Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[ebnatl]

I am livid.

I purchased an HP printer, on sale, almost  two years ago along with a two year warranty. Now I need repair and get the shaft instead.

Short version: Because GS determined the repair is too costly, they offer me replacement.  Sounds great, right? Well because I bought the printer on sale and now the price is significantly higher, BB refuses to make the exchange based on like specs without me paying the difference. This is not my definition of repair or replace. 

I've purchased these warranties from BB/GS before; thank god I never needed to use them. The aggravation is much more significant to me than the money I wasted. 

I should have listened to Clark in the first place; he never lies. So, I've learned my lesson, I will be sure no one I know or anyone who'll listen makes the same mistake; at least not as it relates to GS/BB.   

That doesn't mean I'm letting this one go. 

[deusexmachina Valued Contributor]

If they replace it, they will replace it with a like item in features not to exceed the original purchase price.

If we determine, in our sole discretion that your
product cannot be repaired, we will replace it with a
product of like kind and quality that is of comparable
performance or reimburse you for replacement of the
product with a voucher or gift card, at our discretion,
equal to the current market value of the product, as
determined by us, not to exceed the original purchase
price of your product, including taxes.

http://www.geeksquad.com/uploadedFiles/wwwgeeksquadcom/protection_plans/black_tie/1941-0230921-terms...

[ebnatl]

Uh-huh...I'm sure you realize I got that speach already. In case it isn't obvious, I don't accept that.

Why I want a lesser quality printer as a replacement, and why would I want to spend any more money, including store credit, there? 

BTW~ That's rhetorical. If you don't have anything to say that affect satisfactory resolution, do not bother to reply.  I am not interested rehashing the same inane debate.

[Xanthis]

You got a great deal on a printer. It went bad. Now they are offering to give you what you paid for it towards a new one. It happens all the time. So I purchase an open box receiver, that normally cost $800, and has been discounted over and over again until it cost $200. I purchase the plan on said item. It goes bad after a while. Because of the severe discount on the item, the store has no choice but to give you what you paid for it back. They will not give you $800 towards a like model.

BTW~ There is no such thing as a rhetorical question on a public forum.

[deusexmachina Valued Contributor]

It's not really a debate... you entered a contract with Best Buy and agreed to the terms of that contract. Best Buy is holding up their end by doing exactly what they said they would do. If you want to argue to get more than what you paid for, be my guest, but don't try to make it look like BB is the one breaking their end of the deal.

You get a replacement printer as long as the replacement does not exceed your original purchase price. If it does exceed the original purchase price, you will get the amount you paid on a store credit to do with what you like.

[Mbrguy Emerging Expert]

Ok, let's take a look at this.  You say that you should have listened to Clark Howard in the first place and buying the Protection Plan was a mistake.

These numbers will be a bit off, but even if you put in the real numbers from your receips, it should still work out the same.

Le'ts say you bought a printer that is normally $150 but on sale for $100 and you bought a Black Tie Protection Plan on it for $20.  Two years later, your printer breaks and they offer a replacement, but the replacement amount they'll give you is $100 and the printer you want now costs $150.

You have to come up with $50

If you had NOT purchased the Protection Plan, you would have saved the original $20 on the plan but you would now have to come up with $150, or $170 if you wanted a new Protection Plan on the new Printer

So, you have saved $130 (or $110 if you buy a new Protection Plan) by purchasing the Protection Plan.  I guess I can see how you think that you've made a mistake.  Best Buy clearly saved you $130........how HORRIBLE of them.  

The numbers will be a bit different depending on the prices on your receipt, but the concept should be almost exactly the same.

You saved money by purchasing the Protection Plan.  Had you not, you would be needing to come up with a lot more money to replace your printer.  In essence, after using the Printer for almost 2 years, they are giving you the money back for it, minus the cost of the Protection Plan.  Whichever way you look at it, you are coming out AHEAD by having purchased the Protection Plan.

[Mbrguy Emerging Expert]

---

Mbrguy wrote:

Ok, let's take a look at this.  You say that you should have listened to Clark Howard in the first place and buying the Protection Plan was a mistake.

These numbers will be a bit off, but even if you put in the real numbers from your receips, it should still work out the same.

Le'ts say you bought a printer that is normally $150 but on sale for $100 and you bought a Black Tie Protection Plan on it for $20.  Two years later, your printer breaks and they offer a replacement, but the replacement amount they'll give you is $100 and the printer you want now costs $150.

You have to come up with $50

If you had NOT purchased the Protection Plan, you would have saved the original $20 on the plan but you would now have to come up with $150, or $170 if you wanted a new Protection Plan on the new Printer

So, you have saved $80 (or $60 if you buy a new Protection Plan) by purchasing the Protection Plan.  I guess I can see how you think that you've made a mistake.  Best Buy clearly saved you $80........how HORRIBLE of them.  

---

Fixed the numbers.  My math was off, don't tell my professors.

[ebnatl]

It's still way off, as it relates to my situation, but that's OK...  You're hypothetical is very logical.  It just doesn't apply.

Thanks anyway.

[Mbrguy Emerging Expert]

Could you give us the numbers then?  The original Price, the purchase (sale) price, the price of the Black Tie, and the price of a replacement today.  Thanks.

[carnivoran]

I truly hate bestbuy, I do, but even I have to agree that giving you your original purchase price as compensation is a justified solution, if that's what they offered you then if I were you I would take it, you won't get a better deal from them trust me when I say this.