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Blessed are the Geeks, for they shall internet the earth |
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Best Buy Trickery Douglas Chick 
Fine I told myself, I know what I’m getting into, I can handled it. I’ll simply say no thank you and then no as many times as it’s going to take to get out of the building. I then quickly ushered over a salesman and pointed out the laptop that I wanted, where he began to write down the brand, stock number. So far so good, I exhaled with relief. Suddenly, but not unexpectedly the man asked if he could tell me about the extended warranty. “Can I tell you about our extended warranty.” He asked. “No.” I replied. “Just get me the computer please.” He did his job, I did mine, and now I’m ready to go to the register. “You’re not going to let me tell you about it?” He asked surprised. “No. Just get me the computer please.” I said. “Well, I believe the warranty is so good that I don’t want to sell you a computer without the warranty.” He then said. Fair enough, I told myself, and I said, “Get me your god damned manager, asshole!” Obviously I changed my mind about not getting mad. Some situations warrant it. It’s kind of like my own extended warranty. Shocked, he asked. “What for?” “Because all I want to do is buy this computer and leave this store. I don’t want no extended warranty, I don’t want to hear about the extended warranty, and I don’t want your opinion on the matter. I just want the computer." “All right.” He replied, “No need to act like that. Here follow me.” And he took me to a counter where another sales associate stood waiting. Naturally I felt embarrassed for out bursting like that. The man simply had a job to do, and that was to sell me an extended warranty and common courtesy dictated that I should have at least heard him out. Embarrassed I stood before a counter where computers are rung up. The next guy took the slip of paper, he began entering the info into the register. Looked up with surprise and asked, “You don’t want the extended warrant?” “No I don’t thanks.” “You should really reconsider. It will save you money in the long run.” “I know but I think I’ll pass.” “You don’t like saving money?” he continued. “That’s right.” I replied, stopping myself from exploding. “You should get the extended warranty. It will save you money on batteries.” “No, I don’t want the extended warranty. Just get me the computer.” “You don’t want to save yourself money?” He asked yet again. “That’s right. Just the computer please.” I said again. “Your are making a mistake.” He persisted. “What’s wrong with you people?” I finally erupted. “I don’t want the god damned extended warranty. Just get me the fucking computer!” “Fine.” He said. “Good.” I replied wanting to pull him over the counter. “What about a laptop accessory pack?” “A what?” “A laptop accessory pack?” he repeated. “I don’t think so.” I replied. “A laptop bag?” “No.” I answered as low and calm as I could without simply going insane. “The Norton Anti-virus that comes on the machine is out dated, would you be interested in purchasing a current version?” I gave no response, as I was too busy pushing back a violent episode. I handed him my credit card, he swiped it, and I signed my name on the little LED screen. He punched in a couple of more keys, and then asked my to sign for the credit card. “What did I just sign?” I asked. “Your membership to MSN.” He explained in an expression that made a car salesman look like an amateur. Oddly this made me smile. Not so oddly I leaned into the counter and said, “You know, I hate this place. I hate you, and I hate that jackass standing over by the door greeting people. I don’t want to join MSN because I hate them too.” “It’s too late he said, you already signed the agreement form.” “I do not want to join MSN, I have no need to join MSN, I don't want MSN to have my name, address and phone number, and I want you to take my name out of the register and just sell me the..” I paused, and in a kindlier, more gentile voice I said, “ I just want the laptop and that is the only thing I am paying for.” I then signed the credit card screen, he handed me a receipt. I looked on the receipt and there was a 2 cent charge for MSN. “What is this 2 cents for?” I growled. “It for the MSN CD.” He then handed me a MSN CD. “MSN charges us for the disk. “There’s something terrible wrong with you, you know?” I affirmed. He gave no reply. He gave no expression at all. “I don’t want MSN and I’m not going to join it.” He shrugged his shoulder and a computer tech came up and took my laptop and walked away with it. “Where’s he going with my laptop?” I asked. “He going to check it out for you. You’ve already paid for the service.” I look at my receipt again and see that I was charged 1 cent for the service. “Fine.” I said and left him standing in wait for the next unsuspecting customer. I walked up to the next counter, the computer tech had my laptop out, booted up and installing the operating system. As I leaned against the counter where my new computer lay, he examines the receipt and asks, “Why didn’t you get the extended warranty?” I turned and stared into the wall. He asked again, but I ignored him. He told me that my Norton Anti-virus was an older version and asked if I’d like to purchase the newest release. “Give me the laptop now, please.” He said something else but I didn’t make it out as my anger turned into something fluid and was pressing down onto my bladder causing me to slightly hallucinate. I think he was trained in CPR, as it was displayed beside an A+ certification on the wall and he then had the hindsight to ask if I was all right. I returned a smile, removed my laptop from the counter and headed for the exit.
In my current mental state, I could see dimly into the immediate
future because as I moved closer to the door, I saw a security person
checking receipts to see if everyone had their extended warranty. Foaming
dog fever: that’s what the papers are going to call it. Local man had to
be taken away to hospital after contracting foaming dog fever in computer /
appliance store today. The man
waved me through without asking to see my receipt and my mouth foamed not.
Yesterday I received a letter from MSN thanking me for joining their
online service. I called them and informed them that I didn’t join MSN and
I was added to the service without permission and my name and address was
wrongfully distributed. I asked if there were any charges billed to me, then
a very polite man with an Indian accent told me no. I was still under my
free 6-month trial. But I would have been charged if I waited 4 more months to call.
He switched me to the cancellation department, and to my surprise, the
gentleman apologized, canceled my service and went on to explain to me that
some of their vendors do this, and they’ve had to cancel and give credit
to many people. He further continued to state that MSN has no control over
the practices of such stores as Best Buy and hoped I didn’t have any ill
will against MSN. Although I knew, even as he was speaking that he was very
well rehearsed and could possibly be reading from a monitor, I felt
exceptionally good
about MSN. Almost good enough to join the MSN network. The sad fact is, I like going into Best Buy, I like the products that they sell and like the atmosphere. What I don’t like is what you are forced to go through to actually purchase goods. I don’t like the way they pound you into submission over extended warranties or the deceptive sales trickery practiced there. I don’t like being treated like a mark or a target, or the entire used car lot experience. I don’t like writing articles like this, and I don't like having to complain to the state attorney generals office, as I don't believe it does any good. I also don't like calling Best Buy and talking to the store manager who only refers me to a 1-888 number to the corporate office. I dread having to call the corporate office, get passed around from one phone extension to another and finally end up with a person that is over run with these types of complaints and is heavily medicated. Instead I think I’ll collect stories from other people to add to my own and then take everyone’s complaint to a larger forum. Who knows, maybe this is the makings of a class action lawsuit that won't be ignored. It may even change the practices of the way retail stores do business in my state. Who knows. So send me your story about Best Buy to, BestBuyComplaints@TheNetworkAdministrator.com
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Months ago I purchased a Sony laptop from Best Buy. I
don’t typically like to buy computers from Best Buy because I don’t like
how they pressure you into purchasing an extended warranty. I like
what Best Buy sells, the prices, how the store is laid out, and like
everyone else I go and gaze into the wall of plasma TVs. What I don’t like
is being verbally pounded into an extended warranty contract. Ambivalent can
mean the expression of two completely opposite feelings at the same time. I
was excited to find the laptop that I’ve been wanting at such a good price,
but was mournful that I found it at Best Buy. Why, because I don’t like
being bullied into buying what I don’t want!
