and dance to"hey now im a allstar" by smash mouth. I refused and was told I was going to be fired if I did not dance, I took off my shirt and threw it at the manager and said fuck you I QUIT! On top of this BEFORE I got hired I was told that I failed a drug test(I wont even take asprin so I know this was wrong)so I went to the testing center and got a copy of my test and took it to the BB district manager to show that In reality had passed the drug test. There has been a sour taste in my mouth from BB ever since. Now Im a devil customer that will screw BB every chance I get.
 
[quote name='Vinny']If I remember correctly, the coupon said 'no copies' right?

If that's the case, you should've played innocent and said you found the coupon online and didn't think it mattered because it was printed out and not 'copied'.
[/QUOTE]
Take that a step further and say that you got it in a BB email.
 
I would say they cannot throw you in jail for this and I would Try another store and see if it works. I mean they would have to go way out of their way over a $10 coupon to nail anyone and they certainly wont throw you in the clank over it.......thats an easy sue job if they ever did based on their own coupon practices already mentioned on here
 
I feel for ya OP. I myself am glad that in all the times that I have done the coupon (probably some 15-25) that I never was caught or asked. Really, all us CAG's should be grateful that the coupon came around the holiday season where BB had so many part time employees, returns, etc. I nearly managed to use this coupon at a different register/employee every time I went and the manager signed off on it many times. At one point or another I was almost there a few times a week or at different BBs a week. Great coupon that will sorely sorely be missed.
 
I ojnly used it once on FFIV, but it worked without a problem. OP, sorry aobut your troubles. I'm not sure what I would've done in that situation. I'd like to think I'd have some sly comeback, but probably not.
 
OP, if it makes you feel any better, this coupon has ended up costing BB thousands of dollars, if not tens of thousands.

We still hurt them overall. ;)
 
[quote name='billyknoxville']OP, if it makes you feel any better, this coupon has ended up costing BB thousands of dollars, if not tens of thousands.

We still hurt them overall. ;)[/QUOTE]

Not necessarily... for every CAGer that successfully used the coupon per time, there were probably two people who actually purchased full priced games. BB still made their money and we were just there to take the profits down a bit. I'm guessing BB broke even on every game sold with the $10 off and really, we wouldn't have been there had it not been for the coupon.

With that out of the way, I only got the real copy to work for MKDS. I didn't really do all that well... the TRU sale made up for it though.:D
 
[quote name='Michaellvortega'] A saturday morning I showed up for a staff meeting to which I was told all new people were to get on the return counter and dance to"hey now im a allstar" by smash mouth. [/QUOTE]


Come on ... at least one other person had to get a kick out of the image of a bunch of Best Buy employees being made to dance on the counter.

Should have sued him for sexual harrassment for making you get on the counter and shake your ass. :lol:
 
If any shitty BB manager did that to me I would say, "Call the cops then, what are you, gonna bust someone for trying to save $10? Your really proud of your career...a Best Buy manager."

Unless you are trying to run out of the store with merch they pretty much can't hold you for anything, I believe it's called False Imprisonment, and you can get mad $$$ for it too!
 
for starters call ur local tv stations ur news programs do storys on shit like this maybe one will bite.

Then you call customer service and talk heavily about hiring a lawyer you should get a big giftcard for your troubles.

What they did to you is wrong if you were a middle aged woman it would not have hapend that way you shouldve thrown a fit infront of all there customers and demanded an apology .

For downloading a coupon on the net your gonna get arested? hahahhahhahhaa you must go back with a nother coupon this time let him pull that shit again and stand there all smug and say 'alright call the cops then' and wait.

The cops will not like that there time was wasted theres no way u would ever get prosecuted for using a coupon unless you like have used hundreds.

Best buy is fucking horrible as always.
 
Get a female friend to call BB and politely ask for the district manager's phone number- she can say she either needs to complain about an employee, or praise one if you think'll work better.

When you get it, inform the district manager that you were threatened by the manager of said store for using a coupon- after the employee cleared said coupon, and was only checking on your rolled coin payment. Don't yell, but make it quite clear that you are disgusted and now feel 'unsafe' in a BB store, and hope some action be taken- and perhaps say you're considering filing a police report for harassment. (Only if you would, though.)
 
I have said it before and I will post it again. My wife worked at best buy and was quickly promoted to a team leader in less than 4 months. During that time she was literally trained to be rude.

She came home one day and told me that if she wsa called to the service desk and a customer reaised their voice or became rude at all to call security and escort them out. Even if they were right. She said that the management told her and the other trainees that the customer has no where else to go for electronics and they will be back regardless of how they are treated.

The pay was actually pretty good, the discounts where awesome and the potential bonuses were nice. She eventually left as she didnt like the attitudes of management in the buidling and their arrogance.
 
[quote name='Odenat']I thought it was illegal to not except US currency rolled or un rolled. Could be wrong but oh well

/edit NM that only applies to federal organizations not private business[/QUOTE]

It is illegal. Money is a legal tender. They have to accept it. You could roll up and pay for something with 1000 pennies and they HAVE to accept it. Not sure what the penalty is if they don't but it is illegal.

In response to your edit (didn't read it the first time), I thought they only can reject is credit cards and personal checks.
 
Wow, i am gonna be more careful now. I have been going to my local best buy since they opened 7 years ago and if anyone did that to me i would have gotten there ass fired then arrested. I'm still gonna be careful.
 
A saturday morning I showed up for a staff meeting to which I was told all new people were to get on the return counter and dance to"hey now im a allstar" by smash mouth.
Click to expand...

That is messed up.

Seriously all, the OP tried to pull one over on the store and knew it. We all know that at best the coupon was not to be copied and at worst was the altered version. He got busted and they tried to put a scare in him. Big deal, seems like they are even. No need to get be giving advice on how to get someone fired.
 
[quote name='schuerm26']It is illegal. Money is a legal tender. They have to accept it. You could roll up and pay for something with 1000 pennies and they HAVE to accept it. Not sure what the penalty is if they don't but it is illegal.

In response to your edit (didn't read it the first time), I thought they only can reject is credit cards and personal checks.[/QUOTE]There's a law that says you don't have to accept pennies if they try to pay with more than 100 of them.

EDIT: apparently that's only an urban legend
 
[quote name='schuerm26']It is illegal. Money is a legal tender. They have to accept it. You could roll up and pay for something with 1000 pennies and they HAVE to accept it. Not sure what the penalty is if they don't but it is illegal.

In response to your edit (didn't read it the first time), I thought they only can reject is credit cards and personal checks.[/QUOTE]

Taken from http://www.treas.gov/education/faq/currency/legal-tender.shtml:

[quote name='US Department of Treasury']
Q: I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?

A: The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.[/quote]

So it isn't illegal at all and therefore they could refuse rolls of coins. I have before. These two kids tried to pay with rolls of pennies for a $40 game. That's 80 rolls of pennies. No way were we gonna take them, we don't have the room to store 80 rolls of pennies. Of course they tried the same argument that you just said, but it isn't true.
 
First of all, they don't have to accept anything. Any company has the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason. You'll see signs at stores that say nothing bigger than a 20 dollar bill will be accepted. So all this talk about it's illegal to not accept any type of money has to go bye bye.

Second of all, maybe this Best Buy manager has a stack of coupons that his cashiers have been accepting. He's probably on the way to the unemployment line, so he decided to take out his rage on you. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. There are probably a few managers that have lost enough profits from these coupons to put their jobs in jeopardy.

Third and last of all, I think we milked the cow dry. Did we expect that Best Buy would continue to let us print out money? We took a good thing and killed it. The first time I used a coupon, it was no problem. The second time, a manager had to come over and approve it. And the last time, I had to sign an additional piece of paper(with a fake name of course), give a DNA sample, take a 20 question pop quiz, and do the Macarena. All this and I got five bucks off of GTA: SA.
 
stores do not have to take excessive amounts of coins for purchases, rolled or loose. Stores have the right to refuse any sale...
 
[quote name='Roufuss']Same thing kind of happened to me... it amazes me that so many BB managers are on some kind of power trip. Why can't they just say "I'm sorry, we can't accept your coupon" without all the drama?[/QUOTE]

Power trip? God complex is more like it. Back when I price matched everything by going to Best Buy, I went to Customer Service like they always told me to do, and asked to price match from a store. First she said they couldn't do it because it wasn't a non-online store, it was, right down the street, so I asked to talk to the manager. He came over and I asked him about it and he said he didn't want employees "wasting" their time for a price match for me when they could be doing other work. I said I thought this was Customer Service, or is it disservice now? I don't go to that one anymore. But none do price matches without ads anymore either, it sucks, it just means I shop there less.
 
Eh, by the next time you go into that store, they will probally have a whole new staff. Turnover in that place is huge. You should have called the manager fat and ugly. That always works for me.
 
[quote name='Demontooth']Almost everytime I used this coupon the cashier threw it in the trash after he/she scanned it.[/QUOTE]

Not at my Best Buys. They marked them and then put them in a special stack for coupons. I guess CAGs, FatWalleteers, GameFAQers, etc. have hit them up hard and they started keeping better track of the coupons.
 
[quote name='Demontooth']Almost everytime I used this coupon the cashier threw it in the trash after he/she scanned it.[/QUOTE]

you know what now that i think about it, last night me and my wife used one each and he scanned them and threw them in what looked like trash, a big clear plastic bag...kind of weird though cause shouldnt they need it later on for their records or whatever
 
You have to be creative. I used three of them. I printed them out in color and cut them to exact shape as the original. Then I put staples marks in the sides of them. No BB employee even gave them a second look.

IF you are going to BE A CAG play it smart!
 
for the amount of time it takes to do all that, i can go to work and make more money than i saved, but that's a damn good idea and very creative
 
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