Home > Investigations > Best Buy Price Match Allegedly Not Being Honored
Best Buy Price Match Allegedly Not Being Honored
March 17 2016 - by LAS Staff Writer
Is it a case of what's old is new again? According to a recent Best Buy customer complaint, customer specialists and store managers may not be honoring the Best Buy Price Match Guarantee. Back in 2009, Best Buy faced a consumer fraud class action lawsuit over their Best Buy Price Match Guarantee. Best Buy states on their website regarding the Price Match Guarantee, "We'll match the product prices of key online and local competitors."
The recent customer complaint, which was submitted to LawyersandSettlements.com, occurred at the Racine, WI Best Buy. The customer had wanted to purchase two Samsung TVs that were available at a nearby Walmart for $550.00. The Walmart store, however, had only one television in stock. So the customer purchased the one TV at Walmart and then began to call other nearby retailers to see if they would do a "price match". Best Buy did have the same TV model, so the customer tried to purchase it there, but at the lower price based on the Price Match Guarantee.
However, the manager at the Best Buy store allegedly would not honor the Price Match Guarantee for the sale of the television, stating that the Walmart price, "must be a mistake". The customer then showed the Best Buy manager the receipt from Walmart, which clearly had proof of the transaction for the tv at the lower price. Still, the manager allegedly would not sell the television at the lower matched price.
After talking with the 888-BESTBUY customer service representative, the customer was allegedly told to go speak with the local Best Buy store manager again. This time, three days later, there was a different manager on duty. This manager allegedly stated he would honor the price match if Walmart still had the same model televisions in stock at the lower price. A call to Walmart revealed they were selling the same model television at the lower price, but that there were no longer any in stock. Based on this, the Best Buy store manager allegedly did not honor the price match guarantee again, even though the customer had the receipt, and his logged customer service call as "proof".
This store manager then told the customer to call the Best Buy corporate customer service department to inform them of the situation. After being told that he would be called back, he was not; he called again and was told again he would be called back. Finally, a Best Buy customer service called him, and this time he was allegedly told that the company, "would stand by the manager" and would not honor the price match.
Best Buy Price Match Legal Help
If you or a loved one has suffered similar damages or injuries, please fill in our form on the right and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Visited Best Buy today (Oct. 30, 2018) at 10:00 am to purchase a LG 70” TV (LG UK6570PUB) which Best Buy had for $1,049. Fry’s Electronics had it advertised in their flier for $1,296 with a “see in cart” price of $799.
I ask the sale associate (Ivan) to match Fry’s price. When the associate looked in their “price comparison” he said: “They are higher than us. Do you still want me to match it?”
I told the associate to place the item into the “cart” and to match that price. Once the associate saw the $799 price, the excuses for not matching the price started.
1. It must be a misprint. (Told him to look at the
flier ad)
2. Must be some kind of bundle (Bundle would
be more not less)
3. It is “in store pick up only” (It can be
purchased online)
4. Must be a promotional coupon deal (BB
associate received the same $799 price)
5. It is a limited quantity (The limit is one per
household not per store)
6. We do not match Fry’s prices
At this time I told the associate that the purchase meets ALL their requirements for a “price match”. The associate called the assistant manager (Ryan). Ryan’s response was: “We do not consider Fry’s a competitor thus we do not match their prices”. I reminded Ryan that this was not only an Online retailer but one with a store presence. Ryan apologized and said: “I can’t do it”. At this time I said: Let me make sure I understand (I turned my cell camera on), you are saying that you will not match a Fry’s Electronics ad? Ryan and Ivan both walked away without saying a word. (if they were right, why run away?)
About 2 minutes later Ryan returns with a paper copy of the “Match Guarantee” and underlined the word “local competitors” and said: “Fry’s is not a competitor”. His last words were: “Call Best Buy’s toll free number.
I have read Best Buy price match guarantee policy. All criteria was met. Best Buy hides behind shady wording.
1. Best Buy uses the word “local competitors” but nowhere does it specify a distance.
2. Best Buy uses the term “regional retailer” but there is no definition to this term.
3. Best Buy uses the word “online” to refer to a handful l of sellers (Amazon, B&H)
Posted by Eric
on
The Best Buy web site information about price match states in several places to call them for a price match. For example: "BestBuy.com orders are available for price matching by phone only." (Also gives options for price matching in person, which I prefer not to spend time doing.) But when you call the number and navigate through all the options to get to Price Match, the recording tells you that they only do price matching through web chat, which is available by clicking "Questions". OK, so back to the web site, where you then discover that the Chat option is never active, so there is no way to chat with a representative. Infinite loop of misery... Clearly they do not appear to be very serious about matching competitors' prices.
Posted by priya panjwani
on
Best buy is not honoring price of convection microwave at local Sears store. Their price match policy clearly says that they will match competitor prices if they are in the 25 mile radius of local Best Buy store. Very frustrating expereince because neither Best Buy store not Best buy onlne is matching local competitor pricing as their Price Match guarantee suggests.
Posted by April Stuckey
on
They told me no they don't price match I asked when did they changed they said it never was available
Posted by Justin
on
They are srewing me over right now. Manager said they would price match. After 1.5 months, over 6 hours on hold, and more than 7 representatives I have had 4 promise a price match and 3 say they don't price match my item. Their service is atrocious.
Posted by Kapil Dev Tejwani
on
HP is selling the HP envy product for $20 lesser than best buy but still bestbuy is not honoring price match as they say it is not valid on thanks giving thru cyber monday though it has not been mentioned anywhere on their site.I called complained and even had long online chat but to no avail.
Posted by Janine C
on
I wanted to purchase the HP Envy computer that was advertised at Sam's Club for their One Day Only sale on 11/12/16. I called our local Best Buy store as I was told they would price match any competitor's add.. Since our local Best Buy was out of stock, she transferred me to the Corporate Best Buy department so I could place my order. Once transferred, I gave the model number that I wanted to purchase. She looked it up at Sam's club for the advertisement. The item that I wanted was out of stock at Sam's club. Therefore she explained that Best Buy was not obligated to match that price. I explained that was not what was shared when we went to the local store the previous day. I felt that this was a "bait and switch" deal. I also explained that I will no longer be a Best Buy customer as they do not honor their claims. She said there was nothing else they could do. I asked to be transferred to someone else that may be able to help and she declined. I told her that I would be cutting up my credit card and they lost a valuable customer over $300.00.
Posted by Amy Banuelos
on
I went to best buy 08/2014 and asked for price match for Samsung 55H6350 55" 1080p Smart led TV which was advertised by a major audio and video on line retailer (Crutchfield) for $899.00 and Best Buy had it $300 over Crutchfield's price. They refused to honor the price match and stated they only honored it for Amazon.com. I left and purchased TV at Crutchfield.
Posted by Letwan Acosta
on
I bought a Canon 70D from Best Buy on May 7, 2016 in Fargo, ND. The following Wednesday I saw the same camera online at Wal-Mart.com for the same price with about 15 additional accessories included. I called the local Best Buy store that I bought the cameraf find explained the situation. I was told, "yes, come in and we'll match what Wal-Mart is offering." When I got there, a gentleman working customer service received my complaint and left for 8 minutes. He came back and said "this gentleman (a sales rep that works in the camera section, the same person that sold me the camera) will get the items you need." The sales rep explained that Best Buy does not carry the same brands that Wal-Mart was offering, but will make comparable substitutions. After gathering everything that could be offered (Best Buy didn't stock many of the items Wal-Mart offered) another gentleman came over and said "we can give you most off this at 50% off, but the additional lense will be full price. I declined to pay more than what Wal-Mart priced the same camera, returned the one I bought and got my refund.
Add Your Comment on This Issue
Request Best Buy Price Match Legal Help
Please complete this form to request a review of your complaint by an attorney.
There is absolutely no cost to you to submit this form. Doing so places you under no obligations and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.
