Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[seven7aces]

So, what do you do when you find the purchase you made turns out to be a peice of junk in a new box.  I purchased 20th March 2010. So i started my build this past weekend, I opened the box (april 24th 2010) to discover a old rusty junk harddrive in the box.  @$#....so i go to bestbuy in ocoee sunday april 25th to exchange....guess what....they say no way...that im just not believable.  the seal was intact, you could not tell it had been opened.  i found a load of comments on this subject online, so bestbuy should be aware of whats happening.  any ideas on my next step, other than a boycott of bestbuy....  ive purchased so many items there through the years, i now look at this premier silver card as a joke. 

[starhelper2587]

What date did you receive your order? The store may have denied the return/exchange if you were outside the 30 day R/E period. That period starts the date the order is received by the client for BB.com orders.

[seven7aces]

i bought the hard drive on sale, Best Buy in Ocoee, Florida....in-store on march 20.  As i always do, i try to buy right for future use....think i've just learned a lesson to not even trust what i think to be properly sealed and unopen packaging.    i spent this afternoon researching this kind problem....I am not definately NOT the first to have this happen, and that it does seem to be a big problem.  Why is it that we as consumers do not become "informed" until after these kind of events happen, to which we have to modify our purchasing accordingly.  what i've learned is that Best Buy has been aware of this kind of issue for years, that its never wise to pay with cash, i fortunately paid by CC.  So I have as my next step a visit to my bank, this rusty hard drive in tow, to show fellow consumers what they might expect on their next shopping visit to Best Buy, or many other retailers....i see its widespread.  Best Buy may quote a policy...but fraud is fraud.  crime does have a 30 expiration period.     Oh, always try to see inside the box what you are purchasing before you complete the purchasing, or your chances of getting whats displayed or advertised on such packaging is reduced to the level you EXPECT from certain online auction sites. 

[starhelper2587]

Then that is why the return was denied - you were outside the 30 day return/exchange period.  I don't want to sound harsh, but you waited 34 days to even open the product, 35 days to return it.  I don't understand what you meant by the statement about "researching this kind of problem."  The problem here isn't with Best Buy.  You waited far too long to inspect your new product.  Even if someone buys something with no intention of using it for months due to a move, home re-model, etc. he/she should always inspect the product ASAP for this very reason.  Heck, you can even start opening things in the store before you leave so there will be no discrepencies.  It's hard to know where this would have happened.  Someone at the MFG could have swapped out the old unit for the new one, or a client could have done so and re-sealed the box perfectly ... you never know. 

One of the Community Connectors (BB corp employees/forum moderators) should be along tomorrow or Tuesday to assign your thread to the CC best suited to assist you.  However, I don't know how much any of them will be able to do because of the situation here.

[seven7aces]

the problem here is best buy sold me a new sealed box with a old rusty junk harddrive surprise inside.....that is the point.....and its happening all over....thats the point...thats the point..... best buy sold this thing to me.....its best buys problem....now my problem.......$187.79 that was frauded from me... is my problem.....and im not going to fade wimpering into the night.......DIVORCING best buy is step 1..... formal complaints and getting my voice out there will follow....ill get my dollar amount of payback untold-fold......steal from me.....bad mistake best buy

[Nokia]

I have to agree with star here. Had you taken it back within a few days, the store would likely have been much more receptive to your complaint.

At this point, the best course of action would be to contact WD. The problem is on their end, since the unit was sealed.

[JoshSB]

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seven7aces wrote:

the problem here is best buy sold me a new sealed box with a old rusty junk harddrive surprise inside.....that is the point.....and its happening all over....thats the point...thats the point..... best buy sold this thing to me.....its best buys problem....now my problem.......$187.79 that was frauded from me... is my problem.....and im not going to fade wimpering into the night.......DIVORCING best buy is step 1..... formal complaints and getting my voice out there will follow....ill get my dollar amount of payback untold-fold......steal from me.....bad mistake best buy

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Anything Best Buy does from this point out is their discretion, having a threatening tone is only going to hinder the CCs ability to assist you.

Wait for them to respond before you go threatening Best Buy...

[seven7aces]

where i spend my future dollars is whats at stake at this point.  a fishing pole is going to be so much cheaper than the best buy life i had!!  maybe i should be saying thanks!! 

[JoshSB]

Seven, could you please be a bit less melodramatic and wait for the Community Connectors to get with you and see if they can help you? The world isn't going to end and until the CCs say they can't help you it isn't the end.

Although again, I would recommend always opening the product at the store or in your car or once you get home to avoid this, I imagine it was the 34 day wait that made them refuse the exchange.

~ Josh

[Dorothy-BBY Community Supervisor]

Good morning seven7aces -

Justin, from our Community Connector team, will be reaching out to you regarding your concern.  I appreciate your patience and you sharing your experience.