Best Buy ripping off customers

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Best Buy sued for 'ripping off' consumers
By John Leyden
Published Friday 20th August 2004 15:52 GMT

Giant US electronics retailer Best Buy has been sued by the State of
Ohio over alleged unfair and deceptive business practices.

Ohio's legal officers are acting on complaints that the electronics
chain sold used products as new. The retail giant also allegedly
failed to honour rebates, exchange programs or extended service
contracts on numerous occasions. In a statement issued yesterday, Ohio
said it initiated legal action after receiving hundreds of consumer
complaints over the last few years.

"The sheer number of complaints coupled with the types of allegations
my office received prompted us to file this lawsuit." said Ohio
Attorney General Jim Petro. "The primary objective of this lawsuit is
to bring Best Buy into conformity with Ohio’s consumer protection laws
and ensure that Best Buy’s Ohio customers receive the service they
deserve."

In the complaint, Petro asks the court to order Best Buy to comply
with Ohio's consumer protection laws, reimburse customers who lost
money and pay a civil penalty of $25,000 for each violation of Ohio's
Consumer Sales Practices Act. Best Buy, which operates approximately
750 stores in the US and Canada, said it was aware of the suit but
declined to discuss pending litigation. ®

 

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Seems that the complaints are going national per the information being
broadcast on the networks. Too bad the largest electronics retailer has to
stoop so damn low to actually rip off their customer base in such a way as
repacking items and trying to sell them as brand new!! ETC> Greed causes
ome strange actions at times!!
<nospam@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:733di0lqt7vc7qh2n9kts4pgnvq90l4cn6@4ax.com...
> Best Buy sued for 'ripping off' consumers
> By John Leyden
> Published Friday 20th August 2004 15:52 GMT
>
> Giant US electronics retailer Best Buy has been sued by the State of
> Ohio over alleged unfair and deceptive business practices.
>
> Ohio's legal officers are acting on complaints that the electronics
> chain sold used products as new. The retail giant also allegedly
> failed to honour rebates, exchange programs or extended service
> contracts on numerous occasions. In a statement issued yesterday, Ohio
> said it initiated legal action after receiving hundreds of consumer
> complaints over the last few years.
>
> "The sheer number of complaints coupled with the types of allegations
> my office received prompted us to file this lawsuit." said Ohio
> Attorney General Jim Petro. "The primary objective of this lawsuit is
> to bring Best Buy into conformity with Ohio's consumer protection laws
> and ensure that Best Buy's Ohio customers receive the service they
> deserve."
>
> In the complaint, Petro asks the court to order Best Buy to comply
> with Ohio's consumer protection laws, reimburse customers who lost
> money and pay a civil penalty of $25,000 for each violation of Ohio's
> Consumer Sales Practices Act. Best Buy, which operates approximately
> 750 stores in the US and Canada, said it was aware of the suit but
> declined to discuss pending litigation. ®

 

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<nospam@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:733di0lqt7vc7qh2n9kts4pgnvq90l4cn6@4ax.com...
> Best Buy sued for 'ripping off' consumers
> By John Leyden
> Published Friday 20th August 2004 15:52 GMT
>
> Giant US electronics retailer Best Buy has been sued by the State of
> Ohio over alleged unfair and deceptive business practices.
>
> Ohio's legal officers are acting on complaints that the electronics
> chain sold used products as new. The retail giant also allegedly
> failed to honour rebates, exchange programs or extended service
> contracts on numerous occasions. In a statement issued yesterday, Ohio
> said it initiated legal action after receiving hundreds of consumer
> complaints over the last few years.
>
> "The sheer number of complaints coupled with the types of allegations
> my office received prompted us to file this lawsuit." said Ohio
> Attorney General Jim Petro. "The primary objective of this lawsuit is
> to bring Best Buy into conformity with Ohio's consumer protection laws
> and ensure that Best Buy's Ohio customers receive the service they
> deserve."
>
> In the complaint, Petro asks the court to order Best Buy to comply
> with Ohio's consumer protection laws, reimburse customers who lost
> money and pay a civil penalty of $25,000 for each violation of Ohio's
> Consumer Sales Practices Act. Best Buy, which operates approximately
> 750 stores in the US and Canada, said it was aware of the suit but
> declined to discuss pending litigation. ®

Doesn't anyone wonder where those items returned within 30 days go?

Leonard

 

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I have had to personally deal with the Ohio Attorney General's office for
misrepresentation they got a great crew their and I predict will win against
best buy
End higher ticket prices! Go to local college games!

 

[Guest]

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> Doesn't anyone wonder where those items returned within 30 days go?
>
> Leonard

Those items are supposed to be marked down as open items. I returned a sound
card to them years ago. Nothing was wrong with it but I did open the box
because I thought it was what I wanted. Next time I was in the store I saw
it on the shelf, marked down 20% as an open box. I suppose they stopped
doing that. :-(

 

[Guest]

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In article <lYxVc.56537$wo.20355@okepread06> "Leonard Caillouet"
<no@no.com> writes:


>Doesn't anyone wonder where those items returned within 30 days go?

>Leonard

I'm pretty sure it falls under "deceptive trade practices" to present
anything as "new" when it in fact is a previously opened return.

IMO Circuit City is next in line to get hit with a similar suit.

 

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The local college for me is University of Texas. Not too easy to go to a
game there.

"Dan the fan" <westislip@aol.comspambloc> wrote in message
news:20040820222608.10448.00001450@mb-m23.aol.com...
>I have had to personally deal with the Ohio Attorney General's office for
> misrepresentation they got a great crew their and I predict will win
> against
> best buy
> End higher ticket prices! Go to local college games!

 

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On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 06:52:09 GMT, "Albert Alverez"
<noneofyourbusiness@noway.org> wrote:

>> Doesn't anyone wonder where those items returned within 30 days go?
>>
>> Leonard
>
>Those items are supposed to be marked down as open items. I returned a sound
>card to them years ago. Nothing was wrong with it but I did open the box
>because I thought it was what I wanted. Next time I was in the store I saw
>it on the shelf, marked down 20% as an open box. I suppose they stopped
>doing that. :-(

Here is the source:

http/www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/20/best_buy_ohio_lawsuit/

 

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Really don't think Circuit City will stoop that low to do it to their
customer base but they have no problem doing it to their employees without
the K/V Jelly!! <
> Normal process is the items are marked as open box merchandise and
advertised as such, not attempted to be repacked as manufacturer's new, or
sold as such. Even if they open a damaged shipping box to inspect the item
inside it is considered as being open box merchandise even if it has never
been powered up,
"Mr Fixit" <MrFixit@msn.com> wrote in message
news:0gnei0d57ur46eojmh0cealkee71r3ero8@4ax.com...
> In article <lYxVc.56537$wo.20355@okepread06> "Leonard Caillouet"
> <no@no.com> writes:
>
>
> >Doesn't anyone wonder where those items returned within 30 days go?
>
> >Leonard
>
> I'm pretty sure it falls under "deceptive trade practices" to present
> anything as "new" when it in fact is a previously opened return.
>
> IMO Circuit City is next in line to get hit with a similar suit.
>

 

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After reading this thread,the result of a successful lawsuit MIGHT be
that Best Buy and other mass merchandising retail companies will
institute a FINAL SALE policy.No returns allowed for any reason,
PERIOD.The rationale being to prevent overaccumulation of restocked and
so-called "open box merchandise."
There are consequences to any action,and this MAY be one of them.It
also could include retailers that are NOT party to any kind of suit of
this nature so as to forestall any kind of legal liability in the
future.

 

[greywolf]

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"Albert Alverez" <noneofyourbusiness@noway.org> wrote in message
news:tiCVc.30757$nx2.1371@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> > Doesn't anyone wonder where those items returned within 30 days go?
> >
> > Leonard
>
> Those items are supposed to be marked down as open items. I returned a
sound
> card to them years ago. Nothing was wrong with it but I did open the box
> because I thought it was what I wanted. Next time I was in the store I saw
> it on the shelf, marked down 20% as an open box. I suppose they stopped
> doing that. :-(
>
>
Wonderful. The next time I want a 20% discount on an item, I'll buy it,
return it, and buy it again after it's marked down. Consumers want a no
questions asked and no restocking fee return policy, reduced prices on
returned items, and the lowest possible prices. Stores that provide all
three will go out of business.

As long as everything is in the box and everything works, I'm happy with 2
out of 3. Don't even bring up knowledgable staff. People who go to a higher
end store to get information then go to a big box store to buy at a lower
price are thieves.

Pat

 

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On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 14:19:05 GMT, "Greywolf"
<greywolfin45@*spamisbad*sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>People who go to a higher
>end store to get information then go to a big box store to buy at a lower
>price are thieves.

I believe I'd have to agree with that.

 

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"SAC 441" <SAC441@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:10677-412793A4-556@storefull-3257.bay.webtv.net...
> After reading this thread,the result of a successful lawsuit MIGHT be
> that Best Buy and other mass merchandising retail companies will
> institute a FINAL SALE policy.No returns allowed for any reason,
> PERIOD.The rationale being to prevent overaccumulation of restocked and
> so-called "open box merchandise."
> There are consequences to any action,and this MAY be one of them.It
> also could include retailers that are NOT party to any kind of suit of
> this nature so as to forestall any kind of legal liability in the
> future.

This kind of policy is just as silly as a no-questions-asked return policy.
Both the seller and the buyer need to take some responsibility in a good
transaction.

Leonard

 

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On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 11:25:40 -0700, SAC441@webtv.net (SAC 441) wrote:

>After reading this thread,the result of a successful lawsuit MIGHT be
>that Best Buy and other mass merchandising retail companies will
>institute a FINAL SALE policy.

If this happens, will you be willing to take a risk and purchase
anyway? What if you get stuck with bad merchandise or merchandise that
did not match your requirements contrary to what was written on the
box?

And how about rebates? Best Buy was notorious for dealing with such
companies who do not like to return rebates to customers.

 

[Guest]

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>>People who go to a higher
>>end store to get information then go to a big box store to buy at a lower
>>price are thieves.
>
> I believe I'd have to agree with that.

I'd say the salesman at the higher end store didn't do his job.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

> Wonderful. The next time I want a 20% discount on an item, I'll buy it,
> return it, and buy it again after it's marked down. Consumers want a no
> questions asked and no restocking fee return policy, reduced prices on
> returned items, and the lowest possible prices. Stores that provide all
> three will go out of business.
>
> As long as everything is in the box and everything works, I'm happy with 2
> out of 3. Don't even bring up knowledgable staff. People who go to a
higher
> end store to get information then go to a big box store to buy at a lower
> price are thieves.
>
> Pat

Spoken like a man who works at a high end shop.

 

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"GaryH" <dontyouspamme@nospam.org> wrote in message
news:ciOVc.3261$x51.258@newssvr23.news.prodigy.com...
> >>People who go to a higher
> >>end store to get information then go to a big box store to buy at a
lower
> >>price are thieves.
> >
> > I believe I'd have to agree with that.
>
> I'd say the salesman at the higher end store didn't do his job.

Most high end stores have some "playing room" in the price. Personally, I'd
consider the two prices of lower/higher end stores, offer something in the
medium range. Buying from higher end stores definitely has perks.

On the other hand, if I look at something at a high end store then see it
elsewhere for $1000 or so cheaper, that doesn't make me a theif...it makes
me smart....and a $1000 richer. And unless it was a special order, no
obligation.

 

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In article <ZJOVc.7058$2L3.5911@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net> "Albert
Alverez" <noneofyourbusiness@noway.org> writes:


>Most high end stores have some "playing room" in the price. Personally, I'd
>consider the two prices of lower/higher end stores, offer something in the
>medium range. Buying from higher end stores definitely has perks.

>On the other hand, if I look at something at a high end store then see it
>elsewhere for $1000 or so cheaper, that doesn't make me a theif...it makes
>me smart....and a $1000 richer. And unless it was a special order, no
>obligation.

Where are you going to take it when it needs service? I've seen a couple
high end shops who outside of warranty work only service what they sell.

 

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"Mr Fixit" <MrFixit@msn.com> wrote in message
news:avffi0h8a9nenstsgbglb201pqfvt4bk65@4ax.com...
> In article <ZJOVc.7058$2L3.5911@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net> "Albert
> Alverez" <noneofyourbusiness@noway.org> writes:
>
>
> >Most high end stores have some "playing room" in the price. Personally,
I'd
> >consider the two prices of lower/higher end stores, offer something in
the
> >medium range. Buying from higher end stores definitely has perks.
>
> >On the other hand, if I look at something at a high end store then see it
> >elsewhere for $1000 or so cheaper, that doesn't make me a theif...it
makes
> >me smart....and a $1000 richer. And unless it was a special order, no
> >obligation.
>
> Where are you going to take it when it needs service? I've seen a couple
> high end shops who outside of warranty work only service what they sell.

Actually, it is usually just the opposite. Most dealers who service what
they sell do not do warranty work on products that were purchased elsewhere
but will do OOW work. The reason is that warranty labor rates are typically
lower and there is no profit on the parts, only reimbursement after having
to hassle with shipping and claims processing and manufacturers not paying
up.

Leonard

 

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Mr Fixit wrote:
> IMO Circuit City is next in line to get hit with a similar suit.

As one of the message board moderators for BestBuySux.org,
I don't hear of cases of CC selling used items as new as
extremely as I do with BBY. Plus CC has a strict policy in
regards of selling open box items so they are covered pretty
good.

--
Brian The Demolition Man Little