Best Buy screwed me out of a $15 gift card. Keep in mind that I'm 33 years old and do well enough that a $15 gift card does not justify that time I spent complaining.... but it's the principle of being offered something, and then getting screwed over by their "support staff." Best Buy was never NewEgg, but that chain has really gone downhill over the past 10 years.
I canceled my Best Buy credit card yesterday. The credit card was so old (10+ years) that the cashiers would frequently comment to me that they had never seen one like it before. I cut up the canceled card and snail-mailed it to customer support with the following letter.
2/20/2008
To Whom It May Concern:
Congratulations, YOU WIN!!! I have now given up on any hopes of receiving the $15 gift card that was promised in the November promotion when I bought an iPod as a Christmas gift.
The gift card didn’t arrive in November when I received the iPod. I immediately called Customer Service when it arrived in November and was told that the card would arrive separately. I called again a couple of months later on February 4th and was told that the matter would be forwarded to the research department. I was told to expect a phone call. Two weeks later I called again to learn the status ( I received no response to the Feb 4th call). The research department e-mailed me that evening (I requested a call) only to tell me that because it is now past 60 days ( the rep I spoke to in November didn’t note my call in your system) that I was no longer eligible to receive the $15 gift card.
I e-mailed [email protected] to inform them that I did call in November, only to be told once again that the 60 day policy prevented them from honoring the gift card promotion. The case numbers were 46045199 and 45570375 if you are interested.
The canceled credit card I am sending is over 10 years old. I’ve been a Best Buy customer for longer than that. I’ve bought a lot of merchandise from you guys over the years… Stereos (home and car), TVs, refrigerators, washers, computer equipment, and now that I have children playing video games I have purchased many game systems and gifts as well.
Over those 10 years I have noticed that your prices are no longer as competitive as they once were. Customer service is not as good. Warranty service no longer offers “loaner equipment”, I’ve found that the warranty turn-around time isn’t as quick, and the return policy isn’t as good as it used to be (there are now restocking fees)!! Oh… and the rewardzone program isn’t as good as it was when I paid for the privilege of being a member.
Dealing with Best Buy over a $15 card has been frustrating and I hope you guys figure out how to fix the things I have mentioned. Until then, I won’t be shopping at Best Buy.
I canceled my Best Buy credit card yesterday. The credit card was so old (10+ years) that the cashiers would frequently comment to me that they had never seen one like it before. I cut up the canceled card and snail-mailed it to customer support with the following letter.
2/20/2008
To Whom It May Concern:
Congratulations, YOU WIN!!! I have now given up on any hopes of receiving the $15 gift card that was promised in the November promotion when I bought an iPod as a Christmas gift.
The gift card didn’t arrive in November when I received the iPod. I immediately called Customer Service when it arrived in November and was told that the card would arrive separately. I called again a couple of months later on February 4th and was told that the matter would be forwarded to the research department. I was told to expect a phone call. Two weeks later I called again to learn the status ( I received no response to the Feb 4th call). The research department e-mailed me that evening (I requested a call) only to tell me that because it is now past 60 days ( the rep I spoke to in November didn’t note my call in your system) that I was no longer eligible to receive the $15 gift card.
I e-mailed [email protected] to inform them that I did call in November, only to be told once again that the 60 day policy prevented them from honoring the gift card promotion. The case numbers were 46045199 and 45570375 if you are interested.
The canceled credit card I am sending is over 10 years old. I’ve been a Best Buy customer for longer than that. I’ve bought a lot of merchandise from you guys over the years… Stereos (home and car), TVs, refrigerators, washers, computer equipment, and now that I have children playing video games I have purchased many game systems and gifts as well.
Over those 10 years I have noticed that your prices are no longer as competitive as they once were. Customer service is not as good. Warranty service no longer offers “loaner equipment”, I’ve found that the warranty turn-around time isn’t as quick, and the return policy isn’t as good as it used to be (there are now restocking fees)!! Oh… and the rewardzone program isn’t as good as it was when I paid for the privilege of being a member.
Dealing with Best Buy over a $15 card has been frustrating and I hope you guys figure out how to fix the things I have mentioned. Until then, I won’t be shopping at Best Buy.
If more people do as you did maybe they will wake up and change things around. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to happen though.
