Gather round, it’s story time.
So I got a Fitbit Charge HR for Christmas. It’s what I wanted, and having had a Fitbit flex for over a year, I knew I’d be happy with it. The one I got had a malfunction and stopped charging properly. No big deal. I called Best Buy to determine if I needed a receipt to exchange it for one that worked.
Well, while I was on the phone with them, I found out that the Apple Watch was on sale for $250. Just $100 more than the Fitbit. I was intrigued.
And as I admitted on Tuesday, I’m impulsive. I immediately decided I just had to have the Apple Watch. I quickly went online to see which locations had the one I wanted in stock. Just one store, and it was a half hour away. So what did I do? I ordered that sucker online and opted for store pick up. That watch was mine!
I get the confirmation email from Best Buy: your order is ready for pick up. So I hop in the car and set off on the 30 minute journey.
I walk in. Return the Fitbit. And ask to pick up my order.
Imagine my surprise when…they don’t have it.
But I got the confirmation email. The clerk frantically searched about. He found one, but it had someone else’s name on it. But I already purchased it. You have my money. And I’m in the store now. No luck. They wouldn’t give me the watch.
After some further digging, he found an open box one that he could sell me for a discounted price. Is anything wrong with it? No, I was assured. Okay, sold.
Luckily, I chose to set it up in my car in the parking lot. Turns out, the watch was still paired with the original owner’s phone. And you know what? There’s no way for Apple or Best Buy or Geek Squad or any of the Geniuses in the entirety of the world who can unpair that watch except for the original owner. Awesome.
So now, I was getting annoyed. And unfortunately, I was leaving town the next morning for an undetermined length of time (if you’re new here, read over some of my posts from early January).
The clerk, frantic to save the sale, threw out a hail Mary pass. I’ll tell you what–I’ll sell you one online for the open box price, and you’ll just pay the expedited shipping, making the total the same as the brand new watch. You’ll get it tomorrow.
Okay, I thought. I could live with that (remember here, folks, I’m impulsive). He works out the sale, and I’m off.
A little while later I thought you know what? No. Best Buy just put me through the ringer. This is on them, not me. So I called up customer service to cancel my order. I didn’t want to give them my money anymore.
While cancelling the order, the rep asks Okay, so are you cancelling because this item is on back order?
document.write(”);
<!– end InLinkz script —>
You totally need to send a copy of this post to Best Buy's customer service department with names and locations. This kind of feedback "should" (in an ideal world) be helpful to them and an opportunity to correct some obvious errors in their system.
I'd love to read a review! And How-To as well!
I think Best Buy is overrated. I got my Mac there and that's all well and good, but I feel like they just try to gouge you every way they can before you make it out the door. I haven't been in one in a few years. There's nothing you can't find at Target (or the Apple Store for that matter).
This sounds like something that would happen to Scott, to be honest.
Wow! I haven't shopped at Best Buy in years, they are so shady! Ugh so sorry you had to go through all that.
We broke up with BB a long time ago for various return reasons. They are also the reason why my husband gets a lot of clients for his side work because he doesn't charge a lot like they do for the cpu work he does.
Hope you enjoyed all those apple watches 😉
Oh man, what a nightmare. I'd love to hear how you like the watch, though!
xoxo
Kat
Oh my goodness that is crazy!! I have never really liked Best Buy. They never seem to know exactly what they are doing. I went in to buy a Tom Tom watch awhile back told the guy exactly what I wanted it to do and he said this will be perfect. Well the thing hardly ever gets a GPS signal and it doesn't do some of the things I wanted in a GPS watch.
Oh my goodness! How frustrating! BUT I have to say, I love the humorous approach you took with this post. I'm impressed that you bought 4 Apple Watches in one day. That's SUPER impulsive! 😉
I would be so mad too! And Best Buy isn't very… customer focused… so I fully support your breakup!
Oh my gosh, I got angry just reading that! I don't get how they can charge you for something and then not have it– and then turn around and basically sell you a faulty product? And then charge you three times once they finally try and get you the original product? Glad you finally got it in the end and would love a review!
i first read this as 'where i break up with the best guy' and i freaked out a bit. i'm glad it was just best buy.
we definitely need a sarcasm font. i'm sorry you had to deal with all this but glad it was all sorted in the end. i don't think i have ever bought anything from best buy and i'm happy to never shop there now that i know their customer service is crap and they like to charge people 3 times. wtf!
Holy hell! I hate Best Buy for similar reasons. We had a breakup a couple Black Fridays ago when their ad told me a product was a certain amount of money and then the store wouldn't sell it to me even though I had the flier in my hand. So weird! Happy you got your watch 🙂
Holy crappers, you sure went through the ringer! I've always said there's nothing like amazing customer service that will keep you coming back for more (Nordstrom wins all the prizes here) or horrible customer service that will keep you away forever (Carnival Cruiselines I'm looking at you). Sorry you went through so much, but yay for Target pulling through for you <3
Green Fashionista
I hope they at least refunded you quickly! That's a shit ton of $!!!
THEY ARE THE WORST. And Target wins all, the end. I'd love to see a post on how you use it-I have one, and I love it, but I feel like I'm not getting all I could get out of it.
Amazing. 4 Apple Watches in a day. That must be some kind of record. Congrats! 🙂
Oh yes!! Review and what you use it for would be awesome!
Oh man!! I couldn't handle just reading this… I was super mad for you!! lol
Oh my goodness this is crazy!! I'd be so pissed! But hey- yay for the Apple watch.. they do seem pretty awesome!!
Ps. I have a class at 11:30 tomorrow but would love to meet up before or after if you can 🙂
xo, Kristina