[starman]

This weekend my wife and I went Christmas shopping. I stopped into an EB Games just to see if there was something that slipped under my radar. Sure enough, Final Fantasy IV for the GBA had come out. I have it for the PS1 but decided to pick it up anyway. So I'm checking out and the guy says "That'll be <whatever it cost> which included a $3 insurance fee.".

WTF?

So I ask what it is. "If anything happens to it we'll find a replacement for you for free"

"I don't need it"

"Why? Don't your discs get scratched?"

(mind you, this is a CART)

"I have hundreds of games that date back to 1978. They all work. Why did you add that anyway? I didn't ask for it"

"The computer does it automatically"

"That's wrong. What if you didn't tell me?"

(He actually said this out loud) "I don't understand why people don't like that".

So if you go into EB Games, make sure they don't auto-charge you for that BS insurance. I'm thinking about stopping into another one close to me and see if they do it again.

Any other stories like that?

Mike

[Cubeoid]

Nothing wrong with it. $3 is nothing.

[starman]

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

Nothing wrong with it. $3 is nothing.

Multiply that times 10 and you can pay for a game. It's not "nothing".

[MightyWinnebago]

Yeah. That's 3 double cheeseburgers from mcdonalds man!

[wallinbl]

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

Nothing wrong with it. $3 is nothing.

Please send me $3. You can use PayPal if you like. Please repeat this daily, or hourly as you please. Not going to do it? Why? I thought $3 was nothing.

[wallinbl]

I bought a PSP in Best Buy back when it came out and the girl almost didn't ring it up because I wouldn't take the extended warranty. I told her I had no need for it, but she replied by telling me that Sony was getting sued over the PSP and it would be pulled from the market. I asked her how the warranty would help when it was pulled from the market, and she told me that Best Buy would give me a full refund.

Sometimes you just have to ignore the clerks. I think the EB guy added it himself because he gets spiffed for selling them. If he blames the 'big corporate machine' for it happening, then you don't get mad at him.

[sek929]

When I bought Half Life 2 from Best Buy the clerk wanted me to get the insurance on the disc.

I said no, to which she replied, "Haven't you had games get ruined in the past?"

"No, I don't. You see I actually take care of my purchases so they don't get ruined"

She just sighed and rang me up, like I'm such a fool becaue I know how to protect a small disc.

[OldManMac]

That is not only wrong, it is illegal. There's nothing wrong with them asking you if you want an extended warranty (many stores require their employees to do so), but to automatically add it on to the price is asking them to get hauled in court. Besides, it's just plain unethical to try to sneak one past the cutomer.

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

Nothing wrong with it. $3 is nothing.

He didn't specify what the item cost, but let's assume it was around $20. Three dollars is 15% of that purchase price. I don't like throwing away 15% of my money, as that's what I can get for investing it, which would certainly provide better returns than the infinitessimally small chance of this product becoming damaged or unusable.

[NYCFarmboy]

sleezy things DirectTV & Dishnetwork do:

if you ever get DirectTV be prepared for an ordeal from hell to cancel the service.... it took me 5 hours, and 8 phonecalls, mostly to various call centers to places where I couldn't understand the people that refused to cancel my service.

They flat out just refused to let me cancel. They kept hanging up on me or putting me on hold for an hour hoping I'd give up..... FINALLY they connected me to a person that spoke English, he did let me cancel, but right at the end he kept asking if I was sure I really wanted to cancel.

It was unbelieveable.


...

Dishnetwork: Annoyed with them right now as I signed up for Showtime online and have found the programming is awful on it so I'm trying to just cancel that, but there is no way you can do that online...we'll see how the email/phonecalls go to get it done.

[MightyWinnebago]

Originally Posted by NYCFarmboy

sleezy things DirectTV & Dishnetwork do:

if you ever get DirectTV be prepared for an ordeal from hell to cancel the service.... it took me 5 hours, and 8 phonecalls, mostly to various call centers to places where I couldn't understand the people that refused to cancel my service.

They flat out just refused to let me cancel. They kept hanging up on me or putting me on hold for an hour hoping I'd give up..... FINALLY they connected me to a person that spoke English, he did let me cancel, but right at the end he kept asking if I was sure I really wanted to cancel.

It was unbelieveable.


...

Dishnetwork: Annoyed with them right now as I signed up for Showtime online and have found the programming is awful on it so I'm trying to just cancel that, but there is no way you can do that online...we'll see how the email/phonecalls go to get it done.

My suggestion: Don't pay for cable. At all. Just get netflix or rent movies and documentaries from teh library. Cost: At most $20.

[production_coordinator]

If they didn't tell you, it is WRONG.

What's stopping your internet provider from slapping on a $3 bill for "Internet Insurance"... bla bla bla. It's OK if they hard sell insurance, but DO NOT put it on automatically or it is illegal IMHO.

[MightyWinnebago]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

If they didn't tell you, it is WRONG.

What's stopping your internet provider from slapping on a $3 bill for "Internet Insurance"... bla bla bla. It's OK if they hard sell insurance, but DO NOT put it on automatically or it is illegal IMHO.

Um... looked at a utility bill lately? "Line charges" "sewer charges" "Maintenence charges" etc etc etc etc etc etc. I called up and asked for the explanations of each one.... the lady couldn't give me one. Pathetic.

[Mastrap]

Stores make huge profits from peddling insurance that nobody needs. In many cases the clerks are being paid commission on every successful sale, which explains the pushiness.
When I bought my Canon printer the guy selling it to me (Staples) really got on my nerves trying to sell a three year service plan.

[ThinkInsane]

Originally Posted by wallinbl

I bought a PSP in Best Buy back when it came out and the girl almost didn't ring it up because I wouldn't take the extended warranty. I told her I had no need for it, but she replied by telling me that Sony was getting sued over the PSP and it would be pulled from the market. I asked her how the warranty would help when it was pulled from the market, and she told me that Best Buy would give me a full refund.

Sometimes you just have to ignore the clerks. I think the EB guy added it himself because he gets spiffed for selling them. If he blames the 'big corporate machine' for it happening, then you don't get mad at him.

I can do you one better on Best Buy. I think I may have posted this here when it happened. Last year I stopped in to buy a camera Best Buy had on sale. I was on my way to work and sort of pressed for time, so I just told the sales drone what I wanted and sent him along to get it. When he was getting ready to ring me out, he said "I just need to run you through the extended warranty". I tell him not to bother, I won't be buying it, so no point in wasting his or my time. So he tells me that it's against company policy to sell something like a camera unless they first explain all the benefits of the extended warranty, and if I don't want to hear about it, he can just go put the camera back. Amazing the way that "company policy" changed when the yelling started.

[MacNStein]

Originally Posted by MightyWinnebago

Um... looked at a utility bill lately? "Line charges" "sewer charges" "Maintenence charges" etc etc etc etc etc etc. I called up and asked for the explanations of each one.... the lady couldn't give me one. Pathetic.

In my state, if the utility co can't or won't explain the charge then you don't have to pay it. There are several charges that I don't pay for with various companies. I just subtract them off my bill and pay the rest. A couple have griped, but I send them a copy of the law and tell them that they have to send me a detailed explanation of the charges... to this day, none have.

[Dark Helmet]

EB games tried some **** like that on me. When I bought my original Xbox the girl was trying to sell me on the extended warrenty. I didn't bite so she kept pushing saying that "many people are having problems with the disk drive scratching disks and loading problems". I said it sounds like a faulty product then and I didn't want it. I had her reverse the charge and I went to another store to buy it.

Same goes for my Xbox 360 at Futureshop/Best Guy. The sales guy kept saying because it had an optical drive it will fail. I said I have CD players from 1990 that still work fine so don't give me any of that crap.

The worst is with Audio cables though. They try to sell you HDMI or Optical cables that are better quality or gold plated for 10x the regular price. When I say to them the information going over those cables is DIGITAL as on 1's and 0's what sort of information is going to become messed up? The info either gets there or it doesn't, it doesn't get interference. They shut up at that point.

[sek929]

They tried to sell me a 40$ plan on my refurbished xBox.

"Well its refurbished so it might have problems"

Wouldn't the refurbushing pretty much make it a new unit?

Plus, I was only paying 120 for it (three years ago) so I didn't really care.

Besides the power problem I have it works fine, no disk drive problems for me. I doubt the plan would still cover me anyways...they just want commision on selling extra things.

Luckily I (and pretty much everyone here) am a smart consumer and what I buy tends to be a great choice that lasts me for years....I think a new type of store for nerds like us in is order...no 18 year old business majors telling us the advantages of one camera over another. Or why a new DVD player is useless without 50$ gold plated cables.

[Cody Dawg]

You think that's bad?

My son saw a Floam (which is a weird substance in different colors that kids like to use) commercial and begged for it for Christmas. It was advertised at $16.95.

I went online to buy it.

It said $16.95.

"Expedited 2-day delivery is only $6.95!"

I said okay to $6.95 for shipping.

It asks for my credit card number.

I gave it.

BUT IT CHARGED ME $90!!!

I tried to look up their number to express my disgust and CANCEL the order...

THEY ONLY HAVE A 900 NUMBER AT $4 A MINUTE TO TELEPHONE THEM!

I sent them an email telling them that I am actually going to contact the Florida state attorney's office for fraud, the FCC for fraud, etc. Called my bank to tell them what they did in case it appears on my card.

A$$HOLES.

[Dark Helmet]

Cody Dawg, just call your credit card company and reverse the charge. A lot easier and free.

[Cody Dawg]

Well, it's not on there yet.

But what freaking jerks, you know?

It's fraud - at Christmas time.

A lot of parents are barely making ends meet at this time of the year and that company does something shitty like that. A$$ES.

[wallinbl]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Cody Dawg, just call your credit card company and reverse the charge. A lot easier and free.

Call both. People need to get fined/go to jail for junk like this.

[ort888]

Gamestop and EB are unethical horrible companies. I don't shop there anymore for a lot of reasons. Screw those guys.

Also, I had a similar problem when I bought my first iPod at Best Buy. That God Damn little 18 year old twerp seriously pestered my for 5 minutes about a extended warranty. "We have a lot of problems with these... it would be a good idea... it would be stupid not to... it's only $45 dollars... if you don't get it, I guarantee that you will regret it... everyone who buys an iPod gets a warranty... blah blah blah... I almost never get mad or angry but I lost it with this guy. After about my 5th no in a row I said in a very stern voice, "Look, you can either ring me up right now or you can go get your boss, but if you say one more word about this warranty, ONE WORD, I'm going to flip out." He gave me a mean look and completed the rest of the transaction in silence. It was absolutely ridiculous.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by ort888

Also, I had a similar problem when I bought my first iPod at Best Buy. That God Damn little 18 year old twerp seriously pestered my for 5 minutes about a extended warranty.

Don't talk about Superchichen like that.

[Kevin]

Someone has a holiday crush....

[QuadG5Man]

Anyone tried http://gameznflix.com?

[mindwaves]

I have never purchased an extended warranty for anything besides my 12'' PowerBook which I'm glad that I did.

[scaught]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Don't talk about Superchichen like that.

Originally Posted by Kevin

Someone has a holiday crush....

hahhaa. good stuff.

[Bane-vader]

Originally Posted by ort888

Also, I had a similar problem when I bought my first iPod at Best Buy. That God Damn little 18 year old twerp seriously pestered my for 5 minutes about a extended warranty. "We have a lot of problems with these... it would be a good idea... it would be stupid not to... it's only $45 dollars... if you don't get it, I guarantee that you will regret it... everyone who buys an iPod gets a warranty... blah blah blah... I almost never get mad or angry but I lost it with this guy. After about my 5th no in a row I said in a very stern voice, "Look, you can either ring me up right now or you can go get your boss, but if you say one more word about this warranty, ONE WORD, I'm going to flip out." He gave me a mean look and completed the rest of the transaction in silence. It was absolutely ridiculous.

I think instead of being nice and saying 'nah' for 5 minutes and then blowing up at the guy you'd have saved time by just saying flat out in a strict voice 'NO' before they're even done giving you the schpeal. Works for me.

[ort888]

I tried that. This kid was something else. I said no about 5 or 6 times. I told him nothing he could say would make me say yes and he would just start in again. There were actually 2 of them there. The cashier and the guy who walked the iPod to the register. It was a tag team, and it went on for at least 5 minutes.

At fist I was nice. Then I was telling them why I didn't want it. Then I just kept saying no over and over again. I always go out of my way to be super nice to everyone, and these guys just didn't stop.

[ghporter]

I buy extended warranties on things like CARS. My home came with a 5 year warranty on some things, and that's good enough. A $3.00 "insurance" policy on a $50 game is stupid. At least to us. Have you seen what teenagers do with discs today? I can't tell you how many store-bought CDs I've had to resurect because my son is not particularly interested in those bulky jewel cases that have the artwork and liner notes on them. The insurance is there because the company got in hot water because somebody screwed up a game or music CD and was upset because it wasn't "their fault." Just say "no" and be done with it.

On the other hand, I would not put up with the crap ThinkInsane did, late for work or not. I'd get Twerp's full name and come back to talk to the manager after work. How can company policy about an extended warranty trump a customer saying "no?" Answer: It can't. But floor Twerps are not typically well versed in how far to push before letting the customer do his thing, whether it's a good idea or not, so it's important to let management know that this particular Twerp is bothering customers. I don't mind going to another store if the one that's closest to me is no longer friendly, and managers are afraid of that particular sentiment.

[Cody Dawg]

Next time they harass you about an extended warranty ask for the store manager and let him have an earful of vitriol.

Tell him that you're SICK of being HARASSED for extended warranties when you visit his store.

I buy the extended warranty on small electronics that my children abuse and that's it.

[Spliffdaddy]

The store manager is required to make his/her employees force those warranties onto customers - so voicing your displeasure ain't likely to help.

The reason extended warranties are offered is because, like spam email, there is the occasional idiot that buys one.

[jersey]

I bought an epson r1800 recently at comp usa (i know...i know, but I needed to finish a project that night and couldnt wait for it) and they tried to sell me the 1 year warranty for $70. I told the manage no many times, and that it had a warranty from epson anyway, blah blah blah. Finally he said fine, but wouldnt sell me the thing unless I signed that I didnt want the warranty. asses. I think I'm going to return it anyway, because the media never loads properly.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Spliffdaddy

The store manager is required to make his/her employees force those warranties onto customers - so voicing your displeasure ain't likely to help.

The reason extended warranties are offered is because, like spam email, there is the occasional idiot that buys one.

That's true, but if the "forcing" is so over-the-top that it actually DRIVES AWAY customers, then I'd think the manager ought to know.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by jersey

I bought an epson r1800 recently at comp usa (i know...i know, but I needed to finish a project that night and couldnt wait for it) and they tried to sell me the 1 year warranty for $70. I told the manage no many times, and that it had a warranty from epson anyway, blah blah blah. Finally he said fine, but wouldnt sell me the thing unless I signed that I didnt want the warranty. asses. I think I'm going to return it anyway, because the media never loads properly.

The moment they tell me to sign a waiver I will make a huge scene and yell, "No, I'm not signing a waiver! You can take your stupid <electronic device> and shove it!" Then I would yell to everyone not to buy anything here unless they wanted to get the extended warranty, because they make you sign a waiver if you don't, and that there are plenty of other places where you can go where you don't have to sign a waiver.

[freudling]

Ya, extended warranty. If you buy with a major credit card, they usually double the warranty anyhow. As electronics goes, after about 2 years, you are either very happy with your piece or it sucks, is dated and time to move on to something else. You then sell it used to someone and take a big hit and replace it with something else. The only good thing about it is, at some places, the warranty is good for in store service, meaning it does not have to be shipped off somewhere or taken to x places for quotes. Some require that you ship the product to the manufacturer and pay the shipping, like sony seems to do.

But I digress. I hate the latter idiom. Why did I use it then? Anyway, one thing that is a trend that I hate about retailers is their mail in rebates. How many of us actually remember to do it? Well, ok, I am sure most on these boards do, but probably many don't. The process can be lengthy (cut out UPC codes, fill out form, mail in materials no later than x date, etc.). Then you wait for the rebate, and they love to say, after you get it all home, "allow up to 8 weeks to process your rebate." You think about that. They keep your money for 2 months after purchase. Sure, on paper it looks good, but you could fill up your cart with "mail in rebate crap" and have nothing short of an administrative burden. Just reduce the god damn price at the till.

[Miniryu]

Originally Posted by Person Man

That's true, but if the "forcing" is so over-the-top that it actually DRIVES AWAY customers, then I'd think the manager ought to know.

most people don't have backbones and will simply buy the warrenty to get the sale/attact clerk off their back. Selling warrenties will keep prices low, and low prices will get customers back into a store, no matter how poor the service is.

[Eriamjh]

Considering that the warranties are almost PURE profit for nothing more than pissing off the customer, they push them... HARD! Isn't there a thread about how someone was basically told they weren't selling enough warranties at BB?

[alphasubzero949]

Extended warranties = sales commission

[meelk]

Originally Posted by alphasubzero949

Extended warranties = sales commission

The places I've managed and worked retail, they werent even sales commission, they are simply considered part of your job. They are indeed pushed HARD because they are essentially pure profit. Most people will either never use them by forgetting about them, or lose the associated paperwork, and deprive themselves the opportunity of using them.

Certain places, including Best Buy, EB, and Gamestop among them, have taken the concept and created a monster with it. They push it on management and employees that its absolutely necessary to sell them, or quite simply, they lose their jobs. I have been on the receiving end of this and its not fun. Most places dont even make veiled threats about it. You WILL be fired.

Certain extended warranties are useful. I blatently used and abused the ones at Best Buy for some time on things like mice and keyboards (before they wised up and removed them from these items ). During this time if my keyboard got dirty, I replaced it. Mouse started to click funny? Replaced. It was a tuesday after a holiday and the moon was going to be full? Replaced. I had nothing better to do that day? Replaced.

Did I feel the least bit bad about it? Hell no.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by ghporter

I buy extended warranties on things like CARS.

And laptops. Always on laptops.

Have you seen what teenagers do with discs today? I can't tell you how many store-bought CDs I've had to resurect because my son is not particularly interested in those bulky jewel cases that have the artwork and liner notes on them.

I know what you mean, but I can tell you how many CDs I'll have to resurrect when the time comes -- ONE.

My favorite stupid retail story:

We researched our DLP TV and checked inventory in the store. Went to Best Buy, since they were supposed to have them. Confirmed that they did. The only question we had was whether it would work with regular cable, or if we'd have to upgrade to HD (which wasn't available where we were yet). We asked that question, pretty straight, several times, and the b*tch opened with "Well if you're going to hook that TV to regular cable, you might as well buy a regular 27" tube TV." I almost lost it. Came very close. We bought the set there, but not from her. I asked for someone who understood the TV and could discuss it with my wife, and took myself out of the picture.

And of course we bought the extended warranty, because it includes bulbs, no limit. For three years. Given the average bulb life and the cost of paying to replace one, or more, it's a deal.

Otherwise, no extended service plans for me.

[legacyb4]

I wonder if this holds true in Canada as well?

Originally Posted by MacNStein

In my state, if the utility co can't or won't explain the charge then you don't have to pay it. There are several charges that I don't pay for with various companies. I just subtract them off my bill and pay the rest. A couple have griped, but I send them a copy of the law and tell them that they have to send me a detailed explanation of the charges... to this day, none have.

[JoshuaZ]

I remember when I went to Ultimate Electronics with my Dad because he wanted a new stereo receiver, and they gave us free drinks and offered us some free popcorn. Then the sales guy, who was way too nice and helpful, answered all our questions and was real smart about the audio equipment. Then to top it off he said that the old receiver my Dad had was far better for what we were set up for then any of the modern junk at the store, and the only real benefit would be surround sound for movies, though we didn't have enough speakers. How DARE someone be helpful. From that day on I never went back to the store, and instead went to Best Buy for all my sales.

[tikki]

Crap like this is why I purchase everything online. I have grown tired of the harassing nature of sales people at Best Buy and Circuit City. if I need something immediately I just buy it on circuitcity.com and then go pick it up at the store. Very minimal interaction with annoying employees. :-)

[mssilver94]

I understand the trend on this thread to hold the clerks up to ridicule for pressuring customers to buy outrageously expensive and unnecessary "product-protective" insurance, but let's get real here: 1) Clerks are doing what their employer company's and management require them to do ... nothing more; nothng less. Let's put the responsibility for this outrageous business rip off where it belongs -- on greedy companies pandering to their fat cat executives and stock holders! I've never known a clerk to make store policy yet ... Have you?

2) Aggressive, annoying and harassing practices imposed upon customers have become a more frequent business approach as the consumer is too often, in my view, relegated by business today to the role of cash-register, objectified, rather than treated with civility and respect, and in the vein of the former adage that the customer is always right. Until customers hold companies and their management personnel responsible and accountable by withholding patronage of such establishments, I do not believe the abusiveness toward customers will cease; and finally,

3) Since when are we as customers unable to ignore or tune out people -- anyone -- who ignores our wishes and attempts to disregard our rights to determine our own experience in our lives? Are we that weak-willed and lack that much backbone that we allow strangers to manipulate us so easily with a few words in a short business transaction? Come on ... A simple answer like "no" is sufficient to handle such a problem followed by silence on our part, or a statement that we will walk away and buy nothing if they persist in harassing or haranguing spoken in a firm manner with unwavering eye contact!

In my experience, it's not that hard to ignore such individuals, and better yet, to just walk away from the purchase when it requires putting up with controlling and unacceptable treatment. Quiet protest is often a very loud and profound indication that there is a problem that needs addressing.

Otherwise, we are paying for mistreatment! I for one am not doing this; life is too short! I tell sales people who start this insurance pitch up front I don't need such insurance and that they really don't want to get me started with my lengthy story of how the public and the customers are being ripped off by such practices and how businesses are capitalizing on peoples fears and lining their company's pockets with little or no benefit to the customer. The line I speak that really gets them is when I say that every company now days wants to act like an insurance company: Meaning -- such a company views customers as nothing more than bottomless pits of money which they are required to give to the company for which they rarely receive value or return, and never to the extent of their original financial contribution.

I have a pleasant, sincere and warm demeanor, but I am perfectly aware of my rights and who handles my check book! Thus, I rarely have any problem with clerks. In fact, it's my belief most clerks know the truth when they hear it, just as customers do, and are as far as I have experienced, are also relieved to hear someone voice the truth.[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][/FONT]

[Railroader]

I have walked away from a large electronic purchase at a Staples when the manager requested I sign a waiver for refusing the extended warranty. He followed me out to my car telling me it was the new wave of retail and that everyone will be requiring it soon.

That was about a year ago and I have seen no sign of this "new wave".

I still haven't been back to a Staples since.

[Busemann]

The reason extended warranties are offered is because, like spam email, there is the occasional idiot that buys one.

Extended warranty! How can I lose?!

[Maflynn]

I'm not sure its unethical, but its weird nonetheless. I needed na new wireless network card because the clods that were working on my house tried to lift/move the desktop computer by the attenna (its my wife's peecee).

So I'm at compusa, picking out the one I want and I go to the register. All of a sudden it rings in 17 dollars cheaper then it was stickered. sweet, except that the guy at the register then tacked on a 17 dollar extended warrenty. basically I can have the card for full price w/o the extended warrenty or for the same price with an extended warrenty.

While I don't like how it was done I'm not paying any more so that's what I mean that I'm not sure if its unethical or not. I'm not a huge fan of compusa, but we were waiting for my step son to finish work and they were right there (and I needed the card).

Mike

[scaught]

Originally Posted by starman

Sure enough, Final Fantasy IV for the GBA had come out. I have it for the PS1 but decided to pick it up anyway.

is it worth picking up if i have the SNES version?