BEST BUY Return Policy Bay Shore New York

If you don't read your receipt - would you have listened to an employee rattling off all the things you need to look out for?

This return policy is plastered everywhere.

They do not just return it to the shelf. Do you know anyone that will pay full price for an open box? The restocking fee is designed to recoup the money they loose by placing an open box back on the floor.

I agree Best Buy could have handled it more gracefully, but expecting them to bend the rules (and the bend these rules for everyone else) kinda negates the purpose for the rule anyway. I am also assuming you were a tad hostile while in the store as well.
At least they let you return it. Target won't take it back at all.

I checked on Best Buy's website for the in-store return policy and here is an excerpt on Restocking Fees and Refund methods. I know neither really help you now but is good info for anyone else that is looking to return an open item to BB.

Restocking fee
A restocking fee of 15% will be charged on opened notebook computers, projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, radar detectors, GPS navigation and in-car video systems unless defective or prohibited by law. A restocking fee of 25% will be charged on Special Order Products, including appliances unless defective or prohibited by law.

Refund method
Refund will be in the same form as original purchase. Exceptions: Cash, debit or check purchases over $250 will be refunded in the form of a mail check within 10 business days of return.

There is not a restocking fee on every product. There is only a restock fee on laptops (not desktops), radar detector's, GPS, cameras/camcorders only! All of these products have one thing in common- they are items people use (like on vacation) then return for a refund. Best Buy is only trying to even the playing field a little by trying to eliminate this "rental" purchase. So if you open a television, there is no restocking fee.

I just wanted to agree with Tom. The restock fee is because they now need to discount it to sell it. Say you are buying a TV for $2,000 are you going to pay the brand new price for one that you can see has been clearly opened and returned? Nope you are going to say I want one that is brand new, check another store. Even if they take the 15% off that they charged to restock it, you probably won't even pay $1,700 just because people automatically think if someone brought it back there must be something wrong with it and I don't want to deal with it over $300.

It is common sense why there is a restock fee on such big ticket items because someone can buy a GPS go on a week long trip use it and return it with no penalty. They know this so they charge for you for it. Same thing with a TV. You can buy a big screen for the superbowl and just return it when the game ends. The item is now used so no one will pay brand new price. We are lucky they even give us our money back on items like this and don't do exchange only if you don't like the item.

You yourself stated you returned the item because you didn't like how it performed a certain feature. The unit was not defective or broken in any way. ANY retail store will charge you a restocking fee for returning a perfectly fine product.

If the GPS was damaged or defective, you would have been able to get a replacement without a restocking fee.

Again, this is a normal practice for any retail store. This prevents people from buying a product and simply testing it out to see if they like it or not and then returning it.

And no, Best Buy will NOT simply place the product back on the shelf and resell it at regular price. They will have to sell it as an "OPEN BOX" item at a discount. The restocking fee is to cover the price drop to sell as an open box item.

This report is not a ripoff because first, all you had to do is open your eyes in the store. Best Buy's return policy is on big signs at the front of every store. Go back to the store and you'll see it. Also, if you looked at the back of your receipt, you would have seen it too. You have no excuse not to know about the return policy.

Yes, I did work for Best Buy about 8 years ago and left because management at my particular store was a mess and I got a better job offer. I do shop at Best Buy as well as many other retailers.

Pay attention next time.