Good (and Bad) Customer Service

I recently ordered a bunch of things for my nephew and son from Old
Navy online. I wound up throwing in a sweatshirt for me at the last
minute. Today, I received a note indicating that the sweatshirt is no
longer available, apologizing, and including a 10% off coupon for my
next order (1x only use ... sorry guys). Now THAT certainly takes the
sting off the sweatshirt.
OTOH (and OT for this group), I ordered a Nintendo DS for One for
Chanukah from Best Buy. Pre–ordered, actually, as that configuration
didn't hit the market for a full week after I placed the order. They
waited TWO weeks before telling me that they're out, and providing
vague promises that they *expect* to get them in a couple of weeks.
Yes, sure, I'll wait. You cannot cancel the order by email, and their
phone system is horrible. Two thumbs down for Best Buy.
Barbara

"Barbara" <mom_2_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1133973728.163209.186...@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
I have heard nothing but the worst about Best Buy. From their refusal to
take back damaged merchandise to poor customer service. I have steered
clear from them so well that I'm still carrying a gift card for them that I
received last Christmas! I guess it wouldn't hurt to purchase a CD or so.
Not much can go wrong with that.
Jamie

"Barbara" <mom_2_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1133973728.163209.186...@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Pretty much business as usual for Worst Buy
http://www.bestbuysux.org/index1.html
But like you, I've had nothing but wonderful service from Old Navy and
oldnavy.com

Yet another reason for me to avoid Best (worst?) Buy, as is I loathe
the noise level and crowds there.
Thanks for the info y'all,
Vicki in DC

Wow, I was just in there (bestbuy) this morning and received excellent
service. The young man looked something up for me, took me to the
right area, gave me advice and I left without a game–thingy purchase,
but I did buy a gift card for my nephew because the choice was just too
big for me and I don't know what he has. And the girl at the checkout
was nice and pleasant to me also.
Carol

"Barbara" <mom_2_...@hotmail.com> wrote \
<snip>
Sorry for your bad experience. The Best Buy that I frequent has always had
great customer service.
I buy all my electronics there with nary a problem. The salespeople are
knowledgeable and polite.
My brother took back a VCR that he had problems with and other than standing
in line for a bit, he was quite
pleased with their level of service as well.
Jeanne

Are there really many alternatives to Best Buy especially if you want to
see the merchandise before you purchase? Those stores are gold mines.
My worst experience occurred Saturday late afternoon when I bought my
daughter a pair of earrings from a recently opened art gallery. It was
the salesperson's first day. She did not know to approach me, how to
wrap a gift but worse, neither she nor the owner understood how to use
the computer. I waited 30 minutes for a purchase I could have made in
five.
I try to get my big store shopping done by the 1st of December and then
just shop on line or at boutiques. If it's not the SAs then it's the
other customers that bother me. We had a great morning at the thrift
shop today making more than $400 but I thought a fight would break out
when one shopper tried to discipline another shopper's four year old who
was crying. I knew how to stop the crying. I told the little girl to
show me her pretty shirt, asked her about her necklace and just did
basic girl talk. Also, I offered her kleenex.
Audrey

In article <4397406c$...@newspeer2.tds.net>,
"Jamie" <zuschlag–sequ...@tds.net> wrote:
I shop there if I know what I want or if I want to browse electronics
and appliances and be left alone. The customer service is so bad that
it's good...until I need a salesperson to get an item from a stockroom
or hit the single checkout line with 20 people waiting to pay.
Beware the Best Buy "extended warranty" crap. Don't take it. You can
always go back and get it if (and only if) you find out that a warranty
is actually EXTENDED. I don't need to buy a two year "extended warranty"
on an item if the manufacturer's warranty is already for two years. The
number of times Best Buy attempts to pull that crap on me is astounding,
regardless of which state I've lived in and which store I've been to.
Stacy

Charlie Perrin wrote:
Yes, where else but Fry's can you get Jolt cola, solder, and a new toaster?

Our local Staples is wonderful, but the one in the nearest city is
the absolute pits.
It's all in the management.

Here are the places where I have had the best customer service:
* The Limited (great employees, very attentive, and friendly– the only
problem is the long lines at times, but they usually have a lot of
people ringing, so that's a plus for them).
* Ann Taylor (again, great employees, attentive, friendly, and good
sales).
* Nordstrom (the best store for customer service, IMO).
* Arden B. (I have not shopped there in a while, but there are always
such sweet girls working and it's obvious they are having fun helping
people pick out clothes and/or accessories).
* Best Buy (every time I call to have them check if a CD is in stock,
they always get back to me promptly and offer to hold it. The last
time I called, the guy held the CD for me and told me to ask for "Matt"
or something when I got there, so it saved me a lot of time).
Circuit City is pretty good, too, and I usually go there first since
it's less crowded and noisy than my local Best Buy. I rarely go, but
JCrew also has a great staff and the guys there have a lot of good
ideas about outfit combinations.
And the worst:
* Carson Pirie Scott (I once was returning a necklace for my grandma
and I had her credit card so they could refund the card. One of the
managers heard me talking with a sales associate and said in a REALLY
snotty tone, "Uh, yeah, miss, you cannot use the card unless the
cardholder is present." I told her, "I am not making a purchase, my
grandma is 80 years old and asked me to return this for her and CREDIT
her card." She then replied, "Oh, sorry, it sounded like you wanted to
use the card..." I just gave her a dirty look since it's really none
of her business and even if I *were* doing something wrong, the cashier
would or should have let me know. I never shop at Carson's anyway, but
that pretty much turned me off to the store altogether. Had she been
more polite in informing me of policies I am already well–aware of,
that could have made a HUGE difference in the possibility of my
shopping there in the future).
* Old Navy (in early October I went there to pick out some blazers for
my mom. One of them was the wrong size, so I went back the next day to
exchange it for another size. One of the sales associates checked and
said they were all sold out. I just said, "okay, thanks, I'll look
around" since I knew there had been at least five in that size the
previous day. I eventually found it after hunting through the entire
women's department. Not only that, but every time I go, there is
nobody on the salesfloor, and if there is, they have no clue what
you're talking about. Someone once put a little kid's sweater on hold
for me even though I described the item I was looking for as *women's*
and *XS* in size, not 4T. It's just frustrating how they don't really
listen to the customers).
It's sad how one bad experience can turn you off to a store, but I know
it's not uncommon at all.
––Laura

Here are the places where I have had the best customer service:
* The Limited (great employees, very attentive, and friendly– the only
problem is the long lines at times, but they usually have a lot of
people ringing, so that's a plus for them).
* Ann Taylor (again, great employees, attentive, friendly, and good
sales).
* Nordstrom (the best store for customer service, IMO).
* Arden B. (I have not shopped there in a while, but there are always
such sweet girls working and it's obvious they are having fun helping
people pick out clothes and/or accessories).
* Best Buy (every time I call to have them check if a CD is in stock,
they always get back to me promptly and offer to hold it. The last
time I called, the guy held the CD for me and told me to ask for "Matt"
or something when I got there, so it saved me a lot of time).
Circuit City is pretty good, too, and I usually go there first since
it's less crowded and noisy than my local Best Buy. I rarely go, but
JCrew also has a great staff and the guys there have a lot of good
ideas about outfit combinations.
And the worst:
* Carson Pirie Scott (I once was returning a necklace for my grandma
and I had her credit card so they could refund the card. One of the
managers heard me talking with a sales associate and said in a REALLY
snotty tone, "Uh, yeah, miss, you cannot use the card unless the
cardholder is present." I told her, "I am not making a purchase, my
grandma is 80 years old and asked me to return this for her and CREDIT
her card." She then replied, "Oh, sorry, it sounded like you wanted to
use the card..." I just gave her a dirty look since it's really none
of her business and even if I *were* doing something wrong, the cashier
would or should have let me know. I never shop at Carson's anyway, but
that pretty much turned me off to the store altogether. Had she been
more polite in informing me of policies I am already well–aware of,
that could have made a HUGE difference in the possibility of my
shopping there in the future).
* Old Navy (in early October I went there to pick out some blazers for
my mom. One of them was the wrong size, so I went back the next day to
exchange it for another size. One of the sales associates checked and
said they were all sold out. I just said, "okay, thanks, I'll look
around" since I knew there had been at least five in that size the
previous day. I eventually found it after hunting through the entire
women's department. Not only that, but every time I go, there is
nobody on the salesfloor, and if there is, they have no clue what
you're talking about. Someone once put a little kid's sweater on hold
for me even though I described the item I was looking for as *women's*
and *XS* in size, not 4T. It's just frustrating how they don't really
listen to the customers).
It's sad how one bad experience can turn you off to a store, but I know
it's not uncommon at all.
––Laura

On Wed, 7 Dec 2005 14:33:42 –0800, "ahmward" wrote:
Fry's Electronics, if you're lucky enough to have one close.
They have their warts. too. Not explicitly marking re–boxed returns
(although you find out at the checkout counter) is one.
Best Buy is merely a silver mine compared to Fry's.
––
Visit Charlie's Sneaker Pages!
http://sneakers.pair.com/

Here are the places where I have had the best customer service:
* The Limited (great employees, very attentive, and friendly– the only
problem is the long lines at times, but they usually have a lot of
people ringing, so that's a plus for them).
* Ann Taylor (again, great employees, attentive, friendly, and good
sales).
* Nordstrom (the best store for customer service, IMO).
* Arden B. (I have not shopped there in a while, but there are always
such sweet girls working and it's obvious they are having fun helping
people pick out clothes and/or accessories).
* Best Buy (every time I call to have them check if a CD is in stock,
they always get back to me promptly and offer to hold it. The last
time I called, the guy held the CD for me and told me to ask for "Matt"
or something when I got there, so it saved me a lot of time).
Circuit City is pretty good, too, and I usually go there first since
it's less crowded and noisy than my local Best Buy. I rarely go, but
JCrew also has a great staff and the guys there have a lot of good
ideas about outfit combinations.
And the worst:
* Carson Pirie Scott (I once was returning a necklace for my grandma
and I had her credit card so they could refund the card. One of the
managers heard me talking with a sales associate and said in a REALLY
snotty tone, "Uh, yeah, miss, you cannot use the card unless the
cardholder is present." I told her, "I am not making a purchase, my
grandma is 80 years old and asked me to return this for her and CREDIT
her card." She then replied, "Oh, sorry, it sounded like you wanted to
use the card..." I just gave her a dirty look since it's really none
of her business and even if I *were* doing something wrong, the cashier
would or should have let me know. I never shop at Carson's anyway, but
that pretty much turned me off to the store altogether. Had she been
more polite in informing me of policies I am already well–aware of,
that could have made a HUGE difference in the possibility of my
shopping there in the future).
* Old Navy (in early October I went there to pick out some blazers for
my mom. One of them was the wrong size, so I went back the next day to
exchange it for another size. One of the sales associates checked and
said they were all sold out. I just said, "okay, thanks, I'll look
around" since I knew there had been at least five in that size the
previous day. I eventually found it after hunting through the entire
women's department. Not only that, but every time I go, there is
nobody on the salesfloor, and if there is, they have no clue what
you're talking about. Someone once put a little kid's sweater on hold
for me even though I described the item I was looking for as *women's*
and *XS* in size, not 4T. It's just frustrating how they don't really
listen to the customers).
It's sad how one bad experience can turn you off to a store, but I know
it's not uncommon at all.
––Laura

Here are the places where I have the best customer service:
* The Limited (great employees, very attentive, and friendly– the only
problem is the long lines at times, but they usually have a lot of
people ringing, so that's a plus for them).
* Ann Taylor (again, great employees, attentive, friendly, and good
sales).
* Nordstrom (the best store for customer service, IMO).
* Arden B. (I have not shopped there in a while, but there are always
such sweet girls working and you can tell they are having a good time
helping people pick outfits and/or accessories).
* Best Buy (every time I call to have them check if a CD is in stock,
they always get back to me promptly and offer to hold it. The last
time I called, the guy held the CD for me and told me to ask for "Matt"
or something when I got there, so it saved me a lot of time).
Circuit City is pretty good, too, and I usually go there first since
it's less crowded and noisy than my local Best Buy. I rarely go, but
JCrew has a great staff and the guys there have a lot of good ideas
about outfit combinations.
And the worst:
* Carson Pirie Scott (I once was returning a necklace for my grandma
and I had her credit card so they could refund the card. One of the
managers heard me talking with a sales associate and said in a REALLY
snotty tone, "Uh, yeah, miss, you cannot use the card unless the
cardholder is present." I told her, "I am not making a purchase, my
grandma is 80 years old and asked me to return this for her and CREDIT
her card." She then replied, "Oh, sorry, it sounded like you wanted to
use the card." I just gave her a dirty look since it's really none of
her business and even if I *were* doing something wrong, the cashier
would or should have let me know. I never shop at Carson's anyway, but
that pretty much turned me off to the store altogether. Had she been
more polite in informing me of policies I am already well–aware of,
that could have made a HUGE difference in the possibly of my shopping
there in the future).
* Old Navy (in early October I went there to pick out some blazers for
my mom. One of them was the wrong size, so I went back the next day to
exchange it for another size. One of the sales associates checked and
said they were all sold out. I just said, "okay, thanks, I'll look
around" since I knew there had been at least five in that size the
previous day. I eventually found it after hunting through the entire
women's department. Not only that, but every time I go, there is
nobody on the salesfloor, and if there is, they have no clue what
you're talking about. Someone once put a little kid's sweater on hold
for me even though I described the item I was looking for as *women's*
and *XS* in size, not 4T. It's just frustrating how they don't really
listen to the customers).
It's sad how one bad experience can completely turn people off to a
store, but I know it's not uncommon.
––Laura

On 7 Dec 2005 15:53:05 –0800, Mocha wrote:
Usually good, but I have some variability there occasionally.
I got so tired of being gavaged with extended warranty shilling that I
refuse to do Circuit City.
They brag about the excellent machine you're buying up to the time you
decide to buy, then out comes the hangar queen speech.
Sounds like my local Montgomery Wards or my local KMart. Oh, wait,
they're no longer open.... never mind. <grin/duck>
Best Buy is probably the most variable. When they're good, they're
very very good. When they're bad, you do a drop 'n' run because they
can't get people through the checkout line.
Wal–Mart has been compared to the old Soviet GUM by financial pundit
Jim Cramer but I always heard the problem with GUM was they didn't
have enough merchandise and too–long lines. Wal–Mart only has the
too–long lines, but not always.
––
Visit Charlie's Sneaker Pages!
http://sneakers.pair.com/

"Charlie Perrin" <nikve...@sbcglobal.netNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:28nfp1dr8b9tthcrko0v1rmvqmvofg7...@4ax.com...
Our alternative store is Circuit City. The Good Guys went out of
business, but Best Buy is "the" local store for electronics. Service is
generally good though the lines are long.
Audrey

Two or three times a year, my husband will buy thousands of dollars
worth of TVs from Best Buy, for his restaurants. The service is hit or
miss. Sometimes it is like he has to beg them to take his money, other
times they will go REALLY above and beyond, even for this level of
purchase.
He doesn't need any help, he usually knows exactly what he wants, and
he walks in, says "give me 8 of those please" or something like that.
It isn't like they have to actually SELL him anything, just take his
money.
Anyhow, I have had a few REALLY bad experiences in the children's shoe
department at Nordie's.
I have always had excellent service at Sak's.
And, even though I am really just there on a looky–loo mission, and I
don't usually look the part, I have always been given the royal
treatment at Chanel boutiques.
NM

On Thu, 08 Dec 2005 18:07:46 –0800, Nadya wrote:
Best Buy is merely a silver mine compared to Fry's.
The only downside is that they only have 30–odd locations.
––
Visit Charlie's Sneaker Pages!
http://sneakers.pair.com/

Charlie Perrin wrote:
And a salesman there once asked me why I wanted to buy a 9 volt battery.
When I told him it was for my multimeter he looked confused.

I have to offer up raves for Macy's – we had bought a ton of linens for the new place and the
salesgirl *volunteered* a 15% discount coupon which had been in the paper but I didn't have; opened
an account in my name so that I got an *additional* 15% off as a bonus AND offered, and found, a
stockperson to help take the heavy bags out to the car. All this on a busy Saturday. I got her
name and will write an extremely complimentary letter to her manager. Yes, I will be back to a
store I hadn't gone into in years!
Jackie
Support your local Attorney....Send your kid to Medical School!