Fri 23 Sep 2005
First off, I don’t condone ANYONE buying ANYTHING at Best Buy. But if you are going to, you might as well get the best deal possible right? So how are you going to do that? Do exactly as below and it WILL work.
The managers are graded above all things in two areas which they will always focus on; extended warranty and accessory sales.
In the case of home theater (HDTV, etc) accessories that are by far the highest focus are Monster products. For those who are scratching their heads, Monster products are primarily expensive (overpriced) cables and (useless) noise filtering surge protectors. A customer purchasing these products and an extended warranty will get a a managers attention very quickly.Here is the general idea of how to utilize this knowledge to steal a deal — if you want the 42A10 then let them sell you on a high-end surge protector ($200-400), a couple hundred dollars in cables and a service plan. DO NOT deviate on the items to package with the TV that I just listed; these are vital to getting them to deal as they are very high margin. Once you say you want to buy all this stuff ask for a ‘package discount’. Push them as low as you can for the [ackage deal - they WILL NOT want to walk this sale as it makes them look like a hero.
Once you have gotten them as low as you can on the total price the magic will happen - they will write up the sale leaving prices full retail on the accessories and warranty and take the reduction on the TV, even possibly dropping below cost on this. The reason is they are graded by percentage of sales of this stuff based on dollars - they will drop the cost of only the TV.
Can you guess the rest? Buy it all and wait a few days, then return to the store and refund everything but the TV. DO NOT let them tell you to call an 800 # to refund the warranty - they may try that one but policy is to return it in-store for the first 30 days. They will put up a fight on this and may threaten to increase the cost of the TV but hold your ground. If their corporate got wind of them working deals to raise accessory and warranty numbers they would be fired. If you must, threaten a phone call - they will run scared. If you want it even smoother do the return at another location.This strategy can be utilzed in most of their departments - if you need to know the key accessories for appliances, computers, car audio, etc let me know.
I wont wish you luck, it will simply work. If you have any problems though just drop me a line and I’ll help all I can…
34 Responses to “Get the Best Deal at Best Buy?”
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September 23rd, 2005 at 10:37 am
I will 100% vouch for this. I used to be a manager at Best Buy for 3 years (and a peon for longer).
One other hint, there are 4 typs of managers. If you don’t get a sales manager, I doubt you are going to get the deal this should be on their nametag. The guy you REALLY want though is the department supervisor, because s/he has less to lose, and generally can approve the deal.
If you return to a different store, you will likely get the person who approved the sale at the other store fired, because this whole process is called “inboarding” and most managers/supervisors only get 1 MAYBE 2 inboards before they are fired.
The other store takes a HUGE hit, and WILL notice that the TV was discounted, alerting their district manager immediately.
If you are daring and want an easy $7,000, just act REALLY suspicous, and once you got everyone in the store asking if they can help you and the Loss Prevention guy up front staring at you, walk out the door. If they stop you, get everyones info who was involved in the stop. MAKE SURE YOU LET THEM KNOW YOU WERE EMBARRASED!!
Call a lawyer (this may cost you a few bucks). One letter or phone call to the district loss prevention manager will result in them settling, which in my experience has always been $7000.
Sorry for the long post
September 23rd, 2005 at 12:29 pm
thanks for the tips, im interested what the car audio products are.
September 23rd, 2005 at 2:33 pm
hey, thats pretty interesting, but i live in the UK, we have many Stores that sell the same things, but would that work here in the UK too?
September 23rd, 2005 at 8:22 pm
it seems to be like that at many stores that sell electronics. I’ve had similar experiences where the salesman tries to get you to buy all this stuff, just be like ok but i need a deal on it because im getting all of this as a package and then return what you dont want.
September 24th, 2005 at 2:31 am
You can tell by how the salesman writes the ticket up.
If all the money comes off the TV (or the big non-accessory) then this should work great for you.
If they shave a little off of everything, then the company is actually willing to haggle because they know what is better for their bottom line, and if you decide to return something, it won’t absolutely kill their margins.
September 29th, 2005 at 3:05 pm
I would almost guarantee this doesn’t happen as much anymore, from what I can tell they aren’t graded on these metrics anymore according to their press releases. I’m all for a discount but go to walmart if you want a good deal, go to Best Buy if you want someone that will speak to you, and if you aren’t satisfied with their service shop somewhere else
September 29th, 2005 at 4:57 pm
hey hevnsnt, i’d like the info about car stereo equipment (and maybe computers) if you could drop me a line at my email (mix.master.chris AT gmail DOT com) thanks alot!
September 29th, 2005 at 6:50 pm
I recently left the Best Buy umbrella and can vouch for the above. As a home theatre sales preson you’re only as good as your “sauce” or warranty numbers and your Monster numbers. Until recently there was a guaranteed 7% discount on package deals , ie. any 27″ or larger TV and surround system. You can still push for this and more if you agree to full warranty and all the Monster they suggest. It may sting the Visa a little bit but take the Ultra stuff. Push for the deal and then several days later, voila! If you have several Best Buy locations in your area look for the one that seems to be doing worse business-wise. They are in a bind to drive up their numbers and will usually fall over themselves to please a “high roller”.
September 29th, 2005 at 8:13 pm
What are some key accessories for refrigerators?
September 29th, 2005 at 10:10 pm
If you want to get a deal, you have to speak with a department supervisor or a manager. Any other employee doesn’t care, unless their hardcore bestbuy workers.
September 29th, 2005 at 11:55 pm
[…] read more | digg story […]
October 2nd, 2005 at 5:36 pm
As a department supervisor for Best Buy, I will tell you that the metrics have changed for how a store is score carded. Stores are now and have been now for atleast 2 years scorecarded on revenue and margin percents to budget. This may have worked in the past and could still work under certain circumstances, but FYI, no supervisor, manager, or line level employee is going to approve a price below the cost of the units sell price from vendor to Best Buy because its actually going to drive down their company rank rather increasing it. Margin is double weighted on the scorecard, so you do the smart math here smart guy… if the supervisor is dropping the cost of the unit to sell additional items, which on are a seperate scorecard which has nothing to do with department/store rank, he isnt doing himself any good. Best Buy is also realigning itself to where the stores will be scorecarded off net operating profit. If product drives 70 percent of the business, which it does, and you’re score carded off your NOP… who’s going to continuely make deals that put you in the red. NO ONE. Business 101.
October 3rd, 2005 at 1:06 pm
[…] The Edge of I-Hacked » Get the Best Deal at Best Buy?— Tagged as: [bestbuy deals social] […]
October 4th, 2005 at 9:40 pm
[…] Need a good deal? Here are a few tactics to use against Best Buy and other retailers. […]
October 5th, 2005 at 1:33 pm
[…] This is a good trick on getting the best possible deal when buying at Best Buy Source: http://edge.i-hacked.com/archives/613 & Xeric The managers are graded above all things in two areas which they will always focus on; extended warranty and accessory sales. In the case of home theater (HDTV, etc) accessories that are by far the highest focus are Monster products. For those who are scratching their heads, Monster products are primarily expensive (overpriced) cables and (useless) noise filtering surge protectors. A customer purchasing these products and an extended warranty will get a a managers attention very quickly. […]
October 8th, 2005 at 7:59 pm
being currently employed at best buy and one to actually acknowledge proccessing returns and exchanges, when it is written on the CPO Customer Purchase Order, saying its a package price…to be returned per Standard Operation Platform or SOP, in the customer services counter this issue was acknowledged in our employee toolkit a year ago, our new implimented systems will request for the promotional packaged items to be returned as well or the price with heave to the MSRP and no discount applied. sorry to burst all your guys’ bubbles but that wouldnt work. being products and services are our number one concern, providing customer service to keep customers in our store, while still trying to pay our bills and employees laborly happens by making money off of you, the consumers. to actually return a package and the price is taken off the tv, the reason is promted in the return screen and will validate if that customer must bring back all the packaged merchandise to do so, bringing the tv back up to retail price…..this trick does not work, but hey, it did about a year ago…this problem in our system and management staff has been addressed and resolved very simply with out systems intelligence when a return is processed…..get this…even when you try to return it to a different store!
Good luck to the person attempting to rip best buy off, you wont win, and you customers are the customers that generally COST the company money with that attitude and are not “angelic” like
good luck with shopping
October 9th, 2005 at 8:12 pm
Creating Demon Customers
This Angels/Demons price discrimination strategy doesn’t seem to be working out real well for Best Buy, does it? Link: Get the Best Deal at Best Buy?. Might I suggest they try the plain ol’ ‘treating customers with respect and providing
October 12th, 2005 at 1:11 am
I recently had a pretty bad experience (to say the least) at a Best Buy store. I was trying to buy a camcorder and when the salesperson in the department found out I was willing to pay cash for it, he offered to “sell” it to me for about half the retail price. So I gave hime $300 for a $600 camcorder. Not a bad deal, right? He wasn’t willing to give me a receipt becuase of the big discount, so he put the camcorder inside the box of another inexpensive item, and put a pink sticker on the outside of that item (which looks like a price tag, but only has the date on it with the word “Best Buy” on it). Anyone who’s worked for them knows what I’m talking about. Basically, when you go into Best Buy with a return or exchange item, they put these pink stickers on items you bring into the store designating them as items that belong to you, etc. Anyways, the salesperson said just to walk out of the store and that I would be able to do so without a receipt. As I was leaving the store, the security sensors went off. The employee at the door (loss prevention) took the box from me and it was opened. As they began to open the box containing the camcorder, I began to panic because I realized I’d have a hard time proving that I paid for the stuff. So I started to walk out the store, then ran when the employee at the door tried to grab me. I was then tackled to the ground by four employees. I suffered injuries. I was taken back in the store, detained for 4 hours during which I told them exactly what had happened (after they assured me if I cooperate that they would not arrest me), and they even had survailence tape showing what I had explained. But they lied and they witheld all the video supporting my account, and I was then arrested for grand theft. They only gave video to the police of me leaving the store, and withheld or destroyed video of me paying the emlpoyee. I think I was set up. If anyone (especially current or former employees or customers) have had or witnessed similar experiences with Best Buy, esp. with excessive force being used, please let me know.
October 25th, 2005 at 11:58 pm
[…] Getting the best deal at Best Buy (RIP GERALD OFF!) […]
October 28th, 2005 at 2:07 am
you guys are all lame…i worked at besy buy forever…you are the reason i hate my job…you cheap a$$ losers
November 4th, 2005 at 11:41 pm
@ moeT:
First of all, you deserve everything that came to you, including getting wrestled to the ground by four employees. This is due to the fact that you are retarded. Why would anyone in their right mind be stupid enough to believe that you can buy an expensive item for half price, and then not need a receipt? I am not condoning the actions that these employees took, as it is against store policy to pursue shoplifters. However, you did steal $300 from Best Buy, and you should be prosecuted for it. I highly doubt that a judge will believe that you were stupid enough to accept that employee’s offer.
As for the rest of you:
The people that work at Best Buy are just that: people. We are just like you guys. But, for some reason it is alright to steal money from our company, and our paychecks. Just realize the effect that you cause just to save a little bit of money. Get off your lazy asses, and earn the money fair and square. You are no better than common thieves.
Why don’t you guys really shake things up, and pay the ACTUAL PRICE for a product?
November 8th, 2005 at 6:07 pm
For those of you becomming offended by people talking badly about best buy and giving each other idea’s on how to screw over the company then u yourself have not yet felt as a pawn in that corprate giant. Mind you no, I wasnt a low payed Peon but, I was still there and got screwed over by them several times within my 6 years with them!
On another note, when it comes to the deals, you do want to try and scam at a bby that is doing very well for themselfs now, not one of the wanting anything that comes stores. Now, if u want to really get n there bad side then return the things u dont want to keep at a location that dosnt get much buisness. I just recently left the companie and I will say, THE TATICS STILL WORK!
November 10th, 2005 at 7:01 am
Pretty much at the store where I work, management and staff are not rated on these things. They would just think you are an asshole and tell you to shop somewhere else. And pretty much, you sound like you ARE an asshole, and maybe you should shop somewhere else.
The company has been making changes in their approach to doing business, and if you happen to get an “old school” store doing business in the old style, maybe that will work, or a nOOb manager who is easily intimidate dbya ssholes, but for the most part, my managers would tell you to take it to the road.
If you think BBY is difficult to work for, try working at CC, or Radio Crap. Hey, big box retail is not for everyone. Dealing with asshole customers, such as yourself, isn’t for everyone. So quit. Go work at McDonalds.
November 10th, 2005 at 7:06 am
#18
Really, is anyone supposed to believe that?
I have three kids, I know a lie when I see it.
November 11th, 2005 at 2:40 pm
Nic, Im not sure how long you have worked for the company but, if you have been there for a while there is no such thing as a store running the old way, chances are you wont see a store lower the concept 4.5. When I first started with the company I worked in a concept 2.0 store and we upgrade as the others did. Now, bby is not a “Hard” so called, company to work for, you just have to know how to kiss the managers ass, or if ur a fem, with a male manager, know how to give it up and you will make it everywhere! Is that company for me, not any more, have I ever kissed anyone ass, no, its not my style. But, tell u what, if u work hard, they will leave you alone, and if u find them starting to kiss ur ass, something bad is gunna happen to ur job.
And on the ppl not being rated on there sales, u got issues with if u think that. BBY is a company that wants to be fortune 500 REALLY bad and dosnt care how it does it at this point. If they have to crack deals that would ammaze someone and make them shit themselfs, they will do it an any cost just to keep someone from shoppin at sears. In end, no manager would tell u to take ur buisness elsewhere, cause they stride on “the cust is always right.”
November 29th, 2005 at 9:35 pm
Nic & Chris, if you think I lied about what happened, then why was only 30 seconds of edited video given to the police when I was in the store for about 45 minutes? All of their security cameras record pretty much continously during store hours (as an employee Nic, I’m sure you’re aware of that). Why was I held for 4 hours in their security video room before they called the cops? Hint… we were not watching best selling DVD’s. Why was the employee who probably pocketed the money subsequently fired? Hint, because they saw him take the money from me on the video. By being tackled by four employees, they knew excessive force could pose a big problem for them, especially since I did not pose a threat or act out physically toward any of them, so they decided to make me look like a criminal. What was on the rest of the 44 minutes of video they probably destroyed?
December 10th, 2005 at 7:02 pm
I agree with prophecy, most of these ideas will not work. i also work at Best Buy and yes under certain situations you will get a package deal, try to bring back individual items though and you will find yourself out of luck.. As to the 600 buck camera for 300, well lets see, are you saying that you thought this guy was legally selling this to you? I think maybe you knew you were breaking the law and now must face the music.. be a man.. admit when you f**ked up take responsibility and move on. By the way we do not chase or jump people who steal at Best Buy, we have video, we let the law find them and deal with them.
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:33 pm
Re: bob9304
This employee who sold the camcorder to me was actually a supervisor. And he convinced me that he had the authority to give me his discount. I made a bad judgement in accepting the offer, but I did not think it was illegal. No doubt I got a large discount, but I paid for it nevertheless (and the tape showed this clearly). He definitely did break the law (at least, he broke the companies policies & defrauded them in the process as an agent of the company). How many people would turn down an offer to pay less for anything? I would guess most people would take advantage of getting a discount,especially coming from a supervisor. And as far as Best Buy doesn’t chase or take down people, that may be their policy, but in this case they broke that policy. Because they admitted it to the police, not to mention it was caught on tape, and I suffered visible injuries to my head, back & neck and arm, and I was taken to the hospital by ambulance from the store. I made a bad judgement and admit the mistake. But they clearly went way too far in many respects & clearly broke the law, and have witheld and probably destroyed the video tape that supports me (and lying to police is a felony), in order to protect themselves and their employees.
July 19th, 2006 at 5:02 pm
Your story changes between your posts. In addition to that I find it hard to believe that four employees tackles you. Generally there is only one loss prevention employee stationed at the door, maybe two, depending on how busy the store is. I find it hard to believe that four employees, who would have had to recognize what was going on, run to the front door, then catch up with you, all tackled you at the same time. Your story is comedic, at best.
As a current best buy employee, I’ve been told by all of my managers that such tactics are not acceptable under any condition. If a manger were to allow such a deal to occur, they would be fired. If you were to try to return part of somethign that was on sale as a package, you would have to return the entire package. End of story.
January 12th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
These tactics may have worked back when best buy did not require a receipt to return things. Here is something for you, all the return information you can find on the back off ALL RECEIPTS;
“Your original receipt is required for all returns, exchanges, price matches, and warranty repair services.
All returns and exchanges must be in the original condition and include all accessories,. All returns, exchanges and price adjustments must be made in the country of original purchase. Best Buy reserves he right to request identification and to deny any return.
30-DAY RETURN PERIOD We accept returns or exchanges 30 days from the original purchase. Please review the exceptions below.
14-DAY RETURN PERIOD We accept returns or exchanges 14 days from the original purchase on computers, monitors, notebook computers, projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, radar detectors and video games purchased as usual.
RESTOCKING FEE A restocking fee of 15% will be charged on opened GPS/navigation and in-car video systems unless defective or prohibited by law. A restocking fee of 25% will be charged on Special Order Products, including appliances, unless defective or prohibited by law.
NOTE REGARDING PERSONAL DATA ON RETURNED OR EXCHANGED PRODUCTS Please remove all personal data (e.g. computer or wireless phone data, videotapes) from any returned or exchanged products. Best Buy is not responsible for any personal data left on or in a returned or exchanged product.
NON-RETURNABLE ITEMS Non-returnable items include labor and/or installation services; consumable items such as phone cars, food and drink; items that are damaged or abused. Opened computer software, movies, music, and video games can be exchanged for the identical item but cannot be returned for a refund.
GIFT CARD Terms and Conditions apply to Gift Cards and can be found on on Gift Card packaging.”
I work at Best Buy and I have to say the only downer of the job is people that come in and try to screw over my company because I loose out on incentives and payouts that I receive every year.
And this goes to our “I got framed, you should feel bad for me” poster. Your posts do change and its rather not convincing. If any employee stopped you that wasn’t a Manager (who needs to see what happened) they would be fired. The reason they stopped you was because you ran. Did you ever think of that? You showed and preformed suspicious behavior and we are all taught that we should not detain only watch the suspect. Also, you said that they would not arrest you if you agreed to help them yet you go on saying that later they arrested you. Oh yes and guess what, even if you were truly innocent about what you say you are still an accomplice to a crime.
And trust me, if one of my co-workers was doing what you just said, I would turn them in as fast as I could and receive the $10,000 dollar reward that is offered. Because they are not only hurting the company as a whole, I ultimately feel the effect of there dastardly deed.
Bottom line, get a job and quite trying to screw over “The Man.” Because when you do that you only hurt normal people.
December 16th, 2007 at 1:01 am
As far as the deals and threatning to call 1888bestbuy go for it. The GM can pretty much do what he wants and if he feels discounting a TV will help the company, more power to him. And to the guy who said he was tackled by Best buy employees. as SOP clearly States there are only 2 times when a best buy employee is able to use ‘physical force’
A. if you are harming another best buy employee or customer
B. if you are intionally destorying merchandise
And both are only restrainment tactis. Best buy’s training even says “dont be a hero, let them go” so to say 4 employees tackled you is definatly a lie. And if your not smart enough to realise , oh hey i dont have a recipt I cant return it and you didn’t see him put the money in the drawer. But anyways, if you want the best deal its simple become a Best buy employee 5% over cost FTW
March 6th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
i find the amount of best buy employees on this site that are highly defensive of the company they work for a little bit surprising, i’d be curious to see how many of those usernames were made from the same I.P. address…
at Moe: I’m not sure why everyone is so skeptical of your story, i really see no incentive for you to lie, but i do see an incentive for Best Buy to portray it as a lie. Your story makes sense to me, they promised they wouldn’t have you arrested, but they did anyways, i didn’t find any inconsistencies between posts. My advice would be to invest in a kickass lawyer, that video footage can be subpoenaed and without it there’s no way you can be convicted. you can also threaten a lawsuit for damages, a manager offered you a deal and you took it, i see nothing wrong with that.
for fuck sake all these people posting on behalf of Best Buy, you’ve got to be kidding me i have plenty of friends that work in retail and not one of them is as loyal to their corporation as any of you (and yes they are hard workers). that’s fine if you want to say this tactic won’t work, i’m extremely skeptical myself, but don’t try to paint best buy like its gods gift to mankind. i’m almost certain most of these posts from “employees” were made by the same account to prevent best buy’s name from being damaged.
June 29th, 2008 at 1:45 am
I am currently an employee of Best Buy i work in the computer dept. To the posters Moe and Toffeestillidie you sound like the same person, and the reason why there are employees on this website defending the company is because it really is a good one. Your story sounds like a fuckin load of shit. it does DEF change from post to post and from my expiriences totally unlikely! you are a FUCKING DUMBASS for thinking what you did was right!!! seriously no recipt and he switched the damn box! your a fucking idiot and you deserved everything that happened in your make believe story. as for you Toffee guy or whateva your Moe just a diff name and you defended yourself cause no one else would you loser. and as for the “rip off best buy” tactics, it will not work and you can go ahed and try it but i know that none of my managers would let that fly and if i was one i would tell you to hit the road. All ya guys are lazy asses get a fuckin job and pay normal price!!!
July 10th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Right, so I work in home theater and formerly for CC in media. Retail is balls. It’s easy in that it’s a “cushy” job, but it’s balls. In your mouth. All day. I dig that you consumers are trying to get a good deal and if you can, do it. However, don’t be an asshole about it. You are only one of thousands upon thousands of customers we see daily. Our store wide budgets on week days are bigger than most of this country’s middle class yearly earnings. Honestly, if you act like an adult and treat us with respect as working people, we will return the favors.
As for the gent with the tackling story? People don’t always follow SOP and may deviate in the form of tackling someone who obviously did something sketch, however, you were stealing. Plain and simple. And stealing is sketch. You obviously knew that what you were doing was sketch. Deal with it. You’re an adult, your break the law and the law breaks your face in return. That’s not me as a best buy employee, but me as someone who understands that broken law = broken face.
Point of the story, kids, don’t be a douchebag. Sure you can score a deal, but the bigger the douche you are, the more you smell and we don’t like smelly people. No one does. Blue shirt nation or not, no one likes a big, smelly douche. I have no love for the color of my shirt, but I do show love to those who shine love on me. Plain and simple. Be a nice person, nice things happen. It’s karma.