Re: WalMart search..

[Baron Chandler <thebaron@mindspring.net>]

> I have tried very hard not to shop at Best Buy, and it's not their search
> policy that gets me mad. It's their return policy on all electronics,
> including computers (but if you're crazy enough to buy a computer there,
> that's your business).

Yep. I'm with you. Let me share you a nice, happy, Best Buy ass rapin' 
bedtime story.

Once upon a time... well, more like 3 weeks ago, a friend of mine wanted a 
new shiny lightning fast STB Riva TNT video card. And, given the 
price-to-instant-gratification-ratio that Best Buy provided him, he purchased
a card from the Best Buy up at Northlake.

He took his brand new card home and opened the box. There, in all glory, was
a Riva 128 card made by Creative Labs with a TNT sticker stuck on it. Software
unopened, he returned to Best Buy at Northlake to return the card. The rude
clerk at the desk would not assist him and told him to take it up with the
manufacturer. He called STB and they told him to call the Best Buy *DISTRICT* 
MANAGER. He called the DM, no return call. 

I went with him for the next rally. The cheesehole manager came up and told
him "Well, I tell ya, I don't think I can help ya, there man." Apparently,
he said, that this was a "common scheme on the inter-net" -- you know how
the stupid bungholes who wanna be smart try to say internet in that clearly
punctuated annyoing speech -- anyway  I digress... "as a way to defraud 
companies like Best Buy". He re-iterated that he thought my friend was telling
him the truth but that the higherups told him that he could not exchange stuff
that was in the wrong box... and that the manufacturer told them that that
simply couldn't happen and the  manufacturer was expecting them to take a loss
on it. He said that my friend should write a letter to the district manager
about it.

Now, setting that profound logic aside a moment, I have two things to say.
At MindSpring, if a customer calls in and says they got shitty service,
and they aren't lying (WE KNOW!) or clearly abusing our good nature, we'll
give them credit. I bet any self-respecting, customer-oriented, decent
business would do that. Obviously, best buy isn't self-respecting, 
customer-oriented, or decent.

Second, I firmly believe theft or fraud is a cost of doing business in a retail
environment. And they wonder why I buy all my shit mail order and get it so
much cheaper shipping it overnite fedex -- AND there are federal laws to help
you as a consumer. I have no sympathy for them. They were clearly shafted once
and expected my friend to pay his $150 to them for the pleasure of being 
screwed by them.

We prolly screwed up - we should have just returned the card.  Needless to say
my friend will be writing a letter to the manager with a long list of cc:s
on it, like the BBB, the police department, several email lists, etc.. I 
think it will be kinda funny.

> When you buy, say, a DVD player at Best Buy, they'll of course try to sell
> you the extended warranty, which is a HUGE waste of money. The companies

Sell? They try to force it down your damn neck. They try to scare you - ok,
but I really recommend it with these... they need to be cleaned often and if
it goes out of alignment it will cost you...

I've even had them BARGAIN with me over the cost... "Since you're such a nice 
guy, I'll give you the warranty for $50 instead of $65." I said "$40!" He 
wouldn't go down any more. Even if he had I wouldn't'a bought it! Jerks.

> that sell these love them, because they generate like 92% profit. Only 8% of
> the money that all people pay to these warranties goes to the warranty --
> all the rest stays in the company's pocket.

Yah, and the warranty covers concurrent with the manufacturer warranty -- 
so you basically have coverage you don't need for the duration of the mfgr
warranty.

What a rip... While I'm ranting about best buy.... I also noticed they have
an anti-drug policy. Now, I've never taken a stronger drug than like, cold
medicine or antibiotics. But that hung in my craw; I don't care if a clerk
drops acid, I only care if they can help me decide between DTS and Dolby
Digital. I nearly barfed when I saw that cheezy "we want to provide you the
best service by making sure our employees are drug free" sign. Hell, the only 
way I would work there is if you kept me on a regimen of prozac, hasshish,
and PCP. 

Ever try to call best buy? I think you'd get someone to answer the phone
faster at a freaking crack house. 

Yes, they've made my #1 most-hated vendor slot.

Baron.