Best Buy assholes
I stopped at Best Buy on the way home to look at a few items (they have excellent pricing on new DVD releases). On the way out, they have this system where a lacky stops you at the door to inspect your receipt (Costco do the same thing). This has always pissed me off, because I can’t see any reason why they should do this that isn’t insulting, so this evening, I challenged the slack jawed ape at the door to explain why he had to see it:
Slack jawed ape: Could I see your receipt please?
Me: Why?
Slack jawed ape: Um, it’s just policy. (Right now he’s trying to reach over to scribble on the receipt in my hand, I pull back).
Me: As far as I can tell, there are two possibilities. Either you suspect that I’ve stolen something between the checkout 10 feet away and this door, or you think it’s possible that I might not have noticed something extra/missing on my receipt. So I’m either a thief or an idiot. Which is it?
Slack jawed ape: No no, that’s not it, it’s just that we have to check it.
Me: Why?
Slack jawed ape: It’s just policy. Is it really that big a deal? (This pissed me off)
Me: Yes it’s a big deal. There’s no reason why you should need to see my receipt. You can’t give me a good reason beyond “It’s policy” and I think that sucks. Either you’re calling me a thief, or an idiot, or there’s some other reason. Either way, you don’t seem to be able to answer it.
Slack jawed ape: It’s like, if someone returns something, we can show it was checked..
Me: Erm, ok, that makes no sense at all.
Slack jawed ape: I’m just trying to do my job.
Me: I understand that. Please tell your manager of my opinion.
At this point, the slack jawed ape gave up, and went back to checking the next people to leave the store and I left, without my receipt scribbled upon.
Am I the only one that gets irritated by this? I seriously don’t see what possible reason they could have to genuinely need to look at my receipt, and the lack of a good answer from the idiot at the door didn’t exactly do anything to assuage my irritation. At any rate, I’d consider writing an email to their headquarters, but I know it won’t make the slightest bit of difference. I’ll just continue to make life difficult for the idiots at the door every time I go there..
sonoazure said:
Nov 13, 03 at 4:25 pmthe last time I was at Fry’s I had tied the bag shut after paying. (prevents small items from escaping)
I handed the monkey boy at the door the whole bag rather than un-tieing the handles. I enjoyed watching the idiot try to peer through the semi-translucent bag to see what I had. As though he had Fry Issued See Through-em Goggles or something. He eventually ended up counting items by feeling.
Next time I think I might do the same but throw a few extra things that I will bring from home.
jgurney said:
Nov 13, 03 at 4:29 pmSee, that’s the thing though.. why do they need to count the items in the bag? The implication is that you’re a thief. Even the police can’t search you unless they have probable cause to suspect you have stolen goods, so why should you grant that right to the people who run the store? I don’t think there’s any legal way in which they can insist on checking your bag. Try refusing some time and see what happens.
dasubergeek said:
Nov 14, 03 at 8:02 amI did that once at Best Buy… I had driven over from my old gig to buy some blank CDs (we couldn’t wait for the delivery) and also to grab one of those stupid MSN CDs… one of the bigwigs uses MSN at home and needed it installed on his new laptop.
So I pay for the blank CDs and head out the door. I usually just kind of dangle the receipt in front of them… they don’t ever actually mark it at Best Buy.
I’m heading back to my car and the security staff are chasing after me, and all of a sudden a security truck is blocking me from backing out.
“What the hell is your problem,” I growl.
“You stole a CD. Please come with us to the manager’s office while we wait for the police.”
“WHAT?!”
“You stole that CD in your hand. You didn’t pay for it. We prosecute all shoplifters. You need to come with us.”
“You lay one hand on me and I will drop you like a sack of wheat. You’re not deputised and you don’t have the right to touch anyone. And as for the CD I supposedly stole? They’re FREE. They come by the truckload in the mail. There’s a whole PILE of them right as you walk in the door.”
“They’re not free. They cost 1 cent.”
“They. They WHAT?!”
“You’re supposed to pay one cent for each of those CDs.”
etc.
Finally, I go in to the manager, who is calling in about me to the police. He hangs up and I start screaming. I know I have plenty of time because, well, this is L.A. The LAPD, while they are brave and generally a good force, are not responsive to things like car accidents and minor theft because they’re too busy keeping people from being shot and raped.
Finally he graciously decides to allow me to pay for the MSN CD.
Now, you know my temper by know, you’ve read my rants, you know I’m not a nice person.
I spat on the penny and flung it at his chest, spat on the CD and flung it at his head, and walked out. I haven’t been back.
jgurney said:
Nov 14, 03 at 8:07 amLOL! Nice! It’s amazing how often this sort of thing happens. Don’t people understand the concept of customer service any more? Wow..
ciannait said:
Nov 14, 03 at 8:50 amTechnically speaking, unless they’re accusing you of shoplifting, they have zero right to look through your bag.
Being that this is the case, I walk right by the anal-retentive door types at Fry’s without acknowledging their existence. So far, no problems. :)
strongbow said:
Nov 14, 03 at 5:45 pmThey’ve been doing that at Frys since day one.
I just ignore them and walk on past. I think, maybe twice, have they even bothered to call out “Sir? Sir!” after me as I walked away without showing them my receipt. And that’s the most they’ve ever done. They have no legal basis to require you to present your receipt or the contents of your bag. It’s just “policy”, and people comply because it never occurs to them not to.
The only time I bother to present myself for inspection is if I think one of the items I’ve bought might need to be returned. If you have to return anything, and the receipt doesn’t have their mark on it, they won’t take it back. Not that it takes a brain surgeon to put a squiggle with a highlighter on the receipt.
strongbow said:
Nov 14, 03 at 5:46 pmThe only time I’ve ever given them more than a glance is if I think I may need to return an item, and when I worked there.
You think Frys is anal about customer’s walking out? That’s nothing. If you’re an employee, they are truely anal. Not that they have any legal right to be just because you work there, but they can make things unpleasant.
jgurney said:
Nov 14, 03 at 5:49 pmI’m thinking about visiting Fry’s tomorrow actually.. They opened a store up here a few months ago and I haven’t been yet. I’ll see how they react to me refusing them their little routine.
strongbow said:
Nov 15, 03 at 4:02 amThey’ll probably ignore you, unless you make a scene about it like your Best Buy story.
I find the trick is to just ignore them as you walk past. Don’t make eye contact, don’t even acknowledge their presence at all. Walking past while they’re busy with someone else helps to.
anothershep said:
Nov 18, 03 at 7:41 amDid that about a week ago. Was at wal-mart looking for tablecloths, placemats, etc. and ended up buying a DVD player while I was at it. Just sidestepped the woman checking things and went on my way…