Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[desitapori]

I had two orders at Best Buy recently for store pickup. These are for HP Touchpads and when I ordered these items there were ample availability at Best Buy stores. Also I ordered at full price before marked down. But after two days I got email that items is not available at stores.It's universal known that Best Buy employees bought themselves and ignored the online orders. Also I was never given the chance for home delivery.Now this are very hard to find items including at Best Buy. The items are selling for over $250 at ebay and craigslist. I would like to know if this the customer service I should expect from Best Buy in future. 

[CrimsonRain]

Universally known? What proof do you have of this or are you just believing the sour grapes chatter?

[desitapori]

I don't have proof that employees kept it and like you said universally known. I ordered when BB had original price listed refused to match price. It's the following day BB reduce the price and they sold out. Also why would I get message 2 days later that item is not in stock. Also I ordered two at two different store pick up but both emailed me same thing.

[AaronE]

If you ordered the night prior to the price drop it's possible the store couldn't pick your order because they had then been directed to send all units back. When the store does that it would have canceled the online order as stock unavailable. For all this speculation running around with employees hoarding Touchpads I can only speak to what happened at my store which was none were held by employees. Most of the employees weren't able to acquire one. I even had customers come up to me and acuse us of doing this in store and not only did I inform them we were beng fair to everyone regardless of if they worked here or not but it was pretty hurtful at times.

[desitapori]

This is true I ordered night before but same store sold TP later. Also I got response 2 and 3 days later from store that item not found in inventory. BB was selling TP till recently in different stores at $99. Now I should have given the option for home delivery.
Now I hate to spend more than double the price of the same items when some bought same item later from BB.

[CrimsonRain]

---

AaronE wrote:
For all this speculation running around with employees hoarding Touchpads I can only speak to what happened at my store which was none were held by employees. Most of the employees weren't able to acquire one. I even had customers come up to me and acuse us of doing this in store and not only did I inform them we were beng fair to everyone regardless of if they worked here or not but it was pretty hurtful at times.

---

None of my friends who still work at Best Buy were able to buy purchase HP Touchpads at their relationship stores either! One of them is a district manager too (DFM). Only one was able to but he had to drive 40 miles out to a Best Buy in the middle of nowhere. The other ones (myself included) had to procure our HP Touchpads elsewhere. Luckily, we had a tip from one of my friends who is a HP rep who told us to try the HP business website since it is not directly linked to the commercial HP website so they pull from somewhat different inventories. We logged in and were able to buy them. We also had luck with Barnes & Noble and Target. People always forget to check Target. Remember the Nintendo Wii craze? My cousin wanted one and I couldn't buy one at Best Buy (restricted employee purchase). I was shopping for some household items at Target and walked past the electronics department. I asked them if they had any Wiis. The girl told me she had 4!! I snagged 2. I was totally dumbfounded...

[desitapori]

I have ordered many times from bestbuy.com for store pickup. It never took them to check their inventory 3/4 days. Also the same stores sold their TPs to "regular customers." I should have given option for home delivery but no. And worst thing is BB sold TPs until recently at different stores. What gives?

[Dorothy-BBY Community Supervisor]

Good afternoon desitapori -

Doug, from our Social Media team, will be reaching out to you regarding your concern. Thank you!

[Douglas-BBY Community Connector]

Hello desitapori,

Thank you for posting.

On the day that you placed your order we decided first to pull all of our TouchPads and then later in the day changed directions deciding that we would indeed sell them at a greatly reduced price.  Due in part to the clearance pricing and the spike in orders that weekend, many online orders needed to be canceled whether they were placed for in store pick up or shipment directly to your home.  After that Saturday, the TouchPad was available almost exclusively in stores, though not in all of them and only on a first come, first served basis for in store customers.

The clearance event following the first few days after HP announced that they would be discontinuing the TouchPad was anything but normal.  It is rare for a large product release like the TouchPad to go on clearance so soon after the release day.   I apologize if your order was canceled, particularly if it took us a few days to fully process the cancelation and you weren’t made aware until a few days later. I know that it can be disappointing to miss a great sale like this.

Regards,