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[Saint Gregory]

Now I'm trying to figure out why I preordered from BestBuy when the last major item I ordered from them (a washer/dryer set) during Black Friday got screwed up.

According to the manager at the BB a computer glitch caused them to oversell the models I ordered by 1000% and it ended up taking 2 months for me get them delivered to my new place.

That was 2 long months of having to either do laundry at a friends' house or wash out my underwear in the sink

 

[Marty Chinn]

Hot damn, why you people gotta be getting me all worried now? Is there no consumer protection laws on pre-orders?

Laws? I've never heard of consumer protection laws on pre-orders other than there probably being something about being able to get your money back. What laws do you think there might be?

 

[Ken Masters]

After skimming through this thread, I never thought I'd feel so good for pre ordering at GameStop

 

[Marty Chinn]

After skimming through this thread, I never thought I'd feel so good for pre ordering at GameStop

I don't know why people just don't do both to make sure they're covered if it's that important to them.

 

[Ken Masters]

I don't know why people just don't do both to make sure they're covered if it's that important to them.

Best Buy charges you the full amount when you pre order, GameStop only asks for $25 down

 

[Saint Gregory]

Best Buy charges you the full amount when you pre order, GameStop only asks for $25 down

The day that preorders started I was at work and BB was the only online retailer that was letting buyers preorder online for in-store pickup.

 

[Berg]

Best Buy charges you the full amount when you pre order, GameStop only asks for $25 down

Best Buy charged me $5 for the Deluxe WiiU preorder

 

[Marty Chinn]

Best Buy charges you the full amount when you pre order, GameStop only asks for $25 down

Best Buy has a deposit in store and only does a preauth online. GameStop charges $50 unless you pay for their membership. I'm looking at my statement right now and my balance does not reflect my preorder from Best Buy. I'm also only out the $50 I put down at GameStop which I can get back at any time. At the end of the day I've only put out $50 and I'm covered at Best Buy and GameStop.

 

[Ken Masters]

Online pre orders are full price for Best Buy at least, and I'm not a GameStop member and I only put $25 down

 

[Marty Chinn]

Online pre orders are full price for Best Buy at least, and I'm not a GameStop member and I only put $25 down

Online is not full price. It's a preauthorization; it's not the same thing. Look at your CC statement. Does it show you now owe $3xx on your next bill?

I think you got lucky on the GameStop thing because they even tried to sell me on the membership saying my deposit would be less. GameStop's preorder hardware policy has always been $50 and $5 for games.

 

[Ken Masters]

Online is not full price. It's a preauthorization; it's not the same thing. Look at your CC statement. Does it show you now owe $3xx on your next bill?

I think you got lucky on the GameStop thing because they even tried to sell me on the membership saying my deposit would be less. GameStop's preorder hardware policy has always been $50 and $5 for games.

I went to a GameStop store the day they had pre orders and they asked for just the $25 down, I was 6 on the list. Later that day I pre ordered online at best buy and was deducted the $350+ right away then immediately canceled the BB pre order and got my money back (didn't really need the BB pre order anyway).

 

[Marty Chinn]

I went to a GameStop store the day they had pre orders and they asked for just the $25 down, I was 6 on the list. Later that day I pre ordered online at best buy and was deducted the $350+ right away then immediately canceled the BB pre order and got my money back (didn't really need the BB pre order anyway).

And I'm telling you GameStop made a mistake. The deposit policy is $50 for hardware or $25 if you have their paid membership. Best Buy did a preauthorization that looks like a charge but is not a charge. It was temporary. Your card wasn't charged the full amount. So you may have thought you got billed the full amount but you didn't and you never saw that because you canceled. I'm looking at my statement now. I saw the charge and then it gets removed. My current balance does not have $370 deducted from it and I have a valid preorder at Best Buy right now.

 

[adroit]

There are two steps to a credit or debit card transaction. The first step is authorization. It simply puts a hold on the amount. No money changes hands. The second step is called either capture or settlement. That's when money changes hands. If a transaction is not captured, the authorization will eventually expire automatically (usually in about a week).

The Best Buy web site is only doing an authorization. It does not capture the transaction. The authorization will expire. Mine did.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

There are two steps to a credit or debit card transaction. The first step is authorization. It simply puts a hold on the amount. No money changes hands. The second step is called either capture or settlement. That's when money changes hands. If a transaction is not captured, the authorization will eventually expire automatically (usually in about a week).

The Best Buy web site is only doing an authorization. It does not capture the transaction. The authorization will expire. Mine did.

Also, this is standard for many businesses. If you use a credit card at a gas station for example, it's not uncommon to see a $100 authorization that's later replaced by the actual amount spent.

 

[Aeana]

There are two steps to a credit or debit card transaction. The first step is authorization. It simply puts a hold on the amount. No money changes hands. The second step is called either capture or settlement. That's when money changes hands. If a transaction is not captured, the authorization will eventually expire automatically (usually in about a week).

The Best Buy web site is only doing an authorization. It does not capture the transaction. The authorization will expire. Mine did.

Yeah, but some people are saying that Best Buy will continually re-place the hold after the last one expires. This hasn't actually happened to me yet, but someone on the last page actually got screwed out of their order because of it.

 

[rec0ded1]

I was poking around the Best Buy customer service forums and came across these foreboding posts in a Darksiders II preorder thread:

Apparently, best buy took way too many pre-orders (much like what happened with Dark Souls Signature Edition) so a lot of people are not going to get the limited edition. if you call 1-888-best-buy, the gaming rep will tell you that they ran out, and there's nothing they can do except cancel your oder. S/He will try to be sneakly about it and not give you compensation. So what you need to do is get angry and demand that you get compensation. You'll be offered a 20 gift certificate.

Hello everyone,
We realize that many of saw your Darksiders II order go into a "Backordered" status on the release date and, for that, we offer our apologies. Your high-anticipation of the game was met with a let-down - a failure to deliver on your pre-ordered product in a timely fashion - and that is an oversight we are not taking lightly.

I preordered Wii U Deluxe online with in store pickup in the next town over....

ivemadeahugemistake.gif

 

[NateDrake]

Yeah, but some people are saying that Best Buy will continually re-place the hold after the last one expires. This hasn't actually happened to me yet, but someone on the last page actually got screwed out of their order because of it.

Just had it happen to me. I was checking my statement online and on the 24th BB filed for another hold on the $300+ for the basic bundle.

 

[Skiesofwonder]

The truth, man. The day that they started taking iPhone 5 pre-orders, I was first line in line. I pre-ordered two 64GB models (one for me and one for my wife). Fast forward to Sept 21st - the release date plastered all over the store - when I stop in to pick them up, and the clerk tells me they aren't in. I probe for more information and they say "We got in a bunch of 16GB models for pre-orders, but that was it. None of the 32GB and none of the 64GB." I ask them if they have any idea when to expect them, and they basically tell me not to check in and wait for a phone call; "We will call you as soon as we get them."

Last night we happened to be in the area, so me and my wife popped into the store again to check if there was any news. This time the clerk puts in a little extra effort and pulls up the iPhone 5 SKUs in their inventory system. She shows me a big fat "0" next to every store in the area. None incoming. None on-order.

I have no idea why I went through them. If I had just camped out on Apple's online store on the pre-order day, I'd probably have the phones by now. At this point, we're considering getting refunds on our two deposits ($50 each) and selling the other gift card we were going to use for them on plasticjungle.com or something, and just looking elsewhere. Maybe try using Apple's after-hours reservation system to get one. The Apple Store isn't close to us, but the drive (about an hour) beats being dicked around by Best Buy when inquiring about the product we should have been guaranteed.

So yeah, even if I had no other option for pre-ordering, Best Buy is the LAST place I will ever reserve hardware of any kind.

So they basically took pre-orders for something that had no idea on whether or not they were actually getting units for.... Not good.

Sounds exactly like what happened to me travelling one Christmas years ago. Got to the car rental place and they didn't have any cars.

The lady actually said, "just 'cos you have a reservation, don't mean you have a car."

Actually, that's exactly what RESERVATION means. From the root word RESERVE.

:lol

You can learn a whole bunch of life lessons from Seinfeld.

I was poking around the Best Buy customer service forums and came across these foreboding posts in a Darksiders II preorder thread:






I preordered Wii U Deluxe online with in store pickup in the next town over....

ivemadeahugemistake.gif

Wowwwww.... What the fuck was I thinking pre-ordering with BB? Looks like my ass might be camping out come the weekend of launch *sigh*.

 

[asdad123]

I preordered a deluxe for in store pickup with my Best Buy Credit Card when they went up. The authorization charge is still there. Thankfully I have nothing else on that card so I dont really care if the charge stays.


I also preordered from Gamestop incase Best Buy doesnt come through... Looks like I made the right choice with a backup preorder.

 

[Dead Prince]

I preordered a deluxe for in store pickup with my Best Buy Credit Card when they went up. The authorization charge is still there. Thankfully I have nothing else on that card so I dont really care if the charge stays.


I also preordered from Gamestop incase Best Buy doesnt come through... Looks like I made the right choice with a backup preorder.

we'll find out when the statement is out.

 

[asdad123]

we'll find out when the statement is out.

Im really hoping that Best Buy didnt oversell them since I really want one. If best buy screws me over, Im going to be without one til I can order one online or just walk into a store. Im not waiting outside before a store opens to get one lol.

If I get both, its one for me and one for my nephews. If I only get the one from gamestop, Ill give it to the nephews and wait for mine unfortunately.

 

[adroit]

Yeah, but some people are saying that Best Buy will continually re-place the hold after the last one expires. This hasn't actually happened to me yet, but someone on the last page actually got screwed out of their order because of it.

Ugh. It's within the realm of possibility. But it hasn't happened to me yet either. I pre-ordered on the web (for store pick-up) on the 13th. In case it matters, I used a credit card. I wonder if they (or their payment processor) have a mechanism for treating debit cards differently.

 

[Shin Johnpv]

After the iPhone 5 fiasco I'm scared as fuck they pull the same shit with the WiiU I preordered. What the fuck is going on with Best Buy lately??

In my experience with pre-ordering things at 2 different Best Buy stores, they don't actually put anything on hold. Maybe some one who works on Best Buy can say other wise, maybe it's just my shitty stores I don't know. Anytime I've pre-ordered anything at BB I would walk in go to Customer service and they would say, "We don't keep them in the back just take them off the floor." meaning they didn't hold or reserve shit.

Good luck to the folks who have a Wii-U pre-ordered at Best Buy, I wouldn't attempt that shit.

 

[shadyspace]

In my experience with pre-ordering things at 2 different Best Buy stores, they don't actually put anything on hold. Maybe some one who works on Best Buy can say other wise, maybe it's just my shitty stores I don't know. Anytime I've pre-ordered anything at BB I would walk in go to Customer service and they would say, "We don't keep them in the back just take them off the floor." meaning they didn't hold or reserve shit.

Good luck to the folks who have a Wii-U pre-ordered at Best Buy, I wouldn't attempt that shit.

yeeeeeeep

 

[prag16]

Yeah, but some people are saying that Best Buy will continually re-place the hold after the last one expires. This hasn't actually happened to me yet, but someone on the last page actually got screwed out of their order because of it.

Yep, that was me; as I said, I got an email from Best Buy when the first authorization expired saying I needed to contact them to prevent my order from being cancelled.

When I did so, the rep I spoke with fucked up and accidentally cancelled my order instead of reauthorizing. And that mistake was not reversible. Fucking pricks.


I talked to the manager at my local Best Buy store today. He said it's very common that they get undersupplied in these types of situations, so he said he wouldn't be surprised if many who do have preorders end up getting screwed. He says it's not Best Buy's fault; they go by what distributors and the company (Sony/Nintendo/Apple/etc) tell them.

He said they had 60 iPhone 5 preorders at that store, and only received 15 to sell at launch.

Awful. Maybe I should just go on Gamestop's stupid waitlist. However the hell long that will take.

 

[eudaemonic]

Yeah, I ordered from BestBuy.com. Wouldn't dare pre-ordering in a store. I have worked in MANY of them and they were all horrible at keeping track of their stock for that kind of thing.

 

[Dead Prince]

i do have one ordered online and one preordered in store. i don't plan to pick up the store one but i want to see if they do have both of mine back. lately they've been really good with stuff being in the back. but i do dislike that they take shit all over the box. the fuck.

 

[Shin Johnpv]

Yep, that was me; as I said, I got an email from Best Buy when the first authorization expired saying I needed to contact them to prevent my order from being cancelled.

When I did so, the rep I spoke with fucked up and accidentally cancelled my order instead of reauthorizing. And that mistake was not reversible. Fucking pricks.


I talked to the manager at my local Best Buy store today. He said it's very common that they get undersupplied in these types of situations, so he said he wouldn't be surprised if many who do have preorders end up getting screwed. He says it's not Best Buy's fault; they go by what distributors and the company (Sony/Nintendo/Apple/etc) tell them.

He said they had 60 iPhone 5 preorders at that store, and only received 15 to sell at launch.

Awful. Maybe I should just go on Gamestop's stupid waitlist. However the hell long that will take.

That is Best Buy's fault though, they took orders before they knew their supply. The only person whose fault that is is Best Buy.

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

Same. Only thing to worry is if they ship enough for Best Buy to fulfill. I can even wait a week or two but I would hate to be put on a list of 50 and for them not to be able to fulfill it. I trust BB more than GS.

Besides, GS has a $19 delivery fee for 1 day and a $12 fee for 5-10 days. That is complete garbage.

Everyone, point and laugh at me.

If they fuck me over, I'll never shop there again. HHgregg is opening close to me.

 

[Littlegator]

Guys, I've worked at Best Buy, and they're not nearly as shitty as many people say. The issues with preorders are from them overestimating their numbers, NOT the stores selling preordered items.

If something is preordered, it will be put behind the customer service counter and will NOT be sold until the hold date is up.

If you prepurchased online with in-store pickup, you have absolute priority. Corporate overrides the store 100% of the time, and none of the stores will dare to sell an in-store pickup item.

So moral of the story: if you prepurchased online with in-store pickup, you're good. If you preordered in store, you're only good if they receive their full allotment (i.e. go to the midnight release).

They absolutely will not sell preordered consoles to people without preorders, unless they want to break corporate policy and give up all their yearly bonuses.

That is Best Buy's fault though, they took orders before they knew their supply. The only person whose fault that is is Best Buy.

It's hard to say whose fault it is, usually, but I'm pretty sure they generally wait until they have numbers before they take preorders. It's just that numbers don't always turn out to be true.

 

[Chip N Chance]

My best buy keeps pre ordered games on a big shelf behind the Customer Service/Return Center counter. I remember the MW3 limited edition being very hard to find last year and selling out, but when i went in there a couple days after it came out they had a few behind the counter waiting to be picked up. In terms of supply im not sure, but they do hold the pre ordered items back so there not sold. I guess its just a matter of getting there early at midnight for the pre order line.

 

[brochiller]

Wow you guys are really making happy I didn't pre-order from Best Buy.

I reserved mine at Toys R Us, anybody have experiences with them when it come to pre-orders?

 

[NateDrake]

My best buy keeps pre ordered games on a big shelf behind the Customer Service/Return Center counter. I remember the MW3 limited edition being very hard to find last year and selling out, but when i went in there a couple days after it came out they had a few behind the counter waiting to be picked up. In terms of supply im not sure, but they do hold the pre ordered items back so there not sold. I guess its just a matter of getting there early at midnight for the pre order line.

Same as mine. I pre-ordered Wii U online for in-store pickup.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

Anyone know if Walmart charges entire balance upfront?

 

[Maxim726X]

Yeah, I ordered from BestBuy.com. Wouldn't dare pre-ordering in a store. I have worked in MANY of them and they were all horrible at keeping track of their stock for that kind of thing.

So preorders from the website are still good?

 

[tkscz]

Guys, I've worked at Best Buy, and they're not nearly as shitty as many people say. The issues with preorders are from them overestimating their numbers, NOT the stores selling preordered items.

If something is preordered, it will be put behind the customer service counter and will NOT be sold until the hold date is up.

If you prepurchased online with in-store pickup, you have absolute priority. Corporate overrides the store 100% of the time, and none of the stores will dare to sell an in-store pickup item.

So moral of the story: if you prepurchased online with in-store pickup, you're good. If you preordered in store, you're only good if they receive their full allotment (i.e. go to the midnight release).

They absolutely will not sell preordered consoles to people without preorders, unless they want to break corporate policy and give up all their yearly bonuses.



It's hard to say whose fault it is, usually, but I'm pretty sure they generally wait until they have numbers before they take preorders. It's just that numbers don't always turn out to be true.

But, just like gamestop, it depends on the best buy. Some BBs really ARE that shitty. It's why some people here have different experiences with them. I can tell you right now, the BB within the City limits of where I live is shit. They don't care about you or your stuff. On the other hand, the one out in the suburbs, much better, and much much bigger as well. They put pre-orders up behind the customer service station.

 

[Littlegator]

But, just like gamestop, it depends on the best buy. Some BBs really ARE that shitty. It's why some people here have different experiences with them. I can tell you right now, the BB within the City limits of where I live is shit. They don't care about you or your stuff. On the other hand, the one out in the suburbs, much better, and much much bigger as well. They put pre-orders up behind the customer service station.

And if you get shat on by them, call corporate and complain. The Best Buy loses funding, and you'll probably get a $100+ gift card.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

But, just like gamestop, it depends on the best buy. Some BBs really ARE that shitty. It's why some people here have different experiences with them. I can tell you right now, the BB within the City limits of where I live is shit. They don't care about you or your stuff. On the other hand, the one out in the suburbs, much better, and much much bigger as well. They put pre-orders up behind the customer service station.

yea but a BestBuy.com order is shipped to the store with your fucking name on it. Right?

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

I ordered mine, the day the preorders went up, within 2 hrs of the thread going up. In store pick up. I can't do anything about it, either way. Just have to hope. If anyone reads this, tho, if they fuck my shit up, I will never go back. There is no need. I can just use Amazon and wait til the spring.

 

[gryz]

yea but a BestBuy.com order is shipped to the store with your fucking name on it. Right?

we need answers to this. also anyone with experience doing in store pickup at the seattle store? lol

 

[jaaz]

That's why I never have anything shipped to the store, at Best Buy or elsewhere. The guy at the distribution center puts it in a box and ships it to my house via UPS or whatever. Sometimes it costs me a little extra in shipping, but I consider it a worthwhile expense to keep it away from the idiots that work at my local Best Buy.

 

[MikeE21286]

yea but a BestBuy.com order is shipped to the store with your fucking name on it. Right?

we need answers to this. also anyone with experience doing in store pickup at the seattle store? lol

It s not shipped to the store. They pull the item off the shelf and attach your order slip to it. sometimes they can be shipped to the store, but that's a different type of order than your normal store pick up order.

 

[gryz]

It s not shipped to the store. They pull the item off the shelf and attach your order slip to it. sometimes they can be shipped to the store, but that's a different type of order than your normal store pick up order.

I ordered online, and had the option of having it shipped to my house or shipped to the store. you're saying that it's not shipped to the store?

 

[Marty Chinn]

I ordered online, and had the option of having it shipped to my house or shipped to the store. you're saying that it's not shipped to the store?

You said in store pickup. Shipped to store is different. In store pickup means they will take stock from that location and put it aside with your name on it. Shipped to store means it gets shipped from the warehouse specifically for you with your name attached to it.

 

[Hoodbury]

You said in store pickup. Shipped to store is different. In store pickup means they will take stock from that location and put it aside with your name on it. Shipped to store means it gets shipped from the warehouse specifically for you with your name attached to it.

I'm confused. Are you saying there were three options?

 

[MikeE21286]

I ordered online, and had the option of having it shipped to my house or shipped to the store. you're saying that it's not shipped to the store?

There are 3 options

1. Ship to your house
2. Ship to store
3. Pick up at store

Option 3 is the default "store" option. If there s inventory you can select option 3 and they will pick the item off the shelf for you.

Option 3 will not be available if there is no inventory of your item at the store you are choosing. In that case they will ship the item to the store.

 

[gryz]

There are 3 options

1. Ship to your house
2. Ship to store
3. Pick up at store

Option 3 is the default "store" option. If there s inventory you can select option 3 and they will pick the item off the shelf for you.

Option 3 will not be available if there is no inventory of your item at the store you are choosing. In that case they will ship the item to the store.

ok well since its not out yet I would assume online pre orders with in store pickup would be option 2.

receipt says:
"
Picking up in Store:
Pick up Sun Nov 18
We'll hold until Mon Nov 26"

 

[Saint Gregory]

yea but a BestBuy.com order is shipped to the store with your fucking name on it. Right?

That's never been my experience when ordering online for pickup (which I've done many times). They take the item from their stock and tag it with your order printout and put it behind the CS desk.

If it makes anyone feel better though there's never been a time where I preordered something and it wasn't behing the desk being held for me so I'm guessing that they set them aside as soon as they come off their trucks.

The only times I've had to go looking for an item in the aisles is when I've ordered something for pickup that had been out for weeks already.

 

[MikeE21286]

ok well since its not out yet I would assume online pre orders with in store pickup would be option 2.

I am assuming **assuming** that they are actually option 3 in all reality

They are probably selling the allocation of items that they each store has been allocated on launch day.

So while they are technically shipping to the store since thy are pre orders (a la option 2) , functionally it will work like option 3

 

[NewFresh]

In my experience with pre-ordering things at 2 different Best Buy stores, they don't actually put anything on hold. Maybe some one who works on Best Buy can say other wise, maybe it's just my shitty stores I don't know. Anytime I've pre-ordered anything at BB I would walk in go to Customer service and they would say, "We don't keep them in the back just take them off the floor." meaning they didn't hold or reserve shit.

Good luck to the folks who have a Wii-U pre-ordered at Best Buy, I wouldn't attempt that shit.

I worked at a Best Buy for about 2 years at customer service and we had a section behind the counter/wall for pre-ordered games. Anything that had a high amount of pre-orders had customers names attached as soon as they got off of the truck and then placed in either the warehouse holding area (One that you need to report to the managers that you are entering) or behind customer service.

I don't doubt that what you say is true, from dealing with A LOT of other stores, they can be pretty lazy about these kind of things; however, the standard protocol is what I just laid out. The only time I remember something going askew was during the Fable 3 release, where someone sold a copy to a walk in customer when it should have stayed behind the counter.