![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-144656-100x100.png\")
Indeed, way to take one for the team, dealing with all this. Hopefully the guys at BBY will pass this on to the rest of their stores to avoid future 'unpleasantness'
Indeed, way to take one for the team, dealing with all this. Hopefully the guys at BBY will pass this on to the rest of their stores to avoid future 'unpleasantness'
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-298363-100x100.png\")
Kudos for sticking it to Best Buy.
Brevity is not his forté.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-126961-100x100.png\")
@NotATool:
[This week on The Adventures of Captain Pedantic...]:
You don't need the accent over the e. When you're using \"forte\" to mean \"strong suit\" there is no accent, and it's pronounced \"fort.\" Yes, everyone will look at you like you've just picked your nose in public because you've pronounced a word correctly. But everyone also never washes their hands after going to the potty. That, too, is unacceptable.
When you're wanting to describe something reaching a crescendo, or when you want to use the musical term \"forté\" -- then haul out your trusty accent. That word is pronounced \"for-tay.\"
[Tune in next time for another thrilling and learning-packed episode of Captain Pedantic!]
![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
Gratz, but Saw IV sucks. Next time get a good DVD like... Snow Dogs.
Ok Ok you won. Now lets get on with the next Best Buy bashing story. C'mon we need fresh meat.
Not to nit-pick, but how did the BB exec get the guy's cell number? Was it one of those deals where they wouldn't let him buy the original DVD without giving a phone number?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-126486-100x100.png\")
Yeah!! All it takes to get Best Buy to honor its in store advertising is to massively embarrass them and possibly cost them thousands (millions?) in business! What a great company!
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↵
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-284482-100x100.png\")
after learning that only 10 people read it thru last time, you would think he would make it shorter... lol just teasing u, congrats, and buy something cool to memorize the victory! lol.
Does anyone else think he should buy DVD's, @ 2/25 every week until the gift card is used up??
Not only would the jerky 'manager' who screwed up so royally have to see him all the time, (assuming he wasn't fired) but he would also make them have to swipe that card for weeks and weeks!!
hey, he goes in there all the time anyway??
congrats!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-160557-100x100.png\")
$200 bucks to spend at Big Evil and get into more adventures!
... I used to shop Best Buy exclusively in the past but with a few problems including after the purchase of 2 computers, have now bought 4/5 of my last electronics from Circuit City with the sole exception of a joystick from Big Blue.
I don't know if this new Best Buy policy of literally paying people off when someone screws up is going to be a good thing in the long run...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-194215-100x100.png\")
He could probably sell the gift card on ebay for slightly less than $200 and get a better experience. But hey, 200 clams is 200 clams right?
What happened to BRIAN THE MANAGER? I hate cliffhangers!!!
Even though we all pretty much think Best Buy is on the same level as pond scum these days, I do give the few good employees left there props for at least trying.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-115837-100x100.png\")
tl;dr crowd should fuck off, it's a great story. congrats dude!
@DavidS722: corp should've made Brian the ASSistant (to the) Manager give him the gift card, AND an apology.
@rwakelan:
[In this episode of Captain Pedantic, Captain Pedantic is met by his arch nemesis, Common Pronunciation.]
CAPT. PEDANTIC: So, we meet again old friend.
[Tune in next time for another exciting episode of Captain Pedantic.]
Most common isn't most right. Also, pretty is as pretty does. Also, a stitch in time saves nine. STARVE A FEVER FEED A COLD!
They took things seriously instead of just saying \"we take things seriously\" :)
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-114567-100x100.png\")
First, good for you, Jason!
Second, seeing as how it is pretty much absolutely impossible to ever get contact information for anyone at all in the BB management chain, howsabout sharing that contact info?
It makes me sad to see that the only way to get a problem fixed at Best Buy is to have your story posted to one of the most popular Consumer websites on the internet. Then - and only then - will you be able to talk to a district manager. The polices and attitudes that created Jason's problem that have been part of the Best Buy culture since I quit shopping there years ago, and apparently still obtain.
Unlesss you are Barry, Buzz, or Jill, expect customer service to be anemic at best. \"Store manager\" is the highest person you will EVER speak to. They will never give you a way to contact a district manager, and they will rarely give you a way to contact a store manager directly (\"Just call the store and ask for Rob\")
The call center is no better. They have no direct contact with anyone, and no authority. If your problem can't be solved with a $15 gift card, they become nothing more than automated complaint card transcriptionists. Escalating to the supervisor might get you a slightly bigger gift card, but they DO check your name in their computer system to see how much you buy from BB. If you don't spend much, or don't give your name when you shop, expect little sympathy and less help. Regardless of how much you spend, or how serious your problem is, you will not be able to escalate beyond the immediate floor supervisor under ANY circumstances.
Sheesh, I'm almost as wordy as Jason. Sorry all, but BB really does fire me up.
I really don't understand why anyone shops there.
@rwakelan: Based on the etymology of the word, Maude Buttons is right (after all, it's French and there's no accent ague over the terminal e). Though you can pretty much say it however you want, if you want to impress pedants, go with \\ˈfȯrt\\. However, it's a fun issue of contention. Webster says:
usage In forte we have a word derived from French that in its \"strong point\" sense has no entirely satisfactory pronunciation. Usage writers have denigrated \\ˈfȯr-ˌtā\\ and \\ˈfȯr-tē\\ because they reflect the influence of the Italian-derived forte. Their recommended pronunciation \\ˈfȯrt\\, however, does not exactly reflect French either: the French would write the word le fort and would rhyme it with English for. So you can take your choice, knowing that someone somewhere will dislike whichever variant you choose. All are standard, however. In British English \\ˈfȯ-ˌtā\\ and \\ˈfȯt\\ predominate; \\ˈfȯr-ˌtā\\ and \\fȯr-ˈtā\\ are probably the most frequent pronunciations in American English.
P.S. rwakelan and Maude Buttons, marry me! I love pedants. ^_^
Also, good for BBY for finally resolving this situation. I have always had luck making the cashier change a price (a couple of times when it was different online and in-store, and I didn't have a printout of the online price, they have changed it), but it's good to see they are realizing the bad will generated by refusing to honor the first circular.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-14751-100x100.png\")
Customer satisfaction of the future . . . paying them off to be happy!
The only thing that would have made this better would have been for the Best Buy honcho to give him a $200 Visa gift card that could be spent ANYWHERE :-)
And brevity and a little paragraph insertion goes a long way when reading.
Customer satisfaction of the future . . . paying them off to be happy!
More a case of pay off the noisy ones who can actually be heard by the general public. Everyone else can suck it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-157539-100x100.png\")
Hey, just because only 10 people who commented read the entire thing doesn't mean there were those of us who read the entire thing without commenting. Why, there might've been another 10 people who read the whole story.
Anyways, good to hear things worked out. I wonder though, will it be awkward to go back to that Best Buy?
Please, please, please, return and exchange Saw IV.
Congratz!
Final Score:
Jason: 1 Brian THE Manager: 0
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-81115-100x100.png\")
\"...a free copy of Saw IV\"
Poor bastard.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-68654-100x100.png\")
could this be a turning point for the consumerist/best buy love-hate relationship? have we found the chink in their armor?
side note for Captain Pedantic: love it! you'll find me battling on the side of Common Pronunciation, though. after all, w/o C.P., we'd still be writing like this:
Then sayde Saul vnto his wapebearer: Drawe out thy swerde, and thrust it thorow me, that these vncircumcised come not and slaie me, and make a laughinge stocke of me. Neuertheles his wapenbearer wolde not, for he was sore afrayed. Then toke Saul ye swerde, and fell therin.
Now whan his wapenbearer sawe that Saul was deed, he fell also vpon his swerde, and dyed with him.
-The Miles Coverdale Bible, 1535
Continuing off-topic: I have a quote from Julian of Norwich in my cube, the one that goes, \"...but all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well...\" -- only it's in its original form, but al shal be wel and al shal be wel and all manner of thyng shal be wele, which led a co-worker to ask, \"Aww, did your kid write that?\"
Thats pretty awesome, I shop at best buy all the time, thier only rival for my business is Circuit city. Still my loyalty leads to Best Buy. Its nice to know that they are willing to improve thier traning for better service. Kudos man!!
FIrst off, congrats on your victory! You deserved it with all the hassle you went through, BUT, this is what you should have done:
You should have told Corey that you wanted Brian the assistant manager to personally hand you the gift card AND issue you an apology. Then when the asshole does give it to you, give him a smirk like he did to you. That moment would have been golden!
The manager Brian who said the circular ad always trumps the instore prices or specials flat out lied to the consumer.
We all know there are hundreds of misprints in ads in the customers favor every year. Some stores decide to honor the price, most don't and reserve the right to correct misprinted ads.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-179301-100x100.png\")
That was a long, hard road, but congratulations for sticking to your guns. Mike is to be commended for his actions, even if it took \"all this\" to make it happen.
I have to agree with StinkingBob (with whom I've disagreed in the past - evil grin) and Wring that you should have made Brian apologize. My biggest concern here is that Brian will live to ride another day. The jagoffs always seem to get away with murder.
Best Buy will STILL not get any business from me, but it's nice to see the occasional happy ending.
I am glad your experience ended up turning out for the better.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-252038-100x100.png\")
Keep the $200 gift card. I'd settle for nothing less than the assistant manager & employees (that started this mess) to kiss my fat ass in front of the whole store & apologise (& video tape so it makes it to youtube).
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-55114-100x100.png\")
@Maude Buttons:
Thanks, Maude. I did not know this.
People like to harp on the 'grammar' or 'vocabulary' police, but I would think people would want to know when they are using a word incorrectly, especially when done with tact as you have done, and not rudely. Such help might get you through an interview someday.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-186777-100x100.png\")
Yeah, I want to know what happened to THE manager.
I wonder if he got THE reaming or whether they quitely said \"good job, keep doing what YOU are doing\".
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In case everyone didn't notice, that particular Best Buy still managed to unload a copy of \"Saw IV\" on a customer.
I think that was secretly all \"Brian the Manager of Everything I See\" was really trying to do. Nobody should have to stare down a whole shelf of those things.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-285956-100x100.png\")
You still lose for shopping at Best Buy to begin with.
Amazon FTW.
@ NOTATOOL I'm just trying to figure out why it's necessary to call out a spelling/grammar nazi when the point of the story was made. I didn't realize I could get language arts 101 on this site. I can see why \"tool\" is part of your name.
@MPHinPgh:
I have to agree with StinkingBob (with whom I've disagreed in the past - evil grin)
I am going to copy, paste and print this out and stick it on the wall! You actually agree with me!
I hope 'ASSistant' manager Brian was disciplined for giving the store a black eye in the media. His 'pedantic' behavior received much more attention than he expected.
Way to go.
Awesome, congrats and have fun spending that gift card. At least they didn't blow you off by telling you that they are \"taking this very seriously\"!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-127508-100x100.png\")
\"and a free copy of Saw IV...\"
Haha...
@Maude Buttons: Since English is a descriptive, rather than prescriptive, language (we change the dictionaries to reflect common usage instead of having a dictionary that is supposed to be used to enforce a particular usage, like French), the most common pronunciation is automatically a correct (though not necessarily the correct) one.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-24730-100x100.png\")
@Maude Buttons: Please explain this: But everyone also never washes their hands after going to the potty.
At the risk of exposing myself to ridicule, surely some do wash their hands?
To the OP: Congrats on your win, though I opine that that the in-store sign indicating a 'customer specialst' must be sought for the promotional details is not contradictory to the mailer. The in-store sign is in reference to the mailer - but one would know that only after asking a 'customer specialist,' which you did; you simply refused to agree with the details they provided.
I believe you won because of 4,000+ diggs - but a win is a win. Again, congrats.
There is a simple solution: one may visit the kingdom of the Walton Dynasty of Exploitation and Terror, where one will nearly always find the latest releases for less than $15.
People should start going into that store, looking for Brian the Manager so they could get a Colbert-style \"My POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE Friend!\" picture with him.
@PracticalMagic: Well, I thanked Maude Buttons for the tip, because I honestly had no idea about the forte vs. forté distinction. Now I know. So she was helpful to me and apparently others who didn't know either.
The second part, yes I was surprised at the hubbub which was caused by my errant accent.
But, the net result is that I am a tad more educated on accent mark usage and that's a good thing.
@Morgan: Only if we don't band together and fight against the indignities of poor pronunciation. But in my world of delicious, we can totally win this fight. And if we fail? We fail! But if we screw our courage to the sticking place we'll not fail.
@xerloq: From a recent highly scientific research study conducted minutes ago in the men's room of my office, 100% of men's room users didn't wash their hands. That's a 1 followed by two very disgusting zeroes. You can't argue with science, especially science combined with numbers.
what happened to the obnoxious \"brian?\"
@MaudeButtons: Maude, of course I was referring to the construction of your sentence! It seemed... awkward. Wouldn't \"Not everyone washes their hands,\" been more appropriate?
And to the OP: I did read through the entire ordeal.
@MaudeButtons: Unfortunately, the fight over forte/forté is lost; I don't think I've ever heard anyone pronounce it as \"fort\" instead of \"fortay,\" and I'm not one to get into conversations about crescendos.
@xerloq: \"Wouldn't 'Not everyone washes their hands,' been more appropriate?\"
I was going for a whole parallel structure thing. The sentence before began, \"Yes, everyone will...\" So, making a stylistic choice, I also began the second sentence with an \"everyone.\"
@Morgan: No! I'm not going to let you give up on forte/forté -- on us.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-38607-100x100.png\")
$200 + DVD + Brian's left nut would be good.
@NotATool: God bless you. That's a pet peeve that's been passed down through three generations in my family.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-156571-100x100.png\")
@Maude Buttons: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd thought the musical \"forte\" was Italian, like 90% of the directive words you'd find in sheet music (unless Debussy or Mahler was writing). This version of forte has no accent, as Italians don't use it.
Merrriam-Webster suggests that two \"forte\" words ended up in English from French and Italian, for what that's worth.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-146045-100x100.png\")
Tinybug had the most relevant comment in this entire thread:
\"It makes me sad to see that the only way to get a problem fixed at Best Buy is to have your story posted to one of the most popular Consumer websites on the internet. Then - and only then - will you be able to talk to a district manager. The polices and attitudes that created Jason's problem that have been part of the Best Buy culture since I quit shopping there years ago, and apparently still [are].\"
dont forget to go find brian and remind him that you win...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-58202-100x100.png\")
He still should not have bought the damn DVDs from them; Best Buy would have been wise to do this to get him back as a customer.
Make sure you check the box for tiles if you buy any Hard Drives from Best Buy with that gift card...
Does Brian still have a job? If so, he still \"won.\"
good to know someone pays attention. internet/consumerist FTW!
This doesn't change the fact that Best Buy are a bunch of morons for how they behaved. It's much easier (and expensive) to lose a customer than to win them back. In this case, instead of perhaps costing Best Buy $5 or less to sell the customer two DVD's, then go take down the signs and alert corporate the signage is wrong, it actually cost Best Buy $200+the cost of a free DVD, plus the time of a district manager and manager (and probably some other corporate people after seeing this get internet attention). It also got them 130,000+ doses of negative publicity.
The district manager should have fired Brian on the spot after learning about this. No store can afford the mess Brian caused.
I'll add that the customer might be happy with the gift card and apologies, but Best Buy didn't win me back. I still proudly haven't shopped at a Best Buy since 2001 when I decided I had enough of their arrogant and consistently unsatisfactory and insulting customer service.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-274760-100x100.png\")
I remember when I was little my parents went to BBY for something, and it rang up a penny more than it should have. My Mom caught this, and thinking it was just a penny, thought that they would give it back to her. She asked, and the manager just laughed. She wrote a really nasty letter and they sent her a response that said that she could have the full price back for the trouble and gave her a gift card as well. They must like hiring managers who only rectify a situation when they are called on it by corporate.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-169089-100x100.png\")
BEST BUY SUCKETH............
Where's the part of the story where Brian the (assistant) manager is mauled to death by Best Buy Corporate's rabid rottweilers? I assume that part of the story is still to come?
But seriously, if that jackass wasn't tossed right out Best Buy's door by his higher-ups -- never to return -- this story does not have a happy ending.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-113511-100x100.png\")
Your scientific survey is flawed. I can assure you that I, a male, wash my hands 100% of the time after using the men's room. I cannot abide dirty hands, and since nearly every surface in the men's room will be filthy, I wash regardless of what business I've managed to attend.
Dirty hads are not my fourtay.
woot woot!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-122616-100x100.png\")
Cool ending.
Hey, that card won't begin losing value right away if you don't use it, will it?
More fucking PR.
Besides, gift cards don't usually work there anyway.
Blow it out your ear, BB
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-151293-100x100.png\")
This guy seriously needs to learn how to paragraph his posts.
Wall of Text FTL
@DavidS722:
No kidding. My first thought after reading the article was if Brian THE manager got his due.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-101046-100x100.png\")
@f3rg: What they failed to tell you was that it's a Comp USA gift card!!!
bwahahahahaha! Brian the manager scores!
So how was Saw 4? :P
I'd say a fitting punishment would be forcing Brian the Manager to watch Saw IV. I really can't think of any other positive use for that DVD...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-116559-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-251907-100x100.png\")
Congrats, and happy shopping with that extra $200.