Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[tshelton99]

 You will be surprised just as I was today when trying to return a LCD TV I purchase 9 days ago,  I was told I could only receive a gift card for the amount of my purchase or Best buy will send me a check in the mail in 10 business days,

 Huh I said!    well I told him that I paid in cash when I purchased the TV and that's the way I expect it back... Then he started telling about the store policy, which I had no idea of....... Now back when I purchased the TV it was a advertised sale and  they had no display to check this set out... I then ask the sales person if I were to go ahead and buy the TV and was Not meet my expectation could I simply bring it back for a refund?  he replied absolutely as long as I have my receipt there would be no problem, I said "good enough" I even confirmed this with the cashier as I check out, she said yes and again to be sure I keep my receipt,     as I stated I have been very little using this TV a couple of hours watching  the evening news etc, for the 9 days I have had it,  I decided that I would take it back and perhaps save a little more money and buy a better TV after the Holidays and even perhaps catch a nicer LCD TV on sale and I would have most likely purchased it from Best Buy,

 But not now! After finding out about this policy, I left the store without anything no TV no cash no nothing but them telling me I would get the check in the mail in10 working days,    I'm simply trying to warn all of you and everyone I know about this hidden policy,......

  if your like me?  I'm kind like that commercial----> its My money and I want it NOW!   

(((( Happy Holidays all )))))

[tshelton99]

Hi again,

 I forgot to tell that this TV was only a 780 res.pix and I paid 399.00 + tax which was a great value and a very nice TV for the Money, although I am used to watching my Old DLP TV with much higher resolution, and this 37" 780-Proscan just didn't work for me,  perhaps if i were a not using it as my primary TV I could have delt with it for the value,...

  (((((  BEWARE OF THIS "NO CASH BACK" OVER $200.00 PURCHASE POLICY  ))))

[CrystalWoW Community Veteran]

Unfortunately, to protect the cashiers, staff, and customers at the stores, they do not have that much cash available on hand. For one person sure maybe, but a lot of people came in that day and wanted thousands of dollars back in cash, each store would need to be a bank to carry all the money they would need. There has to be a cutoff, and best buy certainly isn't the only retailer that has this policy. And the policy must not be hidden very well since it is written on the back of your receipt, the giant blue signs near the register, the pad on the counter, and the return policy poster near the checkouts. 

[tshelton99]

Hello, thanks for your attempt to clear this up,  But in regards to the 2 people who told me I could get a complete refund never once stated ,  Yes I will get a refund How ever you cannot have your money back for 10 days,   I made my questions perfectly clear when I ask about the return policy, and there were no verbal mention of any 10 day clause,  I even ask if there would be a re-stocking fee if I were to return it, she said no,that only applied to certain electronics, TV's were not charged a re-stocking fee,

 I have been in BB many times and read the Blue sign and am very aware of the policies that are post up, I have never read the one about a grace period refund on all return over 250 dollars,   although I have re-read the back of the receipt on the very bottom and found what you stated to be correct,   if feed back is what Best Buy is looking for,  Then one suggestion I would have is that the purchase of a product over $250 should be written in on the front side of the receipt just as the total amount would be, I did flip the receipt over and read only what I wanted to see, which was the allowed days I had to return the TV  14 days, and I knew I could decide in 14 days if I were to keep it,  as I stated before, Best buy had NO display ton demonstrate this TV, so I assume the chance of it being good  picture, But now I think back and there must have been a reason for not displaying only these Tv's . Perhaps they would not have sold at all if people could see the lack of the picture quality, 

 and perhaps this another of BB tactics to get your money and play games with it,

   and as far as not having cash on hand for refunds in the store, this is a total lame excuse,  I watch people standing in long lines making there last minute Christmas purchases paying in cash, I even brought this up to the customer service

employ,  but he again had his rules Your rules to have to follow and his hands were tied, ..... The CEO's of this company must be proud of how they strive to take my money but a little reluctant to give it back,   just wait until after Christmas returns start pouring in, Their going to be a lot more disappointed customers being pointed  to the back side of their receipt, while walking out the door with no refund or no product.   Hmmmmm!  I bet this could truely add up to some substantial interest $$$$ if one were to turn this bit info into the right people,

  Good going Best Buy

[CrystalWoW Community Veteran]

I wasn't saying that they do not have three or four hundred dollars for one person. Five or six hundred dollars multiplied by several hundred people gets to be a lot of cash fast. Use debit or credit next time if you can and right back on the card it goes. 

[hockeycanuckjc Trusted Contributor]

This is pretty much a policy of all large box stores. It is just not Best Buy's policy. Do customers pay close attention to the documentation on the back of the receipts? Obviously not.This policy is prominently in the public view of EVERY Best Buy customer service return counter. 

[tshelton99]

OK, we can all go back and forth with you explaining how BB has no money in their store to give a refund on a $400 item,

 and I can reply that this is BS,   we are still not gaining any grounds on why this policy is not verbally made aware of at time of purchase? Just as the cashier will more then willingly to be sure you hold on to the receipt,  or ask you are you a point club member.....  they all have been trained to do these things but not explain the 250 no cash refund, so you say the signs or in the stores to read,  they must be like the little sign stuck on the back of a large dump truck  that read " not responsible for falling objects"   you are only made aware of this sign when a rock come through your windshield and you try to get the truck driver to pull over and take responsibility for there damage,........  Well same goes with BB policy  only is this policy  pointed out when you have to return the items,

  How convenient can this for BB !     Personally I want to see a larger sign posted in each store to make this aware to the public, I'm sure this policy would detour or have people think twice is they want to in fact buy something form your store..

I will make this my next year resolution,  is To Have Best Buy Post a much larger sign of this policy as customers walk in

the door,     ((((((  NO CASH REFUND ON ITEMS PURCHASED OVER $250.00...Must wait 10 days for check to be mailed ))))))

 Oh!     Merry Christmas

[connierc1]

Yes, I ran into this policy a number of years ago, and yeah, had to wait the 10 days for the check.  It DOES come, so that is a relief. Remember to see HOW LONG you have to actually cash it/deposit it....some places only give a few months, some 6 months, etc.

BB does have some good deals, tho dealing with CS can be at times annoying, as with any store. During the frenzy of holiday season, many of the sales people don't really KNOW the policies, even if you knew the questions to ask, as they are short term hires, let go after "the rush."

I do hope that you find the TV of your wishes!  At BB I've had some really good -- and some not so good -- experiences. It may be JUST a coincidence, but some years ago we purchased a high ticket item (in our house, at leasst, it's considered "high ticket!" lol...), and suddenly we discovered that our credit card had been used by ..someone... to have a LOVELY vacation to ITALY!!!

Since then, my husband and I tend NOT to use our credit cards, and thankfully were able to prove we were NOT in ITALY - pretty obvious, as we were at the bank and NOT in Italy when getting this resolved!

I am NOT saying it's BB's fault - not at all.  This was during the time that TJMAXX, etc., was hacked into and they didn't tell anyone for LONG TIME....and we were one of the people who were effected by this. Thankfully, I've only had one other problem like that, and again, my credit card was refunded.

One of the wondeful things a BB employee DID say to me many years ago when we were buying a TV, was with complete honesty, he told us that TVs - and many electronics - are purposely made to last ONLY five years!

After having our 20 year old SONY tv die on us, this was a shock to hear, but also somewhat understandable in our "disposable" lifestyle. Hey, why make products that last a LONG TIME (like in the past) when Manufacturer's can make more money off a buyer every 5 years by making a cheaper product?  Capitalism at it's best/worst...

BEST OF LUCK!

PEACE....

[Kirara]

You really shouldn't justify blaming best buy for your inability to read the back of the receipt, or their huge blue sign with all the policies stated. You used selective reading... when if you had read the entire thing, you would have seen that. While it may be frustrating, it makes sense

[tshelton99]

Kirara,

  perhaps you should think more in terms of a customers point of view and not a BB suck face then you would realize this is not about whether I read their policies or did not,.... I admit that I had not read it fully,... But I'm more concern about the customers knowing their rights and being explain up front about a policy that I'm sure is being overlooked by many folks,  and as I said if customers were more aware I'm sure we would think twice as to if we want to make a large purchase on an item that cannot return for cash back, ...And again I'll try to explain it to you.  Providing  you are an American and you can  understand a customers point of view?  ..This was a purchase on a TV.... An item that is usually displayed for viewing or should I say in most places are set up to be checked out and make a decision upon then and there about whether you would purchase this TV? 

 (( But NOT in this case I would have to buy it and then see if it was what I wanted )))  and I did point this out and ask the questions in this regards, I was told that I could bring it back and get my money back..... This should have been the time the sales person should explain BB store policy about the 10 day grace period to receive a refund on over 250 purchase, But No he did Not make such mention or even point me to the dang sign,  Do You Not agree?  and then as I checked out I ask the very same thing to the cashier and ask would their be any problems getting a refund........ Here again would be a Great opportunity to explain this "POLICY "  But once again never even mentioned it... She could have said something like.

..( if you do happen to bring it back you will have to wait 10 day's to get your refund))  in then it will come by check in the mail........

......  as I see this policy it is definitely not in favor of the customers, and I think is quite deceitful,   and is in kept from being said out loud......... Which I plan to do, If I had not been so teedoff the day I returned the TV I would have stood outside their  door and explain this to everyone who enter, this policy needs to be explain to people at time of purchase, Not simply posted on a sign and BB hopes no one will read it,

  Things are slow now and I have nothing better to do, so Visit you nearest BB soon and You might just see me their,

(((  Now anyone else care to disagree? )))

 Good Day!