I needed to hookup one of my computers to my KVM, but the KVM only has VGA plugs and the new computer is DVI. I went on to the Best Buy web site and picked out the Dynex DVI to VGA adapter that I used for a different computer, as it has treated me well for the past year. Normally I would have gone to MicroCenter or ordered it from an online retailer, but I had a $10 reward certificate that I needed to use.
I used the buy online and pickup in the store method. The Paramus, NJ store at the Fashion Center Mall showed that they the adapter in stock. With the $10 rewards coupon it was only going to cost me around $2. Things were going well and I received both e-mails from Best Buy, one confirming the order had been placed and the other confirming that it had been filled and ready for pickup.
I left my house to go pickup Aidan from day care and was going to stop at Best Buy on the way. I arrived Best Buy and the drama began. I walked up to the pickup line and several employees behind the counter looked at me and carried on with the duties. There was nobody else in line, actually there was nobody else remotely close to me. Not one person asked if I needed assistance for about 5 minutes. When I was finally acknowledged, the person took my information, and brought me my order. The only issue was, it was not the correct item. They gave me a DVI to VGA cable when I had just ordered the adapter. The girl that was helping me went to locate the correct part in the store. Turns out they have 2 listed in the computer but they can’t find them in the store. “They were probably stolen”, she said. My order was then cancelled and refunded. At this point I had already spent 30 minutes in the store. When I asked about what I am supposed to do next I was told, “Well we can call the Garden State Store if you want.”
I said, “When I placed the order online it showed that they were out of stock.” They proceeded to call and guess what?!?!? They didn’t have any. While they were calling around, I walked around the store to verify that it was not on the shelf somewhere. Unfortunately, I couldn’t locate one either.
The girl then said, “The West Paterson store has it if you want to go there.”
I said, “No thanks, I would like you to ship it to me.”
She said, “You can go over there and use one of those Macs to go to bestbuy.com and place the order.”
WOW!!! I said, “Actually I am not going to be paying for the shipping, it should be shipped for free.”
“I am not authorized to do that so you would have to speak to a manager”, she said.
“I would love to.”
Emily, the store manager promptly arrived to assist me with this matter. She was able to place the order and have it shipped to me. However, since the other employee had cancelled the previous transaction, the reward card was going to have to be reissued and I COULD NOT use it on this transaction. I was told that the rewards certificate would be reissued electronically since Best Buy was going green. To this I responded with, “I just received this one on the mail less than a week ago. Also, another way to ‘go green’ would be to NOT print 7 (yes 7) receipts for an in-store pickup and then another 6 for the return.”
So now, I await the delivery of my adapter and the reissue of my $10 rewards certificate. The free shipping is hardly worth the time and energy I spent dealing with this.
-Allen
