Best Buy engages in incredibly deceptive business practices:
I purchased a Panasonic Lumix model ZS5 in mid. The Tacoma Store cashier urged me to purchase the extended warranty for more $. Although I was reluctant to do so, the salesman persuaded me to buy it on the strength of his representation that unlike the mere manufacturer's warranty (only 1-year) the longer extended warranty wouldn't involve having a long wait for a 'repair'. He represented that if anything went wrong during the extended warranty period, the store would simply replace/swap the defective item.
Now, 2 years later, I called the Olympia store (talked to 'Nicole', mgr, who would NOT provide her last name, nor would any others I spoke with in half a dozen phone calls to Best Buy except for 'Leeland Leone' @ their Olympia Store) and was told Best Buy couldn't guarantee whether they would repair or replace. When I protested this was at odds with what I'd been told when purchasing the extended warranty, I was told Best Buy altered the terms of these warranties when it chose. I reminded the employee that such a move was a breech of contract and a deceptive business practice (bait & switch, fraud, and effectively theft).
Not only did all but one (Leeland) Best Buy employee insist on remaining anonymous (1st name only) but despite the fact Best Buy records phone calls, each hung up when informed I would do the same. Finally, Leeland offered to SELL me a 3rd party battery charger to replace the defective one at a 'discount'—i.E. $20 instead of the normal $40 @ Best Buy. A quick check of Amazon.com revealed the same 3rd party charger sold there for $26. Mr. Leone also argued that although the charger was part of the Lumix ZS5 retail box purchase, it was an 'accessory', hence was NOT covered under Best Buy's deceptive extended warranty. I responded by pointing out it was a well settled point of law in such instances (insurance polices, contracts of adhension, etc.) that unless the SIGNED contract/agreement/policy specifically EXCLUDED the item/condition (e.G.in a home owner policy, unless 'floods' or 'earthquakes' are specifically excluded in the language, not merely omitted, they are construed, in law, to be INCLUDED!) that any ambiguities or omissions were interpreted in favor of the consumer, not the party drafting the contract of adhesion.
Bottom line:
1) Best Buy employees won't adequately identify themselves to be held accountable for their representations.
2) Best Buy employees either lie about what a consumer will receive in the way of service with an extended warranty, or claim (when relied upon) such commitments (replace instead of send off for repairs requiring a waiting period that wasn't agreed to/bargained for) or that the company alters the terms of the warranty without the consent/knowledge of the purchaser.
3) Best Buy records incoming calls but quails at the prospect of the caller doing so.
This consumer intends to launch an investigation of Best Buy's deceptive business practices and publish the results including any audio recordings of the same. This company is DIRTY! Readers are invited to go to: http://www.amicuscuria.com/wordpress to read updates into this big box con job and ripoff of consumers by searching for 'best buy' when you get to the site, Mason County Blog
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