Best buy hosed me

[ls3mach]

I worked at bestbuy for three years (years and years ago) and I know its their job to inform the customer, to up sell the customer, and generally inform even the customers who think they are already informed. (which we weren't)
We even expressed our disdain for the Hero because it wasn't on par with the likes of the Incredible or the Nexus.
We even made two trips of it, spending time with the clerks on the first trip to just learn about the various carriers' pricing and phones. They had the opportunity.

Secondly I didn't rip anyone off. Its within the 30 days return policy and my wife's phone is seriously broke. Without the trackball you can't use the camera or other things.


It sucks for me too.
I spent over $100 on accessories that are now mostly useless. If I was a real jerk I'd be trying to return all the car chargers and screen protectors and hard cases and belt pouches we bought. But we aren't, it just seems tacky at this point.

Its not taking advantage of them, they should have informed us in the first place. If all I wanted was a cash register I could have gotten them off the web.

So you used to work retail and you let your wife rail the guy? Was it even the same guy that sold you the phones? Was the Evo even announced with a release date when you bought the Hero? You did make them go beyond, you made them give you credits so you could get the Evo for what you had purchased the Hero for, that is way past buyers remorse. You could have just as easily returned the Hero and all of the accessories that you now can't use and got the Evo when it came out. Instead you went up there, got irate with at least one associate and got credits issued so that the more expensive phone wouldn't cost you any extra money.
Now that is what I call tacky. Also the Hero is $30 online, no where near the $200 price tag of the Evo...

He means, you let your wife get all fired up on the employee for no reason. All you had to do was walk in and politely say that her phone was broken, and that you would like to return your heros and preorder evos. There was no need to give the associate a hard time about it, and you would have gotten the same result without ****ting on someone else's day.




You can just exchange them for the appropriate EVO accessories. There is nothing tacky about returning something that you cannot use.

It also sounds like you got the phones before the EVO was announced with a launch date and available for preorder. If that's the case, its ridiculous to think that they would go out of their way to get you hooked on a phone that they didn't know if it would be available anytime soon. You felt that the hero was suitable for your needs when you purchased them, so the associate did do his job correctly.

Exactly. I would think if he ever did actually work there, he would know that people are ****ty and would be more likely to not be the same way. I have noticed people with no power tend to get cocky anytime the opportunity presents itself. I try to be respectful to people working in retail. I have worked and managed retails stores a national chain included. People will say whatever it takes to push the blame on someone else.


I get that the phone broke, take it back, that is fine. Making them comp you $170 per line after your wife yelled at someone, absurd. As I said. I applaud you.

 

[bp3dots]

She can be dominating but it was a happy exchange once everyone was on the same page.

I'll see about the accessories, I'm not even sure if we saved the packaging. Still feels tacky.

I doubt it was before the pre-orders started, but I'm not sure. We've only had them about a week and a half, maybe two. When we returned and got the pre-orders we were #45 and #46, which was I think this thursday.


Assuming they hadn't started taking pre-orders it becomes the fault of bestbuy corporate and Sprint for not informing their staff of the impending new product before the return/exchange window opened. How many other people are like me, stuck with a phone that struggles to push through the apps when if the had just known they could have waited a week or two and gotten the best, and not just stuck, but stuck for TWO YEARS.
At the very least the smart thing to do on the corporate level would be to inform the troops 30 days out that "hey, just so you know, sprint is getting a new superphone similar to the HD2 or Incredible. Might come in handy if it sounds like that fits the customer's needs..."

We don't always have a full 30 days notice on these events. Also, if stores constantly try to sell what is coming instead of what is available, we'd starve ourselves. We do the best we can with what we have.

 

[Raidz1]

Ok, so let me get this straight. Best Buy does NOT honor the 1yr eligible upgrade? (I have a 1yr on June 1st, but will honor the 2 year pricing)

So for all of the Palm Pre first day adopters that pre-ordered at Best Buy, are out of luck?

Someone please do correct me if I am wrong.

 

[bucc0303]

no you are right. If you are not the primary line and not eligable for the full 150 and only the 75 dollar discount you can't get the phone they will not sell it to you

 

[bucc0303]

I am in the same boat I am a pre adopter and only eligable for a 75 dollar discount and they will not be selling the phone to me and I was the first one on the pre-order list.

 

[bp3dots]

I think I may have worded my original post wrong. I am a premiere customer but not the primary line. After a year I can get 75 dollars off the total price of the phone. My discount kicks in on the 1st of June. As long as it is a 2 year upgrade. Best Buy said they will not honor that and it has to be a new or full upgrade eligible to sell the phone to me. Why would you want to not make a sale. I planed on getting other things like the charger and what not. Best Buy won't even give me my money back on the gift card for the pre-order. What gives?

1. This sounds ****ty, but stores make zilch on those 1 year sales. Yes, it sucks, but we have families to feed too.

2. Again, it sucks, but I'm betting it was clearly stated that it was non-refundable. YMMV here, sometimes you can escalate the issue through their customer service enough to get it squared away, but it'd probably be easier to sell the gift card to someone for $50 cash. If you do decide to keep working with bb to try and get the refund, just remember when dealing with them that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

 

[ls3mach]

Ok, so let me get this straight. Best Buy does NOT honor the 1yr eligible upgrade? (I have a 1yr on June 1st, but will honor the 2 year pricing)

So for all of the Palm Pre first day adopters that pre-ordered at Best Buy, are out of luck?

Someone please do correct me if I am wrong.

You aren't out of luck. Buy the phone at full price. Sprint honors a 1 year price upgrade buy it from them.

 

[bp3dots]

Ok, so let me get this straight. Best Buy does NOT honor the 1yr eligible upgrade? (I have a 1yr on June 1st, but will honor the 2 year pricing)

So for all of the Palm Pre first day adopters that pre-ordered at Best Buy, are out of luck?

Someone please do correct me if I am wrong.

The premier customers get full 2 year discounts each year. BB will do those sales.

BB will (apparently, im not a bb-er anymore) not do the 1 year - $75 upgrade

 

[bp3dots]

I am in the same boat I am a pre adopter and only eligable for a 75 dollar discount and they will not be selling the phone to me and I was the first one on the pre-order list.

Doesn't the main line on your account have a full upgrade available in June then?
If you got a pre on its release then you have to be a premier customer.

 

[VKitty]

You will end up paying $375 for the phone at a sprint store where you would have paid $525 for it at bestbuy.

How does that work? Why would he end up paying more on Best Buy?

 

[bucc0303]

1. This sounds ****ty, but stores make zilch on those 1 year sales. Yes, it sucks, but we have families to feed too.

2. Again, it sucks, but I'm betting it was clearly stated that it was non-refundable. YMMV here, sometimes you can escalate the issue through their customer service enough to get it squared away, but it'd probably be easier to sell the gift card to someone for $50 cash. If you do decide to keep working with bb to try and get the refund, just remember when dealing with them that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

I understand what you are saying but when you go in there and the employee tells you no problem then you call to check on something else and then mention it during conversation and then they tell you no way how are you suppse to feel.

 

[bp3dots]

How does that work? Why would he end up paying more on Best Buy?

Best Buy retail price (estimated) $600 - $75 1 year discount = $525

Sprint retail price $450 - $75 1 yr. discount = $375

 

[bp3dots]

I understand what you are saying but when you go in there and the employee tells you no problem then you call to check on something else and then mention it during conversation and then they tell you no way how are you suppse to feel.

Thats why I suspect you may be able to get it fixed, if the employee told you something that was untrue.

 

[twan2001]

well you are not out $50. You can use that gift card to get whatever you want at bestbuy. If you were only going to sign a one year contract you are better off going to sprint. You will end up paying $375 for the phone at a sprint store where you would have paid $525 for it at bestbuy.

It wont be $525 at bestbuy but ok

 

[BigRick10]

It wont be $525 at bestbuy but ok

So then what will it be???

 

[Raidz1]

The premier customers get full 2 year discounts each year. BB will do those sales.

BB will (apparently, im not a bb-er anymore) not do the 1 year - $75 upgrade

Well, the other line is a premier account I believe, since it is a family plan, my line is not eligible?

Has anyone had good luck in having Sprint bump up your current 1yr eligible to the 2yr one?

 

[bp3dots]

Well, the other line is a premier account I believe, since it is a family plan, my line is not eligible?

Has anyone had good luck in having Sprint bump up your current 1yr eligible to the 2yr one?

You may be able to use the main line's upgrade if they are willing to let you

 

[jam4775]

When I pre-ordered my EVO BB didn't look up my account at all... although I knew this wasn't a problem for me because I'm a premeir customer and my contract ends June 16th so I'm definitely eligible for the full discount.

BUT... many people don't know where they are sitting with their upgrade eligibility and to make matters worse most people will definitely not know the limitations of what types of upgrade BB can do... like $75 vs $150 discount. This is definitely a failure on BB's part for not checking the upgrade availability first before allowing people to pre-orders their phones.

 

[VKitty]

Best Buy retail price (estimated) $600 - $75 1 year discount = $525

Sprint retail price $450 - $75 1 yr. discount = $375

What about the upgrade 2year contract price? Does that equal out to be the same or is BB still cost more.

 

[anish3232]

You can always sell your gift card and reserve to someone else. Just go to BB early on the 4th and I am sure someone will be waiting in line to get one and will buy your spot.