Best Buy Still Embracing Deceptive In-Store Kiosks

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Had a bunch of things picked out in Best Buy last night. Something just rubbed me the wrong way about the place, so the wife and I just left, drove across the road to Circuit City, and purchased all the same items there instead.

Added bonus: Almost every item was either $5 or $10 cheaper at CC than at Best Buy. We don't do much shopping at either store (75 minute drive) but at least we know which one to go to from now on.
 

dbk

Lifer
Apr 23, 2004
17,685
10
81
Yup, I experienced this myself while trying to buy a electronic shaver few weeks back. Pretty f'in shady.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Had a bunch of things picked out in Best Buy last night. Something just rubbed me the wrong way about the place, so the wife and I just left, drove across the road to Circuit City, and purchased all the same items there instead.

Added bonus: Almost every item was either $5 or $10 cheaper at CC than at Best Buy. We don't do much shopping at either store (75 minute drive) but at least we know which one to go to from now on.

Smart idea. Best Buy has been evil for a while now.
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
452
126
Hmmm... good read. I have double checked prices in-store at BB on certain sale items, when they're more expensive in the store. I figured I just misread the ad at home and it was actually a web only thing, but it might not have been. Oh well when that happens I just don't buy the thing and go somewhere else.
 
Mar 11, 2004
23,217
5,676
146
People should setup a dummy bestbuy.com with things cheaper and then show them it on their iPhone (with the link about their in store intranet).
 

SandEagle

Lifer
Aug 4, 2007
16,809
13
0
Originally posted by: rrahman1
So did anyone actually get taken at one of the kiosks? just read this and want to know if it holds true. i'm definitely going to print the online ads and take em in for what i want.....

http://consumerist.com/337161/...eptive-in+store-kiosks

i prefer circuit city over best buy myself. they typically seem to have better deals. it's just a shame that Best Buy stock is performing 15x better than CCs
 

ppdes

Senior member
May 16, 2004
739
0
0
I don't see what the problem is. Everyone knows online retailers can offer cheaper prices because they don't have convenient B&M stores. Making people who use the stores pay B&M prices makes plenty of sense. If anything BB is being too nice by letting people pick things up in stores and price match online prices in stores. Those people are using the stores that BB has to pay extra for, but paying online prices that have to compete with online retailers that have no stores.
 

mobobuff

Lifer
Apr 5, 2004
11,099
1
81
I can't remember ever buying anything at Best Buy that wasn't purchased with a gift card in the last 10 years.
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
That's why you buy it online and just pick it up at the store. I can't stand the people working there so I'd want to get out of there ASAP anyway.
 
Mar 11, 2004
23,217
5,676
146
Originally posted by: ppdes
I don't see what the problem is. Everyone knows online retailers can offer cheaper prices because they don't have convenient B&M stores. Making people who use the stores pay B&M prices makes plenty of sense. If anything BB is being too nice by letting people pick things up in stores and price match online prices in stores. Those people are using the stores that BB has to pay extra for, but paying online prices that have to compete with online retailers that have no stores.

This is to the store's own website though, not just random online stores (which they don't pricematch to anyways). In other words, you'll see the price they offer on their website and can even have it show you that it is in stock in their store, but then you go to the store and their intranet shows a different price or it out of stock (where they'll give you a sales pitch for something else).
 

poopaskoopa

Diamond Member
Sep 12, 2000
4,836
1
81
Originally posted by: ppdes
I don't see what the problem is. Everyone knows online retailers can offer cheaper prices because they don't have convenient B&M stores. Making people who use the stores pay B&M prices makes plenty of sense. If anything BB is being too nice by letting people pick things up in stores and price match online prices in stores. Those people are using the stores that BB has to pay extra for, but paying online prices that have to compete with online retailers that have no stores.

If you tell me that you have something in stock for $234.99, it had better ring up for $234.99 and not $255.99. Don't lie to me just to get me in the store. I think I would have just bought it on the BB site and just go there for a pick-up myself, but I guess one can't always do that when you're still researching the product.
 

Eeezee

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
9,922
0
0
Originally posted by: ppdes
I don't see what the problem is. Everyone knows online retailers can offer cheaper prices because they don't have convenient B&M stores. Making people who use the stores pay B&M prices makes plenty of sense. If anything BB is being too nice by letting people pick things up in stores and price match online prices in stores. Those people are using the stores that BB has to pay extra for, but paying online prices that have to compete with online retailers that have no stores.

That doesn't make any sense. You should charge the same price online as you do in-store. Either you pay to drive to the store or you pay to have the package shipped to you. Obviously it's cheaper if Best Buy uses an online site, but *news flash* they can just charge the in-store price for the online site.

Best Buy is rarely ever competitive with other online retailers, so I don't see the problem. They reduce their prices online but are still charging more than most places. That makes no sense.
 

DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
1
0
haven't come across this, but I had a terrible experience the other night:

I got a $100 gift card to BB after work sent me to the Advanced Solaris administration course so I decided to spend it on some Christmas gifts. I ordered a GPS and Lost online, then went to pick them up 3 days later (it says within 8 days)

Before I went to the store I noticed the pickup guarantee states that if it takes more than 1 minute for them to deliver your item after showing your id and email then they will credit your order $10 (it specifically says a $10 credit will be applied to your order) So I get there and the girl behind the counter obviously can't find it, so she gets a manager, and 15 minutes later they come over with an obviously opened GPS and put the return sticker on it.

I told them I was not interested in an open box item as I purchased new online and they said that it was NOT open box. Then I asked about the credit and the manager goes to get me a gift card. I told him that I would prefer a credit to my order as the email stated and he said that I could take the gift card or nothing. The whole time I kept my cool, didn't raise my voice, was understanding about them taking their time since it is the Holliday season, but this was in clear violation to their written policy which I showed him, so I asked to speak with his manager and he said I would have to leave, so I asked for the store number and called corporate while waiting by the CS desk.

The CSR at corporate was very helpful and credited my order $10 (in addition to the gift card I received) took the managers name and apologized profusely. She also confirmed that my order should have been shrink wrapped and placed me on hold while she spoke with the manager. 15 minutes later I see the manager talking to someone else and they come over and apologize and told me that they were out of stock of the item. I called the CSR back and she located one across town (actually closer to my house)for me and put it on hold. I returned the open box and picked up the new unit, but the manager was so shady and disrespectful. I own an IT consulting company and would never in a million years argue with one of my customers, let alone try a bait and switch. They've lost me as a customer as a result
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,634
27
91
Originally posted by: Shawn
That's why you buy it online and just pick it up at the store. I can't stand the people working there so I'd want to get out of there ASAP anyway.

If they let you...

Most of the time on hot items, they will tell you "Check availability at local Best Buy store" instead of letting you proceed with in-store pickup.
 

ttown

Platinum Member
Oct 27, 2003
2,412
0
0

The different price thing happened to me last year.

I searched for a specific CD and saw BB had it the cheapest -- after checking all the other similar-types of stores.

I go to BB -- it's shelf price is higher, but I grab it and head over to a counter to have a guy check the price. Sure enough, it rings up higher.
So, I mention that it shows on the website cheaper -- and he goes to a terminal and does a search for it. It's higher.

I did so much searching on different things, I figured I must have had it confused with CC (which is close by) so I left empty handed -- intending to stop at CC.
It was past closing time at CC, so I just went home.

I figured I'd just pick it up at CC the next day.

I did one last search at BB from home -- sure enough, cheaper!
Ordered for in-store pickup and got it the next day.

As a customer, it pisses me off to have wasted a trip. But on the other hand, I've learned my lesson and will only buy stuff for in-store pickup at BB. That's good, because now I'm not tempted to buy anything other than what I intentionally go there for.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
45
91
$250 for a digital picture frame? :Q

There's one born every day... Actually I guess there are thousands born every day.
 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Had a bunch of things picked out in Best Buy last night. Something just rubbed me the wrong way about the place, so the wife and I just left, drove across the road to Circuit City, and purchased all the same items there instead.

Added bonus: Almost every item was either $5 or $10 cheaper at CC than at Best Buy. We don't do much shopping at either store (75 minute drive) but at least we know which one to go to from now on.

It's too bad that CC sucks ass. I can't stand that sh!t storm of a store.
 

Tchen811

Senior member
Aug 20, 2000
418
0
0
Yup, I can say they are still doing it. I was just at Best Buy in Culver City, CA and picked up a BFG 8800 GT video card. When it rang up to the original price $279, I told the sales person that it should be $252 according to their website. But, when he pulled it up in their intranet website, it didn't show the discounted price.....

Now I have to print it out at work and bring it over there and do some smack down......

:|
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,996
126
Anyone dumb enough to walk into a Best Buy in the first place deserves what they get. An uneducated consumer is begging to get taken, BestBuy just does it more efficiently than most.
 

flxnimprtmscl

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2003
7,962
2
0
Reason 1471 why I'll never buy anything at Best Buy. I can't remember the last time I have and I probably never will in the future. Circuit City ftw.
 
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