Best Buy Store Purchase

[ajtemple]

On 1/24/2023, I purchased in Panama City Best Buy a highly rated Yamaha 2-channel receiver amp. Since it did not live up to its reviews, (poor sound, no bass) I returned it on Feb 3.  I purchased a portion of it on VISA gift card and the rest on my own VISA.  The cashier threw away the gift card the day I made the purchase since it was not reloadable and it was now empty.  So, when I returned it, I specifically told the cashier that they had thrown the card away so not to refund to that gift card. The cashier told me no problem, it would all go back to my credit card.  Well, 2 weeks later I find out they did send the $100 back to the "non-reloadable" gift card which is resting in a land fill somewhere.

I have spoken to Best Buy help line 3 times for over 3 hours now and all I could get out of them was sorry, we messed up and there's nothing we can do about it. They also said to call the issuing VISA gift card company, which I did, but without the full 16 digit card number there's nothing they can do. The receipts only show the last four numbers and the agents on the Best Buy phone line can only see the last four also they told me. I will be visiting the Panama City Best Buy tomorrow again but I am not hopeful that I will get much help from them either.

Has anyone else had this problem before? This was my first ever VISA gift card, so didn't think twice when the cashier asked if I wanted to throw it out. From now on, I will be keeping all used gift cards forever I guess. Not very happy with Best Buy's customer support, they bounce you around a lot without much help.

[hockeycanuckjc Community Veteran]

Even though gift cards with major bank logos cannot be reloaded they can still be refunded per Visa and Mastercard Terms and conditions and in the pamphlet that is included with the gift card they tell you to hold onto it until you are satisfied with your merchanise and what to do if you have an issue.

Per Best Buy terms and conditions for the Return and Exchange Policy you will be refunded exactly how you paid. FYI Visa and Mastercard Gift Cards have the ability to be registered online so you can track your transactions. 

[AllisonS-BBY Social Media Specialist]

Hello, ajtemple.

Thank you for reaching out to us!  Though, I do wish it were under better circumstances.  I can understand how this situation would be frustrating, as I would be frustrated myself and I will be happy to look into this for you and assist in getting this resolved.  To get started, would you mind sending me a private message with your full name, email address, and phone number.  You can do so by clicking the blue button next to my signature. 

Thanks, 

[ajtemple]

Thank you Hockey, but there was no pamphlet with my gift card, just a website listed on back of the cardboard holder along with a few rules, ie card not reloadable.
And thank you Allison for the quick response. However, the local Best Buy manager today made good on the $100 by returning it to my original credit card. He was gone in the back for a while, maybe checking video footage when the cashier threw away my gift card? Just speculation, but he returned and completed the refund for me. I told him he definitely kept a good customer today, outstanding customer service.
Thanks for your comments.
John