Normally, I would not share this with others, However, since this could happen to you or your friends , I decided to share it. If you purchase something from, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, JC Penny, Sears etc., and you return the item with the receipt, they will give you your money back if you paid cash, or credit your account if paid by plastic.
Well, I purchased a GPS for my car, a Tom XL.S from "Best Buy". They have a policy that it must be returned within 14 days for a refund. So, after 4 days I returned it in the original box with all the items in the box, with paper work and cords all wrapped in the plastic just as I received it, including the receipt. I explained to the lady at the return desk I did like the way it could not find store names. The lady at the refund desk said there is a 15% restock fee for items returned. I said no one told me that and I asked how much would that be. She said it goes by the price of the item and it will be $45.00 for you. I said, all you're going to do is walk over and place it back on the shelf then charge me $45.00 of my money for restocking!! She said that's the store policy. I said if more people were aware of this policy they would not buy anything here! If I bought a $2000.00 computer or TV and returned it, I would be charged $300.00 for a restock fee!! She said yes, 15%. I said OK, just give me my money minus the restock fee. She said that since the item is over $200.00 she can't give me my money back!!! Corporate has to and they will mail you a check in 7 to ten days.!! I said "WHAT?!" It's my money!! I paid in cash! I want to buy a different brand and now I have to wait 7 to 10 days. She said well, our policy is on the back of your receipt.
I said, do you read the front or back of your receipt? She said well, the front! I said so do I and I want to talk to the Manager!
So the manager came over and I explained everything to him. He said, well sir, they should have told you about the policy when you got the item. I said, no one has ever told me about the check refund or restock fee whenever I bought items, from computers to TVs, from Best Buy. The only thing they ever discussed was the worthless extended warranty program. He said, well, I can give you the corporate phone number.
I called corporate. The guy said, well, I'm not supposed to do this, but I can give you a $45.00 gift card and you can use it at Best Buy. I told him if I bought something and returned it, you would charge me a restock fee on the item and then send me a check for the remaining $38. You can keep your gift card, I'm never shopping in Best Buy< B> ever again and, if I would have been smart, I would have charged the whole thing on my credit card! Then I would have canceled the transaction.
I would have gotten all my money back including your stupid fees! He didn't say a word!
I informed him that I was going to e-mail my friends and give them a heads up on this store's policy as they don't tell you about all their little caveats. So please pass this on. It may save you or your friends from having a bad experience shopping at Best Buy.
>From the Best Buy web page:
Restocking Fee A 15% restocking fee will be charged on opened notebook computers, projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, radar detectors, GPS/navigation and in-car video systems. A 25% restocking fee will be charged on special order products, including appliances. These fees apply unless the item is defective or damaged, you receive the wrong item, or the fee is prohibited by law.
