Best Buy — Local services in Bangor

Been there several times in the last two weeks for various items. There are NEVER team members to talk to in the departments recently, but I always seem to find one talking to a buddy near the service desk.

I ordered a movie online and went to pick up, and I was kept waiting for about 9 minutes with reassurances that they'd be right with me. Nobody in line or anything, just me standing there with one team member waiting, presumably, for another one. When the person finally arrived, he walked away from helping me to help the first person that now had a customer, again keeping me waiting. I asked for a receipt, no joke, it took 2 minutes additionally to get one due to a side conversation being held. He was literally standing there with my receipt and a stapler in hand talking to someone else when a quick click to attach the papers was all that was needed. He finally clicked it and I left in a huff. I ordered it online to be in and out, not to wait 3 times as long as just grabbing it off of the shelf.

I also went in to look for a gift that would require install. I had several questions I'd like answered, but nobody was in the department or a neighboring one. I waited for a few, then started to look for someone. I gave up after about 10 minutes. I counted four blue shirts on the entire floor, excluding the person at the register. It wasn't terribly busy, but I figured maybe they were giving breaks or something.

I went back a few days later determined to get a result. First, I had to find someone, which was no easy task. When I finally did, I mentioned I can't seem to find anybody to help recently and the lady completely ignored my concern and asked what I was looking for. She looked the item up, quickly scrolled down the results page so fast I couldn't even see what the products were, then told me I should go to Augusta because they're booked through the holidays for installs and losing an installer so she didn't know when they could schedule me.

This store used to be great. Where did all of the good people go? Why aren't there any managers...

I ordered online 4 appliances totaling over $7,000 dollars. I ordered through Best Buy because it seemed better organized and put together than Lowe’s or Home Depot. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE! Do NOT order from Best Buy! After placing my order I was able to schedule delivery dates for all of my appliances accept one. For that one that needed to be scheduled I had to call, so I did. From there everything went down hill. All of my orders got messed up. I ended up with installation for my microwave on the 28th, with a delivery date of the actual microwave on the 29th. WHAT?!??! How is that even possible. Then I was charged a delivery fee after one of my 7 phone conversations. The delivery is free for orders over $399 by the way. The person didn’t tell me he was doing that he just went ahead and put a payment through my paypal without my permission. After multiple transfers and people who don’t know how to do their job, I was told that I would have to go into the store to get reimbursed, then I was told in 7-10 business days I would receive a check in the mail. What!?!?! You put it through you should have to reimburse my account, why should I have to wait for a check? This was just a 1/3 of what I have been dealing with. They changed my delivery dates for all my appliances that were all set several times without meaning to, then saying well they were back ordered. Funny how if for example you go online and try to order the dishwasher I bought it says delivery as soon as October 31st but surprisingly that is not true you can’t get it until November 20th. This is false advertising and quite frankly very upsetting cause I could have ordered through someone else who was actually being honest about the delivery. Now I have to wait an entire month before I receive that particular appliance. I could go on and on. Just simply DO NOT ORDER FROM BEST BUY! Worst customer service ever! Not a single person I talked to (and there were several) knew what they were doing! JUST DON’T.... you have been...

I have been duped and taken advantage of twice now by these folks. Once two years ago when they said they would take my phone in any condition and then changed their minds when we were about to complete paperwork so that they could price gouge me. Second time was today when I finally had a free moment to return a WiFi mesh extender I bought 4 weeks ago. I brought it in and the customer service associate was super kind and got to the final screen and needed a manager override. The manager came out, never smiled or asked how I was doing, and promptly proceeded to tell me I was outside their 15 day return policy for opened product. I’ve never encountered a business with such a short return window. I told her it didn’t work and asked what I should do with it. She said it’s probably my router’s fault, which is a bold accusation - I’m a techie and do my research. I told her I’ve worked in customer service for multiple companies for years and have never run across such bad customer service. Honestly I would have been fired on the spot if I had been that unaccommodating in any of my prior retail gigs. Policies can be bent and broken in the name of taking care of customers and ensuring you make them happy for years to come. As far as I’m concerned, the culture at this place has turned extremely toxic post-COVID and is looking to nickel and dime you. It’s a shame because I used to love Best Buy through the 2000s and 2010s.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Never...