I should have read usacomplaints.com on Best Buy before ordering.
On June 18, I ordered a Microtek scanner for my Windows XP computer. The item was shipped USP ground on June 18 and arrived some three days later. I unpacked the scanner and hooked it up by carefully following the instructions. It worked once. Then, nothing. I checked the connections, especially the USB at the back of the CPU. Nothing. I changed to a different USB port (there are four at the back) and again it worked once only. I kept doing this until I ran out of USB ports. I called Microtek customer support and was informed that I needed a patch to match the Intel USB controller. The patch came by e-mail, but the instructions did not match the menu words on my computer to find the Intel controller number.
Finally, last Wednesday I hired a local tech (this guy builds computers and really knows his stuff). After two solid hours of working with the patch and my computer, he threw up his hands and said there is no way this scanner will work on my machine. The instructions in the patch sent him on a wild goose chase through the Intel website. Microtek shipped a machine without making sure it would work with Windows XP. Since I do have a life beyond Best Buy and Microtek, I did not spend every waking hour working on this machine. I took time to track down the possible solutions.
I pull out the shipping label and looked at the return info. They have two deadlines — 14 days and 30 days depending. Since I had a item that was not compatable and since it took me a long time to try to remedy the problem, I was sure that Best Buy would accept the return and refund my money because I was still within the 30 day return deadline.
Surprise, surprise, surprise! No way, Al. Our policy states that computers, etc. Are under the 14 day deadline. Tough toenails. You are out over $100.00 and have a worthless piece of junk to boot. Lucky me. I have since received two e-mails from Best Buy confirming that and "please be sure to shop at Best Buy again." Yeah, right — when pigs fly.
Currently I am waiting for a final judgment from some appeal committee at Best Buy but I don't have my hopes up. If necessasry, I will go to war over Best Buy. Second, the most valuable lesson I have learned is to NEVER again buy any equipment over the Internet. I shall go to a retail store and look the salesman right in the eye and ask sharp questions up front and demand a signed written record of our conversation.
It is time to go to war. E-mails, snail mails and perhaps going to small claims court here. Heh, I would love to see some exec travel to Oregon to appear in small claims court. Yeah, it is going to cost me some money, but it think that it will be worth it. I have been ripped off by some stupid return policy and I am not going to just bend over and smile. I have never seen a company refuse to accept returned merchandise that was not compatable and sent back within 30 days — that is just standard practice, period. Best Buy may have my $100.00, but that it is the last penny they will ever get from me. Since they will have to respond to my mailings, secretarial time alone will eat up any profits they expect.
Al
Portland, Oregon
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