I hate Best Buy. (No link given out of spite). I hate them because their employees are rude, can't speak english (even if they are clearly native-born citizens), and don't want to help. I hate them because they only carry consumer junk, but they put small dealers out of business. I have had consistently bad experiences at Best Buy, so I have boycotted them.

Except today I was in the area and needed floppy disks for my digital camera (it uses regular floppies to store digital pictures). So I thought to myself, "yes they suck, but how bad could it be to just get one floppy?" As usual, when I know something sucks and still wonder "how bad could it be?", I find out that it could be really really awful indeed. Someday I will learn.

I walked in and went to the computer area. I found the floppies and was amazed that the prices were so low. The last time I bought floppies, it was probably 1989 or something. I remember that 3.5" floppies were someting like $0.25 each. I found a 40-pack with a plastic carrying case, for $3.99. I proceeded to the checkout counter and waited as the surly, cash-register monkeys slowly processed orders with vacant expressions on their faces.

My turn finally came. The cashier scanned my single item, and it was over $15.00. I objected. She commented "there's probab'y a rebate." I hadn't seen any rebate sign on the shelf, nor on the package. Mind you, I worked in computer retail for several years, so I know what to look for, or so I thought. So, after giving her a moment to call for a price check, which she instead chose to use by staring me in the face, I said "okay, *I'll* go look" and deliberately left in mid transaction to go find out, since she couldn't be bothered to find out for me.

Sure enough, in miniscule print on the shelf tag, it said that the disks were in fact ~$15, minus an ~$11 rebate which brought the price down to $3 something. Sleazy, but legal.

I had overheard the person in line in front of me ask about the rebate on the phone he was buying, and she had said it was either in the rebate rack (a big rack full of pads of rebate coupons, located at the front of the store) or by the merchandise. I had seen that there were no coupons near the disks so I went back and bought the disks, and proceeded to look for the coupon in the rack. It wasn't there.

I asked the inventory control dude (anti-shoplifting frisker) at the front door where to find the rebate coupon. He said, "there's an 800 number." Now I was pissed. I went back to the computer department again, and waited. There were 2 salespeople, and about 8 customers. I was in line behind about 5 of them, and some other people were sort of drifting around looking like they wanted some assistance. After a few minutes of standing there, they got in line behind me, obviously now stuck without assistance. After about 2 more minutes I decided that this was ridiculous and proceeded to the returns counter.

Thankfully, although there was a wait at the returns counter, I got my money back. After she handed me the money, she explained to me that their procedure requires me to give my name, address, phone number, and signature on their return receipt. Actually it was explained to me with the following wording: "I need you to fill this out." The phone rang behind the counter just as the cashier handed me that receipt, and she wandered off to handle it. Since I believe that I was nearly scammed and had not only a right to a refund, but a right to a refund without violating my right to privacy, I exercised my creativity in filling out the receipt. As I said, I've worked in retail before, and nobody ever looks at those receipts unless there is a problem. $15 cash return, there ain't gonna be a problem. :)

So that's the story. To get an ~$11 rebate, you have to wait in line to get an 800 number, call it (and do who knows what, including probably waiting on hold for an operator), and wait for a coupon. Then you have to fill it out and mail it back. I say that, instead of "and get a check from the 1-800 people" because on the shelf tag it said "mail in rebate", and I'm sure they'd want proof of purchase. So you probably have to photocopy the receipt or give your only copy away, to mail it to them. Then, you get a check, which you have to take to the bank and deposit. Of course this is insanely inconvenient, and that's the point. They get to rip you off by putting unreasonably complex and time-consuming impediments in your way, so that you won't be willing to get the price marked visibly on the shelf.

BTW, I went to a small local computer parts dealer and bought my disks at $5 for a pack of 10, and I intend to get about 25-50 more from the Outpost. Screw Best Buy.