Best Buy bait and switch is what they do best! St. Petersburg Florida
As an former associate of Best Buy in Florida I could definitely tell all of you consumers that the previous store where I used to work was always pulling the "old bait and switch" tactic! Or trick as it is known to the public.
Best Buy will offer a product in store at an advertised price in the weekly flier and when customers see it online the price is often lower than the instore price. Now I am referring to BB's own website where many items are shown at a lower online price than the same merchandise available in the stores. And when
unsuspecting customers want to buy it instore they will ask for the online price and the majority of store associates will tell you that you must pay the higher instore price!
Often if you asked for the manager or dept. supervisor and state your case you will sometimes get the goods at the lower price but not always. Keep in mind that Best Buy's hourly non-salaried associates are not paid any commission so they have no real incentive to offer the lower online price to you their customer. And they will often turn over the customer to the "more experienced, knowledgeable associate" to handle the customer's inquiry as to why they cannot get the product
at the lower online price which often is 15-20% lower than the instore price.
The Best Buy store's former gm Chris King was a real stickler at doing this and all he cared about was being a real "control freak" and he was constantly on a "power trip." He claimed to be concerned with good to excellent customer service being provided though he really never cared at all and he cared less about his associates well being and he is an extremely arrogant, cocky and very rude s****.>
that we are very glad he left. when he did and the great majority of us contacted the HR people with BB and complained; at least 98% of the store's staff did so and the Human Resources office staff never acted on our behalf to discipline or even to speak with Mr. King!
By the way here is his personal mobile phone no.
if anyone would like to contact him directly: (847) 721-2495. Since he is living and working in Seattle, WA this number may have changed by now.
PS BB associates are paid low wages and no commission!
So long and very good riddance you BIG s****.>
Anthony
Saint Petersburg, Florida
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Jaxbert
Saint Johns,Florida,
U.S.A.
This is old news
#5UPDATE Employee
Sun, November 30, 2008
They do have a lower price, at times, online. Afterall, there is less overhead online, and they can use a large warehouse anyplace and stock the stuff and drop ship it. Sometimes in-store is cheaper. They are working on keeping the prices the same, but that is not always easilly done.
A store in California has more overhead then a store in Kansas. Higher taxes, perhaps they need to pay associates more, higher electric bills. Having all prices match the Internet is difficult when you have a world-wide corporation. So different markets have to have diffrerent prices. So how do you then match that to a online site.
Also, Bestbuy.com is really like a different company alltogether. They use a different POS system... they are almost like a subsidiary.
The last thing is I find it hard to believe they would not match the price. If they don't, they have a training problem at that store. I match BB.COM all the time.... even weeks after it was purchased. It is clearly within the price match policy. A manager should not even be called... the system will allow a price change by any cashier.
J G Shrugged
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
Many stores do this.
#5Consumer Suggestion
Fri, November 21, 2008
Their web division is separate from the retail stores. (because they don't have the same overhead as the stores) Wal-Mart, for example was selling a toy for $10 less than the store. Store refused to price-match the website, so the product was returned to the store and bought online, and then shipped to the store.
If you want the online price, buy it online, and pick it up at the store. You will get the online price.
I don't see a ripoff here.
G33k Ag3nt
Bourbonnais,Illinois,
U.S.A.
This is being fixed
#5UPDATE Employee
Fri, November 21, 2008
The reason why this happened is for a while BBY corp had a division working on the online site and another division coordinating prices for the stores... and I dont believe they talked, emailed, or even knew each other existed
Now we have 2 web sites in store, the local store website reflecting prices in store, the national website with lower pices, but thoes lower prices are online only specials and are identified as such.
If you find a product online bby national and is cheaper than in store we price match + 10%, I believe anyway.. I am a repair tech I do not sell much product
But I remember a few years ago when we got a lot of flack for that in store
Kwilder
Tauton,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Glad to know I'm not the only one.
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, November 21, 2008
BB did the same exact to me. Hate to see Circuit City go under, but rest assure BB will never get a dime of my money.