Reader Phil is annoyed. He called Best Buy to see if they carried MiniSD memory cards. He was told that they did, but when he got to the store — all they had was MicroSD. Instead of just apologizing and letting Phil get on with his day — they tried to convince him that he was wrong, and his camera took MicroSD. It doesn't.

Phil writes (to Best Buy):

I called the Best Buy store in [redacted] on 6/10 looking for a Mini-SD flash card. I specifically asked for Mini-SD and explained that I did not want a Micro-SD card. I need a second one for an older model camera. The person who answered the phone assured me twice that they stocked both Micro and Mini SD cards. Great, I thought.

I get to the store today, and no one knows what a Mini SD card is. Two employees assure me that I'm looking for a Micro SD card. I explain I need a Mini SD card for a camera and NOT a micro SD. The employee continues to tell me that they only have Micro SD cards and that he's certain the camera I am using needs a Micro SD card.

This is not true, and I'm a little worried that someone at a tech store doesn't know BASIC differences with flash memory. I'd expect this at Kmart or WalMart, but the Best Buy employees, so I thought, would know something about the products they sell. I also did not appreciate being told I was looking for the wrong card when I was not. The employees obviously don't know their merchandise.

Just wanted to know I usually have no problems at best buy, but I was really upset with my experience today. It's my favorite store for electronics. But after I walked out this morning, I went on Amazon and in 30 seconds got EXACTLY what I needed for $4 new.

I am disturbed that your employees at the [redacted] store tell customers they have products in stock when Best Buy doesn't carry them. I repeated my request to confirm the product and was assured that they had it. I wasted time looking for a product that best buy doesn't have. I also do not appreciate the employees trying to convince me that I'm looking for something that I don't want to buy.

Perhaps I'll stop going to Best Buy for things that are readily available online without the headache.

That doesn't sound like a bad idea, Phil. We're glad you stood your ground and refused to buy the wrong format.

(Photo:epicharmus)