Best Buy — Local services in Sierra Vista

I never ever write reviews. Never. But this old lady isn't about to go down whimpering. I'm 69, I'm middle class, and I got kicked out of Sierra Vista's Best Buy. Movers packed my computer cord (my fault), and I went in to buy one. I had a standard computer (I know what it is), but a nice young female employee couldn't figure out which one I needed (and none of the cords looked right to me...again, my fault). She called over a male employee (20 something) who handed her a box ($86) and said this is what she needs. I left and returned home in a few hours, only to discover that the cord I bought for $86 would have fit my last computer but not the newer one. So, I went back to the store within 2 hours with my computer in hand and the return. I approached the male and asked if he could help me put the cord back in the box (you know how wild those cords can be, and I assumed he had experience, plus I was moving, frazzled, just beyond exhausted). He looked down at me (because he's tall and I'm not) with a "look" and said "I'm not doing that." "And returns are done in customer service."

Hoo boy, did I get riled! I said "Well, then you're going to come over here and help me get the right one." Clearly, young man was not having a customer tell him what to do, so when I stalked off to the cords, he remained behind, then said to me, "I'm not going anywhere with you" before walking away.

I stared at the cords for less than 30 seconds when another male came around the corner, and in that new way of asking if we need help (you all know, the insult?), "Can I help you?" he says with a frown. I rambled "I need a new computer cord" I pointed to my computer, "And your employee won't help me."

And this fellow says, "Well, you didn't have to be disrespectful to him." And I remind myself that I'm 69 and do not need lessons on who is disrespectful, and my voice went up an octave (no curse words left my mouth, which was unusual for me. ;-)) And I said "Disrespectful? What about him? He was disrespectful." By now, the employee who didn't want to work stood at the other end of the aisle watching (like a child who has ratted out his sibling to his parent), and another young male joined him (because few people are actually working in that store), and I said "You men are bullying me!" And the manager, who announced that he was such, said, "Men?! That's discriminatory." At which point, I could have laughed because....please. And he said "You need to leave." Flabbergasted, I said, "I'm not leaving. I have to return this cord." "You need to leave. You're trespassing. I'm calling Security." Started dialing something in his phone. In my mind, I was wondering what would happen if I was arrested for the first time in my life, and I had things to move. I picked up my computer and the cord to be returned and started walking away when I saw a small senior female employee woman in a hallway standing at parade rest. I should note that I am a military retiree, so I recognize the position. I said to her on my way out, "Honey, you do not want to work here." And the manager yelled after me, "Yes, she does. She heard the whole thing."

When I got home, I cried, I shook, I internalized, I blamed myself, and then I looked at the reviews. It is true. The manager escalates these encounters. He presents as some kind of father to spoiled employees who don't want to work or be told to do anything. I do exempt two young female employees from my complaint because they were helpful and kind.

I called Best Buy and filed a complaint. As a female, as a senior female, I hated being the object of a three-ring circus surrounded by men. It's a bit toxic there. By the way, I am officially/legally/medically disabled with post-traumatic stress disorder from domestic violence from...men. Soooooo..... That didn't help.

What an awful experience. Even corporate knew that I would not want to go back there to...

I have been a good Best Buy customer for years in many places in Canada and the US. Our family, which includes adult children with their own families, have bought Apple electronics, laptops, iPads, phones, various TVs, cameras as well as the other paraphernalia that goes with them over the last 14 years we have lived here in this small rural city. True, customer service has been hit and miss, but it's been good to have a local store. Customer service has been polite if not always expert. I was okay with that, I ran a microcomputer/university bookstore back in the day when personal computers and electronics were becoming popular. It's a tricky business with electronics. But this past week, when I went in with a problem with my FitBit, purchased in early December, I was treated with such disdain and an attitude of "you're wasting my time" that I literally was in tears as I left the store. I am a 71 year old white haired female, not that that should matter, this is a city full of white haired people. I couldn't believe how this person--who said he was the manager--treated me. After reminding me I had missed the return date for a watch that stopped working five days after the "extended Christmas" returns period ended, I'd already admitted that, he went on to say that why was I even there then. I asked about FitBit reliability as I've twice had problems with the FitBits I bought at Best Buy last year; I wondered if FitBits were still a good product. He said he'd never heard of problems with FitBits in a way that said "You're the problem, not the FitBit." When I'd had an issue with my previous FitBit, his staff had treated me very courteously so that I had bought this second one. When he started speaking to me so condescendingly, I said that I felt he was belittling me, disrespecting me for asking my questions. He then said I was disrespecting HIM for not telling him what exactly I wanted. The implication was I was wasting his time coming in to the customer service desk. At that point I just wanted to leave and never return I felt so embarrassed. As I left the store in tears, saying I'd not be coming back he yelled after me "I was just on the point of offering you a store credit before you took off". So what was I supposed to do at that point, creep back into the store with everyone looking at me as if his treatment didn't matter as long as I got a credit? And, again at that point, it wasn't the credit I was after, it was politeness/kindness. I stopped to talk to a couple entering, who said I should report it to HO and he came around from his desk and started after me. I fled to my car thinking he was going to yell at me or worse maybe take my name down and ban me from the store. I think he would have pursued me but with the couple watching, he stopped. I have called Best Buy HO who listened sympathetically and said they'd take it up with him. Unsure THAT will happen. But I will still never return to that store because I literally worry he will recognize me and I will once again be publicly embarrassed by him. Still I feel the story should be told, from looking at various reviews it seems this store might have an issue with how they treat customers. Again, I've been in retail management, I know how rude customers CAN be, but I know "I" did not deserve to be talked...

Highly recommend Best Buy in Sierra Vista. Been buying here for 7 years now and now we are TotalTech customers. Use my Apple Watch and iPhone for its heart app as it helps me prevent falls now. The Apple 8 watch is perfect for me. Hadn’t realized I had the 5 for almost 4 years and its battery didn’t hold charge as it should. Derek was great and I love the Starlight Apple Watch 8!

I have fainting issues and this watch can record my Oxygen level for me now! As well as alert me when my heart rate jumps into Tachycardia. Recommend Best Buy and their Geek Squad. I’m a 71 computer nerd and amazed at how far technology has come since 1986 when I went to business college. I just cannot keep up on it. The watches and TV streaming, phones and watches with video remind me of the Jetson’s cartoon ! And Best Buy has everything one needs in technology. And the knowledge to help you learn to use it.

Modern technology has come a long ways. Learned to cook on wood/coal and propane stoves and ovens. Now? I have an electric smart range with 5 oven features and 5 burners that can be controlled easily, and my phone even has an app for it. Synced with my watch! No more, did I turn the oven off? I have an app for it. Technology is amazing now and Best Buy has it all.

Amazing World we live in and Best Buy has the experts! If you cannot figure it out- they can! Thanks Best Buy in Sierra Vista! You make my life so much easier! Stress causes me heart problems now and you take the stress out of my life helping me with our modern technology devices. Gives me peace of mind. If I have problems, you solve them for me. And even though you didn’t have the screen protector I wanted, I just used the credit from my Apple Watch 5 series for one together with a smart phone holder for our car. Recommend Best Buy for technology and appliances. And the Geek Squad!

Just an update: With my Apple Watch heart data I was able to show my cardiologists my SVT. I’m scheduled for a heart procedure. Highly recommend Apple Watches for seniors and go to Best Buy. Thanks y’all! I’ve been able to prove to my doctors what I’ve been saying all along. I was born with a short circuit in my heart due to an extra pathway near SA node. Watch also helps me with Hypertension . In fact, it is under control. Love Apple and Best Buy in...