Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[SA]

In regards to store number 1081. I've spent literally THOUSANDS at Best Buy over the past 4 years and have the recurring Premier Silver membership card to prove it, buying a 53 inch HD TV, PS3, games, Computer, laptop, iPods, etc. I even bought my fridge there, and I USED to feel great going there. I really did enjoy it, I felt welcome and appreciated. I even looked forward Best Buy’s spam telling about another great deal I might be interested in. Now, I hate it. I go there when I HAVE to. You’ve turned into a nightmare Best Buy. I've been in that store 5 times in the past couple of months and each time was bad. The security guys at the front door think they are part of our police department. After checking my bag against my receipt on 2 different occasions and 2 different security guys, I was informed that I was "Good to Go". Well thanks for that security guys, I already knew that, have a nice day yourself. I don’t expect a make-out session when I patronize your store but after dropping 60 bones plus tax on Gran Turismo 5 or the complete Kings of Leon collection, going through the contraband check after a day in the prison wood shop is not my idea of courteous. (I bought Killzone 3 on the 22nd of Feb at Game Stop if you’re interested.)

On another occasion, my wife was trying to look at one of the new e-readers that happened to located up front close to security and it was fitted with one those extendable security cables so you can pick it up but not steal it. I guess the security wire was defective because when she moved it the alarm beeper sounded. The security guy comes over and turns it off with a bothered look, never says a word, then turns to leave when my wife, thinking it was okay now, tried to pick it up again. Of course it wasn't okay because the security guy that we were bothering had to turn it off again, without saying a word, same look, and leaving. Sorry we bothered you security guy, my wife has been interested in one of those for quite some time but now whenever she sees one she probably thinks of you because she hasn't brought it up since. Funny how that works. I have spoken to a manager on a previous occasion but she didn't seem interested at the time. It appears she's best buddies with security and always stops to chat on her way to and from her cigarette break.

Then, this past *Sunday morning* my wife and decided to stop in and spend about 2500 dollars at your store. There was a 55 inch Sony 3D LED TV that came with a 160 Gb PS3 advertised in the *Sunday morning* paper.  I even got a new TV console for that bad boy and everything.  See, we re-did the formal living room, it’s now where I get to goof off with my PS3 games and action flicks while my wife gets to watch her Vampire soaps or put a Rom-Com in the other PS3 in the den. Sweet deal right? Nope, not a chance. Turns out you can't BUY this Sony TV at ANY store in this great nation's 7th largest city. But you're more than welcome to the 46 inch model. There were 5 or 6 on the floor with orphan puppy dog eyes and a Please Adopt Me sign. Smells like a Bait and Switch ad but you know what, I'm a patient guy so I'll just order it online and have it delivered to my store. LOL!  I can't even have this *advertised* TV shipped to ANY store in this great nation's 7th largest city. Punked AGAIN, Thanks for shopping Best Buy. This leaves me to my LAST option. That is to order it online for home delivery. Ah yes, sticky-note tag with some delivery guy entrusted with the safety and care of my 2500 hard earned dollars that will come to my house exactly 2 times while I'm at work, (as is every other employed person in this time zone at that time of day), only to sticky-note me that I will have to go to their warehouse across town (the 7th largest btw) and pick it up myself. Not gonna happen. So what recourse do I have after all of this? I think I already know the answer but I’ll post it anyway.

[Nokia]

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SA wrote:

The security guys at the front door think they are part of our police department. After checking my bag against my receipt on 2 different occasions and 2 different security guys, I was informed that I was "Good to Go". Well thanks for that security guys, I already knew that, have a nice day yourself. I don’t expect a make-out session when I patronize your store but after

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Then just walk past them. They are trying to make sure you haven't been overcharged or are missing something, but you're not required to stop at the door.

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SA wrote:

On another occasion, my wife was trying to look at one of the new e-readers that happened to located up front close to security and it was fitted with one those extendable security cables so you can pick it up but not steal it. I guess the security wire was defective because when she moved it the alarm beeper sounded. The security guy comes over and turns it off with a bothered look, never says a word, then turns to leave when my wife, thinking it was okay now, tried to pick it up again. Of course it wasn't okay because the security guy that we were bothering had to turn it off again, without saying a word, same look, and leaving.

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That display probably goes off every two minutes. Imagine working in McDonalds and having every single customer say "I want it to look like it does on the menu," thinking it's the most clever thing anyone has ever said, or checking money and having every person say "Oh, I just printed those last night" or "Is the ink dry?," again thinking they have made a wholly-original joke. Anything in repetition gets annoying. The LP guy didn't say anything to you, so I don't see the problem.

[SA]

-Then just walk past them. They are trying to make sure you haven't been overcharged or are missing something, but you're not required to stop at the door.

They stopped me and scanned nothing.

-That display probably goes off every two minutes. Imagine working in McDonalds and having every single customer say "I want it to look like it does on the menu," thinking it's the most clever thing anyone has ever said, or checking money and having every person say "Oh, I just printed those last night" or "Is the ink dry?," again thinking they have made a wholly-original joke. Anything in repetition gets annoying. The LP guy didn't say anything to you, so I don't see the problem.

Imagine having a job where YOU were dealing with people that contribute more to YOUR paycheck than the cost of a Happy Meal.

[Irken1989]

"That display probably goes off every two minutes. Imagine working in McDonalds and having every single customer say "I want it to look like it does on the menu," thinking it's the most clever thing anyone has ever said, or checking money and having every person say "Oh, I just printed those last night" or "Is the ink dry?," again thinking they have made a wholly-original joke. Anything in repetition gets annoying. The LP guy didn't say anything to you, so I don't see the problem."

I think in this sense Nokia, a explination of it going off would've been something of common courtesy. I mean would you feel welcomed in a store if secuirty comes over shuts off an alarm and then repeats the cycle in a matter of 20 seconds? I would think I was annoying the guy, and Im pretty sure people don't like the feeling of feeling like their a burden. Regardless I can see the justification in that complaint, and why SA feels the way he does.

[Nokia]

You can still walk past them. They can't prevent you from leaving the store.

Ah, a non-response. I stand by my post.

[SA]

Are you affiliated with Best Buy in any way? If not, move along please.

[Nokia]

Nope. And since this is a community forum, I'm free to comment, so I think I'll stay right here.

[SA]

I posted here thinking I might get a response from a Best Buy Rep. Not to have my grievances critiqued by the Community Veteran who has all of the answers and none of the authority. But you are correct, it is a free board, so do what you want.

[Mbrguy Emerging Expert]

And you still have plenty of time. A Community Connector should be on within 3-5 business days of your original post to help address your issue. Sometimes they answer quicker but typical response is 3-5

[SA]

Thank you for the info Mbrguy. Hope you have a great week.