"Reading a lot of bad reviews about this company? Not sure what to do? Found something you like? Continue reading my review and see if it helps.

Well, I think anyone who is not living in a cave knows that Best Buy exists. It seems that a lot of the reviews came here because they have had a problem and want to rant. I call it the mob review mentality.

Best Buy is certainly on the ropes these days as a company and I do see them making changes, all be it slowly. But I felt it was time for an objective review. I have been buying from them for years and I have had my share of good and bad experiences. I have learned what is good and what is bad.

Pros.....

Despite the negative comments, I find that for the most part, they do try to take care of their customers. Especially lately. As with any business, some employee's just don't care. If you get one of those, you don't have to look very far to find another who is willing to help. And some will go way out of their way to do it.

Great selection on specific lines of products. I will elaborate later in the review on which items.

Price. This is pro and a con to me with them. When they run a special, likely it is a VERY good deal and can't be beat anywhere. Other regular day items, they are horrible. So you got to know which items. Again I will be more specific later in the review.

Availability. It is convenient to have a physical store to go into. Buy what you need right on the spot. I always pre-buy on their website first and pickup later at the store. Works great! Can't be any more easier then that. Inventory on their website is very accurate.

Cons.....

In store employees. You have about a 50/50 chance of finding someone who actually cares. Like I said before, they are there, just find the right one. And don't be afraid to ask for someone else.

Returns. They need to make this better. They are too strict and sometimes they make it difficult. Be prepared if you return something. Meaning, put it back in the box with everything the way it came. If you do this, chances are good things will go smoothly.

So should you buy from them? Depends on the product. Here is my list of do and don't buy products.

TV's.... Absolutely DO
COMPUTERS.....Maybe, If on special DO it, otherwise shop around
TABLETS..... Maybe, again If on special DO it
CELL PHONES... Absolutely DO, hands down the best place
COMPUTER PARTS.... DON'T prices are terrible, emergency only
CABLES.... DON'T ever buy cables from them
APPLIANCES.... Absolutely DO
CAMERA'S..... Absolutely DO, Great people in that area
EXTENDED WARRANTY/SERVICE... DON'T, I never recommend from any company because manufacturers are very good about support now.

One of the things they have been trying to do lately is to put mini stores inside their stores. Like Microsoft, Apple, etc. This is very good and if they have this for something you are looking at, use them.

Conclusion. I think they are improving customer service. Some things I will never buy from them or even attempt it. Other things, I wouldn't go anywhere else. So it is a mixed bag. You just need to be select. For anything complex, like having them setup a computer that you buying, I wouldn't do it. Simple straight forward items that have strong manufacturers support, I wouldn't hesitate if the price was good.

I hope this helps"

"This is a terrible store. They will not stand behind the products they sell and they are not into customer satisfaction. Unfortunately many electronic products are more complicated then reliable, but the average product is worth hundreds of dollars. If the local store cares little about your satisfaction, then why bother, just buy through amazon. In this case they would not honor a manufacturers warranty, even to send the product to the nearest repair center. "

"My experiences with Best Buy has been mixed, but mostly on the negative side when it comes to transactions. Buying in the store, or getting help has been OK overall. I have not had any issues with specific products, and generally avoid BB extras like servicing from the Geek Squad, etc.
BB is convenient in my area where there are few choices for electronics.
Twice I had an issue (you think I would learn the first time) with Store Pick Up orders. You have to call first to see if it is in stock. Then just go down and buy it. You save no time doing store Pick Up. You still have to wait in line, and often they go to the back to get your merchandise anyway.

Sears (and the old Circuit City) has the best store pickup, designed to keep you out of long lines. A separate area just for pickup by the stock room at the rear of the store. What a simple solution.
I just ordered a PC from BB over the weekend. It was to be shipped and ready for pickup today at my local store. I get an email the same day as the pickup saying it's been delayed 1 or 2 weeks! I recheck the inventories at other local outlets and most of them are suddenly out of stock. I have to drive 30 miles today, which I will do to get my PC and not have to deal with more delays.
I should just have ordered it to be shipped to home, it was free, but I thought it would be better to get it at the store in case it turned out to be the wrong product.
When I called, they were very cordial and transferred the order to another store. That worked out fine. Best buy has been cordial and efficient at fixing problems in the past, but they still not have learned how to prevent these mistakes from happening. They need a serious overhaul of their ordering system. "

"I had purchased a 64Gb iPod touch on March 29, or 2012. With it, I had purchased a 2 year Geek Squad extended warranty. When I had made the original purchase, I was told by the sales associate, that I could, within the warranty time should the ipod break or become damaged, come in and exchange it for a new one, on the SAME day. Now, fast forward to February 17, 2014. I had entered the same store with the intention of using the warranty, as the home button on the ipod was no longer functional. However, I was told I could not exchange it that same day anymore, as the plan had changed. A plan that I had bought almost two years prior, had changed without ANY notice. Now I am told, that they have to send it in for repair, or if that was not possible a refurbished unit would be sent to me. If that was not possible, I could come in nearly 2 weeks later for a new one. This is UNACCEPTABLE. I have bought many things from best buy a look to my local store for many of my technology purchases.

 I did not pay nearly 100$ for a warranty service to receive a 'refurbished' unit. Suddenly changing the terms of a extended warranty plan, when it HAS been bought ALREADY, is disgusting and wrong! When I had complained this fact to the associate, who had gotten who I assume to be the store manager, I was told that the terms of the policy were 'legally written to change without notice', and that I could either accept that and have them send in my iPod for repair or refurbishment, or I would be removed from the store 'for acting out'. Being told by management to leave, for voicing a valid complaint by ANY company is reprehensible asis the bait and switch on extended warranty plans that have already been bought. Especially when those items and plans cost hundreds of dollars. 

The sudden and deliberate change in policies to suit Best Buy, and not its customers, as well as the manner in which I was told to accept what they were offering, as it was now, and not in the conditions in which it I had decided to make my purchase, is awful.  This whole experience has ruined the store and any shopping experience I may have there. It is no surprise to me to hear how this retailer is struggling giving that the customers are treated so poorly when they're sold and promised one thing, only to find that it has changed without notice and now they're being told to leave. When this ordeal is over I will no longer turn to BestBuy for any purchase, however small given that the company behaves more like a dictatorship, than a company. I will no longer keep Worst Buy in my circle of trusted electronic stores and will recommend to all of my tech savvy friends to do the same."

"My experience with best buy was pathetic. there shipping charges are very high."

"From my experience, Best Buy business practice is very poor.

I purchased a "Waring Pro - Convection Toaster/Pizza Oven" via Citibank's Thank You points in Dec. 2013. Best Buy fulfilled this order.

The first time the toaster arrived, it was broken and didn't turn on. My wife called Best Buy and they scheduled a replacement order. They took back the toaster, but never delivered a replacement. After much back and forth, Best Buy changed its story and said we would have to re-order from Citibank (wasting over a week of my time). The 2nd toaster was ordered - delivered again from Best Buy. This time they sent a used toaster. The toaster looked new, but package was previously opened and re-sealed (clearly the toaster was handled).

Best Buy didn't acknowledge the toaster was used and overall, the customer service was poor. I'd suggest you purchase from another retailer if you have the choice."

"I placed this order in-store for shipping. I had a pricematch, so I figured this could only be handled in-store. I brought the associate a printout of the pricematch to Amazon ($270 for a Slingbox 500, vs BB price of $300). They processed the pricematch with no issue. I had $50 in rewards to Best Buy, again fully accepted by the associate (note: MyBestBuy points certificates are processed as a pre-tax discount, while a Gift Card is processed post-tax). American Express was offering a $25 statement credit for spending $250. If you do the math, I was about $20 short, so I got a Foreman Grill for $28. American Express processed the credit two days later, Best Buy shipped the items a day or so later, and both were received well. Only complaint is that the products were shipped separately, but that was probably a product of the Foreman grill being an appliance that is not sold in stores while the Slingbox is sold by every Best Buy store out there.

Of course, the main complaint with Best Buy is their prices, and I wholeheartedly agree. I have since received a $15 rewards certificate for this purchase and am having trouble finding something to buy with it (both because there is nothing I need, and the things I could possibly USE are overpriced). I don't think people will have a problem with their store and their products (of course, Best Buy, having a physical storefront, has the added bonus of a quick return at your local store as opposed to return-shipping), just their prices are pretty bad. At least their pricematching policy is good."

"just bought a camera at Best Buy. It wasn't the cheapest, I could have saved $25 on Amazon but I am so glad I bought here. We got it home and there was a problem and we took it back, got a new one and now things are great.. I don't think Amazon would have done this"

"Absolute horrible e-commerce. Ordered 2 items online and 7 days later the order is still not even processed. These things should be close to my destination, if not in my hands by this time!! Next to impossible to get in touch with someone that can actually help. My suggestion to all is to shop somewhere else. Your money was hard earned and and should be for the people you give it to as well"

"We purchased a Nintendo 3ds game for Christmas. The game was not actually opened from the shrink wrap until January 22nd, and upon opening it there was no game in the box. Best buy would not exchange the game because they said extended holiday return time was over and we do not have a game for even exchange. We explained that they sold us an empty box and they finally gave us the same game at half price. It was a 40.00 game that we paid 40.00 for and got an empty box. We then paid an additional 20.00 to get it at half price. So we were charged 60.00 for a 40.00 game. So Best buy screwed us by selling us an empty box and then not doing the right thing. I have filed a better business claim so well see where that goes as best buy online service was no help, but either way just wanted it noted that best buy will sell you an empty box for 40.00. Its a terrible deal unless you like to pay for empty boxes!"

"Great price, speedy shipping. I like the fact that I can shop even from other marketplaces like newegg and pay with my Best Buy credit card. "

"Horrible experience with Best Buy.

I will NEVER EVER purchase anything from this business ever again. I used to think it was a decent place to shop, now after the experience I have had there with a defective NEXUS 7 tablet, I won't make that mistake ever again.

Their customer service in the store was HORRIBLE!
2 45 minute waits for help
1 manager and 1 employee that don't even know their own policies.
Promised an exchange which never happened.
Later to find out from the store manager there were other options that should have been presented to me that never were.
I went back to the store multiple times due to lack of correct information and half truths from their staff.
Best Buy.com customer service was a total joke and totally ignored my request to speak with a manager on multiple occasions. Not to mention their answers to my e-mails were condescending.

STAY AWAY!!! FAR FAR AWAY!!! Shop somewhere that doesn't break promises, wastes your time, and actually knows how to treat a customer.

P.S. Their warranties are total CRAP!



"

"Best Buy website has the very annoying practice of not showing the price of certain items until you check out, you can't even see the price in your cart requiring you to actually login and go to check out to decide whether you want to buy the item. On a mobile device, if you have multiple items in your cart you can't see the price of each, only the total. That said, I decided to purchase the item in store with several other items instead. I picked a soundbar that was marked on sale for 239.98, reduced from 299.98. After checkout I didn't notice that I was actually charged the full price instead of the sale price as there were several other items purchased at the same time. I discovered the error a couple weeks later when I happened to look at the receipt. I went back to BB and explained what happened but they said that since it was past the 15 day return/match period (which was recently reduced from 30 days) and they couldn't tell what the price was at the time of purchase there was nothing they can do. Mind you there was a stack of these items with the sale price marked right on top of the stack and was still there. I got screwed because I didn't notice the price charged at checkout was different and they refused to make good on it. If you consider the aforementioned price hiding, they appear to employ questionable pricing practices that can cause customers to pay a higher price if not careful. I was a loyal customer because of their brick and mortar convenience and competitive policies but due to this lack of concern and recently reduced return/match policy, I have no choice but to relegate BB to be a showroom for Amazon.

They claim to want to be competitive to etailers with their price match policy which is great but until they improve their practices as evidenced by the reviews here that will not happen."

"I went into this store to have a Stereo put into my truck just before Thanksgiving. A simple installation turned into a nightmare. The installer Alex broke my A Pillar and put a hole in my dash. He then wrote on the invoice AFTER that there was a hole already there in my dash. When I picked up my truck, it was dark and didnt see it until the next day. Went back and talked to Roger the installation manager and he said Alex wouldnt do that hes an honest guy (which I guess makes me a liar). I then get an estimate to have it fixed. The manager Stephanie said she has to send this into their claims department and I will be hearing from them that day or the next. Didnt hear from them so called her back around noon, she was at lunch and would call back. Around 7pm she calls back and says she needs more information. I give it to her and again I should hear back within a day. STILL NOTHING! This goes on for a week and a half between her not being at work and not returning my phone calls. Talked to another manager and explained the whole situation all over again to find out whats going on with the claim. I told him I was taking my truck in to have it fixed, He said I wouldnt advise you do that until the claims department checks it out. I finally called corporate office. She talks to Stephanie and assures me that everything will be taken care of. I (the customer) had to call the claims department and they said they JUST GOT THE CLAIM after TWO WEEKS of being told I should be hearing from them any day!! Today is December 23rd and I still have not got any reimbursement from Best Buy!!! I WOULD NEVER STEP FOOT IN ANOTHER BEST BUY AS LONG AS I LIVE!!!! I would give Best Buy a NEGATIVE 100 on customer service!!

P.S. There is SO MUCH MORE to this situation that I didnt list because I dont want to write a book.

Today is 1/6/2014. spoke with Ela at the corporate office. (I called her) after being on the phone 52 min 17 sec, speaking with 3 different people and explaining the situation to all three, I got the same answers and run around. They want me to Handel their mess they created and contact their insurance co. The disaster continues..... keep you updated"

"I recently bought a printer and was told that my account will be credited for the difference based on their price match guarantee because I found a cheaper price elsewhere. However, I never saw the credit appear in the my statement and when I called, they said that they won't be able to do that anymore AFTER I PURCHASED IT. Do not get scammed and be upfront with the pricing and such."