I happened to be out and about at a mall in maryland today and decided to stop in best buy and look at a few things, I decided to ask about a very inexpensive desktop and was shown by a very nice person "floor manager i was told" a few floor models at 50% off"
I liked the models and such and decided to call my Mother and offer to pay half the amount off the already 50% off the floor model. I got voicemail and decided to wait, during this time I asked about laptops that would be inexpensive "cheapest one they had there".
I was taken and shown the compaq 410 that had instant 150.00 off the price. After a few hours passed I returned and was on the phone with my Mother and she decided on the laptop so I asked to get one. I was informed we don't have anymore. "yet I had been shown this exact one and told about the price" so I stated that the floor model is fine" then I was informed that It can't be sold "they don't sell them". I reminded this new sales person that I had been shown 3 other models, one desktop and 2 other laptops. He informed me, well this one is still being shipped so we can't sell it. So what do I do as a consumer, ask for the rain check of course because the sale ends tomorrow. Again informed that they don't give rainchecks on the sale item.
At this point I am a little upset at the fact He is not telling me the full truth and not being very polite about this either. I asked for his manager, as he walks off he informs me he won't be able to help me.
With this Jim returns. I in a calm but very forward way told him they need to either sell the display or provide a rain check. At this point it really goes south, with a smirk smile and attitude he tells me no rain check and they won't sell the floor model, and that it is COMPANY POLICY NOT TO and MARYLAND LAW. Seeing his face and attitude "sorry 15 years in sales and management I have seen that face to many times" I ask for his managers name and the district name, he gives me HIS card and writes down the managers name "very messy to read"!!
Then I told him I wanted the District managers name and number, he told me he would not give this to me. I quickly replied to this man, Oh yes you will, What is his reply??? QUOTE "OR WHAT WILL YOU BEAT ME UP".
At this point I am totally blown away and nerve racked at just how rude this man had gotten just then. I told him no that I would take this up with the state and upper management first thing tomorrow 9/02/06.
After getting back to the hotel I looked up Maryland Law here is a passage out of this law.
1) a false or misleading oral or written statement, visual description, or other representation which has the capacity, tendency or effect of deceiving consumers;
Advertisement or offer of consumer realty without intent to lease, rent, or sell as advertised or offered, or with the intention of not supplying the reasonably expected demand, unless the offer indicates a limited supply
Not a limited supply either, BUT SOLD OUT at bestbuy.com and you are referred to goto the STORE.
I was informed that the AD said NO RAIN CHECKS, now I have yet to see or open a paper to read this ad, I was shown the model on the floor as a walk in customer and the AD THERE on the floor with the model said no such thing.
This is indeed fraud on there part and very very rude behavior on there part about this.
I did call there store back and record myself asking an employee the company policy on rain checks and sales and was informed YES WE DO GIVE THEM.
This is now one company I will avoid buying from EVER in the future and I will push to let everyone and anyone I know just how they treat the consumer.
I hope there is a legal resource for this as I plan to contact attorney's, file a complaint at the city level and contact as many upper management as I can within best buy.
Sad to as I had plan to buy not only the laptop but several other things that were as valuable as the laptop but of a higher STORE PROFIT MARGIN lol.
I hope this story has not only SHOCKED YOU at there behavior but the blatant lie told about law.
Link to model in question "compaq presario 410"
Http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage. Jsp? SkuId=7887584&st=compaq&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1149205181992
Laura
dallas, Texas
U.S.A.
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