Best Buy Repair STILL Melts Meat, Not Hearts

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Last month, Nikki wrote in complaining about her refrigerator, and Best Buy's, failings. After finally getting her frigo fixed, it went out again (we think you have a bum frigo, Nikki) and all her food, especially 4th of July meats, was spoiled. Subsequently, she squeezed the Best Buy and Frigidarie people until ekking out food gift cards as reimbursement, though we've seen bloodier stones. Nikki writes:

Last month, Nikki wrote in complaining about her refrigerator, and Best Buy’s, failings. After finally getting her frigo fixed, it went out again (we think you have a bum frigo, Nikki) and all her food, especially 4th of July meats, was spoiled. Subsequently, she squeezed the Best Buy and Frigidarie people until ekking out food gift cards as reimbursement, though we’ve seen bloodier stones. Nikki writes:

This letter is to let the consumerist readers know that they will not be offered food reimbursement when their refrigerators fail. They must demand it. And always stick it out and get something for your wasted time and efforts. You deserve it.

Up with consumers, after the jump…


Nikki writes:

“First, thank you for posting my complaint on your website. Although Best Buy didn’t seem to be concerned with the negative publicity, I was grateful that you were able to post my piece. With that said, I have an update.

After getting my refrigerator fixed the first time, it went out again 10 days later. (Remember, this unit is less than one year old.) It took a call to Best Buy and Frigidaire to get the unit fixed. I was without refrigeration for 6 days. I lost all of my food. During this ordeal, the Best Buy supervisor gave me the address and all of the information I was to send in to receive a food loss reimbursement. The Frigidaire people did the same thing. I was supposed to get up to $200 from Best Buy for my loss and up to $150 from Frigidaire.

Frigidaire called me yesterday (probably because I forwarded my complaint letter to my state’s Attorney General’s office). When I asked about food loss reimbursement, I was told specifically, “Frigidaire does not offer a food loss reimbursement.” However, the CSR would offer me a “courtesy payment” of $100. After I explained to her again that Brenda the CSR told me to send in my food loss, the new CSR explained that Brenda should have never done that and that Frigidaire does not offer food loss reimbursement. I was able to convince the new CSR to send me a check for $150. I was appeased so I called Best Buy to see how they were coming along with my food loss reimbursement.

Best Buy let me know that I was not eligible for food loss reimbursement because I did not purchase a service plan. I explained to them that supervisor Chad was the one who gave me the exact address and materials to send it to claim my loss. If I wasn’t eligible, why would he give me all that information? I was told “I’m sorry” many times. I probably would have let this go, but if you see what I had to deal with in my previous letter, I felt I needed some type of contribution from Best Buy. I was on the phone with this CSR for 45 minutes going back and forth before she finally caved and offered me a gift card. Although Best Buy offers up to $200 for food loss to those with a service plan, this CSR offered me a $50 gift card. I had $259 worth of loss! Before the 4th of July! Imagine all that meat wasted! I tried for another 20 minutes with her supervisor to get that gift card to magically change to $100 with no avail. Now I am forced to spend $50 at Best Buy.

This letter is to let the consumerist readers know that they will not be offered food reimbursement when their refrigerators fail. They must demand it. And always stick it out and get something for your wasted time and efforts. You deserve it.”


Previously: Best Buy Repair Melts Meat, Not Hearts

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