Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[pissedoff]

This is not the Christmas season.  I am even sure people are not buying as much as they use to.  I want to know why for 2 weeks in a row now Best Buy have advertised computer deals and not have anything in stock in the whole city of Louisville.  Why is Best Buy doing the bait and switch.  2 Sundays in a row I was first in line outside the door for one of their advertised deals and they do not have it.  They they try to sell me a higher price package.  What is up with this.  Does Best Buy corp check to make sure each store has at least one of the items they are trying to sell. I ask for a rain check....no deal.... not on packages.  Well they say you can prepay and we can order it for you.  If I wanted to do that I would have ordered online.  What I am saying is that if you advertise it you should at least have one of them.

pissedoff

[AJ87]

I can't speak about Best Buy specifically, but I have noticed with the current economic downward spiral that inventories for even larger companies has been hit and miss, sometimes out of sync with their respective sales ads.  Let's face it, all companies are having a rough time of it.  I've seen W-mart and Trgt send out sales ads and have store reps say that the products in the flyer haven't reached the stores yet.

I know that some retailers will allow you to purchase online and pick up at the store.  Perhaps a BB employee on the forum can explain if BB has a similar option so you can see a PC in the weekly ad and try to reserve it online before the stores open.  Another option is to consider price matching with another retailer, or mention to the sales manager at a BB that you are upset and will be looking elsewhere to buy a system.  I would think that, given the crappy economy, they would prefer to try and make you a customer than lose you to a competitor.

Unfortunately, sometimes the sales price is controlled by a manufacturer rebate.  That means that the retailer is being able to offer the price because the manufacturer is chipping money into the deal.  That makes it more difficult to offer a raincheck in those cases.

BTW - If your local BB manager can't help you, consider calling the corporate number and seking some help, you never know what results that will yield...

[GeraldRose]

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pissedoff wrote:

This is not the Christmas season.  I am even sure people are not buying as much as they use to.  I want to know why for 2 weeks in a row now Best Buy have advertised computer deals and not have anything in stock in the whole city of Louisville.  Why is Best Buy doing the bait and switch.  2 Sundays in a row I was first in line outside the door for one of their advertised deals and they do not have it.  They they try to sell me a higher price package.  What is up with this.  Does Best Buy corp check to make sure each store has at least one of the items they are trying to sell. I ask for a rain check....no deal.... not on packages.  Well they say you can prepay and we can order it for you.  If I wanted to do that I would have ordered online.  What I am saying is that if you advertise it you should at least have one of them.

pissedoff

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That is too bad that you not able to buy your new computer package as you had hoped. I am sure Best Buy makes every effort to have ad items in stock on the date of the sale, as mentioned with the economy what it is inventories are a lot leaner as the consumer is not spending much money. Therefore BBY is buying less.

Also, the ads are printed well in advance of the sale dates, so it is possible that items are just not available, I am sure BBY wouldn't intentionally do this to its customers. Have you asked the computer person or manager when they may anticipate it coming back in stock? Most Best Buys get 2 or 3 trucks a week. Also, can you order on-line and do an in-store pick up?

I bet you can, It's worth checking out.

[Elizabeth-BBY Community Supervisor]

Thanks for posting your concern on our Best Buy® Forum.  Your issue has been assigned to one of our Community Connectors for further review and response, and you should be hearing something within the next few business days.  Thanks for your continued patience as we work to assist all of the customers who have reached out to us on this forum.

[Starflyer59]

This happens with all retailers. Pick any salespaper on Sunday and go to that store and every one of the retailers will be sold out of items that they advertising.

[owlpellets]

Don't try it in Idaho Falls as the manager just cowers in the back of the store.

[SlimJim77]

As others have already pointed out, BB isn't alone in regards to this. Most manufactures are scaling back production because they just aren't sure what the real demand for product is right now.

Your best bet to get one of the ad items at BB is to go on Sunday morning. Your chances go WAY down after that. It also help to build a relationship with the staff. When stuff comes in, an insider could give you call. It's important to be nice, as it gets one much further than getting an attitude.

[NicolleHTPRO]

I agree with slimjim.

Honestly.. I wonder why people think being rude is going to help there situation. It doesnt at all! I work at customer service/Home Theater.

When I work at CS, I greet the customer with a huge smile on my face, and a pleasent demenor.I say "Hello! What can I do for you today?"  Its hard to get mad at a "nice" person.

Kill em' with kindness!

[GeraldRose]

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NicolleHTPRO wrote:

I agree with slimjim.

Honestly.. I wonder why people think being rude is going to help there situation. It doesnt at all! I work at customer service/Home Theater.

When I work at CS, I greet the customer with a huge smile on my face, and a pleasent demenor.I say "Hello! What can I do for you today?"  Its hard to get mad at a "nice" person.

Kill em' with kindness!

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Love it!!! Nothing like being super nice to a mean person and then they get more mad because they can't drag you in to yelling or snapping at them.

[John-BBY Community Connector]

Hello,

I was disappointed to hear about your frustrating experience in trying to purchase products promoted in our weekly ads.  We do our best to be in stock for you and our other customers to prevent just this kind of frustration.

When stock outages do occur on our advertised products, our store associates will work with you on other options.  We can offer several means of satisfaction for you including rain checks (unless our promotion specifies otherwise), a prepaid order (as you were offered), or sometimes a substitution or store-to-store transfer.  You wouldn’t be charged for shipping on the prepaid order as you would be for a BestBuy.com order.  Unfortunately rain checks aren’t available for bundled offerings, such as a computer/printer/monitor package.

If you have additional questions or concerns on this matter, please feel free to contact me.  To send me a private message, click on my user name and then on “Send this user a private message” under Contact on the next screen.

Sincerely,