BB.com Klipsch Deal

[TrackCoach]

Did anyone try to take advantage of the BB.com deal around Christmas: Buy the Klipsch SL and get the free 12" Klipsch sub? I'm curious because I keep getting the runaround about the sub being backordered. BB.com has basically told me that the sub is in, then I get an email a few min. later telling me that it is not. I've literally spent hours on the phone with them and have gotten nowhere. Anyone else in this boat? Any advice from you pros out there?

 

[GlocksRock]

My advice is don't buy audio equipment from Best Buy... or anything for that matter, they just plain suck.

 

[TrackCoach]

I can't say that I can argue with that. Have had a terrible experience this time. People on the phone and in the store have been no help at all.

 

[Halon451]

I too have long since steered away from BB, CC, and the like for my A/V needs. Last thing I purchased a BB was a Coke. And even that was flat.

Best of luck to you though - hope you get it worked out.

 

[GlocksRock]

I would say that if they can't make good on their free sub offer, that you just return the speakers you bought from them and take your business elsewhere.

 

[krzywica]

I would say that if they can't make good on their free sub offer, that you just return the speakers you bought from them and take your business elsewhere.

Thats what I would do.....you can get a lot better stuff for the same price elsewhere anyway.

Sounds kinda like the deal Kia had going on a while back....buy a new car get a used one free!!!

 

[TrackCoach]

Well, good ol' Best Buy told me today that they have cancelled my free subwoofer because it is no longer available. They are now telling me that they will not do anything for me because it was a backordered item. Aside from returning the speakers (they are all mounted and sound great!) do I have any recourse? I mean the deal sounded too good to be true.. guess it was.

 

[markw]

You've GOT to be kidding me!

Well, good ol' Best Buy told me today that they have cancelled my free subwoofer because it is no longer available. They are now telling me that they will not do anything for me because it was a backordered item.

that's the definition of unmitigated gall.

Aside from returning the speakers (they are all mounted and sound great!) do I have any recourse? I mean the deal sounded too good to be true.. guess it was.

Hey, it's not your fault they didn't have sufficient stock on hand to meet the demand when they placed the ad. They owe you something if similar value AFAIKS.

Built in speakers, eh? Sounds like it's a well-calculated ploy on their part. Since you've already got 'em mounted and you're well past their the return period, I'd say you're pretty much outta luck as far as they are concerned.

But, if you have the ads, all paperwork and such you might want to contact the Better Business Bureau but don't get your hopes up.

Best Buy sucks if this is their way of conducting business.

 

[mudrummer99]

As a BB employee I would concur with the other posters here, return the system. The 12" sub has been backordered for well over a month and a half now and have now been discontinued. If they are unwilling to work with you in anyway to make the deal right return the speakers. If they give you a run around about the item being "outside the return day" tell them that they are using a bait and switch and are not holding up their end of a contract (that would be the advertised deal) Talk to a GM if available or atleast a customer experience manager and they should do everything within their power to help you out. Hopefully this will help resolve your issue and trust me, even as an employee, if I got jerked around like this I would be livid as well.

Mike

 

[Halon451]

Well, good ol' Best Buy told me today that they have cancelled my free subwoofer because it is no longer available. They are now telling me that they will not do anything for me because it was a backordered item. Aside from returning the speakers (they are all mounted and sound great!) do I have any recourse? I mean the deal sounded too good to be true.. guess it was.

That is bulls*** right there. I'd bypass the blue shirt employees right away and demand to speak with the store's General Manager - you're likely to take the long road to frustration dealing with the ground level guys who only know how to follow strict protocol (i.e., the 30 day return policy), despite the mitigating circumstances they have placed you in. A GM should be able to override protocol and handle the situation as it should be handled - if he does not, take it up with the Better Business Bureau; or better yet, call your local news team and get it publicized. BB would fear bad publicity long before a registered complaint with the Better Business Bureau, trust me.

 

[TrackCoach]

Thanks for the responses. I have tried to talk to a manager at a BB store, but they said they can't do anything because I ordered on bestbuy.com. I have gotten a bunch of generic emails from bb.com saying absolutely nothing and that have little relevance to my issue (things like don't worry, your credit card will not be charged--no kidding it will not be charged for a FREE item). Apparently now someone in "promotions" is looking at my issue.


I have long since thrown away the box and packaging for the speakers so I'm not sure they would even take them back. Maybe the earlier poster "Mike" who actually works there could shed some more light on it. The more and more I look at it, the more I think I'm out of luck.

 

[bandphan]

skip the email, and call them.(1-888-237-8289) Get a supervisior and get some satisfaction

 

[Johnd]

Thanks for the responses. I have tried to talk to a manager at a BB store, but they said they can't do anything because I ordered on bestbuy.com. I have gotten a bunch of generic emails from bb.com saying absolutely nothing and that have little relevance to my issue (things like don't worry, your credit card will not be charged--no kidding it will not be charged for a FREE item). Apparently now someone in "promotions" is looking at my issue.


I have long since thrown away the box and packaging for the speakers so I'm not sure they would even take them back. Maybe the earlier poster "Mike" who actually works there could shed some more light on it. The more and more I look at it, the more I think I'm out of luck.

Do you have this offer in writing? Does the sub show anywhere on your order, or confirmation, or any other paperwork? That is the best recourse you would have. One could make the case that that is what prompted you to make the purchase, and they owe you the sub, it's value, or a full refund (if you can substantiate the offer). Cheers, and good luck, John

 

[Johnd]

skip the email, and call them.(1-888-237-8289) Get a supervisior and get some satisfaction

I disagree 100%.

Memorialization is your friend, particularly in a case like this. Telephonic discourse offers none, unless you are taping it...and that is illegal in most states w/o advance notification (and approval). Do whatever you're going to do in writing, and keep the paper trail.

As a side not, I've received some satisfaction w/ BB (on a less than perfect transaction), but then, I know which buttons to push, and I have tenacity like a Catholic nun.

 

[bandphan]

I disagree 100%.

Memorialization is your friend, particularly in a case like this. Telephonic discourse offers none, unless you are taping it...and that is illegal in most states w/o advance notification (and approval). Do whatever you're going to do in writing, and keep the paper trail.

As a side not, I've received some satisfaction w/ BB (on a less than perfect transaction), but then, I know which buttons to push, and I have tenacity like a Catholic nun.

what? At least when there is a live person you can appeal to them. A voiceless email can work, but it hasnt so far for him. Who said anything about taping the call, just get their name and number and document your calls, you can always follow up with an email to reiterate the conversation

 

[Johnd]

what?

Just what I wrote bandphan. Don't take personal offense.

Case in point: After about ten minutes on the phone to BB, a cs rep told me that I need to discuss the matter with the "Gift Card Center", and she duly gave me a new case number. Well, it took three more phone conversations to ascertain that there is no such thing as a "Gift Card Center." Additionally, before we got to this point, I was verbally told on at least two occasions (over two months...due to my infinite patience ) that my $75 in gift cards were "in the mail." As it turns out, they were never mailed. Never.

Roll the dice and waste your time telephonically. I memorialize just about everything, and waste little time talking to the underlings. Just my $0.02 with my personal experiences with BB.

 

[Halon451]

Thanks for the responses. I have tried to talk to a manager at a BB store, but they said they can't do anything because I ordered on bestbuy.com. I have gotten a bunch of generic emails from bb.com saying absolutely nothing and that have little relevance to my issue (things like don't worry, your credit card will not be charged--no kidding it will not be charged for a FREE item). Apparently now someone in "promotions" is looking at my issue.


I have long since thrown away the box and packaging for the speakers so I'm not sure they would even take them back. Maybe the earlier poster "Mike" who actually works there could shed some more light on it. The more and more I look at it, the more I think I'm out of luck.

While Johnd and bandphan are quibbling to and fro, I have to agree with the both of them. Personally I would use every recourse available to me, and not stop until I got some satisfaction - point being, don't take this lying down, man! BB is the corporate juggernaut, but they can be beaten.

John does bring up an excellent point about documentation. The better paper trail you have to offer (anything including receipts, online confirmations, letters, original ads) anything that indicates the free sub (which you didn't recieve) you have a strong case. Anything less and it becomes your word against theirs and in the corporate world, that unfortunately doesn't get you very far.

Ultimately it may be unrealistic that they would accept your speakers as a return and thereby nix the whole deal. You've had them for some time now, the boxes and packaging are long gone, etc. Realistically, they should be able to offer you a free sub of comparable quality/price to honor their end of the bargain.

 

[Exit]

I would just try to return everything and not settle for a substitute subwoofer if they offer one. Go to dedicated audio/video stores from your yellow pages and you will probably find something better for less. You can also buy internet direct and forum members will help you with the best choices in your price range.

 

[TrackCoach]

Well guys again, many thanks. I have tried the phone on many occasions and they give me the runaround... hand me off to different people/different departments, some who do not seem to have a general understanding of the english language.

There is a stipulation about being on IN STOCK equipment. I think I'm boned. The ad is as follows:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&id=pcmcat139400050011

 

[markw]

"Valid on in-stock items only."

Well guys again, many thanks. I have tried the phone on many occasions and they give me the runaround... hand me off to different people/different departments, some who do not seem to have a general understanding of the english language.

There is a stipulation about being on IN STOCK equipment. I think I'm boned. The ad is as follows:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&id=pcmcat139400050011

Yep. those weasel-words just might let them off the hook on this one.

If this is still on their web-site, I think it's a blatant ruse and it shows a total lack of character for them to perpetuate the false hopes of their unwitting customers.

I'd trust them as far as I could throw them.