URRRR! At a Big Box store!!

[bigfish2215]

Last Saturaday I returned my D60 b/c of an error. They were out of stock, so I had to wait til today to pick up my new camera. I go there and guess what they don't have it. Now it won't be in til next Tuesday. They gave me the run around and tried to blame it on the snowstorm that hit us today. Blah blah blah. I just wanted to play with my new toy. I talked to the general manager and he offered me the floor model, I said no to that. He didn't even offer any $ off the floor model. Then he offered me a $50 gift card towards my troubles. To take the cake I asked for my money back and was told I will have to wait 10 business days. We paid cash for it, and they can't give me cash back. I was so upset with them. I came home and told DH what happend and he called the store and they told him the camera will be in on Wednesday. I told him they told me Tues and then they were giving him the run around and blah blah blah. I just needed to vent so thanks for reading this.

 

[annnewjerz]

That sucks....I actually have really great luck with Best Buy usually. Hopefully it's in on time and you are able to play with it over the long MLK weekend. Regarding the cash back...that's a policy they have that I'm not a fan of, they mail you a check if your return is over a certain $$$, just something to keep in mind next time you are deciding which store to give your business to.

On the upside, I have a D60 and love it---I'm sure the wait will be worthwhile.

 

[PhotobearSam]

What store was this??? Horrible customer service.

 

[saturndb]

If this is a retail chain Like BestBuy why do you not go to a different location and exchange it with a store that has one in stock. Is there a different location that is close to you?

 

[EnnEss]

That return policy regarding getting your money back is the silliest thing ive ever heard.

 

[maccagerl]

That return policy regarding getting your money back is the silliest thing ive ever heard.

That is pretty much standard policy for cash purchases- the store can't just hand you cash back out of the register , you will be sent a check from their corporate headquarters.
That's why it's always better to put large purchases on a credit card- with a cc they can refund the purchase price to your cc immediately, and if you have any problems with them you can always dispute it through your cc.
Did you ask them to call around to other stores to see if any of them had it in stock and could send it over to your store?
I would have gladly taken the $50 gift card as compensation for having to wait a few days!! ( as long as I didn't need it for a trip the next day !)

 

[oogieboogieman]

One thing is certain I would never, ever, take a floor model for any amount of savings!!! Well maybe if it was in a glass case and I could get a shutter count on the camera body.

 

[bigfish2215]

The saga continues.... sent DH to go and pick up my camera and it was not there!!! After I was promised it would be there late Monday and I could get at opening Tuesday. They couldn't give him a reason why, they gave him $53.17 back b/c our ordeal. He asked to talk to manager and he could see the managers lips say " I can't help him, Make him go away" nice costumer service huh? And he NEVER came over to speak to him. I'm so angry with them. So tomorrow we'll start the whole thing over again. Third times a charm right?
At this point I should of returned and waited for a check then I could of brought it local but hindes sight is always 20/20.
Wish us luck.

 

[saturndb]

what retail store are you dealing with?

 

[bigfish2215]

Best Buy.

 

[ukcatfan]

If I had seen the manager say that, I would have been loud and in his face!!! You all have better self control than me.

 

[EnnEss]

The saga continues.... sent DH to go and pick up my camera and it was not there!!! After I was promised it would be there late Monday and I could get at opening Tuesday. They couldn't give him a reason why, they gave him $53.17 back b/c our ordeal. He asked to talk to manager and he could see the managers lips say " I can't help him, Make him go away" nice costumer service huh? And he NEVER came over to speak to him. I'm so angry with them. So tomorrow we'll start the whole thing over again. Third times a charm right?
At this point I should of returned and waited for a check then I could of brought it local but hindes sight is always 20/20.
Wish us luck.

Talk to the manager, refuse to leave until they come. Demand the money back, they have it in the store. If he sticks to the company line tell him to take out his cellphone, open it and speed dial the regional manager and explain the situation and then you want to talk to that manager. Explain to him kindly there is no other resolution to this issue except the camera being hand delivered to your house by a courier regardless of where they get it from.

You'll get your money back. You dont need to yell at him or anything, but lay it out and treat him how they treat you, like children, hold his/her hand through every step and if they seem confused slowly explain it back to him. At some point you can explain this is what its like being a customer at his store and congratulate him on being so progressive to costumers. That mail a cheque stuff back is pure garbage. I gurantee you that store has a float near 5k before they even open and do 1 or 2 deposits of 5k AT LEAST.

Basically dont waste any more time with the uncaring individuals at that store that took your money before considering how they'd get you the product or when. Go into the store and watch him call his boss. There's a regional manager they have 24/7 access to available by phone call all the time.

Im not sure if you in America have true debit cards yet, I know you can process other countries cards at many locations now, but if you do debit card (not a visa chequing card or something else thats really a variation on credit cards, a true debit card instantly and directly hooked into your various accounts) its exactly like cash to all retailers who use it, and there is nothing prohibiting them accounting wise from refunding you onto your debit card from their account.

 

[caniswolfie]

As far as the cash returns requiring a check mailed, I can see why they would do this. I can't explain the other bad service however.

How about this situation, I go into a Best Buy and buy a camera with cash. I then return a week later and ask for a refund. What they don't know is the box that will be returned doesn't have a camera in it and was shrinkwrapped back up to look like it was never opened. They immediately give me my cash back and then I leave.

So in the end I get a free camera and cash without any trouble. I believe the waiting period is to make sure that the return is valid and that they have an address and name that is valid if there's a problem with the return.

 

[handicap18]

As far as the cash returns requiring a check mailed, I can see why they would do this. I can't explain the other bad service however.

How about this situation, I go into a Best Buy and buy a camera with cash. I then return a week later and ask for a refund. What they don't know is the box that will be returned doesn't have a camera in it and was shrinkwrapped back up to look like it was never opened. They immediately give me my cash back and then I leave.

So in the end I get a free camera and cash without any trouble. I believe the waiting period is to make sure that the return is valid and that they have an address and name that is valid if there's a problem with the return.

That's called stealing. Or is it fraud. Either way its WRONG.

 

[handicap18]

Talk to the manager, refuse to leave until they come. Demand the money back, they have it in the store. If he sticks to the company line tell him to take out his cellphone, open it and speed dial the regional manager and explain the situation and then you want to talk to that manager. Explain to him kindly there is no other resolution to this issue except the camera being hand delivered to your house by a courier regardless of where they get it from.

You'll get your money back. You dont need to yell at him or anything, but lay it out and treat him how they treat you, like children, hold his/her hand through every step and if they seem confused slowly explain it back to him. At some point you can explain this is what its like being a customer at his store and congratulate him on being so progressive to costumers. That mail a cheque stuff back is pure garbage. I gurantee you that store has a float near 5k before they even open and do 1 or 2 deposits of 5k AT LEAST.

Basically dont waste any more time with the uncaring individuals at that store that took your money before considering how they'd get you the product or when. Go into the store and watch him call his boss. There's a regional manager they have 24/7 access to available by phone call all the time.

Im not sure if you in America have true debit cards yet, I know you can process other countries cards at many locations now, but if you do debit card (not a visa chequing card or something else thats really a variation on credit cards, a true debit card instantly and directly hooked into your various accounts) its exactly like cash to all retailers who use it, and there is nothing prohibiting them accounting wise from refunding you onto your debit card from their account.

We've had debit cards here for MANY MANY years. Most of them are also Visa or Master Card debit cards so that it can also be used in places that don't accept debit cards. The funds are taken out of our account right away (not immediately, but fairly quickly) and you need to have a checking account to have a debit card.

Any time I've paid with a debit card and needed to return something, I've always gotten the refund back in cash. Since debit cards are basically cash to stores, they refund in cash. If you use your debit card as a credit card then they will refund it like a credit card.

 

[caniswolfie]

That's called stealing. Or is it fraud. Either way its WRONG.

I'm not suggesting that I do this and I agree that it is stealing and immoral. I giving a rationale why they don't just give back the cash as soon as you return an item and make the customer wait for a check. They are trying to minimize risk of losing money and being taken advantage of, just like how they lock up high price items to prevent shoplifting, etc.

I don't think they are trying to make it difficult to get cash returns processed just for the sake of being difficult. There is a rationale for this policy, sometimes stores will only give store credit for cash purchases as well so they can track and invalidate if there are problems as well.

Sometimes it frustrates me that the reason some things are difficult is to prevent the small group of people that do things that are illegal or damaging.

 

[Alztybrn]

That's called stealing. Or is it fraud. Either way its WRONG.

I think he was explaining how you could cheat the system, and the reason why they send a check from the corporate office.

I don't believe he was condoning this procedure.

 

[saturndb]

have you had them check to see if a different store has one?

 

[thefirebuilds]

Last Saturaday I returned my D60 b/c of an error. They were out of stock, so I had to wait til today to pick up my new camera. I go there and guess what they don't have it. Now it won't be in til next Tuesday. They gave me the run around and tried to blame it on the snowstorm that hit us today. Blah blah blah. I just wanted to play with my new toy. I talked to the general manager and he offered me the floor model, I said no to that. He didn't even offer any $ off the floor model. Then he offered me a $50 gift card towards my troubles. To take the cake I asked for my money back and was told I will have to wait 10 business days. We paid cash for it, and they can't give me cash back. I was so upset with them. I came home and told DH what happend and he called the store and they told him the camera will be in on Wednesday. I told him they told me Tues and then they were giving him the run around and blah blah blah. I just needed to vent so thanks for reading this.

over a $300 POS camera dispute I refused to go back to circuit city. It failed on vacation and they refused to deal with me. It took 5 years or so but I guess I won. Take heart.

oh, and snowstorm here too. holla.

 

[bigfish2215]

It was getting transferred from another store. I offered at the end to go and pick it up myself. But they said it was on the truck and I couldn't get it. So I was stuck waiting. I got it today and told the customer service lady that her manager Jason was rude and I didn't like being treated like that and she said " That doesn't sound like our Jason" I was so mad. I left with my camera and in the parking lot I saw the guy who was trying to help me. I told him I finally got it and he told me he was happy for me and that he was personally sorry for how his manager treated me. He said that he knows his manager is a jerk. Then he told me they had to send someone down to the other store and pick it up for me, that they never sent it. So I will be working my way up the ladder until I feel I'm happy with the outcome. I am not going to give in to them yet. I know I'm only one person, and they really don't care to loose one customer, but look at how many have read this problem here at the boards. So people hopefully will think when buying there, about my problem.

On the other hand I have my new camera look out kids were taking pictures tonight!!
Thanks Everyone for your advise, you guys are great!!