Best Buy

[Paris MkVI]

Alas, I pine for the days when Best Buy and Circuit City were five doors down from each other - in the same shopping center - duking it out.

Now it's, "Hi - we're the only store now, and we don't need you!"

Best Buy is the place I go to actually look at and touch things - before I go purchase it online.

And I warn folks, not because of Best Buy practices, but often because of lack of strategic/logistical planning, to avoid "Best Buy Bandaid" solutions to tech issues at church.

I used to be able to say "Short-Circuit City" for that too, but alas, no more!

[Esoteric]

Yeah, I hated buying from them, but the one here at least is often cheaper than Amazon, we get all sorts of rewards, plus, until now I hadn't had a problem with their warranty stuff.

Mike

[WORDpictures]

In their defense, I've found BB sales people to be knowledgeable & helpful for the consumer-grade products they sell, but not so when integrating these into more professional or specialized applications such as we often encounter through church media. In the sales department it seems more a matter of being understaffed.

I have to agree about their customer service department however. But you've got to admire Best Buy for coming up with that "Geek Squad" theme... I can't help but smile when I walk by those black-and-white VW's on my way out!

[prochlea]

The last three times I've gone to BB for something specific that they don't carry in large quantities like a DVD or something, their computer has said that they have several in stock, but no one is able to find them. On top of that, the sales people kept attempting to give up looking for them. If they didn't see the product in a few seconds, there was no effort to try to find it. The only way they could have been less helpful would have been to ignore me when I asked them where the product was (because no one offered me help as I was looking for something). The thing that really irked me was that the kid helping me out had his pants hanging so low and loose that if he didn't pull them up every two seconds, they would have been on the ground. I mentioned this to the manager in my complaint after they gave up trying to find the product that their inventory system said was in their store. Afterwards, I felt like kind of an old square or something for complaining about how the kid dressed, but seriously... this is a place of business. His lackadaisical attitude towards his uniform was how he treated his customers.

The only time I will shop at BB is when my need(or unhealthy desire) for something cannot wait a day or two for it to arrive from Tigerdirect.

[[Director] Joseph B]

legally a security officer has NO authority to do a search of packages. Going in it's an easy fix - they don't have to allow you to bring a package but going out? I don't know what authority they have.
Just for giggles I may refuse to let them check my packages on leaving.

[dewknight]

Somebody did that, they called the cops, I forgot what happened in the end. It was on consumerist.

but they have no right to search you or detain you.

[tedanderson]

legally a security officer has NO authority to do a search of packages. I don't know what authority they have. Just for giggles I may refuse to let them check my packages on leaving.

AFAIK, they have the authority to stop you if they've witnessed you stealing. And then they can detain you until the authorities come.

But as for letting them search me, whenever I am leaving a store and the buzzer goes off, I keep walking. If I get stopped, I will probably ask, "am I under arrest? If not, I will be on my way. If so, I will be sure to file a lawsuit" But most times I am able to convince the guy in a friendly manner to just leave me alone.

And I warn folks, not because of Best Buy practices, but often because of lack of strategic/logistical planning, to avoid "Best Buy Bandaid" solutions to tech issues at church.

Well you know, Paris, there is always Radio Shack.

you've got to admire Best Buy for coming up with that "Geek Squad" theme...

Yeah but even that particular service is sub-standard too. It is starting to become common for me to reinstall something that BB did. When they install their flat panel TV's they leave the wires dangling underneath it rather than fishing them through the wall. Also, their on-site PC techs probably make good money selling memory upgrades and new PC's after they tell the customer that their 18 month old PC is outdated and can't be fixed.

[dmot]

Originally Posted by tedanderson

But as for letting them search me, whenever I am leaving a store and the buzzer goes off, I keep walking. If I get stopped, I will probably ask, "am I under arrest? If not, I will be on my way. If so, I will be sure to file a lawsuit" But most times I am able to convince the guy in a friendly manner to just leave me alone.

Do you really find this necessary? Why can't you simply let them find the tag that set off the alarm and sort it out?

[[Director] Joseph B]

My experience is that most stores won't bother - the guy at the door just waves you on.
Most people don't know their rights and most security personnel don't have a clue as to what they can or can't do (I say that as someone with 26 years in law enforcement who now trains security personnel for their license).
I normally am very cooperative but some of these guys don't have a clue and they don't seek cooperation they demand.

[prochlea]

I don't actually mind the guy checking my receipt most of the time... except at Sam's Club on Sat. mornings- it can take ten minutes to get out of the store. I've actually had the receipt checking benefit me - I bought a big load of stuff at Guitar Center once, and when going through the receipt they realized that I had been charged for a couple things twice... saved me about $200.

[tedanderson]

Originally Posted by prochlea

I don't actually mind the guy checking my receipt most of the time... except at Sam's Club on Sat. mornings- it can take ten minutes to get out of the store. I've actually had the receipt checking benefit me - I bought a big load of stuff at Guitar Center once, and when going through the receipt they realized that I had been charged for a couple things twice... saved me about $200.

Now when it comes to Sam's club, Costco, and even Guitar Center, that is a completely different situation. The warehouse clubs have that as their policy and the post it clearly on the wall so I don't have a problem with that nor do I think that it's a bad thing...even though they DON'T really check. I once handed the guy a receipt from Home Depot. He checked it off and didn't even notice.

As for Guitar Center, they are set up in such a way where you have to weave through the store on your way out so it can be very easy to "mistakenly" pick up a magazine, book, or pair of drumsticks on your way out. Yeah.. they need to check. But as for being charged twice for something, I don't think that it's the store's responsibility to protect me.

Why can't you simply let them find the tag that set off the alarm and sort it out?

Why? Should I be inconvenienced while they launch an investigation as to why the tag was not properly deactivated? It's for people who steal. Not for honest people.

[dmot]

Originally Posted by tedanderson

Why? Should I be inconvenienced while they launch an investigation as to why the tag was not properly deactivated? It's for people who steal. Not for honest people.

Because we are called to be a blessing.