I used to be a lead of operations at the local Best Buy and have had enough of misleading consumers. When I was employed there I had my job threaten numerous times unless I did the following... Here is a list of things to watch out for...
1) If you apply for a Best Buy Credit Card... DO NOT sign anything else on that application except the applicant line. Best Buy has numbers to attain and what makes operations rank high among other Best Buy stores is getting people to sign up for an additional Master card and Account shield.
In order to get this precentage high we were told to lie and misadvise customers that they had to sign those lines, they would get a free $20 gift card, or it was a free trial to get account shield. One male manager even told me to wear low cut shirts and accidentally drop my pen around the men.
2) PSP/PRP (warranty)- There is over a 60% markup on these plans which mean great margins for the store. Leading the customer Service department, I was told to refuse the return of any of these plans. The store will take such a big loss we would find every excuse and then tell the consumer they had to call a 1800 number in order to receive a refund.
In regards to servicing the component, the way you are being dooped is that the "same" problem has to go wrong 3 times in order to receive a new one. The chances are slim, so if 14 things go wrong they will keep sending it to service. This process in itself is a bunch of garbage. Here is wisconsin they send it to Chicago so It should never take as long as it does.
Also if you do have a warranty make sure you keep your receipt. This is the last way you get screwed. If something is not being made anymore, you need to exchange it and don't have a receipt, you will get screwed out of the dollar amount you originally paid for the item. You will pay the difference for the new item, and we will use the lowest amount that item cost for the credit you receive on a new one.
3) Accessory Add On - Here again is another high margin profit for the company. Especially computers, digital and video. Sales associates will tell the consumer that you will need certain video cords or computer adaptors in order to add onto the sale. Eventually, you will realize that you did not need half of what they sold you and will have to make another trip to return the items. Be Aware
4) Road Runner - when I took applications for the Best Buy Card, you needed to possess a major credit card to apply. When I was verifying this, the store manager Rob S., told me that I had to write down the whole entire credit card number as well as the security code on the signature line. I asked for what reason.
He told me to sign them up for road runner. The company received a kick back for every sign up they had so he needed to get more. I questioned what he asked me to do, I said isn't this illegal? He told me not really, because they weren't charged automatically, what would happen is a representative from road runner would call and verify that they wanted the service before charging. I still said that taking the credit card info and verification number was illegal. He told me that my job depended on it.
5) Best Buy Rhapsody - we say its free and all you have to do is cancel. There is no way to cancel this easily you have to jump through hoops. I have had many complaints about this one.
6) Free Magazines - nothing comes for free. This is another factor stores get rated on for ranking. We say it's free but you will get charged on your card if you don't cancel. We say we need you to swipe your card in order to verify you are over 18 and nothing will be charged. We lie. A store manager at the time who was a sales crazed man - signed me up with out my knowledge and eventually i seen these charges - the new store manager settled quietly with me and gave me a gift certificate for the amount that was taken from my account.
7) rewards zone - this is an okay program but here is what is frustrating to the consumer. Lets say you purchase an item that comes to $34.53. You have $35.00 worth or reward zone certificates. You cannot use all of this to make this item free. You would only be able to use $30.00 depending on what denomination your certificates are. You will always have to pay a difference when redeeming your reward.
8) Returns - this is another component Best Buy is Ranked on. They will try to find every single reason not to honor a return so read your receipt carefully and make sure you have all of you original packing or you are charged a restocking fee.
This is a number driven company who will say and do anything to get their rank up. They disguise their predators as customer service specialists, but they think only of company profit. They mistreat their employees if they do not play by their rules. Its upper management who is behind this evil game not the associates. There is so much more I could fill you in about and the lawsuits they settle quietly. I have been victimized by Best Buy, but they will never take my integrity.
Kristina
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
U.S.A.
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