Have you purchased a computer from Best Buy, only to find that it had no internal parts? No hard drive. No video card. No motherboard? If so, you (allegedly) have Joseph Denice of Silver Spring, MD to thank for your gutted PC. His hobby is buying computers from Best Buy, removing the parts, and then returning the empty shell. Best Buy’s employees would then put the computer husks back on store shelves where they would be repurchased by unwitting consumers such as… you.
MSNBC says that when the hapless customers returned the “defective” computers, Best Buy shrugged and sent them back to the manufacturer. Meanwhile, Denice was selling the parts over the internet. It’s estimated that over $100,000 worth of merchandise was lost in this scam.
We suppose this means that not only do you have to check to make sure the stuff you’re buying is inside the box when you’re shopping at Best Buy, you have to make sure the parts are inside the computer. Fun!
Man Accused Of Gutting, Returning Computers [MSNBC] (Thanks, Jeffrey!)
(Photo: tengaport )
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@Part-Time-Viking: Sorry,I stopped listening when you said you worked for Worst-Buy…
Please troll elsewhere
Comment on Man Accused Of Gutting Computers, Returning Them To Best Buy So You Can Buy Them I know the guy. He used to work at Best Buy. Which is how he probably
could get away with this.
A’ight, the story sucks (rather, the incident sucks) and I agree that BB really failed to do what should be done when someone returns merchandise – in their usual, half-assed fashion they appear to have been happily reselling RMAed merchandise without so much as a ‘does it work’ power-on check.
However, all the ‘couldn’t you tell box is lighter’ comments made me slightly twitch: the most valuable / highest resale value items in a PC are (with possible exception of video card) CPU & memory: both of those compromise negligible percentage of the PC’s weight and, in case of CPU, can even be removed, then have slot re-covered by the CPU fan so visual check won’t even tell CPU is gone.
And villain in me is, indeed, screaming at how badly executed the crime was – optimally, one would buy budget CPUs, then buy PCs with matching sockets and high-end CPUs, swap ‘em and RMA; even if BB powered up the unit, unless the legendarily competent and zealous GeekSquad techs actually checked the boot-status messages, it’d appear as if the machine is running just fine. Difference between budget and high-end CPUs? As much as $200-400+.
@Part-Time-Viking: Wow! Been holding that in long? Yeah, Best Buy is kind of a on going joke on the consumerist, but thats what happens when your company does some of the shit they do that gets posted here (granted we only hear one side of the story most times)
You are somewhat right, I’ve been to a Best Buy where, customer service was great, and they actually knew what they are talking about, but I’ve also been to some where their service is deplorable, they knew next to nothing, and deserved to have a post put up about their store. So it goes both ways. Maybe your manager just knows how to run your particular store well?
@Megatenist: Yup, so I must be troll because I work for the company that you hate. No way in hell I can have an valid positive opinion. I understand that I posted a wall of text but if you stopped reading because of that than you are waste, not I.
I have stated, that there are some serious issues with the company, and some major revisions NEED to be made, however, it is not the gigantic mess of a company that you people make it out to be. My store is a prime example of what Best Buy SHOULD be, Corporate thinks so, the customers think so, and the employees think so.
I come to sites like this to become informed of some issues that customers have had with the company so that I cannot repeat them if a similar issue were to come up. However people like you really make coming here dreadful because of your rather arrogant and ignorant opinion of my company, and me as an employee. You don’t know me, you don’t know my back ground, and you don’t know what I know about products.
I apologize for my previous wall of text, additionally, I appreciate anyone who took, or will take the time to read it. For those who won’t because they see than I work for Best Buy than please keep your comments to yourself, for you have nothing worth reading.
I’m guessing he ran out of Halloween costumes to disguise his appearance.
Employees will recognize customers who return stuff regularly. Especially if they’re like computers and sort.
I just want everyone to know that he works for Best Buy. So he knew the people that was working at customer service. We got emails notice about it a few weeks ago to be on the look out for him. I worked with the guy for 2 years.
I’ve had really good experiences at my local Best Buy…and really shitty ones at the nearby Circuit City. Guess that’s why the BB is always half to full, and CC is always empty. Like any other business, BB can be good or bad, depending on the store.
Although in this case, it does seem like BB should have noticed that the same guy kept returning computers. The article notes he did not try to hide his identity at all. So…why didn’t BB catch him? It seems like this is an example of a Worst Buy store.
I’m rying to figure out who’s dumber in this situation, the guy for blatantly charging his credit card and making no effort to conceal his identity, or the idiots at Best Buy who kept taking back empty computers. Right now I think it’s a toss up.
Typo: *trying to
@Part-Time-Viking:
Dude, Best Buy IS a gigantic mess of a company any way you cut it, including corporate. The only way they still make money is because Circuit City is even worse and Wal Mart doesn’t specialize in electronics. That is just reality. BTW, I used to work there, so the “you know nothing about how it is on the inside…” doesn’t apply to me. The company is a giant mess, just come to grips with it.
@TheBigLewinski:
Stealing computer parts is what really gets you going, as opposed to child rape and drug dealing? You might want to check your priorities buddy.
@Part-Time-Viking:
Your whole premise is based on the company’s stock price. That means what exactly? It means that it’s a profitable company, and that’s it. It says little about the quality of the stores, especially considering that Worst Buy has virtually no competition, at least with brick and mortar stores. It may be profitable, but that doesn’t mean that shopping there is a good experience.
If this site makes you cry, then don’t come to it. A lot of people here like to rip on Worst Buy, and usually for good reasons. For example, do I really need to show some dipshit a receipt for a product he watched me buy?
As for Best Buy being the most hated retailer in the US, you are aware that there used to be a giant site called “bestbuysux.org” that had literally thousands of stories from employees and customers about how much Worst Buy sucked…until Worst Buy bought the site from the guy who made it, right?
It’s also funny that you “don’t care” if people hate Worst Buy, but you endlessly defend it.
@FreeMarketGravy:
If the “10 average people” you’re talking about are as stupid as you, then your premise would make sense. Don’t try and excuse your stupidity.
And oh yeah, I know I’m being way “passive aggressive” right now…fucking idiot.