^^^^
Further, the clerks often don't know what they're talking about. I have seen that many times. Their job is to sell as much as possible, not do what's best for the customer.

Hey everyone - not sure where else to post this... As the "Retailer Reviews" discussions say "no rants allowed"... And I really need to rant. I really just need to hear if anyone else has had this issue.

I recently made a purchase from Best Buy during their "Reward Zone Bonus Points Event". Basically, if you spent $100, you recieve 2000 points... Which is the equivalent of $25. Decent, right?

My wife had recently given me a $50 gift card to Best Buy "just because" (sweet, isn't she)... So I picked up $129 worth of Blu-rays and games. Paid $50 with the gift card, and the balance with cash.

When the points did not appear as "pending" in my account, I sent an email to Reward Zone customer service. They informed me that because I paid with a gift card, that I didn't actually spend over $100.

Reward Zone policy is as follows:

"Points calculations are based upon dollars spent at checkout less any dollars spent on sales tax, provincial fees, shipping charges, delivery charges, rebates applied at the time of purchase, the dollar amount of available mail-in rebates at the time of purchase of any product or service, the dollar amount of any promotional Gift Card offer with purchase, other excluded charges, certain products or services, or Best Buy Gift Card purchases. Points are not awarded for commercial or industrial accounts at Best Buy. Points are not added to your account for the amount of any reward certificates redeemed or discounts. Other exclusions may apply."

They do not give Reward Zone points for the purchase of a gift card - and I am apparently supposed to understand that "the dollar amount of any promotional Gift Card offer with purchase" translates into "you don't get points for USING a gift card either."

My beef is - no matter how you shake it... A gift card should be treated as CASH. My wife PAID for the gift card. I didn't "win" it... Best Buy didn't "give" it to me as a promotional offer. In my mind, I spent over $100, and I feel that I should be entitled to those bonus points.

My correspondence with Reward Zone customer service has been more than irritating... I can post the back and forth here if anyone would like to see it... But there have been at least 8 messages that I have sent them. In my last email I asked to speak to a supervisor, and the response I recieved was:

Dear Mr. Shand,
Thank you for contacting Best Buy Reward Zone regarding the issue with your purchase. If you would like to speak with a supervisor please contact our 24-hour support line at 1-866-969-7393 or e-mail us and we will be able to assist you.
Thank you for contacting Reward Zone.

They want me to "email them" to get in touch with a supervisor. Which I asked for in my 3 previous emails. Needless to say my response to this email was a little less professional.

I also just noticed that I can no longer log into my Reward Zone account... It won't accept my email, ID number, or password. Coincidence? I think not.

Hugh/moderators... I apologize if I put this thread in the wrong place... Wasn't sure where it needed to go. Please move it if necessary!

Travis

Sounds like the original intent was to block any "promotional Gift Card" and not one purchased outright at regular price, You should be able to get this straightened out if you can find someone to speak to. Best Buy is getting short on redeeming factors.

Just an update on my little battle with Best Buy...

My last few emails have been met with no response... So I've filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. We'll see how that goes!

I have also noticed that the policy they kept quoting me doesn't appear to be on their website anymore...

Found the original email/coupon for the "Bonus Points Event" as well, and sent it back to Best Buy asking me to show them where on the email and coupon it makes any reference to Gift Cards not being accepted as part of the promotion... I can't see it ANYWHERE!

Of course I want the bonus points... But it's making me angry more on principal now... I don't get how they don't want to treat a gift card like cash...

Bought 47LG50/55 for $999 in Feb 2009. Awesome deal. Was last one in store or online in Canada as far as I could tell at the time. Called store 1.5 hrs away and tried to buy over phone. They wont take CC over phone nor would they hold it for me. Could not drive there until Friday. Called Friday and said I was on the way and they said they would hold it for 2 hrs so it wouldnt be gone when I got there. "Somewhat satisfied" customer here!!

I find Future shop to be less irritating than BB. I don't like going into BB because they insist on playing extremely loud music.

Went in to the Best Buy in Kingston, ON to look at buying an iPad last week. The sales staff were courteous and pretty helpful. I liked the display of Mac stuff they had on a big display table. There were sufficient devices to allow me an extended "playtime" before deciding to buy. Staff didn't push and only asked once about the extended warranty. Overall a good experience. I like them so much better than FS.

JamesK "I find Future shop to be less irritating than BB. I don't like going into BB because they insist on playing extremely loud music."

That's exactly what I find every time I go into their new Burnaby Kingsway store. I can only stand it for about five minutes as the hyper-bass is unbearably loud! I asked one young fellow how he could stand the noise and he replied, "You get used to it." I guess to him it's not that loud as he has already lost some of his hearing ability.

I honnestly haven't had any problems with Best Buy ordering online or buying in store. I research the products I intend to purchase before going anywhere. Then I shop online to see who offers the best price than order online or drive to the store. This eliminates the more often than not clueless staff out of the equation. Some of them know their stuff but most don't and are working there to pay their way through school and probably just couldn't care less.

I put somewhat satisfied.

I was after a new TV for the bedroom and walked in on the spur of the moment to local BB in February'11. I had done some research on brands and prices through the usual channels.

My purchase in BB was a Toshiba 32E200U. They were selling them for $329 at the time in store. This was a 1080p LCD TV. I also looked at a generic wall mounting frame. So I made my decision to buy them, friendly staff guy took the box to the front doors. The people at the front doors checked the receipt and I left.

Got home put wall mount up and was about the put the TV on when I noticed on the box and on the TV the model was a 32E100U which was the 720p variant. Packed it up drove back and switched for the version I paid for which was shown on the receipt. The 720p variant was selling for $379!

Had no qualms in the store, no issues with the TV and I am happy with my purchase.

I feel I can recommend BB.

I want to bring up that I received an email from them regarding breach of security on my BB reward zone details that my name and mail addy were compromised. I can say that I was not happy about that, but looking at the extent of companies affected made me feel that it seemed like a one off.

I just price matched a Canon SX130 IS camera at Best Buy with ********, was $60 less plus the 10% .. I've price matched a few items and never had a problem. I do find the prices on new DVD's or Bluray on the first day of sale are pretty good as well.

Bay & Dundas, Toronto location

As long as you have done your research and know what price you want to pay I think BB is great for big ticket items. I would stay away from most accessories unless they have really slashed the prices though.

It must be a fluke. The ones in Visalia and the River Park in Fresno don't play music like that or at all, even. Went to the one on Rosedale Hwy in Bakersfield to get a 500GB EIDE drive. Still works.

I am Extremely Satisfied with BB.

Just to tell my story in dealing with *********** for a television stand. I purchased a stand over their Labour Day Weekend Sale and received an indication that it was shipped on September 6, 2011 by UPS. As of September 12 it was listed as being in UPS warehouse in Concord, ON (I'm in Toronto), by September 19 it still wasn't delivered so I called UPS to get delivery info only to be told by UPS that they would not speak to me but only the shipper. I called Best Buy's customer service line on September 19 to report the item not delivered, the CSR on the phone told me they would look into it and would get back to me in 24 hours. As of September 21, 2011 I still had not heard from Best Buy so I phoned back, to be told that they would contact UPS again and Best Buy would contact me the following day. They never did, so I called back on September 22 only to be told that UPS was looking for the shipment. On September 23, I got an email from Best Buy stating that UPS had found the item and would deliver it on Monday September 26 and gave me a $5 credit (about 3% of the purchase price). Well the item was not delivered on September 26, so I called Best Buy again on September 27, only to be told that the would contact UPS for the 3rd time. I asked to have another item express shipped out to me, Best Buy refused unless I paid for it a second time and waited for Best Buy to deal with UPS prior to providing me with a refund for the first purchase that UPS has lost 4 times. As of today September 27, I have been told to just wait for UPS to do whatever they do, and that Best Buy will take no action to deliver me my product.

I am very disappointed by the service of Best Buy. I can understand a shipment being lost in transit once. After it was reported lost a second time I would expect Best Buy to send me the items and let them deal with UPS internally to have the first shipment returned to them or file the insurance claim. As a customer I don't feel it's reasonable for me to sit and wait for UPS (a shipper chosen by Best Buy, not me) to find a lose my product a few more times. Needless to say I will not be spending any more of my money with Best Buy / Future Shop based on this very poor service.

Picked up a BB9900 at their Free Phone Friday last week. First location I tried at Toronto Eaton Centre was understaffed. They had 3 staff in the mobile section and at most time 8-10 customers browsing or looking for help. I gave up after a while.

Visited their location near Eglinton and Laird, and there were 4 or 5 staff for 3 customers. The account setup took several tries on their systems which kept crashing and as a result took much longer than it should have. Activation worked fine on the first try and I walked out with my number transferred over and a working phone.

The salesperson was a bit pushy with their phone insurance "deal" that allows you to change out your phone whenever you have the whim. At least that's how it was described. Eventually, he accepted that I wasn't going to take it.

Overall, the experience was ok. It took much too long and the pushy sales pitch turned me off, but in the end I was happy with the outcome.

Where does BB ship from? I just bought a Boston Acoustic center channel speaker (real real cheap after being out of stock for days) which is not available for store pick up. They claim 2-15 day shipping (free in my case) but I won't be home for another week.

Last thing I ordered from BB came from Richmond, BC so I would say you should get it 2 days or less. But you'll probably have to pick it up at the post office next week.

Yes, even in the Interior it ships from Richmond which contributes to good shipping service. One thing I like about BB.

My basement tenants took in the delivery. BB shipped me the latest speaker model (in stock at stores) rather than the obsolete model that I ordered. Not that I think there is too much of a difference.

Made two further BB orders. Ordered within the 1st hour of Boxing Day sale (so X'mas eve evening) at 5-6p PST. BB Playbook (+ some HDMI cables) was shipped late on the 26th ^ and delivered first thing on the 27th.

Ordered some minor accessories last week. CF card was shipped from Ontario late last week and arrived Monday AM. SD card and camera case which are still showing in stock still haven't shipped.