# Is this just a Best Buy thing, or is it universally done? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132 "2010-05-12T02:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/21 "2010-05-12T15:20:33Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > And **Salem** , I disagree about buying things at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has one of the most lenient return policies on the planet. I’ve returned things that _I bought at other stores_ at Wal-Mart. That’s pretty unethical, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/22 "2010-05-12T15:50:56Z")
Best Buy is only good for actually playing with the machines and helping arrive at a decision. Buy at Costco or online, but [never buy at Best Buy](http://consumerist.com/company/best-buy/). ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/23 "2010-05-12T16:05:35Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > But, ignoring that, it’s not uncommon for them to lie to you in order to get your information, they often get bonuses based on penetration of certain products, warranty, mailing lists, etc. Do you actually believe this or do you just like making stuff up? I’m not going to defend Best Buy as the best place to buy a laptop but when I see blatant lies about them it just irks me. Best Buy employees DO NOT get commission or bonuses for add-ons. Kudos yes, preferred hours yes, possible future promotions yes. Monetary reimbursement absolutley not. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/24 "2010-05-12T16:10:05Z")
Just coming in to confirm that Best Buy employees do NOT get monetary bonuses for selling things, including add-ons. > [@Satchmo](#): > > That’s pretty unethical, isn’t it? Yup. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/25 "2010-05-12T16:11:55Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Wal-Mart’s model 5689whatever computer is not going to be of any lower quality than Best Buy’s model 5689whatever computer. You have to look real closely at the specs of the machines. Often one or several aspects are downgraded for a budget model that looks identical to the original. Best Buy had a Sony laptop I was interested in for $650. The salesman told me he thought it was a unit that was going to be a Black Friday doorbuster for $400. We examined the specs and sure enough the original model had a Pentium Core 2 Duo while the budget model had some type of Celeron/AMD dual core. ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/26 "2010-05-12T16:21:52Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Just coming in to confirm that Best Buy employees do NOT get monetary bonuses for selling things, including add-ons. > > Yup. Okay, thanks. Just checking, it’s hard to know sometimes when you’re just a brain in a jar. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/27 "2010-05-12T16:23:28Z")
As far as the OP’s story goes: Was filling out some paperwork a _requirement_ before they would sell you anything? Or was it optional? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/28 "2010-05-12T16:25:43Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > You have to look real closely at the specs of the machines. Often one or several aspects are downgraded for a budget model that looks identical to the original. > Best Buy had a Sony laptop I was interested in for $650. The salesman told me he thought it was a unit that was going to be a Black Friday doorbuster for $400. We examined the specs and sure enough the original model had a Pentium Core 2 Duo while the budget model had some type of Celeron/AMD dual core. No, I mean literally the same item with the same SKU. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/29 "2010-05-12T16:31:24Z")
> [@StinkyBurrito](#): > > :dubious: So… just use your debit card. They accept those online too. > > I’d also look at [tigerdirect.com](http://tigerdirect.com) and [newegg.com](http://newegg.com) for some deals before you buy. Don’t have one. Too easily abused (will power when it concerns spending money on… pretty much anything is a lesson hard learned and mostly learned, but one I’m still learning). ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/30 "2010-05-12T16:36:11Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > Don’t have one. Too easily abused (will power when it concerns spending money on… pretty much anything is a lesson hard learned and mostly learned, but one I’m still learning). Doesn’t cash have the same danger? Do you just not handle money at all? Or is it the ease of use that comes with cards that worries you? ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/31 "2010-05-12T16:44:24Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > As far as the OP’s story goes: > > Was filling out some paperwork a _requirement_ before they would sell you anything? Or was it optional? They _tried_ to tell me it was mandatory. Upon revisiting the same store earlier today, I politely but firmly informed them that if they wanted my business, it was in no way mandatory for me to give them _any_ of my personal info. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/32 "2010-05-12T16:46:50Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Doesn’t cash have the same danger? Do you just not handle money at all? Or is it the ease of use that comes with cards that worries you? It’s too easy to accidentally spend money I don’t have when I have a credit or debit card. Cash, however, is right there in my hand, and I can see when it starts dwindling down at an alarming rate. Truly, financially speaking, I’m a bit of a dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/33 "2010-05-12T17:04:51Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > They _tried_ to tell me it was mandatory. Upon revisiting the same store earlier today, I politely but firmly informed them that if they wanted my business, it was in no way mandatory for me to give them _any_ of my personal info. Good for you. A business needs my personal info if I’m writing a check, because they need to know that I’m me and I didn’t just swipe those checks out of someone’s house or purse. If I’m paying cash, they don’t need my info, but they can use that marker to determine if the cash is counterfeit. Businesses might WANT my phone number, but I never give it out, unless I’m paying by check. They absolutely do not NEED my phone number, because they are going to use it to telemarket, no matter what the clerk says. I’ll sometimes give my zip, but never my phone number. And if I can’t make a purchase without giving my phone number, then I’m not making that purchase. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/34 "2010-05-12T17:30:40Z")
Bought numerous notebooks from Best Buy without extended warranty, and never filled out a form. Can’t imagine what the need would be. I’d call the store manager for an explanation. This possibly sounds like some store managers or regional managers bright idea to track the demographics of who is purchasing from the store. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/35 "2010-05-12T17:46:52Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > the wife and I gave up all our credit cards a couple years ago so we could become 100% debt free (we’re almost there, thank the maker), so right now that’s not an option. You don’t even have a debit card? How do you exist in this world? ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/36 "2010-05-12T17:57:50Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Do you actually believe this or do you just like making stuff up? I actually believe this, but even if I was making it up, the two aren’t exclusive of one and other. > [@Hampshire](#): > > I’m not going to defend Best Buy as the best place to buy a laptop but when I see blatant lies about them it just irks me. > Best Buy employees DO NOT get commission or bonuses for add-ons. Kudos yes, preferred hours yes, possible future promotions yes. Monetary reimbursement absolutley not. i didn’t say they get monetary commissions did I? I said there are bonuses. If I had meant to say “they get larger paychecks” i would have said that, I would have said they’re on a tiered pay plan system. I did not say that. I said they get bonuses. > [@Wilbo523](#): > > You don’t even have a debit card? How do you exist in this world? yeah, i was thinking the same thing. I don’t know how you manage, but good luck and wow. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/37 "2010-05-12T18:37:58Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > You have to look real closely at the specs of the machines. Often one or several aspects are downgraded for a budget model that looks identical to the original. Very true. I work for a hardware manufacturer, and the parts going into a computer we sell to HP that goes into a computer that gets sold direct from HP, direct from Best Buy, or direct from WalMart are not necessarily the same part - even if it has the same “specs.” Best Buys buyers are pretty good at driving the best quality part for the price - their reputation is as an electronics retailer. WalMart is only interested in price and spec - their reputation is lowest price. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/38 "2010-05-12T19:33:00Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > They _tried_ to tell me it was mandatory. Upon revisiting the same store earlier today, I politely but firmly informed them that if they wanted my business, it was in no way mandatory for me to give them _any_ of my personal info. This is how it should be handled! Giving out wrong info keeps your phone from ringing. Telling the company that they will lose your business if they require personal info hopefully raises the red flag at corporate, and stops this stupid practice. So now for the real question. How many times did they ask you if you wanted the extended warranty? ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/39 "2010-05-12T20:05:34Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > First, a note: I’m no doubt showing my ignorance here, but I’ve done so many times on this board prior to now, and I’ll surely do so many times again. > > I ask this as the only computers I’ve ever purchased were purchased online, via Dell’s website. Anyway. My wife is in dire need of a new laptop, and we’ve narrowed it down to two or three brands/models. So, this evening we went up to our nearest Best Buy to purchase said new laptop. We found one that would be perfect for her needs shortly after arriving, and called the sales rep over to tell him which one we wanted. He then pulls out a form for us to fill out with all of our personal information whilst he started to go back to get the computer. I stopped him and asked him why we had to fill out the paperwork, as we were a) paying with cash, and b) not interested in any sort of extended repair warranty. His reply? “Oh, yeah, we just keep it on file for 30 days and then we throw it out.” It being late and me not being in the mood to pursue it any further, I just said, thanks, but no thanks, and said we’ll look elsewhere. > > So, is this just a Best Buy thing, or can I expect this to happen pretty much anywhere (say, Wal-Mart, etc.)? If it’s just a Best Buy quirk, well, I won’t ever buy a computer there, as I don’t want any unnecessary spam or other junk mail. But if I can expect this anywhere, I guess I’m gonna have to just bite the bullet and fill out the damned paperwork. Damn it. I seriously doubt they would have forgone the sale if you refused to fill the form out. Best Buy is in the business of making money, not collecting personal information—even if, ideally, they’d like to do both. But then you wouldn’t have been able to turn on your heel and leave in a huff, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132/40 "2010-05-12T20:18:03Z")
Did this mysterious paperwork have any sort of title on the page? Rebate form? Geeksquad service form? Kapersky antivirus subscription? BestBuy reward zone membership? My guess would be the reward zone membership which if that is the case he did a piss-poor job of telling you what it was. It’s in no way mandatory but is just a way for them to track what you purchase and where you live for marketing purposes. In return they give you a $5 gift card for every $250 you spend and mail/e-mail you advertising/offers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-just-a-best-buy-thing-or-is-it-universally-done/539132.md?page=3)