Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[StevieP65]

I searched the Forum before creating this thread, and found another closed thread from 2010.  Without the ability to re-open that existing thread, I'll start this new one and hope that someone(s) from BestBuy will respond appropriately.

OK - I get that BestBuy wants to encourage people to be "green."  This front row parking for fuel efficient vehicles may even be part of some LEED initiative, or something (can electric car drivers "plug in" from these spots?).  Good for you!

But I'm here to tell Best Buy, and anyone else who'll listen, that this is a HUGE mistake.  You're creating an unnecessary schism (look it up) between a small percentage of customers who can use those spots, and EVERYONE ELSE!

In this economy, it may make some sense to drive a fuel efficient car.  But for most everyone else, we've got what we've got.  Not too many people are willing to take on a $400/month car payment to save $50/month on gas.

I live in New England, so 4WD is imperative.  I'm 6'4" tall, so physically won't fit in a small vehicle.   I also need something that'll tow a boat, carry a load (of fuel-efficient wood pellets!), or carry my family of four full-sized adults in safety and comfort.  Try any of that in a "fuel efficient" sub-compact vehicle.

A new Prius may get 40+ mpg, but I'm here to tell you my  full-sized 17 mpg 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche is more "efficient."

Allow me to explain.  For me and my family (and budget)  "efficiency" has less to do with miles per gallon, than it does "miles per dollar" (or is it dollars per mile?).  I bought my '02 Avalanche in 2006 for half of what it cost new.  I paid it off and now have no payments.  My insurance and excise taxes are much lower.  I ride a 42 mpg motorcycle when the weather allows.  I also work in high tech.  By working from home, I save 250+ fifty-two mile round trips to my office every year.  I've been doing this for four years and counting.

So who's more "efficient?"  Me on the day I drive my Avalanche to BestBuy to pick up an item, or the person with a (ex.) Prius who's making a new-car payment and paying higher taxes and insurance?  Not to mention the "carbon expense" involved in building a new car, and shipping it around the world.  By my definition, I'm MUCH more efficient.

By putting up your "reserved for fuel efficient vehicle" signs, you're creating a class system among customers.  You're making me, and others like me, feel like second-class citizens.  If I'm "honorable" I won't park in those reserved spots.  Why should I be made to feel bad about myself because of your store's policy? 

The #1 selling vehicle in the USA for many years running, is a Ford F-150 pickup truck.  Is Best Buy serious about alienating a LARGE MAJORITY of potential customers, in order to re-inforce some false notion of superiority among drivers of "Fuel Efficient Vehicles?"

Please Best Buy - Re-consider the usefulness and effectiveness of Best Buy's policy of providing "preferred" parking to a small subset of your overall customer base.

You may be rewarding those select few, but you're ticking off a lot of others in the process.  For every comment like this you receive, I'm betting there are at least thiry others who just "take it" & may be upset, but too polite to say anything. 

-Steve from MA (sick of "political correctness")

[Jimmienomam]

They have a spot to display your ideas. It's called ideax and you can post this idea at te link below

http://forums.bestbuy.com/t5/community/mobilecommunitypage/interaction-style/idea

[Jimmienomam]

Sorry posted mobile link

Here is the real link

http://forums.bestbuy.com/t5/Best-Buy-IdeaX/idb-p/IdeaX

[Ryan-BBY Senior Social Media Specialist]

Hello StevieP65 -

Allan from our Social Media team, will be reaching out to you regarding your concern. Thank you for your continued patience!

[StevieP65]

I see you've taken to removing some of the other dialog / posts on this topic.

While we wait for Aaron to respond, I'll paste in links to three other threads, where other people have had similar reactions to being told to "park in the back of the lot"

http://forums.bestbuy.com/t5/Best-Buy-Geek-Squad-Policies/Preferencial-Treatment-for-Fuel-Efficient-...

http://forums.bestbuy.com/t5/Best-Buy-Geek-Squad-Policies/Preferred-parking-for-quot-fuel-efficient-...

http://forums.bestbuy.com/t5/BestBuy-Com/Why-anger-costumers-at-the-door/m-p/238194/highlight/true#M...

[StevieP65]

At one point just a short while ago, this thread had FOURTEEN responses.

Some good dialog.  Some just name calling.

But I find it distressing that the forum moderators took it upon themselves to delete said dialog.  You're not doing yourselves any favors by censoring your customers.

[Ryan-BBY Senior Social Media Specialist]

StevieP65 - 

I had to remove the majority of posts off of your thread, because they did not follow our community guidelines.  

[Mbrguy Emerging Expert]

Translation: using profane language is against the community guidelines, as is badgering other users.

[SlimJim77]

As with all of the similar threads on this topic, it really has nothing to do with parking spaces, or fuel economy. It just someone lashing out at a perceived loss of freedom. Somebody wants their Amerika(sic) back from them darn leftest gun grabbers and Obama lovers.

[CrimsonRain]

Awwww all the fun pictures were removed.