Best Buy Ripoff.

fatguy · Mar 5, 2003

Best Buy Ripoff (SOLVED!)

Yesterday I went to Best Buy to purchase a 9700 Pro on sale for $299. When I got home and opened the SEALED box I realized the card inside was NOT a 9700 pro. It wasn't even an ATI card (I don't think). I immediately went back to Best Buy in NYC and demanded a return/exchange. They told me since the package was sealed when I bought it, and the contents were different that they wouldn't accept the return. They told me to contact ATI, which I did. ATI informed me that since I didn't buy from them directly they cannot do an exchange.

Here's the card I actually got in the box:

Did ATI ever make a card based on the SIS 6236 chipset? I'm trying to figure out where the problem occured. As it stand right now I'm out 325 bucks.

Thanks for your help.

Nimps · Mar 5, 2003

That's horrible... Try going back and saying you didn't notice that it wasn't sealed until you got home and that's what you found inside? It's worth a shot. That really really sucks.

Tw00sh · Mar 5, 2003

Thats just frekin horrible.

I bet some ATI assembly worker is using your 9700 pro right now.

grunjee · Mar 5, 2003

What the hell?! I really don't know what to say to that one... I've never heard of that happening... I do know that it's not difficult to open something up, then re-shrink-wrap it again... maybe a dishonest BB employee is to blame for this???

I don't know what you can do besides talk with the BB manager some more. Keep us updated.

LawyerLynn · Mar 5, 2003

I would report that best buy store to the local better business bureau, write the papers and do anything else I could to shame them into accepting your return. I might even consider suing them in small claims court.

Vengeance · Mar 5, 2003

Thats a PCI card

Man I would call the BBB or something. I've never had any problem like that returning anything to bestbuy. I feel for you dude thats a load of bull

Someone bought it took out the 9700PRO slaped in there old PCI card reshrink wraped it and took it back to bestbuy. And some dumnassed clerk just took it and put it back on the shelf.

grunjee · Mar 5, 2003

You know, this is really a bad situation because they do have a point... it was sealed, and how do they know you didn't pull the old switcharoo? Man this sucks

grunjee · Mar 5, 2003

Would it be possible to track the UPC on that thing? Like have BB dig up the record on recent returns, and track it to whoever did this? This would only work of course if someone bought it, rather than an ATi worker or BB employee....

Just an idea, I don't know if it's possible.

Th0r · Mar 5, 2003

Did the box have SiS on it???? or was it a ATi box?

Johnny Knoxville · Mar 5, 2003

get your mom to go there, she'll sort it out

otherwise go back there shout as loud as you can at the manager and threaten to sue them (you are living in america right

), you'll get your money back.

then buy another 9700 pro, replace it with some crap pci card, return it to them and see how they like it

fatguy · Mar 5, 2003

Excelsior said:
Did the box have SiS on it???? or was it a ATi box?

it was a retail ATI 9700 Pro box

Black_Paladin · Mar 5, 2003

This is worse than a horror movie! I feel really sorry for you fatguy and I really hope that you can get this sorted out with BestBuy. I think like other people said, you should really push this. If you just give up when they say that you can't return something that was shrink wrapped, you could look like you were trying to cheat them rather than the other way around in addition to losing $300+!

Just threaten go to to the better business bureau or even sue them if you can so they take you seriously and believe you are honest.

I never believed something like this could happen. What a nightmare!

stopdrpnro · Mar 5, 2003

what i would do is go buy 1 of those lil shrink wrap mcahine things and reshrink it. then try that , i mean at this point u have nothin to lose. if that doesn't work , go with knoxville's idea mom's somehow always get it there way.

NiTrO bOiE · Mar 5, 2003

Man that sucks. Thats total BS. I don't know how in the world that could happen. Is that thing running 32 MB of ram or 16?

PhobMX · Mar 5, 2003

omg, if i ever spend $350 for a kickass card and get a sis pci one..... i mean, ITS SIS!!! SIS SUX!!! i would really get a heart attack. Go speak with the manager, dont mind about the clerk's BS... if the clerk wont understand the shout all over him :argue:

. If that doesnt work try johnny knoxville's idea... and tell mom to try the sue thingy if even that wont work...

good luck fatboy, keep us posted

TLC · Mar 5, 2003

ATI informed me that since I didn't buy from them directly they cannot do an exchange.

How do you buy directly from ATI?I drive by ATI's HQ all the time in Markam Ont. and you can not pull over and knock at their door and buy a card off them. Its a retail box you say not a oem 9700 so it should be their problem.

TLC · Mar 5, 2003

Try the card out,you never know.

Jeff7477 · Mar 5, 2003

man, I would go in there yelling and screaming! that is horrible.....and yet such a good idea at the same time. *ponders*

Wangster · Mar 5, 2003

OMG!

I'm so sorry to hear your predicament! Let us know how it plays out. I've heard horror stories like this about Fry's but never at Best Buy!

I'm going to start opening packages at the store before leaving from now on!!!

Richard · Mar 5, 2003

I'd ask to speak with the store manager. Then I'd ask to speak to the regional manager. If he won't sort it out, I'd fax a letter to Best Buy's headquarters. If they refuse to help you, I'd have a lawyer fax them a letter informing them of their impending suit.

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