Best Buy can kiss my fanny good-bye (1 Viewer)

[Politician Spock]

For example, you will pay me $50,000 or I tell the press about the prostitutes you paid for on the company dime. That is extortion that threatens the company's future.

American Beauty -- Good filmIn this example, what specifically about the negotiation process is unethical?

Completely depends on where your ethical limits lie. Not everyone has the same ethics. Some believe anything that is legal is ethical. Some believe some legal things are unethical. Some believe some illegal are ethical. To some extortion is ethical.

we were talking about negotiaionIf I say give me 1000 dollars and you say no, that is a perfectly legitimate and ethical negotiation.

If I then say, if you don't do it, I'll break your legs, Now I've threatened you with bodily harm which most would agree is wrong, and it is not within my rights to do.

The negotiation process is ok, it's threatening violence that is wrong.

In the prostitution example, it's failure to report this activity to the company and profiting from it that makes you an accessory to the original crime and not the bartering process itself.

Back to the cookies example, I am well within my rights as a person to only shop at stores which will exchange fruit for my cookies. Taking my business elewhere is a legal and ethical perogative. Breaking your legs or becoming an accessory to criminal activity are neither legal or ethical.

Again, everyone's ethics are different. What you find ethical others may not find ethical. Debating what is ethical and what is not is an endless task for many issues. Some people in this world believe it is ethical to be a suicide bomber.When I was asked why someone shouldn't exchange their own Christmas cookies for fruit, ethics is a reason not to. But if doing exchanging your own Christmas cookies for fruit is ethical to you, then I can't give you a reason not to. But to some people, it is unethical.

 

[General Malaise]

I lost my receipt. I want my eight dollars. 'want to compare bank accounts' 'I'll take that bet.'

 

[Turf]

1) Store policies are flexible.2) The thing that got GM really hot was that they couldn't at least try to prove that the ####### things was sold at that price.3) There was a manager involved that should've realized that it's just $8 bucks as well; might as well keep the customer.4) He bought the thing there (at that very store). They should be able to figure out how much he bought it for. 5) On returns to other stores: if it were something they didn't sell, they wouldn't take it. If they didn't want to exchange it, they wouldn't have to. Target chose to forgo the hassle and gain a happy customer.6) Retail sucks. Retail people suck. Alot of the customers retail people have to put up with suck.

1) If something is flexible is it really a policy?2) Without a receipt how can you really prove that it was sold at that price?3) What if it was $10? How about $30? What if I was on line right after him and was going to return a DVD player under similiar circumstances but the difference was $200? Should they make an execption for me as well? Its not much of a policy when you just break it whenever you want. 4) Without the receipt how do they know he bought it there?6) Agreed here man

 

[Sack-Religious]

GM,The manager commented that I was getting a great deal. So he was aware that it rang up less than the sticker. I'm sure that there was some sort of sale going on that I was unaware of.As for your question on whether I would have kept quiet if the manager did not realize it rang up for less than the sticker, I offer this as my reply. I went to dinner with my wife last night to a restaurant that we frequent quite regularly. The waiter was clearly new. At the end of the meal, he brings us the check. Our check does not include our drinks. Nothing can be ordered from the bar without being entered into the computer. Clearly, I know that he entered the drinks on someone else's bill. I pointed out the mistake to him and he corrected it.

 

[TenTimes]

Well GM and I just became teammates so I've gotta say something in his defense...Wouldn't it make sense that a multi-bazillion dollar industry, especially one in the electronics business, would have some kind of database with a copy of all receipts printed to where they could enter in the barcode of the purchased item and see the receipt right there on the computer screen. End of story, problem solved, and you don't have 1 less Best Buy customer. Honestly I think the company is moving to the strict receipt policies because they KNOW that nobody saves a receipt (ok not nobody, but almost everybody). I'll put receipts in my pocket but usually take them out and throw them away when washing clothes. When GM mentioned that he didn't have his receipt the store clerk knew the drill.. get on the computer (which is smart enough to know what the lowest price in America on a given DVD is but not smart enough to save the receipt in their database) and find the price which would bust GMs balls the most. With the precision of a short order cook the counter girl sniped out that lowest price without breaking a sweat, she's obviously mastered the art, GM wasn't the first guy to lose his receipt, not by a long shot. Anyway, Best Buy is bad. But they let you play video games for free on your lunch break and hog up the screen when little kids want to play so Best Buy is okay.

 

[Sam Quentin]

For example, you will pay me $50,000 or I tell the press about the prostitutes you paid for on the company dime. That is extortion that threatens the company's future.

American Beauty -- Good filmIn this example, what specifically about the negotiation process is unethical?

Completely depends on where your ethical limits lie. Not everyone has the same ethics. Some believe anything that is legal is ethical. Some believe some legal things are unethical. Some believe some illegal are ethical. To some extortion is ethical.

we were talking about negotiaionIf I say give me 1000 dollars and you say no, that is a perfectly legitimate and ethical negotiation.

If I then say, if you don't do it, I'll break your legs, Now I've threatened you with bodily harm which most would agree is wrong, and it is not within my rights to do.

The negotiation process is ok, it's threatening violence that is wrong.

In the prostitution example, it's failure to report this activity to the company and profiting from it that makes you an accessory to the original crime and not the bartering process itself.

Back to the cookies example, I am well within my rights as a person to only shop at stores which will exchange fruit for my cookies. Taking my business elewhere is a legal and ethical perogative. Breaking your legs or becoming an accessory to criminal activity are neither legal or ethical.

Again, everyone's ethics are different. What you find ethical others may not find ethical. Debating what is ethical and what is not is an endless task for many issues. Some people in this world believe it is ethical to be a suicide bomber.When I was asked why someone shouldn't exchange their own Christmas cookies for fruit, ethics is a reason not to. But if doing exchanging your own Christmas cookies for fruit is ethical to you, then I can't give you a reason not to. But to some people, it is unethical.

Why would anybody think exchanging your Christmas cookies for fruit is unethical?Isn't this your position? Why so?

Do you think exchanging your Christmas cookies for money and then exchanging that money for fruit is also unethical?

 

[Keith R]

I love stories like this..I'm the Operations/Logistics Manager for the largest INDEPENDANT electronics/appliance store in the state.  We compete with Best Buy and Circuit City and we do it very well.We do it by treating the customer like they WANT to be treated...not the way they EXPECT to be mis-treated...We've been around for 32 years and have competed with the "big boys" since they came to town some 7 years ago...It's people like YOU who are fed up with being TOLD what you'll get rather than telling US what you expect!!

Where are you located?Do you have a website?

In NM..we are not a "web based" store but we do have a website...Baillio's Inc.

I can confirm this. Baillio's has survived the influx very well. Competitive prices and customer support that blows the others away. I shop them over the others consistently.

 

[Politician Spock]

Why would anybody think exchanging your Christmas cookies for fruit is unethical?

Would you buy Christmas Cookies from the store that some random person baked in their home and made the store's customer service counter exchange them for fruit by threatening their business? Not to mention the store would never even put them out to be sold for fear that they were tainted and the store would be sued by whomever bought and ate them. The store is just going to throw the cookies away. As such the store just gave away fruit in exchange for no value in order to avoid the threatened repurcussion of the customer. Some find this unethical.

 

[Politician Spock]

Do you think exchanging your Christmas cookies for money and then exchanging that money for fruit is also unethical?

If the person who gave me the money for the cookies is just going to throw the cookies away and only bought them to avoid the repurcussions of my threat, yes I believe this is unethical. Call me crazy. :wacko:

 

[bigbottom]

Would you buy Christmas Cookies from the store that some random person baked in their home and made the store's customer service counter exchange them for fruit by threatening their business? Not to mention the store would never even put them out to be sold for fear that they were tainted and the store would be sued by whomever bought and ate them. The store is just going to throw the cookies away. As such the store just gave away fruit in exchange for no value in order to avoid the threatened repurcussion of the customer. Some find this unethical.

Of course, none of this applies to DVDs, which leads me to some confusion as to the relevance of this whole cookie/fruit thing with which you appear to be obsessed.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

you're right, Target sure is lucky to have customers who will take junk off their hands, and get great DVD's they can mark back up and make a ton of dough.

Thank you!

 

[jplvr]

1) Store policies are flexible.2) The thing that got GM really hot was that they couldn't at least try to prove that the ####### things was sold at that price.3) There was a manager involved that should've realized that it's just $8 bucks as well; might as well keep the customer.4) He bought the thing there (at that very store). They should be able to figure out how much he bought it for. 5) On returns to other stores: if it were something they didn't sell, they wouldn't take it. If they didn't want to exchange it, they wouldn't have to. Target chose to forgo the hassle and gain a happy customer.6) Retail sucks. Retail people suck. Alot of the customers retail people have to put up with suck.

1) If something is flexible is it really a policy?2) Without a receipt how can you really prove that it was sold at that price?3) What if it was $10? How about $30? What if I was on line right after him and was going to return a DVD player under similiar circumstances but the difference was $200? Should they make an execption for me as well? Its not much of a policy when you just break it whenever you want. 4) Without the receipt how do they know he bought it there?6) Agreed here man

:wgphsh: I guess that's just payback.1) Good point. Since I've seen store policies bend in the past at Best Buy to accomodate me, the customer, shouldn't GM expect more of the same.2) I can't. That's their out. I contend that if I buy something at that exact store location that they can figure it out.3) This is why you have management: to make judgement decisions. If GM had multiple copies of the movie, trying to say that he got them all for Christmas, I'd wonder. It's just one movie, $8 bucks, and useless to quibble over and lose a customer.4) If he bought it at that location, the bar code is traceable to a degree at the very least.Regarless, the thing that seemed to set GM off is that they say it was sold at $11.99 somewhere in the time period specified. They must've had the information in front of them. Why not explain it at that point? What do you gain by withholding the info?

 

[jplvr]

#### cookies!!!

 

[Sam Quentin]

Would you buy Christmas Cookies from the store that some random person baked in their home and made the store's customer service counter exchange them for fruit by threatening their business? Not to mention the store would never even put them out to be sold for fear that they were tainted and the store would be sued by whomever bought and ate them. The store is just going to throw the cookies away. As such the store just gave away fruit in exchange for no value in order to avoid the threatened repurcussion of the customer. Some find this unethical.

In your thinking (assuming that I'm some random person and not a local baker or restaurant and assuming that I know that the cookies will be thrown out), why even bother with cookies.Why not just march your "####" straight to customer service and say "give some fruit, or I'm going to shop eleswhere."And would that be unethical to you?Is it any different than telling the Ford Dealer, give the car for 2000 less or I'm going to go to the Dodge dealer?Is that unethical to you?

 

[Politician Spock]

Of course, none of this applies to DVDs, which leads me to some confusion as to the relevance of this whole cookie/fruit thing with which you appear to be obsessed.

The tangent began in response to this:

Payment can take many forms. Cash is not the only form of payment one can use in a transaction.

It is aplicable to DVDs in that exchanging your DVD to any store that sells DVDs is on par with exchanging your Christmas cookies to any store that sells Christmas cookies. Stores have inventory problems because varients of a DVD they don't even sell are brought in to inventory. The company throws these items into a discount bin for pennies on the dollar. Might as well be throwing away Christmas cookies. Granted, most DVDs are the same accross retail chains, but not all DVDs, and certainy not all products that you could replace the DVD example with.

 

[Politician Spock]

In your thinking (assuming that I'm some random person and not a local baker or restaurant and assuming that I know that the cookies will be thrown out), why even bother with cookies.Why not just march your ### straight to customer service and say "give some fruit, or I'm going to shop eleswhere."

In the end, it's no different for the store.

And would that be unethical to you?

It's an unethical way to obtain fruit.

Is it any different than telling the Ford Dealer, give the car for 2000 less or I'm going to go to the Dodge dealer?Is that unethical to you?

It's a hairy example considering car dealers have about five different invoices for each car, each showing a different price for what they paid for the car, and the fact that selling a car below what it's worth can be a positive for business when it avoids taxes on the asset. Bottom line is if all the business is gaining in the transaction is the avoidence of repurcussion from the customer, then I think it is unethical. Business is between two parties, and both should be getting value in a transaction. If all one is getting is avoidence of repurcussion from the other party, then I think it is unethical. In GM's case, he was getting value in the return. His beef is that he should get MORE value then what he was getting, and he could have gotten it by 1) having the receipt, or 2) not being an ####.

 

[MelvinTScupper]

Wouldn't it make sense that a multi-bazillion dollar industry, especially one in the electronics business, would have some kind of database with a copy of all receipts printed to where they could enter in the barcode of the purchased item and see the receipt right there on the computer screen.

they have such a system, but it certainly cannot be partnered with the barcode, unless you are suggesting they create a special code/number for every INDIVIDUAL item in their system. They do not. The bar code only identifies it as DVD-Office Space-current price.They can look up by credit card for sure, probably for checks as well. Since GM paid cash, he removed that option. Another good reason to use credit cards for gifts/items you may need to return.It's not as simple as you make it soudn TenX, although some day, it might be.

 

[TenTimes]

they have such a system, but it certainly cannot be partnered with the barcode, unless you are suggesting they create a special code/number for every INDIVIDUAL item in their system. They do not. The bar code only identifies it as DVD-Office Space-current price.

I see, did not know barcodes on different Lion King DVDs were the same number. Like you said, maybe someday..

 

[MelvinTScupper]

I see, did not know barcodes on different Lion King DVDs were the same number. Like you said, maybe someday..

that would require a lot of computer power, but it would make all arguments like this one truly moot.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

If you guys like the Acts of Gord site (thanks for posting it, I'd forgotten all about it!), you'll love this site: Customers Suck. Name is pretty self-explanatory.I haven't posted a lot there, but I am Sister Havana on those boards.

Wow, I think I just set a record for getting banned, two posts under my handle : retailworkersarepathetic got me banned from this place. Get them while they're hot. What a bunch of sensative bastards.

 

[Politician Spock]

If you guys like the Acts of Gord site (thanks for posting it, I'd forgotten all about it!), you'll love this site: Customers Suck. Name is pretty self-explanatory.I haven't posted a lot there, but I am Sister Havana on those boards.

Wow, I think I just set a record for getting banned, two posts under my handle : retailworkersarepathetic got me banned from this place. Get them while they're hot. What a bunch of sensative bastards.

Why should everyone live inside your pathetic world which is ruled by the ticking clock of a pizza joint? Believe it or not, people call to ask what hours Harrods is open, and that's been operating for 150 years. Understand your place in the food chain, you sound very ignorant.

 

[scoobygang]

It's an unethical way to obtain fruit.

This is my favorite out of context quote ever.I keep imagining ***LA mugging a migrant worker or something.

 

[Turf]

1) Store policies are flexible.

2) The thing that got GM really hot was that they couldn't at least try to prove that the ####### things was sold at that price.

3) There was a manager involved that should've realized that it's just $8 bucks as well; might as well keep the customer.

4) He bought the thing there (at that very store). They should be able to figure out how much he bought it for.

5) On returns to other stores: if it were something they didn't sell, they wouldn't take it. If they didn't want to exchange it, they wouldn't have to. Target chose to forgo the hassle and gain a happy customer.

6) Retail sucks. Retail people suck. Alot of the customers retail people have to put up with suck.

1) If something is flexible is it really a policy?2) Without a receipt how can you really prove that it was sold at that price?

3) What if it was $10? How about $30? What if I was on line right after him and was going to return a DVD player under similiar circumstances but the difference was $200? Should they make an execption for me as well? Its not much of a policy when you just break it whenever you want.

4) Without the receipt how do they know he bought it there?

6) Agreed here man

:wgphsh: I guess that's just payback.1) Good point. Since I've seen store policies bend in the past at Best Buy to accomodate me, the customer, shouldn't GM expect more of the same.

2) I can't. That's their out. I contend that if I buy something at that exact store location that they can figure it out.

3) This is why you have management: to make judgement decisions. If GM had multiple copies of the movie, trying to say that he got them all for Christmas, I'd wonder. It's just one movie, $8 bucks, and useless to quibble over and lose a customer.

4) If he bought it at that location, the bar code is traceable to a degree at the very least.

Regarless, the thing that seemed to set GM off is that they say it was sold at $11.99 somewhere in the time period specified. They must've had the information in front of them. Why not explain it at that point? What do you gain by withholding the info?

1) But this is exactly my point man. Once you bend a policy one time how can you hold any policy in effect ever. I mean if my brother once got let off for $8, why not let me off for $20? And once I am let off for $20 why not let my buddy off for $25. If you allow a policy to be "bent" then you might as well not set the policy at all.2&4) No they cannot. Bar codes are the same for all items of the same make. Unless it has a separate serial number (like computers do) you cannot track it. It's not an out, tracking serial numbers for small purchases would take a ridiculous amount of time and money to do; and preventing it is as easy as holding onto a receipt.

3) See #1. It's a policy that is fairly easily followed if you don’t lose the receipt

 

[Sam Quentin]

In your thinking (assuming that I'm some random person and not a local baker or restaurant and assuming that I know that the cookies will be thrown out), why even bother with cookies.Why not just march your ### straight to customer service and say "give some fruit, or I'm going to shop eleswhere."

In the end, it's no different for the store.

And would that be unethical to you?

It's an unethical way to obtain fruit.

Is it any different than telling the Ford Dealer, give the car for 2000 less or I'm going to go to the Dodge dealer?Is that unethical to you?

It's a hairy example considering car dealers have about five different invoices for each car, each showing a different price for what they paid for the car, and the fact that selling a car below what it's worth can be a positive for business when it avoids taxes on the asset. Bottom line is if all the business is gaining in the transaction is the avoidence of repurcussion from the customer, then I think it is unethical. Business is between two parties, and both should be getting value in a transaction. If all one is getting is avoidence of repurcussion from the other party, then I think it is unethical. In GM's case, he was getting value in the return. His beef is that he should get MORE value then what he was getting, and he could have gotten it by 1) having the receipt, or 2) not being an ####.

I have to work or I could get fired. Is my boss unethical?When a security guard charges money for his services is that unethical?If I say get out of the road dumb"####" or you might get hit by a car is that unethical?Is the entire insurance industry unethical?I think I'm going my local grocer to demand free fruit...or else.

 

[Sam Quentin]

1) But this is exactly my point man. Once you bend a policy one time how can you hold any policy in effect ever. I mean if my brother once got let off for $8, why not let me off for $20? And once I am let off for $20 why not let my buddy off for $25.

Because letting you off for $8 was good for business, but letting your buddy off for $20 was bad for business, so F### him.Its a win win for me, Mr smart business owner.

 

[Politician Spock]

I have to work or I could get fired. Is my boss unethical?When a security guard charges money for his services is that unethical?If I say get out of the road dumb"####" or you might get hit by a car is that unethical?Is the entire insurance industry unethical?I think I'm going my local grocer to demand free fruit...or else.

1) No. But it would be unethical if you were enslaved. 2) No. But it would be unethical if he was being threatened into working for free.3) No. But it would be unethical for you to hit him if you could avoid him.4) Depends on whether or not you believe financial security has value or not.5) Good for you. I'm sure they could use a good laugh.

 

[Sam Quentin]

I have to work or I could get fired. Is my boss unethical?When a security guard charges money for his services is that unethical?If I say get out of the road dumb"####" or you might get hit by a car is that unethical?Is the entire insurance industry unethical?I think I'm going my local grocer to demand free fruit...or else.

1) No. But it would be unethical if you were enslaved. 2) No. But it would be unethical if he was being threatened into working for free.3) No. But it would be unethical for you to hit him if you could avoid him.4) Depends on whether or not you believe financial security has value or not.5) Good for you. I'm sure they could use a good laugh.

but all of those situations involve avoidance of repercussions. Why are they not unethical in the book of Politician Spock?You are contradicting yourself. Quite illogical Spock.The only reason you hire a security guard is to avoid the repercussions of being robbed or killed. Frequently the only reason you buy insurance is avoid the repercussions of financial hardship in case of a fire or something. The only reason my grocer might give me free fruit is to avoid the repercussions of losing my business.

 

[Politician Spock]

I have to work or I could get fired.  Is my boss unethical?

When a security guard charges money for his services is that unethical?

If I say get out of the road dumb"####" or you might get hit by a car is that unethical?

Is the entire insurance industry unethical?

I think I'm going my local grocer to demand free fruit...or else.

1) No. But it would be unethical if you were enslaved. 2) No. But it would be unethical if he was being threatened into working for free.

3) No. But it would be unethical for you to hit him if you could avoid him.

4) Depends on whether or not you believe financial security has value or not.

5) Good for you. I'm sure they could use a good laugh.

but all of those situations involve avoidance of repercussions. Why are they not unethical in the book of Politician Spock?You are contradicting yourself.

Quite illogical Spock.

The only reason you hire a security guard is to avoid the repercussions of being robbed or killed. Frequently the only reason you buy insurance is avoid the repercussions of financial hardship in case of a fire or something. The only reason my grocer might give me free fruit is to avoid the repercussions of losing my business.

Oh good lord. When the grocery store gives the fruit for the cookies, it was not the grocery store that committed the unethical act, it was the customer that did. Party A put party B in a position to avoid repurcussions without any vaule to part B. Party A was unethical.

I am sure you could split hairs and find a situation that this definittion doesn't work in, but honestly I don't care. Finding one that is ethical doesn't make all the others ethical.

 

[Sam Quentin]

Your position makes no sense.

BY your wacky definition, EVERY negotiation or compromise is unethical because failure to comply with ANY request can result in the termination of the relationship between the parties.

I suggest you reread my post 40 or 50 more times as, at no point does it suggest the grocer is in any way unethical :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:

 

[Legion of Doom]

Of course, none of this applies to DVDs, which leads me to some confusion as to the relevance of this whole cookie/fruit thing with which you appear to be obsessed.

Thank you SS,although it is quite possibly the FUNNIEST thing I've read today!

 

[Legion of Doom]

It's an unethical way to obtain fruit.

This is my favorite out of context quote ever.I keep imagining ***LA mugging a migrant worker or something.

:rotflmao:

 

[8623]

My knee has a big bruise on it where I knocked over their rope holder stand.

Sue their asses off!!!!!!Anyway, I like Best Buy for CD's and DVD's and stuff, but I'll never make any major purchases there again. I once bought a TV there, the picture was messed up from the day I got it, so I tried to exchange it (had the receipt, box, and everything) and they wouldn't let me. They made me send it away to get fixed, wouldn't pay for the shipping, it came back exactly the same. Rinse and repeat, it's four weeks later and I still don't have a functional television. And they won't do anything about it except send it to the repair shop despite the fact that they've already tried to fix it three times.So I'd finally had it. I just brought the thing back to Best Buy, chunked it on the floor, and told them if they couldn't help me I wasn't going to make any more payments on it. And I did it.........the next month when I got my bill, I sent it back with a letter explaining why I refused to make any more payments. That was over a year ago, and I still haven't heard anything about it. With the one payment I made, plus shipping the thing twice, I got screwed out of almost 150 bucks.

 

[jplvr]

1) Store policies are flexible.

2) The thing that got GM really hot was that they couldn't at least try to prove that the ####### things was sold at that price.

3) There was a manager involved that should've realized that it's just $8 bucks as well; might as well keep the customer.

4) He bought the thing there (at that very store). They should be able to figure out how much he bought it for.

5) On returns to other stores: if it were something they didn't sell, they wouldn't take it. If they didn't want to exchange it, they wouldn't have to. Target chose to forgo the hassle and gain a happy customer.

6) Retail sucks. Retail people suck. Alot of the customers retail people have to put up with suck.

1) If something is flexible is it really a policy?2) Without a receipt how can you really prove that it was sold at that price?

3) What if it was $10? How about $30? What if I was on line right after him and was going to return a DVD player under similiar circumstances but the difference was $200? Should they make an execption for me as well? Its not much of a policy when you just break it whenever you want.

4) Without the receipt how do they know he bought it there?

6) Agreed here man

:wgphsh: I guess that's just payback.1) Good point. Since I've seen store policies bend in the past at Best Buy to accomodate me, the customer, shouldn't GM expect more of the same.

2) I can't. That's their out. I contend that if I buy something at that exact store location that they can figure it out.

3) This is why you have management: to make judgement decisions. If GM had multiple copies of the movie, trying to say that he got them all for Christmas, I'd wonder. It's just one movie, $8 bucks, and useless to quibble over and lose a customer.

4) If he bought it at that location, the bar code is traceable to a degree at the very least.

Regarless, the thing that seemed to set GM off is that they say it was sold at $11.99 somewhere in the time period specified. They must've had the information in front of them. Why not explain it at that point? What do you gain by withholding the info?

1) But this is exactly my point man. Once you bend a policy one time how can you hold any policy in effect ever. I mean if my brother once got let off for $8, why not let me off for $20? And once I am let off for $20 why not let my buddy off for $25. If you allow a policy to be "bent" then you might as well not set the policy at all.2&4) No they cannot. Bar codes are the same for all items of the same make. Unless it has a separate serial number (like computers do) you cannot track it. It's not an out, tracking serial numbers for small purchases would take a ridiculous amount of time and money to do; and preventing it is as easy as holding onto a receipt.

3) See #1. It's a policy that is fairly easily followed if you don’t lose the receipt

On #1: The point is that it's the job of the manager to make judgement decisions. I feel like the manager made a bad decision basically losing a customer over $8 on one DVD. If GM had more DVD's, or something where he was asking for more money, I'd feel differently about it.GM should've just sent the wifey up there. She would've gotten the full $19.99 with the bat of an eyelash.

I'm finished with this thread because I'm about to put my fist through the monitor on account of this cookies and fruit ####. :finger:

 

[jplvr]

Sue their asses off!!!!!!Anyway, I like Best Buy for CD's and DVD's and stuff, but I'll never make any major purchases there again. I once bought a TV there, the picture was messed up from the day I got it, so I tried to exchange it (had the receipt, box, and everything) and they wouldn't let me. They made me send it away to get fixed, wouldn't pay for the shipping, it came back exactly the same. Rinse and repeat, it's four weeks later and I still don't have a functional television. And they won't do anything about it except send it to the repair shop despite the fact that they've already tried to fix it three times.So I'd finally had it. I just brought the thing back to Best Buy, chunked it on the floor, and told them if they couldn't help me I wasn't going to make any more payments on it. And I did it.........the next month when I got my bill, I sent it back with a letter explaining why I refused to make any more payments. That was over a year ago, and I still haven't heard anything about it. With the one payment I made, plus shipping the thing twice, I got screwed out of almost 150 bucks.

I'm glad I hung around for this post.

 

[Sam Quentin]

It occurs to me...Maybe the reason the BBY manager did not tell GM when the DVD sold for 11.99 was so that GM didn't just wait 3 days to get around the the 30-day lowest price policy.Of course somebody willing to get up at 5 and go shopping the day after Thanksgiving to buy a DVD, and then return it the day after Christmas all so they could scam Best Buy out of a lousy eight bucks, probably would have opted to wait out the 30 days anyway.

 

[popeye]

:Wakesup:I just had a terrible nightmare where this thread was still alive. What a relief:goesbacktosleep:

 

[Brock Middlebrook]

:Wakesup:I just had a terrible nightmare where this thread was still alive. What a relief:goesbacktosleep:

where's the love?This thread has it all. From consumer rage to politics to management strategy to clever scams to the --so absurd its funny-- heated argumen over whether its ethical to barter cookies for fruit.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

It occurs to me...Maybe the reason the BBY manager did not tell GM when the DVD sold for 11.99 was so that GM didn't just wait 3 days to get around the the 30-day lowest price policy.Of course somebody willing to get up at 5 and go shopping the day after Thanksgiving to buy a DVD, and then return it the day after Christmas all so they could scam Best Buy out of a lousy eight bucks, probably would have opted to wait out the 30 days anyway.

I had the same thought today. Next black Friday(the day after Thanksgiving), when they usually have these sorts of deals where it will be 8 bucks or so less than the sticker price, go in and buy 100 copies of next years Lion King. Return them 31 days later to get a full $8.00 profit per disc. That's 800 bucks albeit in store credit, but more than enough to get a sweet home theater and HDTV.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

And wow is that Bestbuysux.org an eye opener. That big blue and gold turd is definately taking some shots on the flanker.

 

[Politician Spock]

Your position makes no sense.

BY your wacky definition, EVERY negotiation or compromise is unethical because failure to comply with ANY request can result in the termination of the relationship between the parties.

I suggest you reread my post 40 or 50 more times as, at no point does it suggest the grocer is in any way unethical :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:

Saying "The only reason you hire a security guard is to avoid the repercussions of being robbed or killed" only applies to the grocery stores action of giving the fruit away for no value in return to avoid repercussions of the customer. It doesn't apply to the customer making the threat.Saying "the only reason you buy insurance is avoid the repercussions of financial hardship in case of a fire or something" only applies to the grocery stores action of giving the fruit away for no value in return to avoid repercussions of the customer. It doesn't apply to the customer making the threat.

And then you specifically say "The only reason my grocer might give me free fruit is to avoid the repercussions of losing my business."

Again it's the action of the customer that is unethical.

And yes, every negotiation can fail to comply with any request, but not every negotiation leaves one party with NO VALUE.

 

[MelvinTScupper]

Sue their asses off!!!!!!Anyway, I like Best Buy for CD's and DVD's and stuff, but I'll never make any major purchases there again. I once bought a TV there, the picture was messed up from the day I got it, so I tried to exchange it (had the receipt, box, and everything) and they wouldn't let me. They made me send it away to get fixed, wouldn't pay for the shipping, it came back exactly the same. Rinse and repeat, it's four weeks later and I still don't have a functional television. And they won't do anything about it except send it to the repair shop despite the fact that they've already tried to fix it three times.So I'd finally had it. I just brought the thing back to Best Buy, chunked it on the floor, and told them if they couldn't help me I wasn't going to make any more payments on it. And I did it.........the next month when I got my bill, I sent it back with a letter explaining why I refused to make any more payments. That was over a year ago, and I still haven't heard anything about it. With the one payment I made, plus shipping the thing twice, I got screwed out of almost 150 bucks.

see, THIS is why Best Buy sucks. Not because somebody lost their receipt, paid cash and lost $8 in the process.God I hate stores that sell faulty #### and don't back it up.

 

[TruBigDog]

I can't believe there are almost 500 posts ####ting on Best Buy. I've lost count on the horror stories I've heard about Best Buy yet people go back like lemmings. I went there just yesterday to get a case for my portable DVD player.WHAT IS THE POWER THEY HAVE OVER US!?!

 

[Politician Spock]

Sam QuentinIt appears to me that either one of three things is true:1) You don't understand what extortion and/or extorting is.2) You understand what extortion and extorting is, but you believe them to be perfect ethical within the practices of business3) You have taken me on one hell of a fishing tripIf case #1 is true: Here is the definition of extortion and extorting:

extortion \Ex*tor"tion\, n. [F. extorsion.] 1. The act of extorting; the act or practice of wresting anything from a person by force, by threats, or by any undue exercise of power; undue exaction; overcharge.extorting Extort \Ex*tort"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extorted </search?q=extorted>; p. pr. & vb. n. Extorting </search?q=extorting>.] [L. extortus, p. p. of extorquere to twist or wrench out, to extort; ex out + torquere to turn about, twist. See Torsion </search?q=torsion>.] 1. To wrest from an unwilling person by physical force, menace, duress, torture, or any undue or illegal exercise of power or ingenuity; to wrench away (from); to tear away; to wring (from); to exact; as, to extort contributions from the vanquished; to extort confessions of guilt; to extort a promise; to extort payment of a debt.

By these defenitions due you believe extortion and/or extorting are ethical tactics within the practice of business?If case #2 is true: Not everyone believes in the same ethics, so in this case we will just have to agree to disagree.If case #3 is true: Congratulations! You took me for one hell of a ride.

 

[Brock Middlebrook]

Sorry Spock, but "taking your business elsewhere" is not any kind of legitimate "threat" or "undue exercise of power." Anytime I walk in to a storefront, I have the right and obligation to seek the best deal possible for myself and my family.back to the sidelines

 

[MelvinTScupper]

back to the sidelines

have some more cookies and fruit

 

[Politician Spock]

Sorry Spock, but "taking your business elsewhere" is not any kind of legitimate "threat" or "undue exercise of power."

Anytime I walk in to a storefront, I have the right and obligation to seek the best deal possible for myself and my family.

back to the sidelines

I never said "dealing" is unethical. However if a deal:1) provides no value to party A

AND

2) the only reason party A agreed to the deal is to avoid the the threat of repurcussions from party B

I believe this to be unethical. Walking into a store with a widget that is of no value to the store and threatening them to give you something of value in exchange for the widget or else you and the 50 people you know will never shop there again is unethical to me. If it's ethical to you, so be it.

 

[Sam Quentin]

Sorry Spock, but "taking your business elsewhere" is not any kind of legitimate "threat" or "undue exercise of power."

Anytime I walk in to a storefront, I have the right and obligation to seek the best deal possible for myself and my family.

back to the sidelines

I never said "dealing" is unethical. However if a deal:1) provides no value to party A

AND

2) the only reason party A agreed to the deal is to avoid the the threat of repurcussions from party B

I believe this to be unethical. Walking into a store with a widget that is of no value to the store and threatening them to give you something of value in exchange for the widget or else you and the 50 people you know will never shop there again is unethical to me. If it's ethical to you, so be it.

Your building a lot of assumptions into this1. Your assuming the widget has no value

2. That I've told them 50 other people are with me on this (Do I need to give them some fruit too?)

3. That if I told 50 other people "Politician Spock's store wouldn't give me fruit for this worthless widget" they'd respond with a collective "What a bunch of arseholes! We're never shopping there again." (what color is the sky in that world?)

 

[Politician Spock]

Your building a lot of assumptions into this

1. Your assuming the widget has no value

2. That I've told them 50 other people are with me on this (Do I need to give them some fruit too?)

3. That if I told 50 other people "Politician Spock's store wouldn't give me fruit for this worthless widget" they'd respond with a collective "What a bunch of arseholes! We're never shopping there again." (what color is the sky in that world?)

1) Yes. For it to be unethical, the widget has to have no value to the store.2) No. The store just has to believe your threat is real. You could be BS-ing you #### off, it's still unethical.

3) Again no. You could threaten the store without anyone else's knowledge at all. All you have to do is convince the store your threat is real.

 

[Sam Quentin]

Your building a lot of assumptions into this

1. Your assuming the widget has no value

2. That I've told them 50 other people are with me on this (Do I need to give them some fruit too?)

3. That if I told 50 other people "Politician Spock's store wouldn't give me fruit for this worthless widget" they'd respond with a collective "What a bunch of arseholes! We're never shopping there again." (what color is the sky in that world?)

1) Yes. For it to be unethical, the widget has to have no value to the store.2) No. The store just has to believe your threat is real. You could be BS-ing you #### off, it's still unethical.

3) Again no. You could threaten the store without anyone else's knowledge at all. All you have to do is convince the store your threat is real.

2) again, you are assuming that I've TOLD THEM 50 other people are with me on.

 

[MelvinTScupper]

2) again, you are assuming that I've TOLD THEM 50 other people are with me on.

why did you tell 50 people you wouldn't shop there anymore?