BestBuy Price matching policy antics

[QENEX]

I went to BB today to pick up Finding Nemo along with my CC ad to get the price match. The girl said that they would only match the price if I did not get the cd wallet along with it. I figured the wallet was ok for a buck, but still those a**holes at BB knew that CC had a lower advertised price and still came up with a way to weasel out of matching it. I did not want to make a scene over a buck, but I close to asking them for a copy of their price matching policy. Just go's to show why so many people get ticked off at BB.

[papibear]

This really should go under "Bargain Area".

Yeah, the DVD section chick tried to weasel out of giving me a price match for the Indy Jones box set, but I got the price match up at the front counter anyway (the cashiers are the ones to be nice to).

[aedavela]

I've usually had good results with BB's price matching, but I can see them being dicks sometimes too. I know one thing they now do that really pisses me off is that you can't make a return after 30 days and even get store credit. I know you can't get your money back and wouldn't expect them to do so, but why no store credit especially since I was going to spend it that day anyway, just doesn't make sense to me. It would suck also if I bought a birthday gift or something more than 30 days in advance and found out the person didn't want it, I'd be SOL.

[AdamComic2]

If it makes you feel any better, I got BB to price match to CC and I got the wallet.

[Phreak]

If you think about it, it's not really them weaseling out of it. You wouldn't get the wallet at CC so if you want it for the price CC is selling, I think you should be ready for them not to include any extra shit with it. When I price matched the Indy set, I didn't get the bonus disc, and I didn't mind at all. First of all because that extra crap is always worthless, and I'd rather save the money than get some useless crap like a bonus disc or a cd wallet.

[aedavela]

Sometimes that "extra crap" is pretty sweet, but I'd agree that not getting the 10 minutes of footage on the Indy bonus disc isn't that big a loss.

[Crow331]

Yeah I remember when Phantom Menace came out and Toys R Us had it for $9.99 .... Well my Toys R Us and Best Buy are right next to each other, so I go to Toys R Us knowing full well that they are probably sold out, but I get the flyer thinking I can just go right next door to best buy and get a price match .... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPE!!!

Apparently if you read the "fine print" of the price match, they will only price match a store that has the item IN STOCK. Since Toys R Us is right next door, they KNEW that Toys R Us was out of stock so they refused to price match ...

Price match is only as good as the fine print ...

[DVDstacK]

I do alot of music/video shopping at BB and have yet to take advantage of their price matching policy. I guess it's something I should look in to for the future.

It's kind of funny, though ... My local BB is just feet away from a CC. You could literally park in the BB lot and walk over to CC.

I wonder how many people have ever gotten frustrated with one store and just taken a stroll next door.

FWIW, there's also a Target there too.

[cspiwak]

I have had both good and bad luck with getting price matches at Best Buy. I have found it really depends on the person at that time of your purchase. It also does not hurt to be first person there. I have a harder time getting Circuit City to price match things then Best Buy.

Yeah I remember when Phantom Menace came out and Toys R Us had it for $9.99 .... Well my Toys R Us and Best Buy are right next to each other, so I go to Toys R Us knowing full well that they are probably sold out, but I get the flyer thinking I can just go right next door to best buy and get a price match .... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPE!!!

Apparently if you read the "fine print" of the price match, they will only price match a store that has the item IN STOCK. Since Toys R Us is right next door, they KNEW that Toys R Us was out of stock so they refused to price match ...

Price match is only as good as the fine print ...

I think this is the stupidest stipulation in the world. Like most have said usually these stores are usually in very close proximity to on another so it would not be that hard for a lot of us to just go to the other store to begin with. I don't check with the other store to see what kind of stock they have on the item I just go to the store where I prefer to do my business. I feel like they are saying well if that store has that price go there and give them your business instead of us. Wal-Mart has the best policy they just say fuck it and lower there price no need to price match anything. Then your challenge is finding a widescreen copy in there store.

[mikenyc]

Originally Posted by cspiwak

I have had both good and bad luck with getting price matches at Best Buy. I have found it really depends on the person at that time of your purchase. It also does not hurt to be first person there. I have a harder time getting Circuit City to price match things then Best Buy.



I think this is the stupidest stipulation in the world. Like most have said usually these stores are usually in very close proximity to on another so it would not be that hard for a lot of us to just go to the other store to begin with. I don't check with the other store to see what kind of stock they have on the item I just go to the store where I prefer to do my business. I feel like they are saying well if that store has that price go there and give them your business instead of us. Wal-Mart has the best policy they just say fuck it and lower there price no need to price match anything. Then your challenge is finding a widescreen copy in there store.

It comes down to whether they want the sale, or not!

What's great about this Country is that you can ALWAYS find other places who will do business with you, AND for a lower price.

Only the true, uninitiated Boy Scout, will stick by the Rules and refuse money, of ANY amount, and then they don't deserve your money anyway, right ?

[cspiwak]

Originally Posted by mikenyc

It comes down to whether they want the sale, or not!

What's great about this Country is that you can ALWAYS find other places who will do business with you, AND for a lower price.

Only the true, uninitiated Boy Scout, will stick by the Rules and refuse money, of ANY amount, and then they don't deserve your money anyway, right ?

I 100% agree with you. I also think that most of the employees in these stores are misinformed about what they can and can not do and just generally don't give a shit. If I was making $6.00 bucks an hour I do not think I would care too much either except I have an interest in movies and would do the best I could.

[mikenyc]

Originally Posted by cspiwak

I 100% agree with you. I also think that most of the employees in these stores are misinformed about what they can and can not do and just generally don't give a shit. If I was making $6.00 bucks an hour I do not think I would care too much either except I have an interest in movies and would do the best I could.

I don't know why these people act this way, even if they are getting paid $6.00 an hour. It's not just BB, it's EVERYWHERE.

I mean, what does it take to just extend themselves, to think, and to be just a little bit considerate to other people ? Apparently, more than they have inside, it seems.

[WraithGTS]

Actually, there is a very good reason for the clause in the price match polices, which states the stores will only match prices on in stock items.

Most of these big chains will place "lost leader" ads in their weekly fliers. These VERY low priced items are meant to intice customers into the store. The chain knows full well that they are going to loose money on the particular "lost leader" ad item, but they are anticipating the customer is going to buy other items once they are in the store. These additional items will have the higher profit margin. Generally speaking, these "lost leader" items are not high stock items, so a given store in a chain might only get a few units; just enough to legally say they had the item in stock.

Now fast forward to the competition. If I was in business, why would I want to take a loss on profit from an item, simply because the store next to me is?

Peace . . .

[Monster]

i dont like BB at all i only go them if i really really need too.

i go to either target or CC ... BB dont care botu customers they care bout the $$$$.. bb never has naything in stock at least were i live.... but taraget an CC always do...

[cspiwak]

Originally Posted by WraithGTS

Actually, there is a very good reason for the clause in the price match polices, which states the stores will only match prices on in stock items.

Most of these big chains will place "lost leader" ads in their weekly fliers. These VERY low priced items are meant to intice customers into the store. The chain knows full well that they are going to loose money on the particular "lost leader" ad item, but they are anticipating the customer is going to buy other items once they are in the store. These additional items will have the higher profit margin. Generally speaking, these "lost leader" items are not high stock items, so a given store in a chain might only get a few units; just enough to legally say they had the item in stock.

Now fast forward to the competition. If I was in business, why would I want to take a loss on profit from an item, simply because the store next to me is?

Peace . . .

I see where this makes sense. But these stores have got to know that and this is a personal guess most people walk in get there cheap DVD and walk out. But i guess if even one out of five makes an extra purchase the store still wins.

[larphillips]

I've never had a price match refused at Best Buy. Heck, they even matched the Eckerds ad price for the Indy set, and there isn't an Eckerds within 50 miles of Cleveland. They have been very, very good to me. And since I have a BB Rewards card, I take ALL of my purchases to them... and a fistful of ads for them to price match.

[mikenyc]

Originally Posted by cspiwak

I see where this makes sense. But these stores have got to know that and this is a personal guess most people walk in get there cheap DVD and walk out. But i guess if even one out of five makes an extra purchase the store still wins.

I don't see many people walking out with a TIVO, say, AND cds or Dvds, do you ?

The problem with this strategy is, they dont stock enough of the sale DVDs for EVERYONE who is looking for it...and that has to alienate people from the store, after it happening alot.

I dont understand why they do this ! People are dumb as rocks, thinking they are saving something, but not THAT dumb ! I hope.

[Crow331]

The problem with this strategy is, they dont stock enough of the sale DVDs for EVERYONE who is looking for it...and that has to alienate people from the store, after it happening alot.

Actually this HAS happened to me several times and it DID alienate me from Best Buy because of it. It's not worth my drive to save a few dollars if I can't be assured they are even going to have the title. If I am not at Best Buy within the first hour of the store's opening, MOST of the time, they are sold out of any "catalog" titles that are on sale. Singin' in the Rain ... Chasing Amy ... Trading Places .... 3 that I can name off the top of my head that were "sold out" despite the fact that I went into the store the same day the ad came out, and within a couple hours of the store opening. The Chasing Amy deal was a "Buy Clerks, get Chasing Amy Free" ... they were sold out of Chasing Amy but had plenty of Clerks copies ... so I asked ... "How many copies of Chasing Amy did you have for sale today" ... answer .... 6 !!!!!!!!!!! ... SIX !!! For all of this Los Angeles area. They ran an ad when they only had SIX for sale !! Needless to say, I left the store without making any purchase AND they alienated me as a customer after having this happen numerous times in the past.

I buy most of my titles from either Amazon or Deep Discount DVD now ... fool me once, shame on me .... fool me twice ... I buy online ...

[reapersaurus]

Originally Posted by Crow331

Price match is only as good as the fine print ...

Actually, price match isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

You guys think those are bad example of stores refusing price matches? HA.

Around here, stores can basically say "Because we don't want to" when asked why they won't price match.
I went to Toys R Us to pricematch the Lion King deal, and first they wouldn't sell it on the day they advertised it. I had to come back Tuesday, even though they had the big display taking up lots of stock space, and even though I confirmed with them their pricematching policy (need the Ad, has to have price on ad, has to be for same merchandise).

So I go back Tuesday, ad in hand, and the customer service lady mutters the stupidest weasely reason "Best Buy gets tons of DVD's, and can get their DVD's for less than we can, so we aren't going to pricematch."

WTF?
So now their business model is an excuse to not price match?
Hell, with that "justification", they could say no to ANY pricematch, since I know of verey few stoes that have exactly the same business model as Toys R Us.

[Damitol]

As someone stated above, Walmart is the best place to go if you want a price match. The one near me is pretty good about keeping tabs on other ads and adjusting prices accordingly, but it's always a good idea to carry in your ad as proof.

I've never had them question another store's stock situation. They know that even if the give you the buck or two difference, you are very likely to spend another $10, $20, $50 on other stuff you remember you need while in the store. Best Buy/Circuit City don't really have that built in advantage.

I never thought I would be pimping Walmart for anything ina thread, but they are the best for price matching (provided they stock the title and have the widescreen version available, although the latter has never been a problem for me since I usually buy new titles day and date).

[cspiwak]

Originally Posted by larphillips

I've never had a price match refused at Best Buy. Heck, they even matched the Eckerds ad price for the Indy set, and there isn't an Eckerds within 50 miles of Cleveland. They have been very, very good to me. And since I have a BB Rewards card, I take ALL of my purchases to them... and a fistful of ads for them to price match.

Well you should consider yourself one of the lucky ones.

[cspiwak]

Originally Posted by mikenyc

I don't see many people walking out with a TIVO, say, AND cds or Dvds, do you ?

The problem with this strategy is, they dont stock enough of the sale DVDs for EVERYONE who is looking for it...and that has to alienate people from the store, after it happening alot.

I dont understand why they do this ! People are dumb as rocks, thinking they are saving something, but not THAT dumb ! I hope.

Yeah I never really noticed I was to busy walking in and walking out.

[mikenyc]

Talking about the Price-Matching Game.....


At least for that last two weeks that I'm aware of, commencing BIG TIME with the release of the Indiana Jones set, I have noticed that the BB Sunday advertisements, have increased their use of saying "Hot Price", next to a pic of the box set, going out of their way NOT to actually mention their sale price in actual amount form.

To me, with this, one cant take this hard copy adverstisement and get a price match with it. Has ANYONE tried this ???

There may be some kind of non-public backlash going on AGAINST Best Buy. The feeling by other retailers being, that BB is undercutting other retailers tooooo much, and this is BB's way of limiting it's use on "popular new releases" of DVD's and CD's. When this kicks in, this way you have to go to BB and NO WHERE ELSE to get the discounted price, as this gives other retailers an "out" not to honor it. Good for BB, and other retail outlets don't get inundated with lost profits by having to price-match.

IN ADDITION............

The other thing that I've noticed, again with the Indiana Jones and NEMO releases, is that chain drug store outlets (Eckerd, CVS), and even a grocery store chain (Stop And Shop) have been getting into the act of releasing those "popular new release" DVD's.

On release day this past Tuesday, I went to my local Stop and Shop and could have picked up NEMO, at 6am in the morning; BB opens at 10am !!!! At Stop and Shop they had a purchase-discount on the DVD combination deal with DelMonte products, whereby you could pick up the DVD set, for a considerable discount LOWER than even BB or COSTCO !!!

All in all BB, and to some extent CC have become The Dark Side when you want to get the popular new DVD/CD releases. With other retail outlets getting into the act, at least we are given some alternatives, in our localities, 1) where there isnt a BB or CC, 2) we actually can depend on getting a copy of it on release day, and avoid the Fan Feeding Frenzy of those who camp out in front, two hours ahead of store opening.

I was at one of them in Manhattan for "Chicago" (I didnt pick it up out of spite), and it was a scene out of "Day of Locusts", believe me !!!!

[James Cole]

Not that I am advocating Best Buy or anything, but since I used to work there, I can say the reason why some DVDs are listed with an actual sale price and some have only "Hot Price" is that some studios/companies will not allow you to advertise their product below a certain price that they themselves determine. Listing the "Hot Price" is just there way of letting you know that this DVD will be on sale for a lower than normal price. But you're right, it does suck if you like to price match at other stores.

[SC_Trojan]

Well I think it all depends on who you get as a cashier and as a manager at the time. I've had alot of problems with BB in the past. Trying to pricematch and with items per customer. Now a days I just order online from DeepDiscountDVD.com. They seem to almost have cheaper prices than everyone else. I've had bad experiences with their customer service. Even with managers. On one occasion I went to buy a few spindles of CD-Rs. My co-worker was in front of me and purchased 2 spindles. I was trying to purchase 3 spindles and the cashier wouldn't sell them to me saying that there was a limit of per customer items. I showed her the ad which did not show any limit on amount you could purchase. I asked to speak with the manager and when he came, he told me I could only purchase 1 spindle, after my co-worker had already purchased 2 right before. After a bit of arguing, I took down the managers information and contacted Best Buy corporate office. I never got a response from them, not even an email stating they had received my complaint. Ever since then I only shop at Best Buy if its really worth the $$$. Personally I would try to remember the faces of the people who were pretty cool with the pricematch and go them everytime. Managers are usually pretty cool unless you catch them on a bad day.

[redcon1]

My BB had a listed price tag of $15.99 on Nemo, but someone ahead of me in line had it rung up for $14.99.
I asked the clerk why the price difference and she said the register was programmed to pricematch CC across the street with no need to bring in the ad.
That's the first time I've seen BB automatically ring up the pricematch cost!

Redcon1