Circuit City bad buy experience.

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Bad_Dude
I cannot dispute the charge until they show up on my credit card. I will then put it in. Do you guys think that I should report it to the Better Business Bureau so they can bring some heat so these things cannot happen more often?
Thanks.

FYI, in case you don't have on-line access to your account, it will probably show up some time on Monday's business, and you should be ready to go forward with the dispute process by Tuesday morning. In case you were thinking it, there's no legitimate need that I know of to wait for your statement in the mail.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: GoodRevrnd
If the manager shot you down call and ask for the regional manager. When I worked at Wherehouse Music that was a sure-fire way for a customer to resolve the situation the way they wanted.

That sounds good.

 

[Bad Dude]

I have listed the transactions with Circuit City.

 

[crypticlogin]

Base on the list above, this is nothing close to the business that I have done with Fry's, Newegg, and SVC, not counting the returns that I do at Fry's. I would not call this a red flag base on the returned history.

Well it's not really Circuit City's business what other stores you've bought and returned from... all they're concerned with are the purchases made at Circuit City. And to be honest, if I was a manger and saw that you had returned 3 out of the 5 previous purchases (60% return rate!) made within the past year and here you are, wanting to make a return on the 6th, I would consider that a red flag. You really can't fully blame the manager given that kind of statistic considering that he, of all people, probably knows that not all returns are legitimate.

If I was a crook, I would have used cash rather than credit cards so that they can trace me. Also I would have not come back to the store and complaint.

I'm sure they get some other information if you're making a return on a cash payment, e.g. driver's license number. I think it would be downright poor management if they didn't think of people paying cash to do traceless returns.

I'm not saying you don't deserve to be refunded on the Radeon 9800P since anybody who gets put in that kind of situation knows it sucks. I'm just pointing out that the situation, as you've described, isn't as one-sided as you see it.

 

[fumbduck]

I bought an 80gb from them, went home, turned out to be a repacked 1.2 gb.

Took it back, told them it was the wrong harddrive and that it didn;t work.

THey gave me a new one and marked that one to be sent back to the warehouse or whatever.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: tenchim

Base on the list above, this is nothing close to the business that I have done with Fry's, Newegg, and SVC, not counting the returns that I do at Fry's. I would not call this a red flag base on the returned history.

Well it's not really Circuit City's business what other stores you've bought and returned from... all they're concerned with are the purchases made at Circuit City. And to be honest, if I was a manger and saw that you had returned 3 out of the 5 previous purchases (60% return rate!) made within the past year and here you are, wanting to make a return on the 6th, I would consider that a red flag. You really can't fully blame the manager given that kind of statistic considering that he, of all people, probably knows that not all returns are legitimate.

If I was a crook, I would have used cash rather than credit cards so that they can trace me. Also I would have not come back to the store and complaint.

I'm sure they get some other information if you're making a return on a cash payment, e.g. driver's license number. I think it would be downright poor management if they didn't think of people paying cash to do traceless returns.

I'm not saying you don't deserve to be refunded on the Radeon 9800P since anybody who gets put in that kind of situation knows it sucks. I'm just pointing out that the situation, as you've described, isn't as one-sided as you see it.

I have never blame the manager fully as he properly does not have a clue what is being shipped into the store. But he could have handled it differently. He could have offer for me to return to the store some other day after discussing it with his store manager and corporate. Instead, he made remarks toward me as if I am a crook. So as a manager, he's not fit to be and poorly trained. He down right accused me of something I did not do without evidence. By the way, the return rate does not correspond to a thief. All of my returns are within their policy. If they don't want returns, just have a policy of no return. 60% return is nothing compares to others who a few might have 100% return rate.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: fumbduck
I bought an 80gb from them, went home, turned out to be a repacked 1.2 gb.

Took it back, told them it was the wrong harddrive and that it didn;t work.

THey gave me a new one and marked that one to be sent back to the warehouse or whatever.

So what's your return rate or percentage at CC?

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Vic
There have been a ton of these horror stories. This is why I ALWAYS open the box and inspect the contents at the cash register.

Same here. I always get asked what I'm doing by the cashier and I always get these dirty looks when I tell them that I don't trust Circuit City employees and that I'm going to open up the package before I leave the store. As for the OP, just dispute the charge. You purchased a product and the retailer gave you something different. You attempted to return it and the retailer refused to take it back. Sounds like fraud to me.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: Vic
There have been a ton of these horror stories. This is why I ALWAYS open the box and inspect the contents at the cash register.

Same here. I always get asked what I'm doing by the cashier and I always get these dirty looks when I tell them that I don't trust Circuit City employees and that I'm going to open up the package before I leave the store. As for the OP, just dispute the charge. You purchased a product and the retailer gave you something different. You attempted to return it and the retailer refused to take it back. Sounds like fraud to me.

Thanks. I will file for a dispute as soon as the charge shows up.

 

[Bad Dude]

I am wondering if there is a site where people like who had bad experience with retailer like CC? Also I put in a bizrate rating, where can I read my comments?
Thanks.

 

[element]

One way of stopping this problem: put everything in clear plastic packaging. Yes the one thats a PITA to open. But I wonder if everything can be packaged like that.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: element®
One way of stopping this problem: put everything in clear plastic packaging. Yes the one thats a PITA to open. But I wonder if everything can be packaged like that.

I wish that kinda package was available so I would not have to suffer like this. I just want my money back so I can go to Best Buy and buy the one with the coupon for the game inside.

 

[Nebor]

Your 60% rate of return would redflag you to me as well. That's returning way too much stuff.

 

[oLLie]

I can't believe they would say that because something is plastic-sealed, it must have been the correct product inside. I've heard of people who have plastic-seal-thingies at home and they specifically used it to buy music CD's and then copy them, seal them back up and return them.

I think you should type up all your recent transactions with Circuit City, explaining in each case why you returned something, why you used different credit cards, etc, basically put down all the information you are telling us. Print it out and sign it or something, try to get the local CC manager to see you are really an honest guy and give him another chance to correct the situation. If he still refuses, I second what the other people said: tell him you want to talk to the regional manager. Definitely contact the Better Business Bureau. Last resort: contact the news media and tell them your story, try to get them involved. Good luck!

 

[Bad Dude]

I am going to contact the corporate office today.

 

[alkemyst]

I'd say you were a crook the moment you returned items esp the opened one because you found a better deal after purchase.

Also I don't buy into you'd have used cash if you were a crook....most crooks rely on the fact they can chargeback and be done with it if the scam doesn't work out..

6 purchases with 4 returns is suspicious. I'd also be wondering now about the 9700 you returned previously that was opened.

You also say you are a poor college student but seriously a 9700Pro and then 9800 this year? I am not poor and haven't upgraded my 8500 because of cost....a $30 game is not going to make or break the deal for anyone on a $300 video card.

You also mention if you had the 'real card' you'd return it, but you don't so you can't??? if you were trying to get a free card you would claim this same thing. The idea is not to get your money back in a scam, it's to get your money and the item free.

Not saying this is what you are trying to pull, but after you returned two items to my store due to better prices (esp one being opened) I'd have banned you for life. I own a small business and this kind of thing is getting pulled more and more. It's always easy to find something a couple bucks cheaper two weeks later.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: isekii
Yea I usually do the same thing as well.

I do so with UPS packages, to make sure it's not damaged or I refuse it.

You know UPS is not supposed to let you touch the package until you accept it, they are not supposed to take it back once you open it as a refusal.

 

[DT4K]

I bought a 13 inch tv at Walmart once.
Got it home, opened up the box (looked new), and it stunk like cigarette smoke.
Took it back immediately and they apologized and replaced it for me.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd say you were a crook the moment you returned items esp the opened one because you found a better deal after purchase.

Also I don't buy into you'd have used cash if you were a crook....most crooks rely on the fact they can chargeback and be done with it if the scam doesn't work out..

6 purchases with 4 returns is suspicious. I'd also be wondering now about the 9700 you returned previously that was opened.

You also say you are a poor college student but seriously a 9700Pro and then 9800 this year? I am not poor and haven't upgraded my 8500 because of cost....a $30 game is not going to make or break the deal for anyone on a $300 video card.

You also mention if you had the 'real card' you'd return it, but you don't so you can't??? if you were trying to get a free card you would claim this same thing. The idea is not to get your money back in a scam, it's to get your money and the item free.

Not saying this is what you are trying to pull, but after you returned two items to my store due to better prices (esp one being opened) I'd have banned you for life. I own a small business and this kind of thing is getting pulled more and more. It's always easy to find something a couple bucks cheaper two weeks later.

Unfortunately, your business is small and I can understand that you cannot offer the same options as those bigger retailers. The bigger retailers have the manufacturer better support for returns while smaller business like yours does not. This is why I don't buy anything from small businesses unless I cannot find it at bigger retailers or absolutely sure from good previous experiences that the product is as it is.
By the way, the Radeon 9700 PRO that I returned and bought from Newegg, I saved $120. So please do say anything unless you were there. You are saying that b/c you are a business owner, but have yet to be customer in my shoes. So please hold you tongue and speak only when you are in my situation. I don't like to deal with smaller businesses when it comes to expensive electronics b/c you guys have a much tendency to repackage the same returned items multiple times. And this is due to the fact that you don't have the same previledge return terms as the big retailers with manufacturer. Everything, I have done is within the store policy. Matter of facts, Circuit City encourage their pricematch policy but it just that the Radeon 9700 PRO was a Sapphire card. They also have a no hassle return policy which many crooks can take advantage when the cashier does not check the return products closely.
For your information, since you are a business owner, you absolutely cannot do a charge back unless it is a service or items purchased online. If you bought it face to face transaction, you can only dispute once the charge shows up. I hope this help with your business understanding.

I bit you thanks for the input.

For those who would like to know, I have filed a case with Circuit City corporate office, and they will forward an email to the district manager to resolve the problem.
Whether I can get my money back or not, from now on, Circuit City won't see me in there any more for gifts. Since you cannot open the gifts before giving them. Imagine giving an expensive electronic item to your father and he opens it to find the wrong product inside.
I don't have much else to say since I have said all that already. I am just a victim here and as I can see a few here were also but all of you got a resolution out of it. I just have to go about it the hard way.

 

[alkemyst]

Unfortunately, your business is small and I can understand that you cannot offer the same options as those bigger retailers. The bigger retailers have the manufacturer better support for returns while smaller business like yours does not. This is why I don't buy anything from small businesses unless I cannot find it at bigger retailers or absolutely sure from good previous experiences that the product is as it is.
By the way, the Radeon 9700 PRO that I returned and bought from Newegg, I saved $120. So please do say anything unless you were there. You are saying that b/c you are a business owner, but have yet to be customer in my shoes. So please hold you tongue and speak only when you are in my situation.
For your information, since you are a business owner, you absolutely cannot do a charge back unless it is a service or items purchased online. If you bought it face to face transaction, you can only dispute once the charge shows up. I hope this help with your business understanding.
I bit you thanks for the input.

The big retailers still pass that cost down to us. Either way especially once you opened something returning it raises prices and you have more returns in a year than I think I have had in the last 5 and I by alot of stuff.

So since I buy alot of stuff I have been in your shoes...or is it impossible to own a business and still buy hardware as a customer?

A dispute will result in a chargeback if approved whether you buy it in person or not.

It's becoming clear though in your defensiveness something is up....perhaps calling the merchant ourselves we can find out what's really going on.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
The big retailers still pass that cost down to us.

Yes I know that but I would rather that those who wants to pay the extra price to get the real product inside. However, having said that, most of the extra cost is due the expense of having a store front and hiring employees.

 

[Bad Dude]

It's becoming clear though in your defensiveness something is up....perhaps calling the merchant ourselves we can find out what's really going on.

If you were in my shoes you would be defensive too. It would be hard for you to understand our point a view as customers since you are a merchant. But while we are arguing, some one is enjoying my video card.
But I thank you for your input as a merchant.

By the way, just b/c I am a poor student does not mean I cannot buy expensive stuffs. We just have to buy much less of them. There are a lot of people here in CA or in other states who are poor but yet drive Mercedes. And a lot of them are on welfare. Don't worry, I am not on welfare and I drive an 87 Corrolla.

 

[MaxDepth]

But see, you are a Bad_Dude, and therefor must be treated accordingly.


Now if you were Good_Guy, none of this would have happened.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
But see, you are a Bad_Dude, and therefor must be treated accordingly.


Now if you were Good_Guy, none of this would have happened.

Yes. Maybe. Hi!Hi!

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
But see, you are a Bad_Dude, and therefor must be treated accordingly.


Now if you were Good_Guy, none of this would have happened.

But then we'd see a major influx of YAGTs