Best Buy — Attraction in Saint Petersburg

Came in on Sunday to buy a cheap laptop for a specific purpose. Considered a Chromebook that could work. The Google rep immediately pulled me in. He was a tad overbearing, but he showed me a Chromebook that I really liked that was 499 on sale from 729. I came in planning to spend 299 or less, but he really showed it off and talked me into it. We stepped away to consider it and make sure it was in our budget.

We went hunting for a Best Buy employee. No dice. Every single one that walked by told us they were too busy to help us and they'd be back after they were done with their current tasks. None ever came back.

We gave up trying to find anyone in blue. So, I talked to my wife, we agreed that the fancier computer would work and we wanted it. The rep had very specifically told us that it was in stock, which is why he kept us for well over 20 minutes talking us into this specific model. I wanted a Best Buy employee to eventually help, but the rep was the only person around.

He pulled three separate employees to get on the ladders at various times. None of them offered to help us directly and the rep was the only one to ever actually help.

Eventually, the rep talked to the manager and finally figured out that the "1" in their system was not true. He also proceeded to say several times to us and to the associates he spoke with that the computer was discontinued entirely.

He came back and said there was nothing he could do. I asked if I could buy the floor model. I used to work at Best Buy years back. I knew that they do open boxes on floor models that are discontinued. He said they can't. That the manager said. I asked to talk to that manager: Adam.

Adam came over, already seemingly annoyed that he had to leave his office at all. I told him I wanted to get the laptop since it's been discontinued and been confirmed to be discontinued by multiple people at this point, including the rep that was the only human to help us.

Adam told us there was nothing he could do. He said we could order it in store, but it wouldn't show up until June 1st. He told me no Best Buys had the model at all, but then proceeded to try to explain that it'd come from another Best Buy that might have one hidden somewhere. But, I'd definitely get it June 1st. I doubted that and we needed it before June 1st anyway.

He said "Find another model or something then". We were disappointed, but we accepted it. I asked him if there was anything I could find similar. He threw his arms in the air and said "I don't know, maybe this one. I don't know the specs, so maybe not." He was done with us.

I tried to get him to help us find something else, but he clearly didn't want to. So, we dismissed him. He didn't even offer to find us an associate to help us. He stood in the middle of the front entrance for the rest of the time we were there. We avoided him thereafter.

We found a cheap $179 laptop on our own (since no one was in the department) that we had considered before the Chromebook fiasco. We spent another 10 minutes looking for another human to help us. Finally, a nice girl told us she was with another customer, but she ran and grabbed another guy that was suddenly free at that moment.

He finally figured out the laptop I wanted, got it, and asked if we needed anything else. We told him we needed a specific SD card before we go. We were sure it was in stock when we got to the store. But, we spent so long in computers that it had sold out. He said it must have just sold out. We had to order it. No biggie. We needed a watch battery as well and they were out on those too. We had to go elsewhere for that entirely.

The guy rang us up and ordered the SD card. He forgot to ask us if we wanted the protection. I had to remind him and I got the 1 year on the computer.

The entire experience was middling. If you can, avoid Adam. He's apparently the assistant manager of the whole store. You're also not likely to be able to find anyone to help you, if you need help. This is a "Self-serve"...

I've shopped at the St Pete BestBuy store since it opened (90's). I recently purchased a tv and soundbar for a total of $4770.00 along with the white glove install. As the salesman was ringing it all up, he told me they would price match a drop in price within 30 days of purchase. The price dropped $400 2 days later. I went into the store to claim the discount and was told that my tv and soundbar were a 'bundle' that I was never informed of and it appears the salesman wasn't either because he's the one that told me I'd get the price match discount. I actually brought a piece of paper with the two model names for the TV and sound bar I wanted that I selected at home by myself and there was no mention of a bundle on their website when I looked up and wrote down the information. The 'lady' that helped me immediately got the look of 'I don't care, why do I have to listen to this?' She was awful. I wish I had her as the salesman because I would have immediately turned around and walked away knowing they were not trust worthy. Then the salesman said if I agree to take a new BestBuy credit card and put this large purchase on it, I'll get 20% off on this big purchase. I took the card. When I went to pay it off, no 20% discount. I called the card company and they said 'we know nothing about a 20% discount for accepting a new credit card.' So the entire sale was a complete and total fraud. To all of you thinking of purchasing a tv that is so large you need them to deliver it and install it, use Amazon! They present the full invoice to you before you order so that you can review it. No fast talking/lying salesman involved (and terrible management behind the salesman telling them to lie/misrepresent). Lesson learned the hard way by me. I won't ever go to the store again for anything. Use your own credit card, don't listen to the discount stuff because it's not true at all (unless they give it to you immediately at the cashier). As soon as they install the TV I will cancel the credit card since I didn't get the discount and will no longer shop at Best Buy.

Got a reply: Not entitled to the price match even though I was told by the salesman I was. 20% off for accepting a BestBuy credit card, you get 'points' on their website, not a 20% cost lowering discount so that I now need to buy more stuff from BestBuy that I don't want to buy because of their 'so called 20% discount that isn't a discount at all. The entire sales process and credit card pushing is deliberately shady and fast with no details, just fast talk that can be denied later. After their response I've determined that 'lying/shady sales tactics' are Best Buys Corporate policy.

New addition to the rip off by Best Buys sales people, I'm having a TV installed today and the tech called and asked about a custom wire run/termination for $149.00. No such thing is needed, they are simply mounting the tv on the wall along with the soundbar. They sold me conduit to hide the wires. This charge was added without my consent, so this is another creepy thing Best Buys sales people do! Don't fall for their fast talking, walk out and by from Amazon who provides the same service with full explanation of charges BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT.

This entire post will be left up just to warn others about...

The store itself is great, awesome inventory. But i bought an open box item that was supposed to have had everything accessory wise in the box and literally nothing but the monitor screen and the power cable was in the box and best buy customer service was worthless. And i still have yet to hear back from store management who the customer service sat at noon today would call me back in 2 hours and 9 hour later not even a missed call.... customer service SUCKS

#Edit# responded to your email as directed in your reply below. Also 23 hours later no phone call back from the store manager as I was told I would get by the customer service centers reps on thier customer service line on saturday

##Edit2## Still have not heard back from store management as requested. I have gotten an email thread from customer service (You know the same customer service that hung up on me 3 times the night oif the sale/report of a problem) And the best they can come back with thus far and no replies from them since mid last week were 80 bucks for a missing Samsung monitor stand (which should have been in the box, and all of the cables that should have been in the box (DP HDMI and USB) you guys sell the cables alone for more than what you are offering me as recompense. I have already replied in the email showing what I bought, how it was described as condition by your company on the website, and still over a week later this isn't resolved. I need to get this resolved or I'll simply contact American Express over this matter.....

Advice for everyone out there don't buy anything open box from them they lie on the state of the open box merchandise to justify charging at the price point they are charging. Haven't had this problem at other locations, but this location at St Pete FL is acting unlike any other location I have ever dealt with.

###Edit 3### I also went into my local store to ask for the regional manager to contact me the following day after the episode with customer service, left my name, cell and email address for them with my local stores manager (Not even the store this is involved with this particular sale) and have as of yet to have heard back from their Area manager either. Customer service with Best buy is a sad sad thing these days indeed. I remember when they were great on that front, but death by a thousand cuts this company is changed and not at all for a good way from how...