Best Buy

lawsuits

$54 Million Best Buy Lawsuit Over Lost Laptop Dismissed

Raelyn Campbell's $54 million pro se lawsuit against Best Buy over her lost laptop was dismissed on a procedural issue, thus showing the difficultly of suing a big company for a lot of money without a real lawyer. The trouble all started when she sent a laptop in for repairs to Best Buy, who lost it gave her the runaround for months, and then tried to buy her off with a $900 gift card. They later upped their offer to $1,100, but Raelyn decided to make 'em pay for all the lost photos and tax returns and the potential privacy invasion, and, to get big headlines, went for $54 million. She got some decent press, including a Today show appearance, but no money. In fact, she also had to pay the other side's legal fees, all two hours worth. I think she got what she was looking for, though: the satisfaction of getting Best Buy's name in the national spotlight for their tendency to let customers' laptops get lost and not really care about it. You can read the docket here.

$54 Million Lawsuit Against Best Buy? Poof, Gone [NAM] (Thanks to Wade!)
PREVIOUSLY: Woman Sues Best Buy For $54 Million Over Lost Laptop

12:03 PM on Wed May 7 2008
By Ben Popken
5,583 views, 42 comments

Latest by Consumer007: @Thain: While one can certainly make a good argument the $2500 might have been a good offer to accept, who the hell are you to say consumers don't have a right to make a big deal in the media about more »

checkout

Iowa Best Buy Won't Sell To You Unless You Sign Up For Rewards Card?

Frank says he wasn't allowed to complete his purchase at a Best Buy in Des Moines, Iowa unless he signed up for their Rewards card: "He called over his supervisor. In a rather harsh manner, she told him that everyone purchasing items is now required to sign up for a rewards card." Sounds like somebody had a quota to meet! More »

10:25 AM on Tue May 6 2008
By Chris Walters
14,532 views, 94 comments

geek squad

$50k Porn-Pilfering Lawsuits Opens With Geek Squad Employee Confession

The Star Tribune reports a woman is suing Best Buy for $50,000 after the Best Buy/Geek Squad repair service stole her naked photos from her computer, shared them with other Geek Squad agents, and even copied them onto the hard drives of other customers (this is hardly the first time Geek Squad has been caught stealing porn from customer's computers). William E. Giffels admitted in a written statement that he copied Kaylee Hall's nude photos from her computer onto his personal flash drive. On this drive, he also kept the most up-to-date version of the Geek Squad diagnostic tools and told other agents to copy from it. Then other Geek Squad made CD copies of the drive and installed the tools, along with Kaylee's photos, onto other customers' computers in the Traverse City, Michigan area. Inside, Giffels's written confession... More »

10:44 AM on Mon May 5 2008
By Ben Popken
16,538 views, 87 comments

Latest by Consumer007: Sounds to me like we need video surveillance of all GeekSquad work bay areas, and customers should have the right to review them and get a copy in case anything like this happens... more »

security

It's Easy To Access Random Customer Info With Best Buy URLs

Cole discovered that by simply incrementing a numerical string by one in a url Best Buy sent out, he could pull up screen after screen of random customer info. Fortunately, all he could see were customer names, their home addresses, and their order numbers. It's still surprising that Best Buy—or more specifically, Postpublisher.net, the email company they outsourced this to—wasn't more careful with customer security. More »

11:45 AM on Fri May 2 2008
By Chris Walters
6,262 views, 47 comments

Latest by gomakemeasandwich: Even for Worst Buy, this is bad. You can do this with off brand porn sites, but one of the biggest retailers in the US? Wow. more »

scams

Man Accused Of Gutting Computers, Returning Them To Best Buy So You Can Buy Them

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. More »

6:18 PM on Thu May 1 2008
By Meg Marco
13,751 views, 63 comments

Latest by gomakemeasandwich: @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. more »

contact info

Email Addresses For Best Buy Execs

Here's a nifty list of contact info for Best Buy execs, rooted up by one of our determined readers in his quest to get his Rewards account working properly. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility—try the normal routes before you launch an EECB, or you'll ruin it for the rest of us.
More »

12:52 PM on Thu Apr 24 2008
By Chris Walters
1,877 views, 17 comments

good customer service

Customer's EECB To Best Buy Scores Direct Hit—Rewards Glitch Is Fixed, Plus Here's $75

A few weeks ago, Zach emailed us to say that his Rewards Zone Mastercard hasn't worked properly in the five months he's had it, and no one at Best Buy had been able to help. We pointed him to our Guide To Fighting Back, and he responded tonight with an update. More »

11:01 PM on Wed Apr 23 2008
By Chris Walters
3,387 views, 9 comments

best buy

Let Best Buy 'Professionally Install' Your XBox Games

Are you one of the tens of customers who has trouble inserting their XBox 360 games? Do you find the whole concept of optical media frightening? Well, Best Buy has a service for you! For a low, low price, Best Buy will come to your home and professionally install those complex XBox games. More »

9:45 AM on Sun Apr 20 2008
By Carey
115,542 views, 83 comments

Latest by kelptocratic: Throw in a well-made martini and I'll consider it. more »

funny

Dear Dumb Ass At Best Buy: Fix These Problems Or I Want My $140 Back

This strange little item found its way into our inbox with no explanation or back-story.

We laughed.

Do 11-year-olds really have lawyers?

His handwriting is pretty good, too.

Young man, if you really exist, we're impressed for standing up for your consumer rights at so early an age. While the tone is juvenile, we appreciate the sentiment, although you should learn as you get older that while calling customer service people names might make you feel better, it's not nice and it's more than likely to encourage them to not solve your problem.

Dear Dumb Ass (An 11-Year-Old's Note To Geek Squad) [Digg] (Thanks, Matt from MN!)

7:39 PM on Mon Apr 14 2008
By Meg Marco
11,831 views, 54 comments

damage

Best Buy: Only $1700 For This Awesome Broken Computer

Reader Scott says:

I was wandering around Best Buy yesterday here in Missouri when we came across this. Essentially, the back of this "open box" tagged computer was completely broken off. I realize that this may indeed be the nature of "open box" product, but seriously... 1700 dollars for a computer with this kind of blatant damage?

More »

9:24 AM on Mon Apr 14 2008
By Meg Marco
12,589 views, 50 comments

invincible savings

This Reusable Best Buy Coupon For 10% Off Does Not Expire

Save 10% on your visit to Best Buy by bringing along this printable, reusable coupon that doesn't seem to expire. The coupon is accessible to the public, but it is meant to serve as a chintzy government house-warming gift from the Post Office to people who recently moved. More »

3:45 PM on Fri Apr 11 2008
By Carey
19,754 views, 51 comments

Latest by Ninjastorm66: The may link works now more »

complaints

Geek Squad Soaks Your Computer, Blames You

Still think using Geek Squad to repair your computer isn't such a bad idea? That's what reader Nicole thought when she took her laptop in for a warranty covered repair. The laptop was sent off to a service center, "repaired", then sent back. She immediately noticed it had the same exact problem and sent it back 48 hours later. This time, she was told the warranty wouldn't cover it, as the Blue Screen of Death was now being caused by water damage. Nicole pointed out that there wasn't water damage the first time it was repaired for the exact same problem two days ago. Geek Squad responded by quoting her $775 for the repair. The details, below. More »

7:44 AM on Fri Apr 11 2008
By profio
60,680 views, 56 comments

Latest by gomakemeasandwich: @backbroken: I have to agree with you. He didn't need to bust your balls like that and is probably just some jerkoff. more »

fines

Sears, Best Buy, Wal-Mart And Others Fined For Not Warning Consumers About Analog Obsolescence

The FCC handed out a whole basketful of fines to electronics retailers today: $1.1 million for Sears and Kmart; $992,000 for Wal-Mart; $712,000 for Circuit City; and amounts between $168,000-384,000 for Target, Best Buy, CompUSA, and Fry's Electronics. What made Christmas come so early? They were all failing to warn consumers that analog-only TVs and tuners will stop working on their own when the digital switchover comes next year. More »

6:40 PM on Thu Apr 10 2008
By Chris Walters
5,527 views, 52 comments

insiders

11 More Confessions Of A Circuit City Firedog Tech

Yet another valiant former Firedog writes in to share insider info that will help you successfully navigate the rough waters of big box computer repair. The most important takeaway—Don't let them "preinstall" anything on your new computer. According to our tipster, it's both expensive and pointless. Lots of good stuff inside. More »

8:31 AM on Thu Apr 3 2008
By Meg Marco
19,718 views, 63 comments

inventions

Best Buy Starts Venture Capital Fund

Best Buy leveraging its business acumen into the exciting field of venture capital investing. Called Best Buy Capital, it will, according to several job postings, "serve as a source of innovative growth options for the enterprise rooted in smaller, more innovative, and potentially disruptive opportunities." Sounds great! I have an idea for a new kind of digital tortilla chip clip. You know how you get down to the bottom of the bag of tortillas and you get the chip pieces that are small? And then when you try to dip them in salsa you get salsa all over your fingers? Well with my chip clip you would be able to grab a bunch of the chip pieces together. All dip, no drip! Plus, your fingers won't start to burn from the salsa exposure, irregardless of how long you use it. It would also have a digital timer and be USB-powered. Best Buy Capital, if you're interested, drop me a line. Inside, via DiversityInc Careers, a job posting for Best Buy Capital so maybe one of our readers can get a job there and then invest in my project... More »

6:48 PM on Tue Apr 1 2008
By Ben Popken
1,602 views, 7 comments

Latest by whanghpo: what's bb more »

insiders

LEAKS: Best Buy To Purchase Wal-Mart

Some shillyshallying office worker came across some papers jammed in the Best Buy shredder that purport to show that Best Buy is going to buy Wal-Mart. Normally I wouldn't sully the pages of The Conglomerist with such treacherous murk, but, irregardless, the news is just too good to keep to myself. If true, this would be the best thing ever to happen to consumers as two of the most kickass companies in America combine forces. Just thinking of of the cost-saving efficiencies provided by the vertical integration makes pleasure crystals ooze shoot out from my pores and explode all over my cat's face (don't worry, he's ok). Oh, and so he can be fired, this traitor's name is Ryan Smith More »

5:56 PM on Tue Apr 1 2008
By chadsteelgate
6,087 views, 47 comments

Latest by karlmarx: Thats just a scary thought, two of the worst retailers merging together, not even funny... more »

above and beyond

Best Buy Provides Excellent Customer Service!

You don't become the number one retailer of electronics to American consumers without getting a few things ~~right~~ awesome, as Daniel shows us in this letter of compliment he sent The Conglomerist about a recent experience at Best Buy:

I stopped in the other night because my old HD DVD player died so I went in hoping to get a deal. On the shelf I found 2 open box Toshiba HD-A30 HD DVD players. Looking around I found the department head Derrik and we went back over to the DVD player aisle.

He tells me that since they're open box he'll sell one for $99 which, IMO, isn't bad it was $30 off their normal price and $20 off Amazon's price...

More »

2:49 PM on Tue Apr 1 2008
By chadsteelgate
13,508 views, 77 comments

Latest by ceejeemcbeegee (back to normal): @Crazytree: erm... thank you for sharing? more »

spin

Geek Squad Feels "Unfairly Targeted" By Consumerist Expose

When personal finance magazine Kiplinger asked the Geek Squad about our video that caught one of their technicians stealing porn from our harddrive (peeping tomism, hardly limited to Geek Squad, is just as rampant in the computer repair industry as the photo developing industry), an unidentified Geek Squad spokeswoman ingenuously responded, "We have been the target of a blog that prefers to focus on the exceptions to our service and not the overall, vast majority of successful services we provide to clients." That's like saying dirt is unfairly targeted by a broom. Where there's a valid complaint, we'll post. Where there's a consumer whose rights aren't respected, we will defend. We don't have a vendetta against the Geek Squad, or any other company. We have a vendetta against bad customer service. That's our bottom line. After the jump, the original undercover video...

7:47 PM on Fri Mar 28 2008
By Ben Popken
8,898 views, 57 comments

Latest by sheyann: When the CEO and founder of the Geek Squad collects $175 support from his bankrupt ex wife and mother of his child every month and petitions to the court he needs more money. As if his millions are not enough? more »

Consumerist

Xbox Live Won't Refund Points For Game They Can't Deliver

Gawker Media Network