I recently received two gift certificates – one to Barnes and Noble and the other to Best Buy. I immediately thought of which CDs I would buy. I decided to buy Power by Q and Not U from Barnes and Noble and I would get a Mike Doughty album from Best Buy. I knew that I wasn’t going to find either of these selections at the store and that they would have to be special ordered. Similar approach, but very different results:
Barnes & Noble
I found the CD on their website. I called the store and asked if they had it in stock. They didn’t, but quickly offered to order it for me. They said I was not obligated to buy it, but they would call me when it got in.
They called a few days later; I went over and picked it up and didn’t have to pay for any shipping. Quick, easy, good to go.
Best Buy
I found the CD on their website. I called the store and they said they could only to ship it to a store if the album had a “store pick up” link by it on the website. It didn’t. This meant that it would have to be shipped to my house – and I would have to pay the shipping.
I thought that was a drag, but was willing to do it. I got the CD selected and put into my “shopping cart.” I went to “checkout” and there was no place to enter in a gift card number – something that Barnes & Noble has on their website.
I called the Murray store and said, “Hey, is there a way to enter in my gift card number on the website?”
“No.”
“And you won’t order a CD to your store so I can pick it up there?”
“No.”
“What can I do, then?”
“Well you could sign up for a Best Buy Card and use that online, but you wouldn’t be able to use your gift card.”
[Hmm. That sounds like a stupid idea.]
“Could I buy something in the store, return it, get cash back and then use that money to buy something online?”
“You can’t get cash back on a return purchased with a gift card.”
“So I’m screwed?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Thanks, Best Buy. It’s really been good to shop with you. Where do I sign up for that Best Buy Card?
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