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Best Buy Canada Won't Accept Opened PS VR Returns

A

AzerPhire

Member
Just got this email for my order:

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October 06, 2016

Dear AzerPhire,

Thanks for pre-ordering the PlayStation VR (PS VR).

We're sending you this message to let you know about an update in the return policy for the PS VR: it can only be returned with a valid receipt within 30 days of purchase and if the box is unopened.

Hopefully you won't need to do anything with this information because you'll love the PS VR's amazingly immersive experience, but we wanted to keep you informed.


Thank you for shopping at Best Buy!

The Best Buy team

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Very interesting and definitely makes me hesitant to keep it. Wonder if other retailers will follow suit.
 
Yikes. That.... sucks.
 
Are you sure? It just seems weird that they use your GAF username. Can you even purchase from Best Buy without using your real name?
 
Why is this a surprise, exactly? Isn't this the policy with other consoles at many/most retailers?

Are you concerned that you might suffer motion sickness and want to refund the HMD?
Perhaps in this case it might be important for reviews to cover the tendency of the given game to induce motion sickness.
 
Hopefully you won't need to do anything with this information because you'll love the PS VR's amazingly immersive experience, but we wanted to keep you informed.
Click to expand...

the fuck?
 
OOoooooops.... Well, I'll probably cancel then. BB Canada never even had demo stations for this so that I can see how good it is, and If the unit is malfunctioning I'd rather not go though Sony for an exchange.
 
What? It's a $400 electronic device, unless it broken or all nasty, people don't have issues returning things with a receipt within return policy, why is this an exception? Where's a class action when you need one?
 
Hip Hop said:
Wtf

Why
Click to expand...

Isn't it obvious? They fear that people buy it as a novelty item they just want to try out for a day without having any intention of actually keeping it.

And, yeah, hygiene is a good point as well. Who wants to wear something near their eyes that someone else already had.
 
Um isn't it obvious?

A lot of people lack basic hygiene. Nobody wants to buy a previously opened VR device that's been resting on some nasty ass person's head, with their eye gunk and who knows what else caked in there. It's just like how you can return a shirt, but not underwear.
 
I can kind of see where they are coming from as it is a device that is in direct contact with your face and head. You never know what kind of things would be on it after some returns it. Ughhhhh.
 
Very weird. The reason I started shopping at Best Buy is because of their changed stance on open product returns. Not that I'm Canadian but it still sucks for people who are.

Like Ricky, Julian and Randy.

enigmatic_alex44 said:
Um isn't it obvious?

A lot of people lack basic hygiene. Nobody wants to buy a previously opened VR device that's been resting on some nasty ass person's head, with their eye gunk and who knows what else caked in there. It's just like how you can return a shirt, but not underwear.
Click to expand...

I still don't understand. I can return an open Ipad Air after a week of using it with my cheeto snot ball rubbing fingers.

Maxinas said:
So if you're unlucky to get a malfunctioning unit, you're fucked then? Cool.
Click to expand...

No, you can assuredly return the item for another PSVR, but you can't just say "I don't like this give me my money back or store credit".
 
Hip Hop said:
Wtf

Why
Click to expand...

At the end of the day, the only reason any retailer won't take back a product is if the manufacturer (Sony), isn't willing to take it back. Same reason Costco stopped selling Apple products for a long time.

EDIT: Or why Walmart wouldn't carry Nintendo games in the early 90's.
 
Pops Maellard said:
K but all of the other electronics they sell can be opened and used and returned for cash or credit.

If I buy a thing and it doesn't work (as PSVR seems to have an issue with so far), I can return it.
Click to expand...
I wonder if this applies to defective units or only to "I didn't like it/want it" units.
 
HomerSimpson-Man said:
What? It's a $400 electronic device, unless it broken or all nasty, people don't have issues returning things with a receipt within return policy, why is this an exception? Where's a class action when you need one?
Click to expand...
There is no law that requires retailers to have a return policy. What would the class action lawsuit be suing for?
 
Robert807 said:
I donno if I would buy an open box that was for sale. I can see why they won't accept returns on open box.
Click to expand...

Couldn't people scam retailers with the following scheme?

Person 1 buys PSVR. Returns it after opening.
BB puts that PSVR back on the shelf with an open box discount >X%. They take a loss when Person 1's friend Person 2 comes to buy back the same unit. They take an even bigger loss if they can't sell it at all.
 
Being that it rests directly on your forehead, and is something that will likely have oils and sweat build up relatively quickly, they are likely taking the health and safety stance. Kind of like underwear.
 
Pops Maellard said:
K but all of the other electronics they sell can be opened and used and returned for cash or credit.

If I buy a thing and it doesn't work (as PSVR seems to have an issue with so far), I can return it.
Click to expand...

I don't think this applies if it's defective.

Don't stores make changes to their return policies like this when they feel it necessary? I thought I remember hearing that around Super Bowl time they will attach a hefty restocking fee on televisions because too many people were buying big screens for their super bowl party and returning them after.
 
I imagine this is being treated just like a console in terms of returns. Most retailers will not allow you to return a opened console, only exchange for a new one.

Thats just like what a few posters mentioned before, to discourage the idea of renting a product for 29 days then returning it on the 30th. Not much a retailer can do with a used PSVR as of now. I'm curious what Gamestop will do for VR trade-ins in the future.
 
You have to do this with iPads an other stuff at release sometimes because you get a limited number of units and people just want to rent it or they get buyers remorse. It's another thing when there's plenty to go around.
 
Guys, if an item gets returned for being defective Best Buy simply fills out a chargeback form and Sony refunds Best Buy for the purchase once they get their PSVR back.

If they can't do this, this is on Sony.

The reason why you see some open box items for sale and such is because 1) they weren't returned as defective and 2) the money they lose by offering a discount isn't enough to push them to fill out a chargeback.

There should be no reason Best Buy doesn't take back defective units unless they have an agreement with Sony not to take the item back because Sony doesn't want to deal with it.
 
AsakuraZ said:
I imagine this is being treated just like a console in terms of returns. Most retailers will not allow you to return a opened console, only exchange for a new one.

Thats just like what a few posters mentioned before, to discourage the idea of renting a product for 29 days then returning it on the 30th. Not much a retailer can do with a used PSVR as of now. I'm curious what Gamestop will do for VR trade-ins in the future.
Click to expand...
Imagine, as a retailer, having to cover for things like lice in the foam padding of a HMD. Gross.

Quonny said:
Guys, if an item gets returned for being defective Best Buy simply fills out a chargeback form and Sony refunds Best Buy for the purchase once they get their PSVR back.

If they can't do this, this is on Sony.

The reason why you see some open box items for sale and such is because 1) they weren't returned as defective and 2) the money they lose by offering a discount isn't enough to push them to fill out a chargeback.

There should be no reason Best Buy doesn't take back defective units unless they have an agreement with Sony not to take the item back because Sony doesn't want to deal with it.
Click to expand...

BB hasn't said they're unwilling to replace defective units, have they? AFAIK from the OP, they're simply only allowing people to return unopened units for a refund within 30 days of purchase.
 
This is a pretty shitty move, but I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that it's because Sony won't allow Best Buy to resell PSVR open box. Meaning, if Best Buy accepts an opened return, they basically have to send it back to Sony as part of their PRC process and eat the cost. And I'd also bet you that the amount of margin the store makes on each PSVR sale is next to nonexistant, like it is for game consoles and certain other premium proprietary gaming accessories (like Sony's 3D Playstation Monitor, remember that)?

This is true for a lot of products that retailers like Best Buy carries, but they probably consider this more of a concern for VR than they do for other gaming items (like consoles) that follow the same rules. More likely to be picked up, tried out, and returned, thus likely resulting in a lot of burned money for Best Buy.

Still, while that's probably the "why", it's still a pretty shitty move for the consumer.
 
I've already asked Amazon.ca (via chat) and they'll accept returns within 30 days, no problem. I expected as much as I've never had a problem with returns and Amazon.ca
 
AsakuraZ said:
I imagine this is being treated just like a console in terms of returns. Most retailers will not allow you to return a opened console, only exchange for a new one.

Thats just like what a few posters mentioned before, to discourage the idea of renting a product for 29 days then returning it on the 30th. Not much a retailer can do with a used PSVR as of now. I'm curious what Gamestop will do for VR trade-ins in the future.
Click to expand...

GameStop will "sanitize" them for your protection. Lollolololol.
 
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