How best to handle this situation?

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Garlic
I used to work for bestbuy and we shink wraped lots of opened up returns. I always checked to make sure the correct item was there.

Hooray for fraud by the retailers.

I'm actually happy that BestBuy has instituted a "standard" 15% restocking fee on open-box electronics/computer items. That will give them far less incentive to shrink-wrap used items and sell them as new now. I hope.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: TipsyMcStagger
Are you young looking? If you are you're probably screwed.

Time to bring out the big guns. Time to get your grandmother involved, to get this matter resolved.

Originally posted by: TipsyMcStagger
I got f'd like that before by BB as well. I bought a Radeon 8500 (back when it was decent!) and a Radeon 7000 was in the box. When i took it back, they accused me of swapping the cards and wouldn't take it back.

Finally, I got my 50 something year old parents to go to another store and return it claiming it didn't work. That worked out fine. So if you're young, get somebody with a few grey hairs, and your chances will improve.

Yep!

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: Garlic
I used to work for bestbuy and we shink wraped lots of opened up returns. I always checked to make sure the correct item was there.

Hooray for fraud by the retailers.

I'm actually happy that BestBuy has instituted a "standard" 15% restocking fee on open-box electronics/computer items. That will give them far less incentive to shrink-wrap used items and sell them as new now. I hope.

How is that less incentive though? The perceived value of the used item vs new is still different so they still have the same incentive to magicallyrefurb that used item into a new one again... but with the 15% fee they're making even more $ @ it.

I mean, it isn't really an issue of them trying to be above-board, honestly running a business on this issue since they would then only use shrink-wrap that was clearly different, that actually stated it was repackaged on the wrap boldly enough to be impossible to misconstrue or overlook. Their lack of integrity on this wouldn't likely be cured by an increase in revenue (or decrease in loss), IMO.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Jeez people calm down, this isn't a "Bash Best Buy" thread. The kid's gotten enough construstrive help, back off. Let's recap:
(1) Go in and talk to the manager. Don't make an @$$ out of yourself by being ugly, it doesn't get you anywhere.
(2) If he won't help, talk to the District/Regional Manager.
(3) Then go to the BBB or Attorney General's office.
:roll:

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: user1234

Originally posted by: papaschtroumpf
Go to BB and tell them you are planning on doing a CC chargeback, they may be willing to help since a chargeback cost them more money than a refund or exchange.
If they won't do it do a chargeback (I hope you did use a CC or you're screwed).
Don't bother with BBB, they're a scam.
If you really want to "stick it to them", write to your state consumer affairs (a dept of the State Attorney's office).

why you say BBB is a scam ? aren't they trying to help consumers ? are you saying that they can't help at all ?

Usually the BBB is useless. They didn't do squat for me when I had problems with Nextel.

 

[modedepe]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: user1234

Originally posted by: papaschtroumpf
Go to BB and tell them you are planning on doing a CC chargeback, they may be willing to help since a chargeback cost them more money than a refund or exchange.
If they won't do it do a chargeback (I hope you did use a CC or you're screwed).
Don't bother with BBB, they're a scam.
If you really want to "stick it to them", write to your state consumer affairs (a dept of the State Attorney's office).

why you say BBB is a scam ? aren't they trying to help consumers ? are you saying that they can't help at all ?

Usually the BBB is useless. They didn't do squat for me when I had problems with Nextel.

They're usually helpful. A little persuasion from them can help a company to decide to just give you a refund instead of having a complaint filed against them. I'm not sure I would even bother trying to contact a manager if you paid with credit card. Might be better off just doing the chargeback. Good luck.

 

[hyeclass]

loool just go to best buy , look around to see somebody dumb to return it to, just give them the hard drive and ask them to give you a refund , its worth a try

 

[Bad Dude]

This similar thing happened to me a little over a year ago. It was a $400 video card. I bought the card shrink wrap and got a cheap ethernet card instead, from Circuit City. My Capitol One card gave me the credit back.

 

[mscdex0]

Originally posted by: dpjax
I would assume an employee swapped the drive out. It was store shrink-wrapped but my friend noticed the static bag was previously opened when he got home.

He took it back but the manager wouldn't exchange or refund.

What options are there?

Chargeback on the CC?

Dispute with the Regional Manager?

Thanks for any advice.

My brother had a problem similar to this, except it was with officemax. I can't remember exactly what they did, I think they called up a bunch of corporate numbers and stuff, but wasn't able to get the correct product (store wouldn't take it back or exchange it). Except in my brother's case, he bought 256mb pc2100 ddr memory, and pc133 was actually in the package, and it was only 32-64mb at that.

I've always wondered how one could prove that they didn't switch the items themselves and that it was like that when they got it. Some things you'd be able to check right away, but some things you can't tell if they're not what you purchased by looking at it.

 

[dirtrat]

He's right, the BBB is a JOKE! They get there money from the very stores who are members and have never been any help to me. The only good thing about filing a complaint with them is that others will be able to view the amount of complaints the business has on file.

why you say BBB is a scam ? aren't they trying to help consumers ? are you saying that they can't help at all ?

 

[BlackPear1]

6 GB?

 

[Garlic]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: Garlic
I used to work for bestbuy and we shink wraped lots of opened up returns. I always checked to make sure the correct item was there.

Hooray for fraud by the retailers.

I'm actually happy that BestBuy has instituted a "standard" 15% restocking fee on open-box electronics/computer items. That will give them far less incentive to shrink-wrap used items and sell them as new now. I hope.

Hey thats just how it was. I reshrink wrap TONS of stuff including external drives that have been returned and tons of other items. We just put it back on the shelf as if it were new....they always wanted me to reshrink wrap because I always did it so perfectly. Looked like it was brand new everytime. Welcome to Bestbuy...

It was easy. Pull the plastic bag over, cut it with the heat cuter, now seal the other end with the heat cutter, then take a heat gun we had and shrink the plastic wrapping to perfection. It was a thing of art.

 

[Tsunami982]

Originally posted by: TipsyMcStagger
Are you young looking? If you are you're probably screwed.

I got f'd like that before by BB as well. I bought a Radeon 8500 (back when it was decent!) and a Radeon 7000 was in the box. When i took it back, they accused me of swapping the cards and wouldn't take it back.

Finally, I got my 50 something year old parents to go to another store and return it claiming it didn't work. That worked out fine.

So if you're young, get somebody with a few grey hairs, and your chances will improve.

this is also true with girls. i had the same thing happen to me and when i went in to try to exchange it they straight up told me i switched it and that i was defrauding them and that they could call the cops. after yelling at them for an hour (because i knew they couldnt call the cops) and making a giant scene i called my girlfriend... she came in 15 minutes later and returned it with no problems.

 

[DaFOBulous1]

I agree with everyone here. You used your credit card which makes it less unlikely you would pull a fast one. Go to the regional section or better yet, chargeback ASAP!

 

[JohnDoh]

Ok its official after Garlic's post, others posts, my experiance and the presidents nasty comments in the ny times.. I wouldnt buy a 400gb drive for $5 there

Im damn cheap, but you have to draw the line somewhere... If they re-shrink wrap stuff in store they also do it online im sure, its to much of a risk getting the wrong item

 

[dpjax]

Thanks everyone for your advice, I'll pass this along.

 

[tcsenter]

The only good thing about filing a complaint with [BBB] is that others will be able to view the amount of complaints the business has on file.

Umm...that's the whole premise of the BBB. Its not a law enforcement agency, they can't go in with guns and force the offending merchant to exchange the product or give your money back.

The only power BBB has is to sully the BBB record of merchants when they fail to make an effort to resolve credible complaints. There is no conflict of interest because merchants pay a membership fee to the BBB. Look at the number of companies with unsatisfactory business records at your local BBB, apparently they aren't getting their money's worth.

That said, a former co-worker had this happen to him at Best Buy or Circuit City, I forget which. Except it was a color television. He got it home, opened the box, which appeared never opened, and inside was a dusty 10 year-old television. They didn't believe him when he brought it back. After he insisted on speaking to the manager, then his boss at the regional level, they asked him to leave or they would call the police. I'm not sure what eventually happened, if his credit card company approved a charge back or what.

The thing is, I doubt I would believe him either, if I didn't know him. Dishonest people try to pull return/exchange scams all the time.

 

[JimKiler]

I had a Nine Inch Nails 2 DVD set that was missing the DVD's from BB one time. Problem was I bought it in DD the first time watched it sold it to a friend. Bought a second copy in DTS and didn't open for 4 months before I realized it was missing. I got lucky and since I had bought it twice from BB and had receipts and the manager was nice, I was able to get replacement discs.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
The thing is, I doubt I would believe him either, if I didn't know him. Dishonest people try to pull return/exchange scams all the time.

Yeah. I once saw a couple trying to return a computer at Wal-Mart. Huge box and all, all beat up, looks like it had been used for nearly a year or more, judging by the specs on the box. That's just so wrong too.

 

[Anonemous]

Yea I've heard alot of these stories. The last item I got at BB was that plextor drive hot deal. When I went to pick it up in store, the thought had crossed my mind to open it right at the counter just to make sure it was the right drive inside. But seeing as how the sticker was still present with no marks of tampering, I took it back to my office to open. Luckily, it was a new drive but these horror stories are really making me paranoid.

 

[mattocs]

I hope this is all true, and BB gets sued and some people end up going to jail. Shady business is no good. I will no longer shop at Best Buy. They are crooks and assholes.

 

[mugs]

Chargeback. I have no sympathy for Best Buy if they don't train their employees to recognize this stuff when they're processing returns.

 

[Bmott]

Its crazy when online retailers are becoming "safer" than B&M retailers.

 

[Amdiggidy]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: tcsenter
The thing is, I doubt I would believe him either, if I didn't know him. Dishonest people try to pull return/exchange scams all the time.

Yeah. I once saw a couple trying to return a computer at Wal-Mart. Huge box and all, all beat up, looks like it had been used for nearly a year or more, judging by the specs on the box. That's just so wrong too.

Don't even get me started on the number of people I've seen returning "heavily used" items to Wal-Mart.

 

[Twidget1995]

Just read thru all the posts here and decided to share my experiences with BB.

First off, try to talk with the manager but I'm going to bet you won't have any luck tere.

I'd just totally skip the regional manager, they won't be any help there. If you can get a corporate number, go that route. You'll have better luck.

About 10 years ago I bought a 3 floppy disk D&D game for $13. Got it home and the games either didn't work or were just totally lame. So I decided to take it back.

The cashier at the return desk said she couldn't return it but could exchange it for the same thing. Since I didn't want the same thing I asked for a store credit. Again, not possible. That's not store policy. After 15 minutes of this I asked to see the manager.

He actually had the nerve to tell me I was lying to him when I told him I could return the software anywhere else if I had the original box and receipt. When I asked to see BB's return policy he took me to a register and moved the Easter Seals donation container to show me the little paragraph telling me I was f!@ked one the package was open.

Now, Wal Mart at least has stickers and signs everywhere telling me that. Not hidden behind a container. I also went around to all the electronics stores within a mile of his and got their return policies in writing. I told every one of them what had happened and they were more than helpfull. With everyone - Babbages, EB, Software etc, as long as I had the original box and my receipts they would have refunded my money.

I tried calling the regional manager and got put on terminal hold. Tired of that, I called the information desk at my local library and got the name of the CEO and the corporate phone number. When I called I actually wound up talking to the VP of Customer Relations. When asked what resolution I wanted I told him that I wanted a refund.

I got my refund later that day.

I haven't bought a thing from BB in over 10 years. I've even stopped going in because I always walk out angry.

I shouldn't have to call the CEO for a $13 refund. That's something the manager should have taken care of right there.