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Price Matching BS at BestBuy



 
 
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  #1  
Old December 29th 17, 08:42 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Boris[_4_]
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Posts: 529
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

Price matching was discussed briefly he



I understand the tactics, and they are used in all industries; tires,
electronics, carpeting, tools, etc.

I thought I'd chime in with my recent experience at BestBuy (BB), in which
the manager confirmed their deceptive tactics.

Back in November, I had to get a desktop for a relative. I checked out
nearby BB and found a Dell that would do. I also checked Dell online. Dell
had a Black Friday 'week' on certain desktops, and the EXACT same model, with
the EXACT same specs., and the EXACT same color, was $120 less from Dell.

The webpage upon which BB listed this EXACT same Dell desktop has a link to
"$ PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE", as they do on every webpage. Clicking on the link
gives you this (crap), which still sounds good if you want to price match:

*********
"Best Buy is dedicated to always offering the best value to our customers. We
will match the price, at the time of purchase, on a Price Match Guarantee
product if you find the same item at a lower price at a Designated Major
Online Retailer or at a local retail competitor's store.
Here's how:•If you find a qualifying lower price online, call 1-888-BEST BUY
and direct a customer service agent to the web site with the lower price, or
when visiting a Best Buy store, one of our employees will assist you.
•On qualifying products, Best Buy will then verify the current price to
complete the price match.

Exclusions apply including, but not limited to, Competitors' service prices,
special daily or hourly sales, and items for sale Thanksgiving Day through
the Monday after Thanksgiving. See the list of Designated Major Online
Retailers and full details."
**********

The list of Designated Major Online Retailers includes Dell. But, there is
more qualifying required:

BULLSHIIT BEGINS HERE
+++++++++++++++
"What Qualifies?

Your product may be eligible for price matching if it is:

Identical to the competitor's product.

The product must be a matching brand, model number and color to qualify."
+++++++++++++++

The Dell model number was 1234-5678-B, and the BB model number was 1234-5678-
Blk. Me thinks, ok, both are black in color. I'll try the price matching at
BB, and if for any reason they won't price match, I'll just order from Dell.
Makes no difference to me. I printed out Dell's page and went to BB.

A 'BB guest consultant' said sure, we can price match that Dell desktop. He
looked it up on the Dell site to verify the price, and then rang it up on his
register at BB's full price, and then a credit of $120 to price match Dell's
price. Because the discount was greater than $100, he had to get BB
Management Approval. Dun dah don dun.

The conversation between him and me went something like this:

BB:
Hello, Boris, thanks for coming in today. What can I do for you?

Me:
Well, I just wanted to price match Dell's price on this desktop.

BB:
Of course. I can do that for you. Let me just see what we have here.

Me:
Great. (Wondering if this will go through.)

BB:
That's a nice computer. It also comes with a free subscription to Webroot
Secure Anywhere worth $49.99, which can be used on up to three devices. If
you'd like, we can set it all up for you.

Me:
No, but thanks for asking. I like to do all that.

BB:
I understand. Oh, you know, I see that that particular computer is a
different model number than the Dell model number. I'm afraid we can't price
match.

Me:
But the specs. are EXACTLY the same, and so is the color.

BB:
Yes, that's true. The computer is EXACTLY the same model, but our model
number ends in Blk, and Dell's model number ends in B. That means we can't
price match. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Me:
So, you can't price match, even though it's the EXACT same specs, and the
EXACT same model, and the EXACT same color, but BB just added 'lk' to Dell's
'B'? I sense BB never had any intention to price match on this item, even
though you clearly have "$ PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE" indicated on the same page
as this particular desktop..

BB:
I'm afraid the model number has to be EXACTLY the same. There's nothing I
can do.

Me:
Well, since "$ PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE" is on every BB page, what do you price
match on? Anything?

BB:
We price match on less expensive items, like flash drives and mice.

Me:
So, if I wanted to price match on a washing machine or a TV, you wouldn't do
it?

BB:
We'd have to look at each individual item when you come in. But we always
add a character to our manufacturer's model numbers.

Me:
That pretty sleazy, deceptive, and unethical of you.

BB:
It's not my policy. It's BB's policy.

Me:
Then BB is pretty sleazy, deceptive, and unethical, aren't they?

BB:
(Silence)

Me:
I guess you can't say anything. Thanks, but I'll just order from Dell.

BB:
(Angrily) I will price match this one time only.

Me:
Fine. Sorry if I caused you any inconvenience.


I later wished I had not accepted the price match, based on principle, and
just gone to Dell. But what's done is done.

BB is my last resort of places to do business. Always has been. Office
Depot is two blocks from BB, and I usuall go there. I've prioe matched there
without issue, and they bend over backwards to match prices.
Ads
  #2  
Old December 29th 17, 11:12 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Mayayana
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Posts: 6,438
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

"Boris" wrote

| I understand the tactics, and they are used in all industries; tires,
| electronics, carpeting, tools, etc.
|
| I thought I'd chime in with my recent experience at BestBuy (BB), in which
| the manager confirmed their deceptive tactics.
|
Thanks for that story. It's interesting to know. I've
often found BB to have pretty good prices, but never tried
their price matching guarantee.

We have no Office Depot around here. Staples has
gone increasingly toward high-markup fluff and printer
ink. I used to buy a lot of computer parts there. No
more. (Likewise with BB. Their stock of parts keeps
shrinking as their stock of higher end items increases.

Microcenter has the best prices, but a few years
back they gave me a hard time about a CPU and
motherboard return, with the receipt. Since they're
basically a discount store and don't seem to take
very good care of their stock, I've tried to avoid them
ever since.

So what's left? Amazon. I don't want to give them
business. They're cheap but really just a middleman
and I don't want to help them put everyone else out
of business.

When I build, I used to buy computer parts at
TigerDirect. Good service. Informative website. But
they sold out to PC Mall and now they're also just
a middleman. Order 10 parts and they may come
from 10 unknown suppliers.


  #3  
Old December 30th 17, 12:42 AM posted to alt.windows7.general
Boris[_4_]
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Posts: 529
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

"Mayayana" wrote in news26ek5$1v00$1
@gioia.aioe.org:

"Boris" wrote

| I understand the tactics, and they are used in all industries; tires,
| electronics, carpeting, tools, etc.
|
| I thought I'd chime in with my recent experience at BestBuy (BB), in

which
| the manager confirmed their deceptive tactics.
|
Thanks for that story. It's interesting to know. I've
often found BB to have pretty good prices, but never tried
their price matching guarantee.

We have no Office Depot around here. Staples has
gone increasingly toward high-markup fluff and printer
ink. I used to buy a lot of computer parts there. No
more. (Likewise with BB. Their stock of parts keeps
shrinking as their stock of higher end items increases.

Microcenter has the best prices, but a few years
back they gave me a hard time about a CPU and
motherboard return, with the receipt. Since they're
basically a discount store and don't seem to take
very good care of their stock, I've tried to avoid them
ever since.

So what's left? Amazon. I don't want to give them
business. They're cheap but really just a middleman
and I don't want to help them put everyone else out
of business.


With Amazon,the item descriptons are frequently incorrect. You could end
up with an item that is not as described, like pjp's Walmart story. The
only way to see what you ordered is to open it up. But, Amazon charges a
restocking fee for opened computer items. Yes, you could say the item was
not as described, but they could still deny you, and no matter their
decision, you still have to repack and send back, and find what you want
elsewhere. Not to mention many of the reviews are for the wrong item, and
shipping times are not always achieved. The rose is off Amazon's bud for
me.

When I build, I used to buy computer parts at
TigerDirect. Good service. Informative website. But
they sold out to PC Mall and now they're also just
a middleman. Order 10 parts and they may come
from 10 unknown suppliers.



  #4  
Old December 30th 17, 02:38 AM posted to alt.windows7.general
Mayayana
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,438
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

"Boris" wrote

|
| With Amazon,the item descriptons are frequently incorrect. You could end
| up with an item that is not as described, like pjp's Walmart story. The
| only way to see what you ordered is to open it up. But, Amazon charges a
| restocking fee for opened computer items. Yes, you could say the item was
| not as described, but they could still deny you, and no matter their
| decision, you still have to repack and send back, and find what you want
| elsewhere.

Yes. That's the problem with all mail order. You
don't really know what you're getting. And if someone
steals it off the porch you'll never know.


  #5  
Old December 30th 17, 08:16 AM posted to alt.windows7.general
pjp[_10_]
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Posts: 1,183
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

In article , am
says...

"Boris" wrote

|
| With Amazon,the item descriptons are frequently incorrect.


Not just Amazon. Was looking at TVs for sale online last night and the
specs for input/output often were in direct conflict with the pic they
show of what's supposed to be the back of the unit. Many stated
"Composite Input - No" yet pic clearly showed composite inputs. What
else is simply made up?

Makes it basically useless to even look online and one must instead
visit store or at the least check model number on manufacturers web site
although unsure if even that's always accurate as they certainly don't
mind deceiving (not outright lie but ...) one also.

Current irritation is new tv turns off internal speakers when headphone
jack plugged in ... argh!@# Something not one manufacturer mentions and
for the life of me I don't know why? There's an easy to use Mute button
on remote to turn off internal speakers and not the headphone jack also
TYVM

| You could end
| up with an item that is not as described, like pjp's Walmart story. The
| only way to see what you ordered is to open it up. But, Amazon charges a
| restocking fee for opened computer items. Yes, you could say the item was
| not as described, but they could still deny you, and no matter their
| decision, you still have to repack and send back, and find what you want
| elsewhere.

Yes. That's the problem with all mail order. You
don't really know what you're getting. And if someone
steals it off the porch you'll never know.



  #6  
Old December 30th 17, 04:29 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Mayayana
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,438
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

"pjp" wrote

|
| Not just Amazon. Was looking at TVs for sale online last night and the
| specs for input/output often were in direct conflict with the pic they
| show of what's supposed to be the back of the unit. Many stated
| "Composite Input - No" yet pic clearly showed composite inputs. What
| else is simply made up?
|

Speak of the devil:

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/20/birk...eit-surge.html

The US head of Birkenstock claims that Amazon allows
forgeries and sells competing ads to show when people
search for misspellings of their brand name. He additionally
claims that Amazon won't cooperate in dealing with the
frauds unless Birkenstock agrees to let Amazon be their
sole dealer. So Birkenstock pulled out of Amazon and doesn't
allow their resellers to go through Amazon.

It's an interesting example of how so many would like
to cast the Internet as a new world where normal rules
and morals don't apply.

Uber exploits workers and illegally avoids paying minimum
wage, Social Security tax, etc. by claiming their company
is a flowering of socialist utopia rather than a taxi company.
They claim to be a tech company that deals
in cellphone ride-sharing apps.
Amazon cast themselves as a breakthrough in retail
efficiency. 21st century razzmatazz here to make our
lives wonderful at a bargain basement price. But they're
really just trying to create a monopoly middleman operation
where they bear little or no responsibility themselves, but
get a cut of all sales.
They've been widely criticized for their treatment of people:

https://www.salon.com/2014/02/23/wor...ating_workers/

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/amaz...917-story.html

I saw one story about how they like to employ itinerant
elders because they'll work anytime and leave willingly
when fired. At one center they arranged to have an
ambulance on hand for people who passed out in the heat,
refusing to open doors for ventilation lest someone walk
out with a Veg-o-Matic.

But they manage to fool most of the people most
of the time. Especially Millennials who imagine themselves
to be on the cutting edge of a new social movement.
But Amazon also has great prices on things unavailable
elsewhere. Hard to resist. I've had to go without
hard-to-find books because I don't want to give Amazon
the business, helping them to put bookstores out of business.

I've watched with some shock as Boston, where I lived,
has tried hard to seduce Amazon to build a new corporate
HQ.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/business...gAN/story.html

The Boston mayor is gaga over it. Most of the
public discussion sounds gaga. "A giant boost to
the Boston economy." But it really seems to be
more like a Trump tax cut: Smoke and mirrors for
working people. Boston would undoubtedly give
Amazon massive tax breaks. (The Boston bigwigs
just recently got suckered by GE, but that won't
stop them. I can only assume that it's mostly
rich stockholders who decide these things.)

The deal would replace one of the few low-rent
areas left in Boston with a massive yuppie village
for a corporation that's been characterized as
"worse than Walmart". The area in question,
East Boston, is not easily accessible from the
kinds of places that Amazon management would
want to live, so it's pretty much inevitable that
the whole area (traditionally Italian working class)
would be culturally sterilized and transformed into
a geek village full of overpriced coffee shops and
pseudo-yoga boutiques.





  #7  
Old December 30th 17, 08:29 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Char Jackson
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Posts: 10,449
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

On Fri, 29 Dec 2017 23:42:15 +0000 (UTC), Boris
wrote:

With Amazon,the item descriptons are frequently incorrect. You could end
up with an item that is not as described, like pjp's Walmart story.


That's been the case for a long time, so I never do my primary shopping
on Amazon. I figure out what I want by checking other sites, especially
the manufacturer's site, to narrow it down to one or two models. Then I
use Amazon (actually www.camelcamelcamel.com) to check pricing. The
camel^3 site shows Amazon price history, so you can see if the current
price is decent.

The only way to see what you ordered is to open it up.


Hmm, I never order blindly. I have to open the box to make sure it's not
damaged, but I'd have to open the box anyway.

But, Amazon charges a
restocking fee for opened computer items. Yes, you could say the item was
not as described, but they could still deny you,


I've never been charged a restocking fee at Amazon. One time, when I was
returning a car stereo, their automated email said I'd be charged a
restocking fee so I mentally prepared for that, but then they credited
the entire amount back to my credit card.

and no matter their
decision, you still have to repack and send back, and find what you want
elsewhere.


Repacking is easy. Just use the box that it came in. Likewise, sending
it back is easy. Where I live, there are at least a dozen UPS drop-off
points within 15 minutes, 4 within 5 minutes. FedEx drop off similar,
but in my experience UPS is usually used. Just print the return label,
tape it to the box, and drop it off. Couldn't be easier. UPS will even
come to your house to pick it up, but I think there's a small charge for
that.

Not to mention many of the reviews are for the wrong item, and
shipping times are not always achieved. The rose is off Amazon's bud for
me.


You can filter the reviews so that you're only looking at reviews for
one specific item, rather than a family of items. I see both pros and
cons to grouping the reviews like they do.

Besides Amazon's prices, which around here are hard to beat, delivery
times are pretty amazing. About 5-6 years ago they built a large
warehouse about 3 miles from here, so depending on what I order, I could
be presented with a delivery option of "Get it today (Free with Prime)",
and some items have a "Get it in 30 minutes" option, but I think that
has a fee. They've also started a "locker" program here, so most of the
things I order now have a "Select a locker and pick it up in an hour"
option. The locker location is usually a UPS store, but some are in bank
lobbies, grocery stores, and other locations. If I know I'm going to be
home, I just have it delivered to the house, but porch theft is
increasingly in the news so that's a growing concern. Naturally, I do
have Amazon Prime since we order a few things each week, on average, and
access to the Amazon video library fills in some of the Netflix gaps.

--

Char Jackson
  #8  
Old January 5th 18, 05:11 AM posted to alt.windows7.general
Diesel
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Posts: 937
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

"Mayayana"
news alt.windows7.general, wrote:

When I build, I used to buy computer parts at
TigerDirect. Good service. Informative website. But
they sold out to PC Mall and now they're also just
a middleman. Order 10 parts and they may come
from 10 unknown suppliers.


Have you checked out newegg? I've been very pleased with them for years
and they have a no hassle, no bull****, return policy too.


--
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stalking, it's highly recommended you visit he
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  #9  
Old January 5th 18, 02:31 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Mayayana
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,438
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

"Diesel" wrote

| Have you checked out newegg? I've been very pleased with them for years
| and they have a no hassle, no bull****, return policy too.
|

I haven't, no. I guess because their website
never worked for me. It's completely broken
without javascript. I'd enable it if I were buying
from them, but if I can't even see the site then
I go elsewhere.


  #10  
Old January 5th 18, 02:35 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Mayayana
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,438
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

"Diesel" wrote

...... The other nice thing about TigerDirect was
that they used to (and probably still do) provide
a lot of information. I can check out motherboard
options, know what CPUs are compatible, check
whether a board has a specific connector that
I want, etc. My impression of NewEgg, to the
extent that I could use their site at all, was
that they were more like Amazon: Not really a
store so much as a middleman.


  #11  
Old January 6th 18, 01:34 AM posted to alt.windows7.general
Boris[_4_]
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Posts: 529
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

Diesel wrote in news:XnsA860EC589F7D5HT1
@l9h1694D3g.LAiW9mo5:

"Mayayana"
news alt.windows7.general, wrote:

When I build, I used to buy computer parts at
TigerDirect. Good service. Informative website. But
they sold out to PC Mall and now they're also just
a middleman. Order 10 parts and they may come
from 10 unknown suppliers.


Have you checked out newegg? I've been very pleased with them for years
and they have a no hassle, no bull****, return policy too.



Yes, and I do like them. I remember when they had a storefront presence here
in the mid-90s.
  #12  
Old January 6th 18, 05:47 AM posted to alt.windows7.general
Ant[_2_]
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Posts: 554
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

Boris wrote:
Diesel wrote in news:XnsA860EC589F7D5HT1
@l9h1694D3g.LAiW9mo5:


"Mayayana"
news alt.windows7.general, wrote:

When I build, I used to buy computer parts at
TigerDirect. Good service. Informative website. But
they sold out to PC Mall and now they're also just
a middleman. Order 10 parts and they may come
from 10 unknown suppliers.


Have you checked out newegg? I've been very pleased with them for years
and they have a no hassle, no bull****, return policy too.



Yes, and I do like them. I remember when they had a storefront presence here
in the mid-90s.


Wow, where was that? When did it close up its store?
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  #13  
Old January 8th 18, 11:00 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Diesel
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Posts: 937
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

"Mayayana" news Fri, 05 Jan 2018 13:35:18 GMT in alt.windows7.general, wrote:

"Diesel" wrote

..... The other nice thing about TigerDirect was
that they used to (and probably still do) provide
a lot of information. I can check out motherboard
options, know what CPUs are compatible, check
whether a board has a specific connector that
I want, etc. My impression of NewEgg, to the
extent that I could use their site at all, was
that they were more like Amazon: Not really a
store so much as a middleman.



Tigerdirect along with techdata, newegg, etc, are all middlemen. They
don't manufacture the components they sell you.


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  #14  
Old January 8th 18, 11:34 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Mayayana
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,438
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

"Diesel" wrote

| ..... The other nice thing about TigerDirect was
| that they used to (and probably still do) provide
| a lot of information. I can check out motherboard
| options, know what CPUs are compatible, check
| whether a board has a specific connector that
| I want, etc. My impression of NewEgg, to the
| extent that I could use their site at all, was
| that they were more like Amazon: Not really a
| store so much as a middleman.
|
| Tigerdirect along with techdata, newegg, etc, are all middlemen. They
| don't manufacture the components they sell you.
|
Obviously. Nor does Apple, for that matter. Or
HP. Or Dell.

But that's not what I meant. I'm making a distinction
between a merchant who chooses their stock and
resells it to the customer vs the new breed of online
middleman.
It used to be that if I ordered 10 parts from TigerDirect
I got a box from TG with 10 items in it. Now if I
order 10 parts I'll get maybe 8 packages, all coming
from different places on different days. It's no longer
a store. They're just middlemen who sell merchants
access to you.
I don't really know about NewEgg. As I said before,
when I've tried their site it doesn't work without
script. If I go to an actual product page there's no
price! So I've ignored them. Presumably they want
to know who I am before telling me the price.


  #15  
Old January 9th 18, 03:05 AM posted to alt.windows7.general
Ant[_2_]
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Posts: 554
Default Price Matching BS at BestBuy

Boris wrote:
(Ant) wrote in news:vbedne6Zb6tayc3HnZ2dnUU7-
:


Boris wrote:
Diesel wrote in news:XnsA860EC589F7D5HT1
@l9h1694D3g.LAiW9mo5:


"Mayayana"
news alt.windows7.general, wrote:

When I build, I used to buy computer parts at
TigerDirect. Good service. Informative website. But
they sold out to PC Mall and now they're also just
a middleman. Order 10 parts and they may come
from 10 unknown suppliers.

Have you checked out newegg? I've been very pleased with them for

years
and they have a no hassle, no bull****, return policy too.



Yes, and I do like them. I remember when they had a storefront

presence here
in the mid-90s.


Wow, where was that? When did it close up its store?


Oops. A senior moment had me thinking of Egghead Software, who had a
storefront nearby. I shopped there. It was next to Circuit City..


Ooh, I remember them. I miss them too. I used to love going to Egghead
to look at its softwares especially games for Apple 2s and IBM PCs.
Haha. Also, CompUSA! Oh hey, remember The Good Guys?

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