Best Buy Bait & Switch Ripoff Ran a sale offering Door Buster Prices and did not have sufficient quantity Fresno California
all statements are correct in my belief and anyhting posted here is just my opinion...
For at least the 2nd year in a row Best Buy has had their Day After Thanksgiving sale...
They Advertise very low prices in multi-page ads, in fact the prices I beleive are so low they are below cost after the rebate game of course.
They limit quantities to stock on hand, do not offer rainchecks and some quantities are limited to a minimum of 2-5 per store.
I camped out all night waiting for them to open, in fact I was in the front of the line, there were approx 3000 people behind me at store opeining for their 6 hour sale...
Even though I was first in line I did not get all the things I wanted, let alone the other 2999 or so people behind me...
They made you wait in lines just to get 1 single product, cameras here, computers there... They had say x's of product you had to wait in a line for a specific item and pay, then go to another line wait and pay it was redicoulous... The problem here is when they ran out of "sale" product they started pitching similar product or offered the sale product if you bought an accessory... THIS IS MY OPINION OF BAIT AND SWITCH...
Having a low price sale is great, but if the price is unsustainable due to the fact it is under cost it only benefits a few of the first people and hurts all others and makes them waste their time in stupid lines. Not to mention possibly being unfair competition for a local say computer store who cannot afford to sell an item below cost and is so much more reputable not to get into playing this game with their valued customers.
Actual Complaint,
I would like to see a class action suit brought against Best Buy, I have actual news video of me and child being interviewed at the front of the line in out tent and sleeping bags... I could get hundreds of people in that line to say they felt violated and that Best Buy should have known better to stock more or offer rain checks.
Charge 1 Bait and Switch
Charge 2 Unfair competition business practices
I'm sure employees will testify they were told to offer similar product, also My friend has a recipt for a $199 computer after rebate that was told he could only get the special IF he bought accessories.
George
Fresno, California
U.S.A.
10 Updates & Rebuttals
Jessica
Bellingham,Washington,
U.S.A.
so what?
#11UPDATE Employee
Tue, January 24, 2006
DoorBusters are simply used to push people into the store. These DoorBuster items are sold below cost, before rebates! The benefit of selling these select items below their actual cost is that people will buy other above cost items, and offset the difference. They can't sell too many of these below cost, or they won't be able to make any money after selling the above cost items. That's why they usually run out. If you want a large quantity of a few really cheap items, then be prepared to pay extremely high prices for everything else to offset the cost.
John
Concord,California,
U.S.A.
That was a hot deal!!
#11UPDATE Employee
Fri, January 13, 2006
All of the door busters had minimum quantities. Most Best Buy stores had at least 3 times the minimum quantity. Of coarse we will try to sell something else once they are gone. It is not bait and switch due to us already meeting our minimum product obligation. My best advise, get there earlier. People arrived at 9:00p.m. on Thanksgiving, they got ALL the door busters they desired. Have a nice day.
Greg
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
"door buster" prices - once the freebies are gone, the store is going to try to upsell
#11Consumer Comment
Sun, January 01, 2006
Are you for real? The ads with the ultra discount prices serve one purpose: to get people in the store. They do honor the discount price within the rules listed in the ad (limit 1, 4 per store, etc).
Now, some people that have not figured it out, will camp outside for many hours before the store opens. What you do not understand is you cannot get all the items advertised at below cost just because you waited the longest. You are lucky to get even one of the super deals.
The ad does its job, getting mobs to show up, but once the freebies are gone, the store is going to try to upsell. They are not there to lose money.
In fact, I am glad to hear that the idiots camping out all night to get a 'steal' have to wait in a line for the promo. Stupid behavior should not be encouraged.
John
Hermitage,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Look George!!! Its customers like you that make me want to wrap up my 13 years of working retail and get an office job somewhere.
#11Consumer Suggestion
Sat, December 31, 2005
Look George!!!
I work retail also, and you obviously have never worked retail or don't currently work retail or you would have been at work yourself on BLACK FRIDAY!!! I don't work for Best Buy, but the store I work at we do the ticket policy and it works great. Sorry your the idiot that wants to get up early in the AM or even camp out in a parking lot for that matter for merchandise. Thre is nothing in the world I have to have that bad to make me do this. If you think you can do a better job or have a better system why don't you apply at Best Buy or any other retail store. I have never worked at Best Buy but I know their back room is not the size of a parking lot. Plus on Black Friday preparations all the retail stores fight to get product from the manufacturers. So you have to think you have Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Best-Buy, Sears, Office Depot, Staples, Office Max, and etc... the list goes on and on all almost trying to get the same freaking product. Just the stores alone I just mentioned sum up probably 50,000 stores in just the U.S. alone. Sorry you think Christmas is all about merchandise, spending money, and whatever and not about family. Your just an unreasonable selfish customer and don't know what your talking about, and you know what, your going to be an idiot for Black Friday 2006 also, waiting in the cold, camping outside, waiting in God only knows whatever weather. Its customers like you that make me want to wrap up my 13 years of working retail and get an office job somewhere. Get a part time job working retail part time or even at Christmas time for that matter and see how you like it - You think you were an ill customer, that is nothing, I think your nothing compared to what I have been through within the last 13 years of retail - JERK!!!
Ron
Valdosta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Here is how Black Friday works
#11UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 05, 2005
Okay... first of all. The first guy complaining seems to think that Best Buy should have had 3000 RCA 52" HDTV's, 3000 JVC digital camcorders, 3000 E-Machines Computers, 3000 Kodak Digital cameras, 3000 Portable DVD players, 3000 DVD players and 3000 copies of 24 Season 1 on DVD. This way EVERYONE could get them. It DOESNT work that way. Even Wal Mart is limited to what they have in stock and most of the time its the same or LESS than what Best Buy has.
When you line up at Best Buy BRIGHT and EARLY on the day after Turkey day right before we open , we will provide you with a ticket for the items(s) you want. This means that you are reserved that item. If you don't have a ticket, you don't get that item. This might expain the HARD DRIVES that person number two complained about. The tickets were already gone within the first 10 minutes, and you didn't have one. Therefore you get no hard drive. best Buy is NOT the only place that this takes place. Also, would you rather have tickets, or get into fights with people who run in and just grab grab grab.??
At our store we had only ONE complaint. We opened a register in the back of the store specifically for DVD players, and people didn't like that. Other than that most everyone went home with what they wanted. There is no BAIT AND SWTICH... its all in the ad. 25 Computers per store, RCA 52" is limited to warehouse quantities only! Don't mad when you are a day late and a dollar short!
Dave
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
not alone... BESTBUY
#11Consumer Comment
Sat, December 04, 2004
i to waited in line at bestbuy in Oklahoma city ok.i waited from 3 am to 6 am.i was 15TH in line to buy a western digital Hard Drive for my computer......
sales states.........
WESTERN DIGTAL 160 GIG HARD DRIVE
8 MEG CACHE 7200 RPM AND RECEIVE A FREE ATA 100 CARD RETAIL COST 50$ FOR FREE DAY OF Purchase..
SALES ADD STATES THEY HAD *45 PER STORE*
SO AT 6 AM WHEN THE DOORS OPEN A LOT OF PPL WENT TO THE DVD SECTION AND SOME TO THE CAMERAS AND I SEEN 3 PPL GO TO THE COMPUTER SECTION.....I GO BACK THERE I ASKED WHERE ARE THE HARD DRIVES AT?
THE *IDIOT* SAYS OHH THEY ARE ALREADY GONE! I SAID WHAT ONLY 4 POPLE INCLUDING MY SELF CAME BACK THIS WAY HOW CAN 45 H/D'S BE SOLD ALREADY?
HE SAYS I DO NOT KOW BUT THERE ALREADY GONE...I SAID THATS CRAP I WAS THE 5TH PERSON OVER HERE AND 45 HARD DRIVES ARE ALREADY SOLD?
HE SAYS YES..I SAID BULLSHIT THIS STORE NEVER HAD 45 DID THEY? HE SAID YES WE DID!!! I SAID WELL I THINK YOU DID NOT AND THAT MEANS THE SALES ADD WAS INCORRECT SO THATS FALSE ADVERTISEMENT.....*MEANING FRAUD*
THE Hard Drive was 119$ with 90$ in rebates making final cost 29.99$
i requested to speak with a floor manger the guy did not comply he just said ok now run along...i said what? go get your supervisor now!! after wating 25 plus minutes this fat slob with his shirt 50% tucked in came can i help you?
i said yes and i explained it to himhe says ohh they sold with in 10 minutes and thats it" i said bullshit i was the 5th person here and i did not see 45 ppl come to get a hard drive...i told him in the Future might want to classifiy your answers a little bit better and tuck your shirt in you like a fat bum..........he told me to get out. so i emailed the head office with no reply yet..
SO YES IL JUMP IN ON THE CLASS ACTION Lawsuit
LIARS WORK AT BESTBUY....
Dave
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
not alone... BESTBUY
#11Consumer Comment
Sat, December 04, 2004
i to waited in line at bestbuy in Oklahoma city ok.i waited from 3 am to 6 am.i was 15TH in line to buy a western digital Hard Drive for my computer......
sales states.........
WESTERN DIGTAL 160 GIG HARD DRIVE
8 MEG CACHE 7200 RPM AND RECEIVE A FREE ATA 100 CARD RETAIL COST 50$ FOR FREE DAY OF Purchase..
SALES ADD STATES THEY HAD *45 PER STORE*
SO AT 6 AM WHEN THE DOORS OPEN A LOT OF PPL WENT TO THE DVD SECTION AND SOME TO THE CAMERAS AND I SEEN 3 PPL GO TO THE COMPUTER SECTION.....I GO BACK THERE I ASKED WHERE ARE THE HARD DRIVES AT?
THE *IDIOT* SAYS OHH THEY ARE ALREADY GONE! I SAID WHAT ONLY 4 POPLE INCLUDING MY SELF CAME BACK THIS WAY HOW CAN 45 H/D'S BE SOLD ALREADY?
HE SAYS I DO NOT KOW BUT THERE ALREADY GONE...I SAID THATS CRAP I WAS THE 5TH PERSON OVER HERE AND 45 HARD DRIVES ARE ALREADY SOLD?
HE SAYS YES..I SAID BULLSHIT THIS STORE NEVER HAD 45 DID THEY? HE SAID YES WE DID!!! I SAID WELL I THINK YOU DID NOT AND THAT MEANS THE SALES ADD WAS INCORRECT SO THATS FALSE ADVERTISEMENT.....*MEANING FRAUD*
THE Hard Drive was 119$ with 90$ in rebates making final cost 29.99$
i requested to speak with a floor manger the guy did not comply he just said ok now run along...i said what? go get your supervisor now!! after wating 25 plus minutes this fat slob with his shirt 50% tucked in came can i help you?
i said yes and i explained it to himhe says ohh they sold with in 10 minutes and thats it" i said bullshit i was the 5th person here and i did not see 45 ppl come to get a hard drive...i told him in the Future might want to classifiy your answers a little bit better and tuck your shirt in you like a fat bum..........he told me to get out. so i emailed the head office with no reply yet..
SO YES IL JUMP IN ON THE CLASS ACTION Lawsuit
LIARS WORK AT BESTBUY....
Dave
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
not alone... BESTBUY
#11Consumer Comment
Sat, December 04, 2004
i to waited in line at bestbuy in Oklahoma city ok.i waited from 3 am to 6 am.i was 15TH in line to buy a western digital Hard Drive for my computer......
sales states.........
WESTERN DIGTAL 160 GIG HARD DRIVE
8 MEG CACHE 7200 RPM AND RECEIVE A FREE ATA 100 CARD RETAIL COST 50$ FOR FREE DAY OF Purchase..
SALES ADD STATES THEY HAD *45 PER STORE*
SO AT 6 AM WHEN THE DOORS OPEN A LOT OF PPL WENT TO THE DVD SECTION AND SOME TO THE CAMERAS AND I SEEN 3 PPL GO TO THE COMPUTER SECTION.....I GO BACK THERE I ASKED WHERE ARE THE HARD DRIVES AT?
THE *IDIOT* SAYS OHH THEY ARE ALREADY GONE! I SAID WHAT ONLY 4 POPLE INCLUDING MY SELF CAME BACK THIS WAY HOW CAN 45 H/D'S BE SOLD ALREADY?
HE SAYS I DO NOT KOW BUT THERE ALREADY GONE...I SAID THATS CRAP I WAS THE 5TH PERSON OVER HERE AND 45 HARD DRIVES ARE ALREADY SOLD?
HE SAYS YES..I SAID BULLSHIT THIS STORE NEVER HAD 45 DID THEY? HE SAID YES WE DID!!! I SAID WELL I THINK YOU DID NOT AND THAT MEANS THE SALES ADD WAS INCORRECT SO THATS FALSE ADVERTISEMENT.....*MEANING FRAUD*
THE Hard Drive was 119$ with 90$ in rebates making final cost 29.99$
i requested to speak with a floor manger the guy did not comply he just said ok now run along...i said what? go get your supervisor now!! after wating 25 plus minutes this fat slob with his shirt 50% tucked in came can i help you?
i said yes and i explained it to himhe says ohh they sold with in 10 minutes and thats it" i said bullshit i was the 5th person here and i did not see 45 ppl come to get a hard drive...i told him in the Future might want to classifiy your answers a little bit better and tuck your shirt in you like a fat bum..........he told me to get out. so i emailed the head office with no reply yet..
SO YES IL JUMP IN ON THE CLASS ACTION Lawsuit
LIARS WORK AT BESTBUY....
Dave
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
not alone... BESTBUY
#11Consumer Comment
Sat, December 04, 2004
i to waited in line at bestbuy in Oklahoma city ok.i waited from 3 am to 6 am.i was 15TH in line to buy a western digital Hard Drive for my computer......
sales states.........
WESTERN DIGTAL 160 GIG HARD DRIVE
8 MEG CACHE 7200 RPM AND RECEIVE A FREE ATA 100 CARD RETAIL COST 50$ FOR FREE DAY OF Purchase..
SALES ADD STATES THEY HAD *45 PER STORE*
SO AT 6 AM WHEN THE DOORS OPEN A LOT OF PPL WENT TO THE DVD SECTION AND SOME TO THE CAMERAS AND I SEEN 3 PPL GO TO THE COMPUTER SECTION.....I GO BACK THERE I ASKED WHERE ARE THE HARD DRIVES AT?
THE *IDIOT* SAYS OHH THEY ARE ALREADY GONE! I SAID WHAT ONLY 4 POPLE INCLUDING MY SELF CAME BACK THIS WAY HOW CAN 45 H/D'S BE SOLD ALREADY?
HE SAYS I DO NOT KOW BUT THERE ALREADY GONE...I SAID THATS CRAP I WAS THE 5TH PERSON OVER HERE AND 45 HARD DRIVES ARE ALREADY SOLD?
HE SAYS YES..I SAID BULLSHIT THIS STORE NEVER HAD 45 DID THEY? HE SAID YES WE DID!!! I SAID WELL I THINK YOU DID NOT AND THAT MEANS THE SALES ADD WAS INCORRECT SO THATS FALSE ADVERTISEMENT.....*MEANING FRAUD*
THE Hard Drive was 119$ with 90$ in rebates making final cost 29.99$
i requested to speak with a floor manger the guy did not comply he just said ok now run along...i said what? go get your supervisor now!! after wating 25 plus minutes this fat slob with his shirt 50% tucked in came can i help you?
i said yes and i explained it to himhe says ohh they sold with in 10 minutes and thats it" i said bullshit i was the 5th person here and i did not see 45 ppl come to get a hard drive...i told him in the Future might want to classifiy your answers a little bit better and tuck your shirt in you like a fat bum..........he told me to get out. so i emailed the head office with no reply yet..
SO YES IL JUMP IN ON THE CLASS ACTION Lawsuit
LIARS WORK AT BESTBUY....
Cory
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
Maybe
#11Consumer Comment
Fri, December 03, 2004
You might be right. Would have to see the ads and see if there was anything about"limited quantity" disclaimer in them. Few years back, radio shack had an ad for a 5" B&W TV for $29.95, on black Friday. Got up early was the first customer in, at 7 a.m. No TV's. Went to 5 different radio shacks that morning, none of them had the TV, nor had they had the TV that day. Talk about a ripoff. Have avoided rs ever since. There's no way in hell those companies could possible stock the quantity of the items needed to forfill the demand of advertised items. For the first time, Walmart didn't play that game this year and their sales were down quite a bit. You can't win for losing. Advertise the items without having them on hand and you piss off the customer, don't advertise the items and the customer goes somewhere else, like Best Buy. It's a no win situation.