# Best Buy is a TOTAL joke **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586 "2012-08-15T18:39:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/41 "2012-08-16T19:55:22Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Yeah, it was SOP for printers not to come with a parallel cable, in my experience. I think the last printer I bought came with a USB cable but I can’t remember. My old printers definitely did not come with a parallel cable. I’m pretty sure that my recent printers did - in any case anyone older than a teenager should have plenty of printer cables around. Printers die long before the cable. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/42 "2012-08-16T19:58:47Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Home Depot tries to get intelligent people to begin, and trains them. It’s the difference between asking the cashier at a supermarket about fresh produce and asking a seller at a farmer’s market. Not anymore up here. They now have minimum wage young’uns who don’t know a screwdriver from a hammer. We have to go to a small hardware store with high prices if we need any actually knowledge about doing stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/43 "2012-08-16T20:02:11Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > I refuse to shop there. The prices are absolutely ridiculous. > > I needed a 14" network cable. Simple, easy. Best Buy wanted $23 for it! One that cost $6 at Frys! Or $3 when bought off the internet! When I want to buy big things I can actually take a look at, I check both BB and Frys. Frys is cheaper for small things, but they have weird off brand merchandise, usually ok. Frys has a reputation of obnoxious floor staff who like to intimidate shoppers - but when I go I wear my old Intel sweatshirt, so I can intimidate them. 🙂 I’ve never done service at BB. I have done it at Frys under warranty. They are the people, who when I had my laptop in for overheating, called me up to get permission to reinstall Windows (for $100 or so.) Taking advantage of the gullible must be the way they make their money. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/44 "2012-08-16T20:04:32Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > It appears the Best Buy employee didn’t know either. Well, if the OP is like some older people I know, the conversation could have gone something like this: Old Person: “I need a new wire for my Canyon jet printer, model 110V-2A” BB Employee: “??? Um, let me connect you to parts…” Just because someone _thinks_ they are being coherent, it does not mean that they actually are. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/45 "2012-08-16T20:06:17Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > Not anymore up here. They now have minimum wage young’uns who don’t know a screwdriver from a hammer. > > We have to go to a small hardware store with high prices if we need any actually knowledge about doing stuff. Not at my store. Plenty of intelligent laid off high-tech workers to fill the void. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/46 "2012-08-16T20:07:28Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > Not anymore up here. They now have minimum wage young’uns who don’t know a screwdriver from a hammer. > > We have to go to a small hardware store with high prices if we need any actually knowledge about doing stuff. They’re not great, and I’m sure the entire staff isn’t knowledgeable about everything, but the guy/gal in the HD gardening department will be of more help to me than anyone in the computer department or TV department of BB. ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/47 "2012-08-18T05:28:38Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > Well, if the OP is like some older people I know, the conversation could have gone something like this: > > Old Person: “I need a new wire for my Canyon jet printer, model 110V-2A” > BB Employee: “??? Um, let me connect you to parts…” > > Just because someone _thinks_ they are being coherent, it does not mean that they actually are. However in this case, I _was._ I asked a question, had the correct model number etc as I already explained (reading comprehension down?). And it turns out all I needed was a very basic and standard printer cable, which was beyond their comprehension for a printer they sold. But hey thanks for the snotty, idiotic and worthless reply. No worries, you have plenty of company in that regard. You guys should be working at Best Buy, you’d fit right in. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/48 "2012-08-18T16:01:47Z")
I think I know what your mistake was **oreally** …you are under the mistaken impression that Best Buy is a place you might want to shop. When I can’t avoid the store I avoid any meaningful attempt at conversation with anyone employed by the store…this has been an effective strategy for me. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/49 "2012-08-18T16:11:32Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Their own in-store prices don’t even agree with their advertised web prices. Gotta second Dewy Finn. That’s not a mistake; it’s a very deliberate strategy, _including making sure the employees are not informed of all the currently advertised sales._ ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/50 "2012-08-18T16:14:11Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Gotta second Dewy Finn. That’s not a mistake; it’s a very deliberate strategy, _including making sure the employees are not informed of all the currently advertised sales._ They got sued for that one. They had a fake internal web site that purposely showed different prices from external. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/51 "2012-08-19T18:27:50Z")
> [@oreally](#): > > However in this case, I _was._ I asked a question, had the correct model number etc as I already explained (reading comprehension down?). And it turns out all I needed was a very basic and standard printer cable, which was beyond their comprehension for a printer they sold. > > But hey thanks for the snotty, idiotic and worthless reply. No worries, you have plenty of company in that regard. You guys should be working at Best Buy, you’d fit right in. > > :rolleyes: I think most of the snark you caught was because you seemed utterly clueless about the lay of the land in shopping at big box retailers. Best Buy is paying as little as possible to be competitive with internet sites. Occasionally you will luck onto a floor person that is tech savvy and knows their business, but most of the time you’re getting people for whom this is just another retail job. Most people know this and do not try and interact with Best Buy over the phone. Beyond this you’re being kind of baby helpless here re the printer cable. It’s a standard USB A-B cable. They’ve been around for over 10 years and are the default USB cable for printers . Drug stores sell them they are so common. This is kind of something you should already know as a modern adult. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/52 "2012-08-20T16:42:22Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > I’ve bought printers before, only to discover that the cable didn’t come with it. It’s been a while ago though. I’ve buying printers since my first 386 computer; and I don’t ever remember printer cables coming with them. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/53 "2012-08-20T18:18:05Z")
> [@oreally](#): > > Once again I am reminded how amazing it is that this joke of a store put Circuity City out of business. I think the Internet put Circuit City out of business. It’s busy doing the same with Best Buy, too. (it’s taking longer than we thought!) ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/54 "2012-08-21T01:57:07Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > My “Best Buy sucks” story is from when we bought a dryer there. My Best Buy sucks for them story is when I ordered a 32GB iPod touch to pick up at the store and when I picked it up they handed me a 64GB. As long as their prices are in line with anywhere else online I’ll buy from them since they’re a 10 minute walk away. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/55 "2012-08-25T19:10:38Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Beyond this you’re being kind of baby helpless here re the printer cable. It’s a standard USB A-B cable. They’ve been around for over 10 years and are the default USB cable for printers . Drug stores sell them they are so common. This is kind of something you should already know as a modern adult. I could say the same thing about 90% of the computer questions in GQ. Would it be better if I instead just went around making fun of people for not knowing the answers? ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/56 "2012-08-25T21:59:45Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I could say the same thing about 90% of the computer questions in GQ. Would it be better if I instead just went around making fun of people for not knowing the answers? If they start off by making fun of how clueless the people they were talking with were? I’d say they’re fair game. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586/57 "2012-08-25T23:18:23Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Their own in-store prices don’t even agree with their advertised web prices. I was just there yesterday buying an iPod. The sales guy denied there was a sale price until I showed him on my phone, he then manually updated the difference at the register. Did he bother to update the database or the store’s displayed price? Nope. > > Never buy from them without price-comparing them to their own website :rolleyes: I’ve never worked for BestBuy but I have worked for a comparable Australian business. I have no idea how I would be able to “update the database” if a price was wrong - that was all done by head office. I couldn’t update the shelf price either - our price tags were generated by the system, so if the system was wrong, the price tags would be wrong. I would be able to send an email to HQ to get the database corrected in the following morning update, and manually correct prices at the register until it came through. That’s about the limit of the powers of the people on the floor. I remember one morning the store manager realised the prices on single reams and boxes of one brand of paper had been accidentally switched - the price at the register was like $5.00 for a box of 10 reams and $50.00 for a single ream. We had to dismantle the floor stack and move every unit of that paper off the sales floor for the day, and restock them the next day when the correction had come through. Also, at one point our online store was a separate business to the bricks and mortar stores. If they had a sale, we didn’t know about it and may not have had the same sale running. If people brought their sale prices to our attention, we could price match them like they were a competitor. I’m sure that confused more than a few people. Fortunately they merged the two a few years ago and that stupidness stopped. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-is-a-total-joke/631586.md?page=2)