Best Buy "bait & switch" operation, does not have advertised items in stock Prairie Minnesota
I was looking for a car stereo and in a Sunday newspaper insert, saw a "Best Buy" ad. Three days later I went into a store in Wilmington, Delaware (465) and was disappointed to find the stereo that I wished to purchase was "out of stock." I purchased a more expensive system and had it installed by "Best Buy." Six weeks later, I was looking through another "Best Buy" circular, only to find the same system with free installation! I went back to the store that I purchased the system from and they said that they guarantee their prices only for thirty days. I wrote a letter to the President/CEO of "Best Buy", Brad H. Anderson and received a reply stating that there was nothing that they could do for me. I may be out $46.99, but "Best Buy" has lost a customer for life!
Paul
West Chester, Pennsylvania
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Scott
San Antonio,Texas,
Reading the Ad
#7UPDATE Employee
Tue, June 25, 2002
Most if not all of the products on "black friday" are advertised as limited quantities. It can also be expected on those days that they will sell out.
We have people there way before 6 am.
If anything you need to be realistic sinse all sales no matter what the company sell out fast on popular items.
Scott
San Antonio,Texas,
Reading the Ad
#7UPDATE Employee
Tue, June 25, 2002
Most if not all of the products on "black friday" are advertised as limited quantities. It can also be expected on those days that they will sell out.
We have people there way before 6 am.
If anything you need to be realistic sinse all sales no matter what the company sell out fast on popular items.
Scott
San Antonio,Texas,
Reading the Ad
#7UPDATE Employee
Tue, June 25, 2002
Most if not all of the products on "black friday" are advertised as limited quantities. It can also be expected on those days that they will sell out.
We have people there way before 6 am.
If anything you need to be realistic sinse all sales no matter what the company sell out fast on popular items.
Andrew
Alexandria,Virginia,
Very early bird !
#7Consumer Comment
Mon, May 13, 2002
On several occasions I have driven to Best Buy to purchase items on sale or promoted with a sizeable rebate only to find I was too late, the item was sold out.
Thanksgiving day I saw a Sony Vaio computers advertised for sale begining the following day, and I was determined to get mine. My wife and I arrived at Best Buy at 6:00 AM the following morning (black Friday, probably the busiest shopping day of the year)and were with the first 10 people assisted in the computer department.
I saw 2 other people purchasing the same computer I was, apparently we had been blessed with the only 3 in stock. There was quite an outrage from other consumers who had arrived just after us and couldn't understand the shortage of not just the Sony, but other advertised computers also.
And if anyone is wondering, no I didn't purchase the "extended waste of money warranty."
Jason
Columbia,South Carolina,
Early Bird gets the worm
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, April 26, 2002
So you see something in a Sunday ad and arrive 3 days later and it is sold out. Of course it is Best Buy is a multi billion dollar enterprise they sell A TON of car stereo's among other things. Now if you had gone that same day totally different story even then by law you have a rain check option unless specified by the seller , you chose to buy a different model.
Ronalds
Charlotte,North Carolina,
Think About IT
#7Consumer Suggestion
Thu, April 25, 2002
Best Buy is a multi-billion dollar-a-year organization, that has just over 1600 total retail outlets spanning more than just the United States. There are rules and policies set up for specific reasons.
I hold a large portion of stock in Best Buy since the early eighties, it's treated me well. I must say that I am -happy- that Best Buy has a policy that allows you to match the prices on a product within thirty days after purchase. However, we all have to play by the rules.
If Best Buy gives you six weeks to pricematch it, then everyone gets six weeks to return products for price matches. It's hard for individuals to perceive on a personal scale what this really means. It means alot less margin (total profit) and lower revenue. Everywhere has rules...Circuit City, Home Depot, CompUSA, Lowes, Wal-Mart... with an attitude on the rules such as that you will soon find yourself limited to e-commerce solutions only.