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[webkatt]

I'm with HUELEN10 on this. I think he was more than generous waiting 40 mins+ for a manager though. I believe he may have Brian William'd his story a little though.

Spoiler

Can I have the $20 giftcard?

*Edit*
Clean room = bathroom with hot shower steaming to remove particles from the air.

 

[Two Words]

This is a lot more logical that might initially seem. I bought an iPad Mini 3 open-box for a good deal at Best Buy a few days ago; it was in good shape and had 9 months of Applecare on it. Since the battery seemed less than optimal, I scheduled an appointment to swap it out to get a fresh battery, and (like always by request at my Apple Store), a sealed replacement, so I can get home in my dust-free room, install a screen protector, and not worry about it.

Today, I found out that a store which Best Buy price matches had the same iPad I bought open box, for 40 bucks cheaper NEW. Now, doesn't it make sense to you that I would return my iPad to the store I bought it from to get 40 bucks back at the end of the day, plus a warranty extension? Truly, a no-brainer.

So, I go to Best Buy with my original iPad in tow. I confirm if they price match, and tell them that since I am not swapping for an identical model, I would return it, and then buy/price match the new one; the original clerk said that is the procedure anyways with non-identical exchanges, so that's what we do.

Except not; he has to go help someone else, so he takes me to another register to do the return. I return the one I brought in, get my money back, and then buy/Pm the other one. After an override, everything went without a hitch. After I gave the clerk my money, he went to the locker to bring me the iPad. He then unwrapped it right in front of me, and before I realize it, he took the sheet covering the tablet off, making the screen protector installation that I was gonna do a headache (truthfully, I am very picky about application of such things, but I also take pride in how well I put them on; it is my right after all).

Then, after the talk in the OP, and after the assistant manager and manager came in and all that, around 45 minutes elapsed.

See, it was a legitimate return, a legitimate purchase, and a legitimate price match; nothing more. In the end, I lost 4 hours, but effectively made 60 dollars out of it and extended my warranty for free, but at the same time, I no longer wish to give places like these my business. What I wanted to know was if this was common practice now, or not; I know with a lot of phone companies, most clerks open the device without asking, but with tablets and computers? In the end, the Best Buy I did end up buying the replacement from told me that that was not a corporate policy at all, and that they always ask before opening any type of computer.

Okay I stopped reading once you got to having a Clean Room in your home for screen protector "installation".

 

[Husker86]

Best Buy sure is stooping low. They're probably opening it up so it's harder for you to return it, maybe.

Doesn't Best Buy waive restocking fees? How are their returns bad?

 

[border]

so I can get home in my dust-free room, install a screen protector, and not worry about it.

You have a dust-free clean room in your house?

 

[CartridgeBlower]

My theory is that the op was planning to get a new device and resell it, having paid the original open box price first, for max
Profits. Nobody else would care enough about a wrap if it was for personal use.

But for someone planning to resell it, the fact that it was opened is a big problem..

Hmm...the plot thickens.

 

[FallingEdge]

From the white guy who thinks it's totally fine to use the n word frequently, but thinks the g word is unacceptable.

Rofl

 

[Bread]

"Hey HUELEN what are you up to?"

"Oh not much, just applying my screen protector to my new ipad."

 

[Two Words]

You have a dust-free clean room in your house?

Right? As if a house is ever going to have a less dense atmosphere of dust compared to a giant warehouse like Best Buy.

 

[DarkFlow]

Picture of HUELEN10 browsing GAF at home.

 

[border]

"Hey HUELEN what are you up to?"

"Oh not much, just applying my screen protector to my new ipad."

Installing the screen protector!

 

[dallow_bg]

He then unwrapped it right in front of me, and before I realize it, he took the sheet covering the tablet off

You're watching him take the outer shrinkwrap off, then shuffle the box open, then pick the sealed iPad out of the box, and then unwrap said iPad.

And no where there did you stop him?

 

[Maximus.]

Okay, I can understand how it would be frustrating if they even take the wrapper off the product without your consent. Originally, it sounded like it was just the outer wrapping of the box. That update post would have been better as an original OP.

 

[akachan ningen]

You just need to relax

 

[DarkFlow]

You're watching him take the outer shrinkwrap off, then shuffle the box open, then pick the sealed iPad out of the box, and then unwrap said iPad.

And no where there did you stop him?

Busy adjusting the oxygen flow to his clean suit.

 

[vikki]

I'm with you Huelen, don't open shit when you're not asked to.

 

[Bread]

You're watching him take the outer shrinkwrap off, then shuffle the box open, then pick the sealed iPad out of the box, and then unwrap said iPad.

And no where there did you stop him?

He watched the shrink wrap come off, blacked out, and came to when the screen wrap was being removed.

 

[Palette Swap]

This reads like the beginning of a Larry David story.

The next step is that you somehow need these people and they remember you from that time at the store, OP.

 

[DECK'ARD]

You're watching him take the outer shrinkwrap off, then shuffle the box open, then pick the sealed iPad out of the box, and then unwrap said iPad.

And no where there did you stop him?

Yeah, this makes no sense.

Was OP having a panic attack or something?

 

[Volimar]

I'm with you Huelen, don't open shit when you're not asked to.

Definitely should have asked first.

 

[Ominym]

I told her that I felt like I was being treated like a child, and that if I want to do things myself at home my way, I should be more than able to.

I cannot even imagine why you were being treated that way.

 

[railGUN]

I'm picturing the clerk unwrapping the iPad super fast, with a cartoon cloud appearing over his hands and the box.

 

[I Stalk Alone]

Cheapskate and an annoying as hell shopper. I pity those who you have to deal with on a daily basis. At least you make their lives not as boring. So i guess you have a purpose in this world afterall. Some people never find theirs so count yourself lucky.

I have a friend let's call him sam, who went to the woolworths with me a couple of weeks ago and wanted to buy some chilli chips. There was a sale of any two for some discount over buying one, since there was only one pack of chilli chips left he asked for the store manager to firstly find him another pack of chilli chips and if they did not have it to get any two packs of chips for free because he was inconveninced. He originally only wanted one pack. all i could do was stand there stunned at sams cheapness. I am now having second thoughts about going into business with him because of this and other reasons since. I bought the first pack at full price behind his back so we could just go. But not after fifteen minutes of sam insisting on wasting peoples time.

This is you huelen, you are the sam in other people's lives.

 

[Jackben]

He watched the shrink wrap come off, blacked out, and came to when the screen wrap was being removed.

Having your purchased goods unsealed without consent is a traumatic experience. It could have caused severe psychological damage. If anything Huelen should sue.

 

[Calamari41]

Does anybody else have to overwhelming urge to handle Huelen's phone right in front of him with cheeto fingers?

 

[Flo_Evans]

This is how I imagine everyone that puts screen protectors on stuff is.

 

[Ominym]

Does anybody else have to overwhelming urge to handle Huelen's phone right in front of him with cheeto fingers?

I may have just given him an aneurysm. Post if you're okay!

 

[NomarTyme]

Agrees with OP.

 

[Two Words]

Huelen, I think what you should take from the mocking here is not that you were wrong to want an unsealed box to take home. What you should take from it is that it is not really a big deal and making a thread about it isn't going to get you people sympathizing over such a small problem. I mean, I too could have made a thread today about how a clerk allowed a line cutter to skip people, but giving such a long-winded account to a large audience would just be nonsense.

 

[border]

This reminds me of a friend I have who is furious that Apple will not repair the broken-ass screen on his iPad Mini.

Typically you just cough up $100-$150 bucks and Apple gives you a new, sealed iPad and restores your old data to it. Presumably the old one just gets shipped off to a repair facility.

But unfortunately that's not good enough because he got his iPad specially engraved, so consequently he wants his specific unit repaired on-site and anything less is unacceptable. He would rather continue to use a screen so completely and utterly shattered that it can cut your fingers rather than give up on some dumb engraving that nobody will ever notice or care about.

 

[Persona7]

Every time I got a replacement for a electronic they would break the seal if it had one.

 

[Professor Beef]

Is this a store by store thing? Because the one I work at doesn't do this unless the customer asks.

Maybe you got a bad break, Huelen.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

See, it was a legitimate return, a legitimate purchase, and a legitimate price match; nothing more. In the end, I lost 4 hours, but effectively made 60 dollars out of it and extended my warranty for free, but at the same time, I no longer wish to give places like these my business.

Why not?

They just paid you for being a really finicky, fussy, problematic customer.

This is like a weird turducken made of gripes and brags.

I'm still tripping on why opening the box got you so heated when the iPad you were returning was an open box purchase. You wouldn't have had an iPad to return for in-store credit to purchase a price matched NEWER iPad if you weren't cool with the idea of owning something that was already opened.

and NONE of that further explains why your reaction/response to this "helpful" gesture is to become personally offended as if the clerk was trying to malign your iPad skills or whatever, as opposed to simply telling the clerk as you're watching them open a box you don't want opened, that you'd prefer if they didn't open the box and peel off all the plastic stuff as you get a kick out of doing that sorta shit. There is almost zero reason for you to act the way you acted unless the clerk was being openly condescending to you and expressing the idea that she didn't believe you could actually do it yourself.

 

[MiszMasz]

The concept of staff at a store selling electronic goods spending the entire working day serving customers who come in, buy a new, sealed, boxed item with their money, only for said staff to then open it up themselves before handing it over (as a default action), over and over, each customer, all day, day after day, boggles my mind.
This is something I've never experienced here in the UK (or when I've bought electrical goods in France and Germany).
Why even keep the new items sealed-in-box? If they can't order them in unboxed, why not unbox them upon stock reception and then save space in the store room with loose items? Hell, why not do a Gamestop and put all the tablets, unboxed, but in big envelopes in a locked drawer behind the counter?

You go to the desk, you hand them or tell them which item you want, they charge you and hand you the box, you leave. It's that simple.

Spoiler

I think this has broken me.

 

[Cipherr]

I can't help you all in here. I wouldn't have needed to make a scene, but they would have given me an unopened box or I would have taken my business elsewhere. No matter what it is I am buying at retail, ask me before you open it/break the seal.

This is not an unreasonable request. Period.

 

[MC Safety]

"Please don't open my Ipad. Thank you."

That should have eliminated about four hours' worth of hassle.

 

[numble]

I can't help you all in here. I wouldn't have needed to make a scene, but they would have given me an unopened box or I would have taken my business elsewhere. No matter what it is I am buying at retail, ask me before you open it/break the seal.

This is not an unreasonable request. Period.

You would take your business elsewhere when you traded in a used open-box item for store credit and used a price match policy to allow you to use the store credit?

 

[R-User!]

But what about the next time they have a big deal?

Big deal... (Read: so what)

 

[kame-sennin]

Since the battery seemed less than optimal, I scheduled an appointment to swap it out to get a fresh battery, and (like always by request at my Apple Store), a sealed replacement, so I can get home in my dust-free room, install a screen protector, and not worry about it.

he took the sheet covering the tablet off, making the screen protector installation that I was gonna do a headache (truthfully, I am very picky about application of such things, but I also take pride in how well I put them on; it is my right after all).

Explain this. All of it.

 

[DarkFlow]

Is this the point of a HUELEN backfire thread where he bails out never to be seen again?

 

[Koppai]

i work at best buy but thats all i can contribute to this thread, sorry huelen.

Me too. I have never seen someone open the cellophane on an iPad, and if you want anyone to install a screen protector or set it up, you have to pay a fee or geek squad.

 

[dallow_bg]

Is this the point of a HUELEN backfire thread where he bails out never to be seen again?

Heh, you notice this too?
I was hoping he'd at least answer my last question to him before he did.

 

[Syncytia]

I would be pretty annoyed if someone just opened something I just bought for no reason.

Reminds me of a plane flight in India. Before landing they do the whole stay seated until we reach the gate thing. Literally as soon as we hit the ground a dude is walking down the aisle and the flight attendant in front of me goes:
"What are you doing, sit down."

The guy just stops and stares:

They do that at each other for like 5 minutes and then we're at the gate so it doesn't matter. I kinda feel like this whole situation is the same scenario. I would probably never shop there again though.

 

[norm9]

Id rather throw away the iPad than let someone touch it with their fingers.

 

[ponpo]

Tell me more about your dust free room.

 

[SirMossyBloke]

Id rather throw away the iPad than let someone touch it with their fingers.

I'd rather burn it with the grease of 1000 rare turtles than let someone open it to make sure it works before I leave.

 

[catmincer]

Is this the point of a HUELEN backfire thread where he bails out never to be seen again?

Maybe he is busy reapplying his screen protector in a dust proof room?

 

[Blargonaut]

 

[Alucrid]

15 minutes to buy + 45 minutes to wait = 4 hours? unless the op drove somewhere 1.5 hours away to save $40

 

[Dega]

=\


lol

 

[HUELEN10]

You're watching him take the outer shrinkwrap off, then shuffle the box open, then pick the sealed iPad out of the box, and then unwrap said iPad.

And no where there did you stop him?

Honestly, the man was just too fast. Have you ever seen how a Mini is packaged? It can be completely unwrapped in seconds.

Huelen, I think what you should take from the mocking here is not that you were wrong to want an unsealed box to take home. What you should take from it is that it is not really a big deal and making a thread about it isn't going to get you people sympathizing over such a small problem. I mean, I too could have made a thread today about how a clerk allowed a line cutter to skip people, but giving such a long-winded account to a large audience would just be nonsense.

Truthfully, and I said this in the OP too, I was curious to see if like with cell-hones now, this is now one of those things where the majority of people open the box for you and you have to "opt out". Apparently, from what I gathered, this is not the case, and they should have asked my permission. Now, I know that this shouldn't have happened, yet just in case since it is still considered a mobile device, I should let the clerk know, even thought I should not have to. And some non-americans in this thread made me realize just how bullshit some of the assumed practices in the states can be when it comes to retail; it truly should be always walk in, buy, get box, walk out, unless the customer specifies otherwise, or the clerk asks permission.

You would take your business elsewhere when you traded in a used open-box item for store credit and used a price match policy to allow you to use the store credit?

I didn't trade-in anything, I made a return; The purchase I made afterward was a completely separate transaction as no exchange could be made since the products weren't identical to begin with.

Explain this. All of it.

What is there to explain? You expose the screen to dust/smudges, then you have to be thorough and clean, and then apply; it makes a hard job harder.


Again, thanks to you guys, I know that this shouldn't have happened. At the same time, I know that even though I shouldn't need, telling the clerk ahead of time might solve future headaches.