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PDO
9-10-05, 5:22 PM
<rant>

Alrighty, so a long time ago, in a summer far far away, I decided it'd be a good idea to buy a deck for my car. I like music, and the idea of being able to randomly play 700 megs worth of music at any time sounded like a great one! I had some gift certificates to Best Buy left over from Christmas (What would I buy from Best Buy anyway, eh Matey? ;) ) so I took off to Best Buy.

As I arrived, I find Billy*. I ask Billy for a deck that'll play MP3's, isn't loaded with useless features, and will have good sound quality. Billy shows me a deck that's 30% off and sitting at $100. Billy tells me it'll do everything I want it to, and that I should spend the extra $50 on the 4 year warranty, so I do. All is happy. In one week, I have said deck installed.

I take a CD, slip it into the deck. Sounds sexy. Then, it skips. As I'm still in park, I find this pretty odd. I continue to drive; and the skipping continues. ****. I decide that maybe it was just the CD, and I'll grab a different one the next day. No dice. Same **** different pile the next day. So, I find some time, drive off to Best Buy. They'll need a week before they can fit me into an appointment.

That leads us to today! What a wonderful day it was. It was about 10 degrees, the rain was pouring, and I was burnt out from a crappy week. I arrive at Best Buy, surely this will improve my mood, seeing my deck fixed and being able to listen to some music without constant skipping! Atleast, you'd think it would, wouldn't it?

I arrive at Best Buy at 12:50. My appointment was for 1:00, but I soon find out that they double booked the time! So, now I'm talking Rajajahajeeb*, or something like that. I couldn't pronounce whatever the hell his name was, but he didn't have a thick accent, so it was okay. So, now some guy named Tom* decides that he'll quickly take my deck out and take a look at it before he installs the alarm system, as it should only take a couple minutes. Boom he takes the deck out, but now tells me he won't have time to install my old one (so now I have no deck at all in my car), and that I'll have to take the deck to customer service.

So now I'm at customer service, and Bettsy*, who had about a pound of makeup on her face tells me that I'll have to go talk to Steve*, because she doesn't know anything about decks. Okay. So now I wait for Steve. Around this time I notice that the lineup behind me is getting extremely long. Steve comes along, and tells me that I can exchange the deck straight up for another one because it's within 30 days. Awesome. So I go to grab another deck. So I go back to car audio and talk to Dwayne*, and Dwayne tells me that I'll have to wait a second.. they don't carry this brand any more! So I have to upgrade to another deck for another $70 to get the same features. Well, isn't that just awesome?

Dwayne takes me back to Bettsy, but now we have to wait in this long line. During the wait in the line, I think I saw the fall of North Korea, another NHL lockout begin and end, and some soil erosion, but I could be wrong. Anyway, after an eternity we start talking to Bettsy! Dwayne tells Bettsy that I'll get a free deck install because they won't be able to install it before 4:00 PM today. Wait. What? You were going to charge me for the deck install that I already paid for on the other peice of **** I bought from you guys 3 weeks ago, but you won't because you can't do it today? Good thing you weren't able to do it before 4:00PM today, or I would've grabbed your testicles, ripped them off and shoved them right down your throat, Dwayne.

So now Dwayne tells me that I'm going to have to go set up another time to install the deck. So he takes me back to Car Audio. I'm sitting there, waiting for the sun to come up again, and he finally finds a time! 12:00 on Wednesday, whoo, I get to miss my lunch. Whatever. He says it'll be a free install, and makes it sound like some great deal.

The morale of this story? **** Best Buy. I just wasted $70, a lunch break, god knows how much gas in the four times I had to drive to and back from the place (1st to buy it, 2nd to install it, third to schedule an appointment to fix it, and of course today.. plus the fifth time on Wednesday!), and another 2 hours today. If I have any sort of problem with that deck, some heads are going to ****ing roll, and I'm not leaving until I get some *** **** compensation. Oh yeah, and I have no deck until Wednesday at noon.


*Names may have been slightly changed so that if I read this again I won't remember the names and ahve the urge to go on a killing spree at Best Buy.

Iced Tea
9-10-05, 5:36 PM
Once the nimwad mentioned that he wouldn't charge you for the second install; you should have told him to take a flying leap and asked for your money/gift certificates back. You bought the deck in good faith and expect the same from them. If they no longer stock the deck you bought, they should replace it with a similar model no matter how much more it costs.

Best Buy is screwing you and you shouldn't let them push you around. You should consult your local Better Business Bureau or a similar customer rights organization about what you can and can't do. Frankly getting your money/gift certificates back or getting a free replacement deck would be fair compensation.

Be a man and stand up for yourself.

You might want to read the fine print in the original warranty, Best Buy might be as sneaky as Future Shop and everything is your fault no matter what.

TimmyTabasco
9-10-05, 5:58 PM
Best Buy eh..never been there..and never will now :nod:

You should have gone to A&B Sound. They are cheap, and not as bad as Future Shop/Best Buy

PDO
9-10-05, 5:59 PM
Best Buy owns Future Shop, Craig.

Iced Tea
9-10-05, 6:03 PM
Best Buy owns Future Shop, Craig.I'd still read the warranty and try to screw Best Buy like they've screwed you because this whole transaction stinks really bad. Maybe try talking to the location manager or phone corporate headquarters.

And don't try to say it isn't worth the hassle. Best Buy will keep pulling this crap if no one ever complains.

Amoroq
9-10-05, 6:05 PM
I'll assume that because you didn't put an <end rant> tag on the end of the thread starter that the rant is to be continued? I've always prefered independant dealers over chains. Better service, you may pay a bit more, but you can't beat good service :)

a4l
9-10-05, 6:58 PM
Phone the manager with your complaint then write or email their head office. That is just plain BAD service. I hope they included a free extended waranty with the new one and a CD of your choice.

MadDevil
9-10-05, 8:49 PM
Well, reading about that experience takes away some of the excitement I had for the Best Buy opening a couple blocks away from my house in about a month. We have absolutely nothing in terms of stores like Best Buy around here, so I was looking forward to being able to shop there. Hopefully it's just your bad luck PDO, and not a regular occurance there.;)

I had a similar experience at Home Depot a couple of weeks ago, right after they opened their new store here. Needless to say, I won't be going back anytime soon.:mad:

charlio lemieux
9-11-05, 9:14 AM
Get your gift certificates back and still raise hell.

grim
9-11-05, 11:57 AM
I'll assume that because you didn't put an <end rant> tag on the end of the thread starter that the rant is to be continued?

Yes that's just sloppy html. Actually... you should create a flap. I would. At least you still have your health.

Iced Tea
9-11-05, 8:51 PM
PDO, have you firebombed Best Buy yet, or stolen a few shopping carts, or sent a letter to the editor of an Edmonton newspaper?

Maybe just print up a shirt that says, "I bent over for Best Buy". :laughing:

J.R.
9-12-05, 12:09 AM
I've always prefered independant dealers over chains. Better service, you may pay a bit more, but you can't beat good service :)Agreed!

I am increasingly becoming annoyed at chain stores that worry too much about the buck they're making off me right there than they are about me returning to make another purchase in the future. Although I haven't had such an outrageous situation that PDO has experienced (sorry to read about that), but quality customer service at some of these places are nonexistent.

butterfly_style
9-12-05, 11:05 AM
In my neck of the woods Best Buy / Future Shop are direct neighbours.
I guess trying to give the impression of competition.
I went into Future Shop to purchase a new video camera . . .you know, to capture moments of my son growing up.

I told the genius behind the counter that I was looking for a basic, reliable machine.
Well, gumby takes me over to the "swiss army" machine that does everything, including mix up a mean margeurita.
Perhaps he misunderstood the meaning of basic, so I spelled it out for him. "No bells / No whistles"
Oh! What you want is this "super-duper, hyper-turbo, most excellent model" ONLY $2499.
What I want is a B-A-S-I-C model, how about that Sony over there at $449.
No sir, that's OLD technology. . .Sony doesn't support it anymore.
Then why the Heck are you guys still selling it ??!!!

So I went over to Best Buy . . .and I swear gumby's twin brother was working the video counter . . .I didn't even stop.

charlio lemieux
9-12-05, 11:16 AM
No sir, that's OLD technology. . .Sony doesn't support it anymore.


This is the new way of forcing consumers to upgrade their technology.

grim
9-12-05, 11:23 AM
In my neck of the woods Best Buy / Future Shop are direct neighbours.
I guess trying to give the impression of competition.
I went into Future Shop to purchase a new video camera . . .you know, to capture moments of my son growing up.

I told the genius behind the counter that I was looking for a basic, reliable machine.
Well, gumby takes me over to the "swiss army" machine that does everything, including mix up a mean margeurita.
Perhaps he misunderstood the meaning of basic, so I spelled it out for him. "No bells / No whistles"
Oh! What you want is this "super-duper, hyper-turbo, most excellent model" ONLY $2499.
What I want is a B-A-S-I-C model, how about that Sony over there at $449.
No sir, that's OLD technology. . .Sony doesn't support it anymore.
Then why the Heck are you guys still selling it ??!!!

So I went over to Best Buy . . .and I swear gumby's twin brother was working the video counter . . .I didn't even stop.

When buying electronics items, I always check out a bunch of reviews on the net, determine what I want, then find out who has it. Here's a ZDNet review page for digital video cameras... looks like there are lots for <$500. :]

http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/4566-6500_16-0.html?ont=camc

Max Power
9-12-05, 11:40 AM
Best Buy owns Future Shop, Craig.

Best Buy bought out the Future Shop name but they're still competitors. In fact Best Buy advertising directly targets Future Shop. I?ve shopped at Best Buy once and will never return (won?t bore anybody with the story). I?ve done all my electronics shopping at Future Shop, which includes full set of appliances, tv, sound system, DVD, car audio and digital cameras. I?m one who always shops around for the best price because I love my toys and don?t like wasting money. Future Shop other then a few doorknob salespeople has always gotten me the best price for the product and even though I?ve had my problems with a few of these things a quick talk with the manger resolved all and always in my favor.
If you bought the extended warranty PDO then Best Buy has to honor it. That means you should get everything done for free within the 4 years. Also if they don?t carry the same system and it?s been less then a month they should replace it with an equal or better system without a question. Talk to the manager in a calm fashion and explain to him the obvious above and point out that you?re time (and gas) for this poor service is what?s bothering you the most. A good manger will return some of your money.
For example I just bought an HD box at future shop last week and the clown gave me the wrong type of DVI wire even though I repeatedly asked him if he?s sure it?s the right one because I was skeptical. Turns out it was the wrong one so I went back the next day and talked with a different sells guy and said what I told you above. He reimbursed me 30 dollars for my trouble

slapshot™
9-12-05, 10:57 PM
Ironically....

I just was at Best Buy yesterday and picked up a Toshiba 52" DLP TV, Pioneer receiver, 5.1 Infinity surround sound, Monster cabling and HDTV satellite system. The sales guy knew his stuff and didn't try to upsell us. He spent approx. 2.5 hrs. with us helping choose a system that met our needs and budget. It was a very good experience.

All outlets have good sales people and crappy sales people. I think you will find that at any store regardless of a big chain or the Mom & Pop variety.