# Just 'cause I'm stupid doesn't make it right! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 5, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056 "2003-12-05T00:21:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/41 "2003-12-08T19:24:51Z")
Great, so Best Buy gave you the rebate even when they didn’t have to because you didn’t live up to the terms of the offer. Now you can persist in your stupidity hoping that the kindness of others will bail you out once again. What a goon. Here are some choice **DTT** quotes and my always astute responses: > [@](#): > > I suppose Best Buy didn’t have to give me the refund, but, in the interest of customer service, they did. You _suppose_? Darn right they didn’t have to give you a refund. The rebate says you get $60.00 if you activate service with a participating service provider, and the rebate form lists the participating service providers. You activate service with a service provider that did not participate in the rebate, and then you get mad at Best Buy for some reason. YOu failed to accept Best Buy’s offer, so no contract resulted. The only thing you were _supposed_ to get from Best Buy was a kick in the pants for being such a twerp. > [@](#): > > If I get the rebate I expected I’ll be ok, but I’ll probably not shop at Best Buy again. (1) What you “expect” doesn’t fucking matter. You failed to accept the rebate offer, so Best Buy doesn’t owe you shit. (2) I have no idea why you would stop shopping at a store that essentially have you $60 just for asking. You should be a customer for life. > [@](#): > > So, perhaps Insight is the bad guy here. God, it’s like I’m watching you become stupider right before my very eyes! **DTT** , _you_ are the bad guy here. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/42 "2003-12-08T20:03:05Z")
TaxGuy, DTT did say he’d shop at Best Buy again, right at the top of his last post. He expected that the rebate offered by the local store would be valid for the local provider. That’s not an outrageous thing to expect, and I believe the BB manager approved the discount precicely because he knows that customers will make that assumption. As DTT also mentioned, the clerk knew the whole story about Insight withdrawing from the rebate. It should be no stretch to see that the manager would know the story too, he should have taken that into account with his sales approach. Sometimes we don’t expect to have to read the fine print on every deal we try to make. If Best Buy is going to provide good customer service, they will watch out for things like this. You don’t get a free pass in my book if you’re plastering up a big “$60 REBATE” sign that nobody who lives within 50 miles can take advantage of. ---
**Author:** ![R\_inDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@R\_inDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R_inDog)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/43 "2003-12-08T20:17:48Z")
**Guinastasia** and **TaxGuy** : My god, are you guys having a bad day? As a professional lurker, I’m compelled to post and point out that you either didn’t read this thread in it’s entirety or you are simply being enormous jerks. **DDT** is entirely in the clear, ethically. You two, on the other hand… I agree that an apology is probably in order. Unless you’re okay with being jerks, that is. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/44 "2003-12-08T22:38:57Z")
I knew the “I suppose” was going to set someone off. Yesterday’s Best Buy Sunday ad insert has an ad for a Toshiba cable modem, including the rebate. “Pick your provider from below” and there it is, Insight. I can’t find it on their website or I’d post a link. **Taxguy** , if you go to a store and ask about the rebate you’ve seen advertised, the clerk pulls the appropriate product, hands you the paperwork to process the rebate and also sets up installation appointment for the product, would you expect to have to read the rebate for any exclusions? You’re a lawyer, aren’t you?, so maybe you would. I made some assumptions on good faith and I was wrong. If this was purely a legal matter I think I would be 100% out of luck for the reasons you listed. But it’s not. I feel stupid and angry with myself that I missed the exclusion, but, damn it, Best Buy walked me down the path patting me on the head the whole way. That doesn’t seem right to me at all. And geez, lighten up, will ya? You think I’m stupid, I think you’re a prick. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/45 "2003-12-08T23:19:53Z")
OK, in that last post you mentioned for the very first time a fact that has a whole lot of relevance: the ad for the rebate DID say that Insight was an “approved provider.” Before I just thought you saw an ad saying you get a rebate if you get service through an approved provider and then you neglected to determine whether the provider you planned to use was approved. Now, however, it appears that Best Buy’s advertising was in error, so I do agree with you now that Best Buy fucked up. **R@inDog** , in your lurking career you may have noticed that sometimes people’s pit threads don’t go the way they think they will. If someone starts a pit thread saying: “Man, my knuckles really hurt today after beating up all those children right after I smoked crack and took PCP. I’m pitting God for making kids’ faces so hard.” then you’d better bet they’re going to get flak for it. What I did was the same thing. **DTT** pitted Best Buy for something that was really **DTT** ’s mistake, so I told him that he’s the one that fucked up so he doesn’t really have any room to rant. Now that he’s decided to share a pertinent fact with us, I do agree that he has a point. I don’t think I have anything to apologize for. Also, I was not being a jerk as per SDMB common law. Your perception may differ (and apparently has). ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/46 "2003-12-08T23:32:03Z")
The Sunday ad has “free” in big bold letters. It has Insight listed in large print. In small print at the bottom it has “See in-store kiosk for providers available in your area…”. While this may absolve them in a legal contractual kind of way when stupid, _trusting_ customers such as myself walk in and buy stuff, from a customer service poiint of view I would think it a causes more headaches than would be worth their time. I am a little embarassed that I went through all this, but Best Buy sure made it easy for me. And giving me the refund was entirely their choice, I never even asked for it, the clerk just did it. But rest assured I will be more careful from here on out. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/47 "2003-12-09T01:53:11Z")
My guess is that you feel you were duped and are _really_ trying to find someone to blame for that. Here is what I think happened: You saw an ad for the rebate and headed to Best Buy. I’m guessing you didn’t even notice the part about Insight being included (if whatever your source is even said Insight is included), but just assumed it. You buy your modem, and since no one at the store told you Insight wasn’t included, you assumed they were. Not a bad assumption. You don’t bother to read the rebate sheets, and send them in. Lots of stuff to read, I’m sure. It could easily be missed. Reality strikes. You feel cheated. Who wouldn’t? So now you want someone to blame. Surely Best Buy and all the employees _must_ know. Here again is the blame of someone else: If the employee didn’t know, Best Buy is at fault for not having proper training. You head down to Best Buy with a head of steam and… they do the right thing. Hmm. Now, suddenly, Insight is to blame. Very strange. Not Best Buy, who _might_ have flat out lied. Not Best Buy, whom you claim should train every employee on all aspects of all rebates. Not you, who didn’t bother to read the exclusions printed in big letters. Blame whoever you want. Blame is far better to give then receive, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/48 "2003-12-09T03:18:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\ ***DaddyTimesTwo** -customers like you are one of the reason I’m currently unemployed-because I am trying my damndest to avoid another job like Kmart where I had to deal with the idiotic mouthbreathers like yourself! \*\* At least he never exposed his manroot to you or left you a present of bodily fluids on your counter! Be thankful for small favors! Go work at a porn store then we’ll talk. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/49 "2003-12-09T04:32:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SanguineSpider \* > \*\*At least he never exposed his manroot to you or left you a present of bodily fluids on your counter! Be thankful for small favors! Go work at a porn store then we’ll talk. \*\* :eek: Oh god, ew! ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/50 "2003-12-09T14:41:18Z")
**cmosdes** has the story failry close. I didn’t even see the ad, actually, I was told that Best Byuy had this offer. So I asked about it. And they gave me all the paperwork. Only after the fact did I see the ad in the paper. And I’ll say it again for all you people who are wanting to read it, if I had read the rebate forms more closely, I would have avoided all this. Everyone feel better. **Guin** , I’m still waiting for you to apologize for calling me an “idiotic mouthbreather”. You missed your chance up above. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/51 "2003-12-09T15:52:43Z")
You know, if I may respectfully interject something - **DaddyTimesTwo** has repeatedly said he was an idiot about this. Can we cut him a little bit of slack? ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/52 "2003-12-10T04:18:06Z")
No. And here’s why. He has admitted to being an idiot, but he has NOT ONCE said it was his fault. Instead, he has blamed Best Buy and Insight (I’m still waiting to hear him explain that one). For some strange reason, he thinks his being an idiot means that everyone else should be looking out for his interests instead of taking responsibility for himself. Best Buy may have had a small bit of responsibility in all this, and they essentially owned up to that by giving him his rebate without any trouble at all. I don’t think he is stupid or an idiot. I just think he lost focus on where to put the blame. Blaming Insight is a clear indication to me he needs _someone else_ to blame. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/53 "2003-12-10T04:23:39Z")
An appology would imply that I’m sorry. I’m not. What **cmosdes** said. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/54 "2003-12-10T04:42:09Z")
Guin, you’re being thickheaded and mean. DTT didn’t cause any of the Best Buy workers trouble, so why do you have to insult him? He had a problem and went back to the store for resolution, which was done calmly and professionally, with no hard feelings on either side. WTF is wrong with that? Even the nicest customers will have problems from time to time. They deserve to have those problems fixed without being called jerks. There are more than enough asshole customers to spread around, why attack the decent ones? ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/55 "2003-12-10T05:00:04Z")
I usually don’t post this late in a thread, but I must say that I laugh out loud every time I see the thread title. Truly Homer-like. Or even better, Barney-like. Say it out loud and burp after it. It;s funny! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/56 "2003-12-10T05:01:25Z")
Because I’m tired of everyone blaming the store because they didn’t fucking read the instructions. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/57 "2003-12-10T06:06:04Z")
**Guin** , Fucking chill out. That enormous chip on your shoulder is making you cranky. **DTT** was not rude to any of the service reps, he had a problem, it was resolved. He was not kicking or screaming. Save your bitterness for when it is warranted. It’s certainly not here. Your attack on **DTT** was totally uncalled for and was way over-the-top. And **Tax Guy** , I realize you’re a lawyer. I know why you’re looking at this the way you are. I’m not too far in (first year) so I’ve still got a bit of “average joe” in me. If I walked into Best Buy and saw a modem with a rebate advertised, in a town with only _one_ available server for _miles around_, and the Best Buy people _held my hand through the entire process_, I would think the rebate would be good for my provider. People don’t read the fine print on everything. They assume a lot. Sometimes, those assumptions are wrong. It certainly doesn’t make them idiots. It makes them mistaken. I think **DTT** should be cut a little slack here. And I think a few people need some hugs. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/58 "2003-12-10T11:16:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Because I’m tired of everyone blaming the store because they didn’t fucking read the instructions. \*\* I’m blaming the store for advertising a rebate that 90% of their customers can’t take advantage of, because the local carrier doesn’t participate. I’m also blaming the store for putting zero effort into informing their customer that this rebate isn’t locally redeemable. This is not a piece of information you bury in the rebate form for the customer to find at home. If their workers were more than mindless retail drones, a stereotype you hate, they would have told DTT about it before he left the store. Remember something here, Best Buy **gave him the rebate money back** would they have given back $60 in cash on an $80 product if it was completely and utterly his fault? ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/59 "2003-12-10T13:21:17Z")
I was mad at Best Buy because I felt the ads were misleading. Closer reading of the fine print would have prevented any problem here, but I don’t think best Buy should require to bring a lawyer with you to get a rebate. I threw some blame at Insight because the BB clerk said Insight used to participate but not any more, at least in this area. Insight is still part of the advertising, so they must participate somewhere other than here, and I wonder why the quit locally. From my previous post: > [@](#): > > And I’ll say it again for all you people who are wanting to read it, if I had read the rebate forms more closely, I would have avoided all this. That’s as close to an admission of _complete_ responsibility you all are going to get from me. I realize that I played a part in the problem, but, like I said before, BB made it so very easy. **Cheesesteak** and **lezlers** , thanks for the support. And **Guinastasia** , I think I’ve gained insight into your employment difficulties. I think if you will calmly review things over here, you will see that no one acted mean or caused any trouble for anyone. BB gave me a credit for the rebate, the clerk did it with no fuss, I only briefly explained the situation and off he went. The only one who’s having an extreme reaction is, well, _you_. So calm down, please, you’re embarassing yourself much more in this thread than I have. ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056/60 "2003-12-10T13:26:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DaddyTimesTwo \* > \*\* the rebate form says, in large capital letters actually, “EXCLUDES INSIGHT\< EARTHLINK\< ROADRUNNER & AOL.” \*\* But hang on - it wasn’t ‘hidden in the small print’ at all was it?!! You didn’t need a lawyer, you just needed to look at the - in your words - large capital letters. Yes, it was annoying. Yes, it would have been better if the store had checked with you first but NO - it was no one’s fault but your own and you still came out of it pretty well. I’d just be happy and be quiet if I were you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-cause-im-stupid-doesnt-make-it-right/217056.md?page=4)