I needed to pay bill with gift card. I bought an expensive smart phone. Two weeks later the bill came and my son gave me gift card for Xmas two days later. They would not apply it to bill. He gave me a lot of money and said you can only purchase merchandise.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
Saturday after Black Friday, we saw the ad for buying an iPod touch and receiving a $50 gift card. We called Vero store and they kept us on hold forever and then were not helpful in answering our questions. So we called the Melbourne store (much further away from us) where we spoke to someone named (I think) Jared and he was wonderful, very very helpful. He offered to pull the 2 iPods and hold for us before we even asked. He then teld us he was putting us on hold while he pulled them and even asked for a call back number in case we got disconnected so he could call us back!
We asked if we could purchase the two iPod touches and then use the two gift cards to purchase a Kindle touch and he said yes; other customers have been having problems with the gift cards working right away but they would certainly try and the worst case would be that they hold the Kindle and we go back in 24 hours to get it, giving the system time to catch up with the activation of our cards. I really felt that Jared went above and beyond (I hope I have the right name).
So we jumped in the car and made the long drive to the Melbourne store where we were taken care of by Shawna who was very nice. While waiting for her to get out items I asked to speak to a manager and told him what great service we received from Jared. The manager said that he was Jared's boss and appreciated the feedback.
We purchased the iPods for over $400 and received the gift cards. Then she rang up the kindle and the computer would not read either of the gifts cards that she had just activated. She tried and tried and then asked if we wanted to look around the store for 10 minutes or so and try again. Since Jared had said this may happen and since my husband had to get to work, we said no and that we would come back Monday and asked her to hold the Kindle touch. She put a hold on our Kindle until Dececmber1st (Thursday) just in case something kept us from getting there on Monday. Please note that I also wrote her name on the top of my receipt because after watching her swipe those gift cards so many times I asked her if when we came back to get the kindle if she was sure that those cards would work and she assured us that they would. We took the receipt and the gift cards home.
Today (Wednesday), my husband was working in Melbourne and stopped to get the Kindle. While on company time (we own a business), he waited in line and finally Christie helped him and we tried to purchase the Kindle they were holding for us with the gift cards we were given on Saturday. They didn't work. The manager (Joe) was extremely unhelpful; there was no empathy or understanding from him at all. They told my husband that he would need to go home and call the 888 number to ask for new cards to be mailed to our home! Are you kidding me? That was not the advertisement! And I need to buy the Kindle so my daughter has it by Christmas! I cannot wait for new cards that may or may not work to be mailed to me from the corporate office!
Joe flat out did not want to deal with my husband or the situation at all. Christie was nice and was trying to be helpful and offered to call for him. She did and was unable to get anything done over the phone herself! My husband had to get to work and Christie said she would continue to work on it and call him with any updates. She called toward the end of the day and left a message that she was still trying to get it taken care of and hoping to have new cards sent within 14 business days! Am I being unreasonable to think that this is unacceptable?
When my husband got home and told me what happened I called the store. I was on hold for 30 minutes until someone finally answered. I asked to speak with a manager and she told me to hold on. I waited on hold for 13 more minutes and then Camille answered and asked what I needed. I explained that I needed a manager, that we have driven to Melbourne twice and I've been on hold for over 40 minutes and really just needed to speak to someone that could help me. Camille interjected and said, "You have only been on hold for 13 minutes."
Now, I'm losing my temper and I tell her that I was on hold for over 30 minutes before they answered the first and waited another 13 minutes waiting for a manager before she picked up! I explained that I did not want to be rude but I spent over $400 and received gift cards that did not work and have been on waiting to speak to a manager for almost an hour now and that every minute I wait I'm getting more angry, so could she please just put me on the phone with someone in charge that can help me. She said ok. I was on hold several more minutes, and Camille picks up the phone again and asks if my husband was in the store earlier and if he spoke to Christie or Joe and I said yes. Camille said, "Well, they are working on having new cards approved and mailed to you." I said that was not acceptable and that I really needed to speak to the manager. She refused to let me speak to the manager. She was raising her voice, talking over me, and really just would not even allow me to speak. Every time I tried to explain that I needed to talk to the manager myself, she insisted that she had spoken to the manager for me and there was no need for me to speak to him! I was in disbelief that this was happening to me. As I type this I'm nearly in tears. I told her to put the manager on the phone or hang up on me because I was not satisfied with her customer service and I would wait to speak to the manager.
Next thing I know Joe is on the phone. He is immediately full of attitude and telling me that there is nothing they can do that we all have to wait for approval of new cards to be issued and mailed. I was trying to be calm and courteous. I told him that I have been on the phone waiting to speak to him for an hour, that I do not want to be rude to him but that I just need him as the manager to rectify this situation for me and make it right. I didn't do anything to deserve the treatment I'm getting. He snapped at me and told me that he didn't want me to be rude to him either but that there was nothing he could do.
I tried to explain my situation, tried to explain that I have 3 kids, 2 are getting iPod touches and one is getting the Kindle. I tried to explain my fear that the cards would not come in time for me to get the Kindle by Christmas. I tried to explain my fear that the new cards would not work. I tried to explain that I was a customer who made a purchase based on the advertisement, based on the words of 2 employees and that none of this was my fault and begged him to give me store credit, another gift card anything to get the kindle for my daughter because I do not have the money now to go get it and soon I will not have the time to order it online and have it shipped in time. He just would not listen. He behaved worse than Camille, talking over me, raising his voice, absolutely had no interest in anything I was trying to say. He absolutely did not "care".
I asked if I could bring the iPods back and get a refund and he said yes but if I paid cash, I would have to wait for my refund check to come in the mail! I paid cash, $413.38. So, I'm waiting. He said that they would hopefully know something by tomorrow night (Thursday) and I asked if he could please have someone call me by then to update me so I know what's going on. Joe said no and that I could just call the store. I said that I cannot be on the phone for 45 minutes waiting to talk to someone about this again and I do not get paid to sit on the phone. He said, "Well, I don't get to do that either!" I said, "You're getting paid right now. You're working.
This is your job and I am off work! I am your customer!" Joe very rudely said that he would have someone call me and was about to hang up when I asked if he had my number! I gave it to him and confirmed that someone would call me with an update by tomorrow night and he agreed and hung up. Frankly, I'm not expecting anyone to call. I don't believe Joe even wrote my number down to be honest. I have a right to uneasy, untrusting and upset and do not deserve the attitude and rudeness that I've received.
I'm very unhappy and worried that I will not have the Kindle for my daughter by Christmas and I am wishing that I would have just gone to Target instead. I don't know any other retail store that would do this and then handle it the way BestBuy has. It's too late for me to find the iPods and kindle from somewhere else and I'm out the $413. So I'm at their mercy.
I received the Xbox360 approximately within the dates of 11/23-11/25. I also received the gift cards in a separate envelope around the same time. The other times, games, arrived at a later time around 11/29. After receiving the gift cards, my intention was to use the $100 to purchase various items for the Xbox360 on Cyber Monday through Best Buy.com. When I went to use the gift card I noticed that it wasn't valid. I then decided to try to use the $5 gift card, and that too did not appear to be activated. I did not check the value of the other two $25 gift cards, as they are gifts, and I did not want to scratch off the protection code at the back of the card.
On 11/28 at approximately 12PM, I called Best Buy to inquire about my gift cards, and after 20 minutes on hold, and talking with someone, I was told just to wait a week, and they would more than likely be activated. The more I thought of this solution, the more I questioned its validity, and decided to call back the next day. I called Best Buy again on 11/29 at approximately 4PM and after about 20 minutes on the phone, yet again was told that the best solution was to either wait another hour on hold, or to go into a Best Buy store to get the cards activated. This made me upset because the whole basis of my purchase in the first place was to avoid going to a store. I then inquired about just returning the items and was told the items could not be returned as the gift cards were inactive, and I wouldn't receive credit for them.
So, on 11/29 at approximately 5PM, I went to the Best Buy location, and inquired with the customer service desk. I again explained the whole situation, and the clerk tried to activate the cards. Again, at this time, I was told by my previous phone conversation just minutes before, that I could go into any Best Buy store and get my cards activated. After several tries, the clerk was unable to activate and started making phone calls. I stood at the customer service desk for about a half hour, and then the manager came over, and spoke with someone on the phone. The best solution they came up with, was to contact me in 5-7 business days. I explained that I was not happy with this, and there needed to be a better solution, and was told by the manager, Alex, that he would look into it on 11/30, and contact me that day. I finally left the store after almost an hour standing at the customer service counter. As of 5PM on 11/30, I have not been contacted by Alex, or anyone at Best Buy.
All in all, my 5 minute purchase has now cost me over 2 hours in trying to get this resolved. None of this is my fault whatsoever, and I need a solution to this. As of now, Best Buy has stolen money from me. I have made a purchase, Best Buy has my money, and they will not give me product/service in return. A customer does not deserve to be treated in this manner.
They use false advertisement. I bought $1000 worth of stuff to receive a free gift card. However, it was conditional on buying insurance, not just the price amount.
I received reward cards with $5 or $10 value. When I purchased and redeemed the coupons, they only scanned it and it did not get deducted from the total price. I only found out about this two weeks ago when I went through my credit card bills. It was about $25 coupon in 2 occasions. The credit card company charged me for the interest it incurred.
Here is my story. In August of 2008 my Brother in law purchased a computer from best buy for my daughter. he was going to be on active duty shortly and they were going to work on a story together for the school newspaper. the computer had a lot of problems and after about six months the hard drive crashed and was rendered useless. We contacted Dell and they recomended we take it to Best Buy to be serviced under warranty. We did that an it took them a week to to look at it and tell us it needed to be sent out.
Two weeks later it comes back with a new hard drive. They called me a told me that the computer was fully functional and ready to go. Being in a hurry we didn't check it till we got home. We opened it it up and they didn't even restore the windows operating system on it. We contacted Dell(they were great)only to find out they never sent it to their service center. we took it back to Best buy and they wanted to charge us $180.00 to restore the system. We told them to stuff it.The manager hid behind the excuse that Dells warranty did not cover re installation of of the software only parts and offered us a deal of half price to restore the system.
We refused and told them their service stunk and that they dropped the ball and only did half the job. We no longer shop at Best Buy because we are tired of their scams. My brother in law passed away 2 weeks ago while on active duty. My daughter was in tears when the computer didn't work because it was a very special gift from her uncle. I spent three hours restoring her system with the assistance of Dell(they were great). The wireless card is still having issues but we are working on a solution for that.
I realize that there is no remedy for aggrivation and wasted time. Best Buy has got a great scam going with their Geek squad and in store warranties. It gives them the semi legal excuse to give [bad] customer service and rip off consumers.
I ordered a Zune gift card from Best Buy and the item has not been received. I've been calling since December 26, 2008 - all calls have been documented. Each time I speak to someone I am told I will have an answer in xxx amount of time. Each time it varies. The last person I spoke with gave me a new case # and told me I would receive an answer in 24-72 hours. I've not heard a word nor have I received the gift card.
I spent $25 on a gift card I've never received.
$25.00 Nexon pre-paid game card was purchased on 01/03/09 from Bestbuy. Game Website states the card is EXPIRED. 01/04/09 the card was returned to exchange for a new card. Tim the customer service manager confirmed the Expired card online. Tim who adamantly refuses to provide his last name emphatically stated that there is nothing he could do. I have to take it up with the Game Company who online would not respond.
My 11 year old son who purchased the Card from his weeks allowance could not understand how bestbut sell him an expired card. How Bestbuy Customer Service make an effort to resolve the $25.00 they have taken from him
My son (15 yr) received a Best Buy giftcard for Christmas worth $100.00 He attempted to use it last May 21 at a Best Buy store here in La Quinta but was refused because the bar code was scratched a little bit and the cashier can't swipe it. So he paid cash for a $40.00 earphone he purchased. I called the customer number right away and told the guy I was speaking to what happened. He then said that for me to be able to get a replacement card I have to let the person that give the giftcard to call them for a replacement card. Since its too much hassle to call either my brother or another family friend, these are the only two persons I could think of that could have given him the giftcard. I asked the guy if I can just use the gift card to purchase items online and he said I could do that too since I just need to enter the card number and security code at the back of the card. So I told him to just forget the other way and I will just use the card to shop online.
Then a week ago I tried to use the giftcard online to purchase memory cards for my son's camera and lo and behold, the giftcard now said zero balance. So I immediately called the other day the customer service no and told them the whole story again. The lady named April this time said that she has to do more research and will call me the following day. The next day I got a call from April at the customer service and said that they cannot do anything about this because the original purchasor has to call them so they can give a replacement giftcard.
I later found out from her that last May 21st when I called them originally, the giftcard was cancelled by the guy I was talking to. I said that he did not tell me that he was going to cancel it because I specifically asked him that we will just use the giftcard for online shopping and he said yes, we can do that. I did not get the impression that he was going to cancel it because I said that it will be a big hassle for me to call those two people who might have given my son the giftcard. So bottom line, April gave me the number where I can reach the person wo hcancelled our giftcard. I called right away to see if I can clear the matter and of course I get the voicemail, I left a message and till now I have not received a phone call back, that's why I am filing this complaint.
I feel that my son has been ripped off and this is big amount of money, $100.00. Yes, I know I can get a replacement card because I can have my brother or friend call. But I felt that the person did not really listen to me or did not care.
I went in bec they give gift cards of $5 for every A kids make on their report cards. I brought my daughters 3rd quarter grades and her fourth quarter grades. They gave me 2 gift cards for $30 each. I went shopping and spent $37 and some change but when I went to the check out, only one of the cards worked, the other was declined. So I went back to the service desk and asked what was wrong and a different girl was their but knew exactly what I was talking about. She told me that I tried to get compensation for a past quarter and I could only get it for the current quarter. When I asked her why that was not explained to me in the first place and why was the card issued to me as if everything was ok, she replied, I had nothing to do with that.
My problem is the way I was treated like I had done something wrong when they had clearly messed up. They treated me like I had tried to get over on them and they had caught me when all they had to do was say, Sorry mam, but we dont compensate for old quarters, and I would have been fine. But instead, I felt violated and angry and knew that I would never shop there again. I would have made my daughter return $8 worth of stuff so I would not have given them any money at all but I knew that they charge you 15% to return anything (so unfair)which means my daughter would have paid them 15% for nothing in return. Trust me, for that kind of customer service, I wont ever go there again, not even for FREE.
I used a Christmas gift, a BestBuy gift card, and purchased a camera after Christmas. Did not like the camera (battery issue) so I returned it ,and they kept $25 for restocking fee. I lost the card 2 days later with a balance of $125 remaining and reported it immediately to Best Buy. They indicated it would take four weeks before I received replacement. It is now 3/10/08 - 60 days later, and Best Buy consumer affairs said it will take another 6 to 8 weeks before they reissue--are running behind. His supervisor says the cards in the mail!
How can they keep $25 restocking fee at their own whim and put me off for 60 days plus, before I get my card and receive the recurring interest on my card as well? How can big business just walk over consumers, and we have no recourse at all?
I tried to send my nephew an ITUNES card from Best Buy, value $25, on December 14, 2007. I sent it special one-day delivery via UPS. After a week he did not get the card, so I called Best Buy on December 26. UPS log only told me that it was loaded on a UPS truck; it never said 'DELIVERED'. I got customer support person, Joseph, who told me that the card would be resent and the cost of shipping the card would be refunded, $8. I was pleased with that response, my UPS fee was refunded, and I waited again for the card to get to my nephew. It is January 3 now, and my nephew still did not get his ITUNES card. I called back BEST BUY customer support to ask why the card was not sent.
A supervisor, Chris, told me that the person who told me it would be resent was not telling me the truth, and that this case was being sent to their research department. I was appalled! I asked Chris for his supervisor, and he told me that his supervisor did not come to the phone; and then I asked for my money to be refunded, and he told me NO, I could not have my money refunded. Then I tried to call the corporate office. I talked to Brendan, and all he could tell me was they did not deal with bestbuy.com transactions even though I had had a difficult time retrieving my $25. He reconnected me to Gord, ID #1186606. Gord told me he was the TOP supervisor of BESTBUY.com , there was no one else to talk to. He reiterated what Chris had told me. I asked him for the phone number for the research department; it was denied. I asked him again for a refund; that was denied, and I asked him to resend the card..denied. I do not think it is right that BESTBUY.com can keep my $25 since December 14, not refund it, and keep it while it collects interest in order to correct a mailing situatuion that was their fault, not mine! I cannot get my money back, I cannot get what I payed for, and no one will give a phone number to call....I do not think this is right in our country today. Please help!
I want to warn other consumers that this is not a trustworthy operation, bestbuy.com. And I cannot accept that a corporation can withhold my money for any period of time and not deliver the goods that were purchased!
I recently received a $150 gift card from Best Buy, but when I attempted to use the card in Raleigh, NC, it was denied. The card was purchased from the Best Buy store in Cary, NC. They (Best Buy in Raleigh, NC) were shown the receipt, which they verified and then told me that I had to go back to the store where the card was purchased because it was denied. Does this mean if the card had been purchased in California, I would have been expected to travel across the county to get this issue corrected? Basically, they had no interest in determining what the problem was with the card. I returned to the Best Buy store where the card was purchased. (Yes, I had to drive several miles to another store!) They told me that the card was voided shortly after it was purchased.
Of course the purchaser immediately contacted the credit card company who verified that the card's purchase price was indeed charged to his account. It had not been voided as the manager had boldly stated. After the manager was informed of this, he left to check information on their computer system. Why didn't he do this first? He then returns and informs us that, yes, the card was purchased from them. He was able to tell me who the cashier was, what time the card was sold, who brought the card and what store denied the card. He had the entire history of the card on their computer system. He also told me that there was an activation problem with some cards purchased on that date. I asked to have the card activated or replaced, but they refused.
I was told I had to contact a third party, because Best Buy doesn't actually back the cards that they sell, even though it has their name on it and was sold in their store. After three hours, I am finally told that yes your card will be replaced, but that it will take 10 business days. But what about the item that I needed that day? Well you can purchase it now and come back later and use your gift card. This means I have to spend even more money in a store that doesn't seem to care about its customers. Of course, you can't get your money back from a gift card, even if you are unsatisfied with the process. Gift cards are not a good thing because there are no cash refunds on gift cards.
I needed a laptop that night, so I had to purchase one from somewhere minus my $150 gift card. I still have to use the gift card in their store since it is not redeemable for cash. I was issued a new card 12 days later.
