Advice for Best Buy customers - caveat emptor

ClaytonN · #1 06-30-2005, 08:57 PM

And this is coming from someone who had worked 3+ months there, so take that for what it's worth

1) On items that are less expensive than TV's and Computers but more expensive than a CD (such as CD players, X-Boxes, stereo systems, etc), Best Buy offers what they like to call a "Product Replacement Plan". In essence it's an extended warrantee that will turn the 30 day warrantee into 2 years. It varies on the level of price.

For most everything you will NOT need a product replacement plan EXCEPT video game systems and cordless phones. Everything else, you're best off declining. The reason you want to get a PRP for video game systems is you can cite "wear and tear" 1.5 to 2 years from now and use that money to go towards a new game system (like PS3 or XBOX 360). And you want to get a PRP on cordless phones because the batteries (usually nickel ion) only last aruond 8 months. Instead of getting a new battery (which is very expensive in relation to the cost of the phone), you should just go ahead and get a new phone system for free with the PRP.

Everything else, just politely decline. Cashiers are good sellers of PRP's, they're trained to do so, and will probably make 2-3 attempts at getting you to do it. Just cut the whole process by saying "PRP?", because PRP is the term usually only shared by Best Buy employees. They will then know you know what you're talking about right there.

2) If you get the magazine subscriptions, you are retarded.

BusterStacks · #2 06-30-2005, 08:58 PM

Also the items you mentioned are among the only things they will replace in store. Everything else you have to send out. They do NOT like to mention this when selling it to you...

balkii · #3 06-30-2005, 09:15 PM

Everything else, just politely decline.

If by politely decline you mean say, "No I dont want to sign up for that [censored] scam" then I agree

Ulysses · #4 06-30-2005, 09:53 PM

You really think that 2+2ers are stupid enough that they need instructions on how to tell Best Buy cashiers they don't want to buy an extended warranty?

Just cut the whole process by saying "PRP?"

That would be retarded. NO, CASHIER, YOU ARE NOT TRICKING ME. DON'T TRY YOUR THIRD ATTEMPT. I AM IN THE KNOW! PRP!!! PRP!!!! PRP!!!!!

gumpzilla · #5 06-30-2005, 10:01 PM

[ QUOTE ]

NO, CASHIER, YOU ARE NOT TRICKING ME. DON'T TRY YOUR THIRD ATTEMPT. I AM IN THE KNOW! PRP!!! PRP!!!! PRP!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Bullshit. Show me the hand signal.

ClaytonN · #6 06-30-2005, 10:05 PM

You'll just have to take my word for it. We're specifically instructed to try at least 2 or 3 times after the customer declines.

Unless, of course, you're a fan of continually being asked to buy the extended warrantee after saying no.

tbach24 · #7 06-30-2005, 10:07 PM

Thanks, I had no idea about this stuff.

krazyace5 · #8 07-01-2005, 01:07 AM

Do you get commissions or bonuses for this?

Blarg · #9 07-01-2005, 01:28 AM

Yeah, good to know about the phones. I've always thought it was a merciless rip-off how everyone's got to design a new battery for everything that costs a fortune to replace, instead of just letting you use off the shelf batteries.

ClaytonN · #10 07-01-2005, 02:07 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Do you get commissions or bonuses for this?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, Best Buy is non-commission. One of the main reasons they surpassed Circuit City some time ago. Or at least, so the Best Buy people tell me.

In spite of this, should you not be a strong seller in PRP's and magazine subscriptions, things will not bode well for you.