Best Buy — Local services in Macon

I go into this place all the time for both personal and work purposes with no issues. Lately, I’ve been going in a lot for work. We are a non-profit organization that is tax-exempt. Out of the 100 times I’ve gone for work, I give them our phone number, they pull up our account, and then click a little button that applies our tax exemption to remove the taxes.

I went in yesterday for one item, took it to the register, and let the cashier (Chardae, I think) know that I work for a business that is tax-exempt. She asked for the phone number, I provided it, and she scanned my item. I noticed the taxes were still applied and asked if she could apply the tax exemption. She told me it was supposed to apply automatically and since it didn’t, then "we don't have it." I explained that we do—I was there three or four times just last week and used the tax exemption without any issues.

She said she couldn’t do anything, so I asked if there was a manager who might be able to help. She got on her earpiece and said, “Can you come talk to this guy? He don’t want to hear anything from me.” I was not being rude or irate at all, so I found it strange that she was giving me attitude.

Xavier came over and asked how he could help. I explained the situation, and in a very argumentative tone, he told me he couldn’t “override the taxes.” I told him he didn’t need to override anything—just apply the tax exemption. He repeated, “And I’m telling you I can’t override the taxes.” He clearly had an attitude. I told him I wasn’t trying to be difficult and just wanted the service I always receive. He said he couldn’t help me and told me to call the 800 number. I asked if there was anyone else who could help, and he repeated that no one could “override the taxes.” I asked, “So what about the people who did it for me last week and dozens of times before?” He replied, “They’ll all lose their jobs.”

At that point, I gave up and went to Staples, who was happy to sell me the same item with no issue applying our tax exemption. I sent an email to the GM, Bryan, asking if he could help. He never responded. My coworkers and I have had good interactions with Bryan in the past.

Today, my coworker went to the store, made a purchase, and was able to apply the tax exemption with no problem. Naturally, that made me curious, so I went back to the store to see if Bryan was there. A very nice greeter asked if I needed anything, and I said I’d like to speak with Bryan. She sent him a message and directed me to an area outside an office. Another man was already waiting there to speak with Bryan. I overheard his conversation—he was the brother of an employee and just wanted to say hello (important for later).

Bryan was in the office. I waited over 30 minutes before another employee named Unicorn approached me. She was already hostile and asked what I needed. I said I was okay and explained that the greeter had directed me there to speak with Bryan. She told me that he was unavailable to talk. I said that wasn’t what the first lady told me. Unicorn continued with attitude and told me that I wasn’t going to see Bryan and that I had already spoken to three people. I had only spoken to her and the greeter.

At this point, I said okay and explained my issue. She said she wanted to look up the account to verify our tax exemption. I gave her the phone number, and she said, “Oh wow, I see your whole account is tax-exempt. I don’t know why they didn’t apply it.” I replied, “Exactly—so why was I not able to use it, but my coworker had no problem?” She said she wanted to check the cameras to see who gave me a hard time.

She went into a room, then called Chardae and Xavier in there. After a while, she sent Chardae out to give me the excuse they came up with. They claimed there was a computer glitch yesterday.

The GM refused to see me but met the guy who just wanted to say hello, and that glitch was the best they could come up with?...

Awful Experience......

As if there weren't enough reasons to exclusively shop online, now there is no refuting the reasons.

I have always been a fan of BestBuy for tech buys. Simply because you can see, touch, and experience watch your looking at vs online. For this reason, I always read reviews online like everyone else and generally purchase in store. I'm fine with paying a few extra bucks because I understand its brick and mortar.

Well, my BestBuy shopping days are officially over. My sweet 70yrd old father bought me a GoPro 5 fro my birthday. The newest model mind you. I have a GoPro 4 and he heard me becoming aggravated with it while messing with its functions. He decided to purchase me a new one from BestBuy thinking something was wrong with it. Hardly the case. Since, I wasn't exactly ready for an upgrade I decided to just EXCHANGE it for an in-store credit/gift card. It was a gift so I didn't have a receipt but "no worries", I thought to myself. I'm not expecting cash back. I was fine with a gift card that, as it turns out, I was planning to use THAT DAY towards the purchase of the largest TV they have. Naturally, I was going to have to add cash with the gift card.

The GoPro was unopened, not scratched, etc. Before heading in to the store I reluctant to ask my dad about the receipt knowing how uncomfortable that sort of thing is with gifts. I was excited when he said he still had the bag assuming the receipt was in the bag. No such luck. I will admit, I'm surprised the ole man had the bag.

I was impassively told by Tracy, the store manager, that without the receipt nothing would be issued. I reiterated to Tracy that I certainly don't expect cash back, that all I was in search of was a store credit...thinking the sales associate must have misunderstood me. He once again denied the store credit. I mentioned that I was going to be purchasing a TV that very day in which additional funds would need to be provided by me. My wife was planning to browse the laptops while I was purchasing/loading the TV.

After the third no, I asked what are my remedies at this point to Tracy, his response....."I dont know what to tell you." They even scanned it to make sure it rang up in their system. Naturally, it did.

Not only did they specifically lose a large TV sale that day, but a possible laptop sale, and most certainly 2 customers. I've always sang the praises of BestBuy but this experience has pushed me away. Online purchases only from...

On 5/2/24, I walked into Best Buy in hopes of purchasing a laptop. I walked into the area of laptops and browsed for approximately 40 minutes before anyone ever came to assist me. The gentleman explained he did not work the area but would retrieve someone who did. Once I was able to get an attendant to the area, I decided on the Lenovo Yoga 7i with a 16-inch display and 512 GB of memory. After she retrieved the item and purchased it, I noticed the price difference in what was displayed versus what I purchased was about $200 difference, but I assumed there was some type of sale that maybe she did not mention. Once I walked out, curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the packaging to make sure I received what I requested. It was not. She pulled the 14-inch display Lenovo Yogi 7i, which explains the difference in pricing. I walked back in to return the item and when asked what was wrong, I explained the wrong laptop was pulled, and after waiting as long as I did and then being given the wrong laptop, I was beyond aggravated and ready to go. The lady that sold me the laptop tried to tell me that she went with the 14 inch laptop because the 16 inch with 512 GB memoy was not available so she assumed the 14 inch laptop would be okay without communicating any of this with me.

I understand people make mistakes, and I understand we have off days, but during this whole experience not one word of apology was provided (except by the newly hired cashier with a red beard) for any inconvenience, and it seemed that anytime I brought up having to wait that long for someone or having the wrong laptop brought to me, they tried to shift the blame to me. I have no problem admitting when I've made a mistake, but this experience was absolutely ridiculous. Where the fault lies, I do not know. But either Best Buy needs to do a better job of training and holding their employees accountable, or they need to hire someone who's more personable because this trip was full of unprofessionalism and lack...