Thursday, June 5, 2008

BEST BUY RETURN POLICY

Received by Email - we report, you decide
AntiMullah has not experienced this but.....

Maybe it's not the "best" buy...--- On Wed, 6/4/08,

From: the Emailer

Folks, this is absolutely true¦ Therefore, I'm passing this on to you for your information - just so you know and can make your own determination. Also, keep in mind that more and more stores are adapting the same policy so be sure to check before you purchase. I will not deal or shop in any of those stores.

Best Buy has some bad policies.... If you purchase something from, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, JC Penny, Sears etc. and you return the item with the receipt, they will give you your money back if you paid cash, or credit your account if paid by plastic.

Well, I purchased a GPS for my car, a Tom Tom XL.S from 'Best Buy'. They have a policy that it must be returned within 14 days for a refund! So, after 4 days I returned it in the original box with all the items in the box, with paper work and cords all wrapped in the plastic - just as I received it, including the receipt.

I explained to the lady at the return desk I did not like the way it could not find store names.

The lady at the refund desk said, there is a 15% restock fee, for items returned.

I said no one told me that. I said how much would that be.

She said it goes by the price of the item. It will be $45.00 Dollars for you.

I said, all your going to do is walk over and place it back on the shelf then charge me $45.00 of my money for restocking?

She said that's the store policy.

I said if more people were aware of it they would not buy anything here! If I bought a $2000.00 computer or TV and returned it I would be charged $300.00 dollars restock fee?

She said yes, 15%.

I said OK, just give me my money minus the restock fee.

She said, since the item is over $200.00 dollars, she can't give me my money back!!! Corporate has to and they will mail you a check in 7 to ten days.!!

I said 'WHAT?!' It's my money!! I paid in cash! I want to buy a different brand. Now I have to wait 7 to 10 days.

She said well, our policy is on the back of your receipt.

I asked, do you read the front or back of your receipt?

She said well, the front!

I said so do I. I want to talk to the Manager!

So the manager comes over, I explained everything to him, and he said, well, sir they should have told you about the policy when you got the item.

I said, no one has ever told me about the check refund or restock fee, whenever I bought items from computers to TVs from Best Buy. The only thing they ever discussed was the worthless extended warranty program.

He said, Well, I can give you corporate phone number.

I called corporate. The guy said, well, I'm not supposed to do this but I can give you a 45.00 dollar gift card and you can use it at Best Buy.

I told him if I bought something and returned it, you would charge me a restock fee on the item and then send me a check for the remaining 3 dollars You can keep your gift card, I'm never shopping in Best Buy ever again, and if I would of been smart, I would of charged the whole thing on my credit card!

Then I would have canceled the transaction. I would have received all my money back including your stupid fees! He didn't say a word!

I informed him that I was going to e-mail my friends and give them a heads up on this stores policy, as they don't tell you about all the little caveats.

So please pass this on. It may save your friends from having a bad experience of shopping at Best Buy. It's true! Read it for yourself!!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=page&contentId=1117177044087&id=cat12098 Best Buys return policy

1 comment:

SBITS.Biz said...

In Defense of Bestbuy:

From URL:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12098&entryURLType=&categoryId=cat10004&type=page&entryURLID=&contentId=1218031738832

"Restocking Fee:
A 15% restocking fee will be charged on opened notebook computers, projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, radar detectors, GPS navigation and in-car video systems. A 25% restocking fee will be charged on special order products, including appliances. These fees apply unless the item is defective or damaged, you received the wrong item, or the fee is prohibited by law."

Now I don't understand the GPS or the radar detector 15% Fee I do understand the other. People Take advantage of this and will get a computer/camera etc. use it for a "EVENT" and then return it. The Computer needs additional Work as reformat and install software from Originial. The Camera's and GPS units don't really need any big "SERVICE" however they are now USED.

I agree that a 15% Policy statement SHOULD be made Posted and More aware than on the "BACK" of a reciept. (Thus only allowing you to know the policy AFTER you Purchase the Product.) Seems like a good lawyer could fight this... (Since you don't sign any contract using CASH)

I do buy things from bestbuy however, I do not buy, Computers Camera's GPS' from them. It's always best to ASK before you hand the cash.

Also in Defense of Best Buy I do find them to be very Friendly (Assuming you don't have to return one of these Items)

As far as the 14 day, limit there are many stores that have this policy also, OfficeDepot, Fry's etc.

Not every store is like Costco and allows people to return something at most any time. (I've seen Pressure washers that I'm sure People have used once and returned.)

The policy is probably not Intended to "PUNISH" people but to prevent abuse. Unfortunately they do a VERY POOR Job of comunicating it.

For any Purchase of Electronic Devices, it's best to ask FIRST.

My 2 cents..
Russ