We didn't brave the early morning chaos as you brave souls. We waited until the afternoon to hit Best Buy. I was after the 256 Ram for only $4.95. It was sold out. But in the same complex was Staples. Not quite the same deal, but I got 128 Ram for $19.95 with a $15 dollar rebate. Only $4.95. I know, thinking...will he send in the rebate? And if so, will he get it back? Yes, I will send it in, and I always follow rebate instructions to the T and hound them if they delay much. I always get my rebates :). That was all we were after except for some Christmas printer paper. OK, I snuck in the Spiderman DVD over the weekend too.

My adivce, send your wife alone. Mine WANTED to get up at 4 am to start what she calls "The first day of hunting season" for women.

By noon, she was home with about $300 of electronic/computer stuff that will actually be free once she sends in all the rebate stuff (which shes done and we're just waiting for he checks).

Her trick was to go to Office Max at 7am after a 5 am visit to the Department store where she scored big there. (Free DVD player after rebate and 9 years of socks for $3.00)I now have more blank CDRW's than I can use in the next 2 years, enough batteries to run all the kids Christmas toys and although I have no idea what I'll use them for, I have 100 IBM floppy disks.

The best part of the whole thing, I got to sleep in and she brought doughnuts home from the freebies the store was giving away. I can't wait till hunting season starts next year.

I have learned over the past few years what the value of my time is in respect to savings. For instance, I flew to Denver Recently and saved 145.00 on my tickets, problem is, long layovers, layovers that added up to 6 hours. My time at $75 per hour had me a big loser in that proposition. Our range went out last week, the wife wanted to shop for a new one, I told her this time we would do it differently, surfed to lowes.com, bestbuy.com, conns.com, and couple of other sites, decided on a range from sears.com that was on sale, bought it, arrange for delivery that was cheaper than the local delivery charge, it showed up in 3 days!, the guys were great, hauled off the old range and even installed the other one which according the site I was supposed to do.

My lawn guy charges me $35 and works for 2 hours on the lawn. It's worth every penny.

Value you're time before you get wrapped up in the marketing hype. It's made my life easier.

Below is the letter that I sent to Best Buy Corporate Headquarters, which they elected not to respond to. I can not say enough bad things about Best Buy, who I like to refer to as Worst Buy. They have zero concern for any customer issues. They don't care when they do not have what they advertised in stock and less concern when you do have a problem with one of their products.

Best Buy
Corporate Headquarters
P.O. Box 9312
Minneapolis, MN 55440-9312

Dear Best Buy,

I am writing this letter to the corporate headquarters as a final effort to avoid litigation. I purchased a computer online from your company in July after repeatedly attempting to purchase a computer from several of your stores only to find out to great aggravation that you did not have the computer that you had advertised in stock. I decided to purchase the computer from your company due to the price after mail in rebates. After ordering the computer online, which took longer than promised to arrive, I looked in the box only to find that there was no mail in rebates. I assumed that the rebates would be coming in the mail because at no point in purchasing the computer online was I instructed to print out a rebate form. After a few weeks of waiting for something to come I telephoned your rebate department, which then informed me that I must print out the mail-in form online. So I went to the rebate section of your website to print out the form. At that point there was no longer the form that matched my exact date. So I printed out the form that most closely matched my form and mailed it in. After mailing in the form, I waited the mandatory 8 weeks before I was allowed to talk to one of your representatives. Both the initial representative and the floor manager basically said tough luck the form has expired and there is no way to get the rebate form end of discussion. I asked if there was anyone else that I could discuss this matter with they said no the only thing that I would be able to would be to sue to try and collect my rebate. This leaves me at my current situation. I would prefer not to pursue litigation, however, if I do not get the rebate that was promised to me immediately I will have no other choice.

I need help!

Jumping threw hoop's 3 time's to get a $50.00 rebate has me furious.The rebate dept sucks.I,m disabled and counted on Best Buy for there products,After all the hasel i've gone threw to get a $50.00 D-Link rebate I'll go else where.Once bitten ya know what I mean.

I also am quite pissed off about Beat Buys handling of mail in rebates. A few months ago I purchased two cell phones from Best Buy for Mail in rebates of 130 dollars. I have been stung before with rebates so I read over the paperwork quite closely. Not only do they make it very vague on what You actually must send in to qualify .nowhere did I read One per household. It said one rebate per envelope so I sent both rebates separetly.
I got one check back in the mail for 130 dollars and a nice slip saying that there is only one allowed per household even after the sale person assure me that I could get both rebates. I drove to the store where I bought the phones and they said they could not do anything about it they have no hardcopy of the rebate but gave me the 800 number. I called the 800 number
and their canned response was
I am looking at the rebate right heron my computer and it says only one per customer. I requested a copy of it and their response was sorry we can't do that. Of course I made copies of the original paperwork but they are banking on busy guys like me misplacing them.
They have no hardcopy trail. So all beware Best Buy operates like the circus con man

Everafter...

BEST BUY Rebate program is a scam. Vague, overly stated rebate forms and documnetation rquiremnets. Our UPC code from the box was not available when we appiled and the receipot and forms from the store were not Valid, SORRY NO REBATE FOR YOU!!!!

I will never buy fromn this company again!!

I got the Best Buy rebate hoop toss also. 100.00 dollars on a toshiba lap top .
I got the Toshiba rebate without a concern , but Best Buy has on rebate form for web and one for store .
I made the mistake of store pick, to aviod the 25 minute wait for a sale rep , up and was told at the store to fill out the store rebate , so I did . I sent it off 3 weeks later Best sent the letter back stating I needed to fill out the web rebate form , after 45 minutes on the phone to find the rebate coupon on the web site that had no link I printed a web rebate from and sent the mess in again .
I called today to find out I needed to send a web receipt not the receipt I was givin at store pick, up even though they took an inprint of my credit card . It looked like a receipt to me .

Anyway I just got of the phone with customer service and they say it's too late I lose .
OK Best Buy lost another customer .
Best Buy Sucks

I too just had my share of the Best Buy philosophy. I just purchased two days ago a Sonycamcorder, and a Zire PDA. Total Cost, a little over $2000.00. In the accessories the salesman told me I need to purchas a piece of Best Buy software "Learn the PDA" (Cost 19.99)

I bought it took it home, and open and tried to install it and the software after attempting to register it told me it was expired. I called the store and spoke with an employee named Mary,who informed me the store was closing and to bring it in the next day for a complete refund.

I was with the employee at the return counter I explained the whole thing and what Mary told me. He calls over the store manager where I start to explain again and he get beligerent and tells me I can't take your word on this. (That an employee named Mary whWhen I we told me to return it) Then he proceed to tell me he can't help me. I told him I wanted his name, and he says he's the store manager and that the name is on his shirt and that he is done with me and to leave the store. I go outside and call the customer relations department where the gentleman at first is going to call the store (#127) Lakewood California and ask the manager what happened. He puts me on hold, than comes back and says the manager kicked you out because he states you cursed him and made a racial statement.

(Oh and that his employees were witnesses) I stated to the guy on the phone (all this over $20.00 Dollars)I had 10 people walk up to me and assure me they heard the conversation and would call the corporate HQ today. If no satisfaction comes from this I will be picketing the store.

When I told that store manager that in the last 5 month I spent $5000 in his store I got the most out of the ordinary answer. (SO WHAT!)Where is the policy gone to that says "the customer is always right", what happen to customer appreciation and respect.

In Jan.,2003,I purchased a Direct TV sattelite system from the Boardman,Ohio store.This was supposed to be a $100.00 rebate deal.The system was installed as promised,and all the required forms were sent in.To date,I have received nothing.I spoke with the manager,and even tho she gave me the royal runaround,she at least returned my calls,but no results.I am really disgusted with these "rebate theives",and refuse to do any further business with them.I only wish I had read these comments before I dealt with these crooks.

I only wish I had a Best Buy rebate problem...
I, like a fool...went to Best Buy last year to replace all me electronics..bought a big screen TV, surround system, computer, fax, with warranty...and too many small items to mention..
I know have a big screen with a warranty good through 2006. HA!
TV went out..I called BB...they said they would send a tech and probably fix it that day....I was happy!!!
A WEEK later they sent a tech who didnt call when he was supposed to,,,didnt show up when I was told he would. He couldnt fix the TV and said he would order the part and it would be in in 7-10 days. I said NO WAY.. I do not want to be without a TV for Christmas..he checked ..said the part was in stock and he would ship it 2nd day air and be back the next Friday to fix it.
I took off work again on Friday...he didnt call..I called the repair number again...they gave me the run around..I got angry...they called back ..said the part was in..he would be out that day...by 3 pm..no repairman. I called back talked to a supervisor who checked said the part was in and he would be out that day.
4:30 I get a call from a condesending little prig who tells me...congratulations...the parts in and she will schedule an appointment for the following Friday...a week later...I was a little miffed...I asked for yet another supervisor...who seemed to get a kick out of telling me that Friday the 26th was it or I could schedule for the following week...another week WITOUT A TELEVISION that I paid for a warranty on so I wouldnt have to go three wekks with no television...this supervisor identified herself as the main supervisor...Dawn ext. 5362. I explained to her that I HAD AN APPOINTMENT for that day, made by the repairman and that it had been confirmed by supervisor BECKY at 3PM....she said...NO....I never had an appointment...they dont make same day appointments...
excuse me..the tech made that appointment (WITH ME) on Tuesday. It was confirmed that the part was in and the tech would be back again on Friday by Becky...she said thats not what the records implied...(SHE WAS INSINUATIONG THAT I WAS LYING) I told her that what I was saying could be confirmed by the fact that they had the part sent 2nd day air...
and paid extra for it..to then tell me the tech couldnt come back for seven days..

are you with me so far???????
So I call the main repair #...the guy I talk to is very appologetic and said he could certainly see my point...and I should talk to his supervisor...
his supervisor took the same "you never had an appointment" stance...so screw me...
so much for the message on the repair number which states that they want us to have a good experience with BEST BUY....yeah right...the experience from HELL..
now ..here I sit with no television for three weeks..after paying immediately for a their warranty.
WELL if anyone from BEST BUY is interested...I WILL NEVER SIT FOOT IN YOUR STORE AGAIN...
We had intended to buy a new laptop for Christmas...and a plasma tv big screen after the first of the year...now NOT FROM YOU.
I will be here Firday...if they show up...then Im going to sell this SAMSUNG piece of crap and buy a big screen from SEARS...where I should have gone to start with.
You can treat people like this for a while...and then as so many other chain stores have found...the people quit buy..the profit goes down and your out of business...

Well,it has been almost a year and I still havent received my $100.00 direct tv rebate.I guess i,ll never get it now.Best buy won this round,but they have lost a customer for life,as I will never shop in their store again.They are nothing but theives...

I too fell for the same scam at Best Lie! Black Friday 2003... Two $20 rebates, two separate rebate forms. One denied because of the same address, yet they issue TWO SEPERATE REBATES forms to complete and file. No NOTICE, just so happens I call to check status, because neiter came. As the Best Buy Supervisor Marie x6089 told me "if, it were me I would have said I bought it for my mother and used her address"... It should NOT be that hard.... They got over on the $20 dollars but since they make you jump through hopes for your own money, even if you plan NEVER to spend another dollar at the store you can return your purchase stating simply "it was a gift", get the store credit, and even return that item "as gift" and continue the process just as the continue to ignore and fraud the customer! I am open to any and all class action lawsuits as it is only $20, but it's the GP! I will be sure to spread the news of the poor rebate/customer service department and REBATE SCAM in general through my large employers facility, and amongst family and friends. I think these threads are great but much more needs to be done to alert the consumer of the Best Lie Fraud...I know the headquarters in MN, so if you know of a news program that will conduct consumer investigations in the Minneapolis area, please post as will be glad to follow up with them as well...

best buy sucks I have made three major purchases at that store in every single one of them I have had a problem with rebates and warranties after reading all the other complaints its just a matter of time when we say bye bye to best bye

Best Buy appears to train its employees to give the Best Runaround. I've experienced it, and so have friends of mine. They'll refer you to other departments and sections of the company, stall past return deadlines, constantly deny what has been said, and NEVER keep their promises to the customer.

This has got to be one of the worst companies in the world. I'll not spend another dime there.

I was an employee of Best Buy for 5 years they are dirty and corrupt, they treat their employees like crap and expect so much from you. THE MANAGERS GET BONUSES FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. THEY MAKE COMISSION!
I was forced to quit harrased/discrimnated against. IM GOING TO SUE THEM. THEY ILLEGALLY CUT MY HOURS, WRITTEN ME UP FOR STUPID NON-VALID THINGS. ALL BECAUSE MY SUPERVISOR DOESN'T LIKE ME. THAT IS HOW THEY TREAT A FAITHFUL EMPLOYEE OF 5 YEARS!
PLEASE DON'T SUPPORT THEM BY SHOPPING THERE. I'VE SEEN HORRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE. (INCLUDING CUSTOMERS)

I have read the comments on this site and find several common threads. It is interesting to note that not-the-BestBuy repeatedly takes the position that the customer is wrong and/or lying; that BB makes it difficult, if not impossible, to resolve mistakes their company has made; that store employees will be discourteous, disrespectful and downright hostile to customers, that there seems to be a pattern and habit across many BB retail locations, and that BB employees also recognize these abuses.

MY NIGHTMARE
I bought a laptop and warranty. Returned it for service while in warranty. Waited 3 or 4 weeks for the repair. During this time the warranty expired. The repair didn't work. But when I returned to BB they refused to fix the problem because my warranty had expired!

Months later I learned from a BB general manager, Jennifer, that they should have done the repair again for free but since it was past 90 days there was nothing she could do except refer me to the 888 best buy number. I attempted to explain to her that we had returned in 90 day time period, but the store employee said they couldn' help us because the warranty had expired. Then came the accusation from the general manager that, although she didn't disbelieve me, there was no way to prove that I "didn't damage my own computer" between the time of the defective BB repair and my call months later.

I explained that the computer never worked after the repair and furthermore a store computer technician could tell when the computer was last successfully booted and used. The general manager then said "that's not going to happen" because "it is not our responsibility to do that." She told me I'd have to come into the store and I agreed, but asked her to have the matter researched for when I came to the store. She said "it is not our responsibility to do that" and that I would have received paperwork that told me everything I needed to know. Then it got ugly because I had the nerve to ask for her supervisors' name and she hung up on me.

I drove to the store and spoke with her personally. She was stunned that I was now standing in front of her, but she refused to appologize for being rude to me on the phone and hanging up on me. Then it got ugly. Apparently, employees of this store are not afraid to be rude to custmers on the phone or in public!

In front of about 6 store employees and many customers, she became rude and belligerent, screaming at me because I wanted her bosses name. In the presence of these other people, the general manager refused to identify her boss and also refused to explain why she wouldn't identify her boss. She would only say that "Best Buy writes my checks" and my boss is the "888 Best Buy number".

Seeing pen and paper in my hand, the general manager said I could write down that she refused to give me her bosses name. I offered her the opportunity to put that in her own handwriting. She refused. I asked her if she was afraid to write it herself because it would prove how rude she was being. She didn't like that at all and instructed another employee, Gabe, to "feel free" to "escort this gentleman out of the store", which she then denied saying when I told her that I wouldn't need an escort. I explained that I'd heard her clearly with my own ears and didn't appreciate her lying about what she'd done and said. Then I left.

Calling the 888 Best Buy number was another nightmare as I met with the same pattern of hostility, abuse and corporate evasiveness from the CSR, Chris. Because of his bad attitude, I requested his supervisor several times during the call. Not only did he refuse, but he refused to tell me the name of his supervisor. Apparently, supervisor's names at this company are some type of corporate secret. I asked if Chris was aware that I could get this information by researching the company's incorporation documents and other public records. He said that I was free to do that but that he couldn't disclose the names!!!

Chris repeatedly threatened to terminate the call without further warning, which he ultimately did because, as he said, I was "unwilling" to let him help me. So, ONE HOUR into the call, this guy hangs up on me!!! Apparently my spending an hour, and more, being abused by this company shows my unwillingness to let them resolve a problem they created!!!!!

What on earth is this company trying to hide? Do they think that these customer disservice experiences help them build good will? Do they think we tell our friends and family to shop in their stores despite our bad experience? Do they think WE come back? Do they not have any responsibility to their customer base? To the community in which they do business? To themselves?

This company is truly the Worst Buy in the retail marketplace. A disgrace to retailers worldwide and an insult to the ntellegence of consumers everywhere.

Same here . . .

$130 rebate, runaround, no more shopping at Best Buy, lost a loyal customer, etc.

u all should be ashamed of yourselves, not only Best Buy does these things but just about every retail store u go to does it. it's the way business is run in America. i'm sure all of you have had one or more problems with other retail stores. come on tell the truth because i know it's true. no matter what store it is i hate the rebate stuff and i think it should not be offered because i mean why not pay for something straight up than having to pay for it and have some more money 'IF IT DOES' come back after more than 2 months. if you are selling something sell it for the price its supposed to be. don't give me that rebate crap.

... And how about the requirement that a PSP (Product Service Plan) warranty service claim MUST be initiated with a telephone conversation to 1-800-BESTBUY who can then deny your claim claiming "customer abuse" WITHOUT EVER SEEING THE PRODUCT IN QUESTION? This leaves the customer with a VALID CLAIM no recourse padding Best Buys pockets with "valueless" PSP dollars!

I was thinking about going to the Best Buy sale on the first day of women's hunting season..... Till I read this page. I've had a much smaller issue with BB.

A 40yr old associate talking me out of buying a desk because he had noone to help him load it into my car (the store had about 20-25 employees on the sales floor at the time) nor did he think it would even fit in my car, yet the 17 year old kid at Target managed both!

Even with only mildly rude treatment experiences myself, I have never had problems with their rebates or returns. But now that I see how many people do have problems with them, I'll save myself the trouble and shop elsewhere.

The former employee comment strikes a note too. If their employees are treated badly, NO WONDER they don't care even to take care of us!!! It's a vicious circle I plan to stay out of! To those of you burned by BB, I'm sorry on behalf of reputable retailers everywhere. Thank you for your comments,... we the public ARE listening!

Again, the BestBuy rebate run around. Not to repeat what everyone has said, but Bestbuy fooled me out of $100 of rebates. Too bad BestBuy, I had bigger purchases to make and you lose.

Not only do they screw you on the rebates, they zap you on their "Reward Zone" program. I received an e-mail from them after avoiding the Reward Zone signup at point of purchase for ages. The e-mail stated "Sign Up for Reward Zone today and receive 30,000 bonus points" I thought, well, since I buy DVDs from there every week, that this is enough incentive to for out $10 to get the RZ card. That was September 3rd, now it is October 19th. I called on Oct 6th to see what was going on and was told that my issue had been "escalated" to an investigative team to look into the matter - still no 30k of bonus points. Those F'ing F's..... I'm really getting angry. You know, I put off buying DVDs from retailers closer to where I live with the same prices, just so I can get these GD bonus points, everything else I've purchased had earned pointsand shown up, just not the inital lure points. And worst of all, all the points I've accummulated and all the trouble I've gone to get them hasn't earned me one damn doller back yet. S.O.B'in Best Buy - Don't anyone else fall for a lure "Retard Zone" card like I did.

I have only purchased one peice of electronic equipment from bestby. Usually only purchase DVD, or music, computer games.
I purchased an Emachine laptop.
Best buy rebate came within four weeks.........rebate from emachines never showed up and when I called they said they received it but could not honer that amount which I still haven't got. They owe me $200. As good as this laptop is, works great and always has, I will not buy from emachine again because of my rebate. Back to Dell.
Best Buy did try to sell me warrany, but I knew better. First of all, you have a one year with the product, and if you were to waste money on the extended warranty, buy it from the manufacturer, the Best Buy, a retailer.

A note. A service plan is not the same thing an manufacturer warranty. I shop enough at best buy to know the differance. A service plan is what the store offers to cover things like power serge, heat, humidty, and dust. The service plans cover cleanings for most prouducts they also inculed blubs going out. This is good for plasma tvs or scanners. All of theis are NOT cover by the manufacturer. The manfacturer only cover if they made it wrong. This doesn't help if you have a power serge and fire your electronic. We have had a tv go and IT was pluged into a power serge. Lighting hit very close to the house. The manufacturer would do nouthing about this, but we had the serive plan for best buy and was able to get a new tv. I get so tired of hereing people throw a fit about service plans or replancemnet plans. If it wasn't worth something they wouldn't sell it. Food for thought before you just blow off the sales person who tells you about it. It is not good for everything like a $30 for a $30 dvd player but a $150 dollar plan for a 5,000 item for 4 years when the manufacturer only covers it for a year and then your out your money if it goes out. What kind of logic is that. Also the service plan adds to a resell value, and you can renew the plan for usally the same cost for an other 4 years. I would like to see a manufacturer do this.

My daughter bought a $430.00 camera at Best Buy in Niles, Ohio. Had it less than 10 days and it wouldn't work. Took it back to store and only wanted it repaired. The employees played with it trying to push the lens back in. Then the manager, who's employees scratched it, said my daughter did it and wouldn't repair it. She called customer service which was a joke also. We called both the manager and customer service--what a joke again. They took it to the Boardman Store and just wanted it fixed. THE BOARDMAN MANAGER TOOK IT BACK AND REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE AND WAS SO GOOD TO THEM. What this company doesn't realize is we have 4 adult girls with husbands and they have friends who will NEVER shop Best Buy again. We all use computers, washer & dryers, phones, videos, televisions and etc. BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY THEM AT BEST BUY---WAS IT WORTH BEING SO MEAN TO MY DAUGHTER? OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS HAVE FAMILIES TO. I am amazed at all the people that have not been treated right and I read comment after comment and everyone has families that won't shop again at BEST BUY. To the Boardman, Ohio manager, THANK YOU FOR BEING CARING TO MY DAUGHTER.