Getting banned from Best Buy?

[Megalith]

I'm aware that some people have gotten banned from Best Buy for making too many returns. Does anyone have any information on what exactly triggers it? Like, how many returns would you have to make within a certain period for it to happen?

I have quite a few Blu-ray titles that I am interested in returning but am afraid of this happening.

[r_webb18]

Hmm I don't have any info but don't blu-rays need to be new to return them? Did you buy online or something and they came damaged?

[Megalith]

The titles I'll be returning are still sealed. Some of them I just don't want, while others have damaged packaging.

Problem is that returns or exchanges of any kind seem to count against you at BB.

[Megalith]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

The returns are monitored and by everything I know it's a combination of purchases, price, and whether things are returned New or Used. Returning high value things used earns a lot more demerits than returning things that can essentially be placed back on the shelf.

Hmm, that makes sense. I did return a PlayStation Vita a week ago but guess I can afford to return a couple of low-priced BDs.

[bhampton]

Unopened blus shouldn't be a problem of any kind.

I personally can't imagine returning something like the vita unless it was defective.

[Evil]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Possibly, but I suspect you'd have to return an awful lot of (unopened) movies (or a high % of what you buy) to get flagged.

Buying a TV every month or so to "Try It Out" is going to get you flagged fairly quickly unless you are a very high $$$ customer.

The system isn't keeping track of everything you buy. How could it? It's keeping track of everything you return by tying your returns to your driver's license. That's why they scan your driver's license when you do a return - to tie returns from different transactions back to a single person.

[cmay91472]

I was banned last January after returning three Samsung TVs that all had dead pixels and/or vertical banding on arrival. I had not returned anything since that January until last month when I returned an unopened bluray I had ordered from Best Buy.com. I was immediately banned for another 90 days despite purchasing over 30 blurays and about $200 additional small electronics since the first band.

Ban is more of a deterrent. Doesn't mean you can't return anything. Manager told me if I had to return anything, either have a family member or friend with you and they swipe their license. If I was by myself, he said he will overide it manually.

[obssessive]

Originally Posted by cmay91472

I was banned last January after returning three Samsung TVs that all had dead pixels and/or vertical banding on arrival. I had not returned anything since that January until last month when I returned an unopened bluray I had ordered from Best Buy.com. I was immediately banned for another 90 days despite purchasing over 30 blurays and about $200 additional small electronics since the first band.

Ban is more of a deterrent. Doesn't mean you can't return anything. Manager told me if I had to return anything, either have a family member or friend with you and they swipe their license. If I was by myself, he said he will overide it manually.

^^^Damn, that's bad luck there

[Meeklo]

The customer service employees should be good at determining what is a legitimate return and what isn't. If you are returning an item just for buyer's remorse, then you are costing them money and they will ask for your ID to count it against you. But if you bought a TV and the picture goes out within the 15 day return period, then they should not be taking your ID information since it should not be held against you. Keep in mind, that they should be verifying the condition of the TV before accepting the return or asking for ID.

Also keep in mind, I have stated a lot of "should" in that paragraph. If they ask for your ID to hold a return against you and it is legitimately not your fault or choice, question them, refuse the ID and ask for a manager to clarify. And do all of this nicely, or they just may refuse you service altogether. (there is an entire Facebook page of Best Buy employees making fun of customers for various reasons including being rude to the staff, it's hilarious.)

[vocalhouse]

BBY contracts out to The Retail Equation who then keeps track of returns and issues the "bans." See:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...turns/2642607/
http://articles.courant.com/2012-04-...dulent-returns

[MrHT]

Better to buy and return in store and use cash. That way, they won't be able to track how many times you returned.

[Meeklo]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Buy is store, use cash, return to store, show DL, get cash. How can they not track you -- that's the whole idea of using the DL so that a person will be found if they are returning lots of stuff. Payment method is irrelevant.

Agreed…look at the post I put up earlier, it completely explains how returns work and what you should do to keep from being tracked on some returns.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Buy is store, use cash, return to store, show DL, get cash. How can they not track you -- that's the whole idea of using the DL so that a person will be found if they are returning lots of stuff. Payment method is irrelevant.

Driver License??? They ask for that now?? Wow, things have sure changed since I last returned at Best Buy, which was back in 2006. I was never asked for ID back then. I guess they changed their policy; just like they changed it from 30 days to 15 days.

[Jett Rink]

I returned something once and was given the third degree by a feisty female manager. They really do not want to do it unless pressured.

[obssessive]

Never had a problem with the return thing, and I have returned a bunch in the past.

KNOCK ON WOOD...

[kemcha]

Best Buy, just like any other retailer, has the right to ban any customer from their store. Usually, this results from customers with a history of excessive returns and exchanges. While each retailer has their own policy on what number of returns triggers that, I think it has more to do with the number of returns over a short period of time, and I imagine that 'dollar amounts' also factor into it somewhat.

It's not just Best Buy who has this policy, Target has this policy and I'm sure other retailers have this policy as well. They just don't advertise it or inform their customers of it. Their whole process of asking for your State ID or Driver's License has increased this practice more often than not.

It's not a conspiracy.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by kemcha

Best Buy, just like any other retailer, has the right to ban any customer from their store. Usually, this results from customers with a history of excessive returns and exchanges. While each retailer has their own policy on what number of returns triggers that, I think it has more to do with the number of returns over a short period of time, and I imagine that 'dollar amounts' also factor into it somewhat.

It's not just Best Buy who has this policy, Target has this policy and I'm sure other retailers have this policy as well. They just don't advertise it or inform their customers of it. Their whole process of asking for your State ID or Driver's License has increased this practice more often than not.

It's not a conspiracy.

actually EVERY business has this policy. it's the right to refuse service to anyone. business ROUTINELY go through lists of clients and outstanding customers who they feel are not beneficial to the bottom line, or are just plain annoying and purge them from their client lists, or ban from the store etc.. All businesses have the right to sell to whomever they please, and not sell with the same punction

[kemcha]

I said that. I've also seen it happen at Target. While some stores don't outright ban you from the store, they just refuse to accept returns from you if you abuse the service by making too many returns or exchanges.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by kemcha

I said that. I've also seen it happen at Target. While some stores don't outright ban you from the store, they just refuse to accept returns from you if you abuse the service by making too many returns or exchanges.

yeah, I was just agree and expanding

[kemcha]

I figured. I wasn't sure.

Best way not to get restricted form a store, is stop abusing their returns and exchanges policies. Especially if you're habitual. If you're just a once in a while, rarely happens customer, then don't worry about it.