Packard
Member
A couple of months ago I bought new Apple tablet from Best Buy.
In the past, I have purchased my Apple products from an Apple Store, but the nearest Apple Store is about 40 miles away and the Best Buy is less than 2 miles from my house.
When offered, I always decline to buy extended warranties and sign up for any subscription service as sometimes the subscription services are difficult to cancel.
Best Buy offered me an extended warranty, which I declined. They never offered any subscription service at all.
Last month I got an AMEX charge from Best Buy for $17.29. I got distracted and did nothing about it. This month a second charge was made for $17.29. I drove to the Best Buy store and asked what is was for. It was for a “Best Buy Membership” which included an extended warranty and damage protection if I dropped or otherwise damaged the tablet they would fix it.
If I declined to buy the extended warranty, why would I buy a membership that did the same? Were they going to sell me both?
In any case, I wanted to end the subscription. Ending a subscription was a process that they made as difficult as possible to do. I asked to speak to someone from customer service. The cashier asked what the problem was and gave me a phone call saying the only way to cancel was by phone.
I called the number which was really a telemarketing number that offered two options: Press 1 if you are over 55 years of age; Press 2 if you are under 55 years of age. If you pressed #1 it connected you to a licensed insurance agent who would explain my options for Medicare insurance plans. If I pressed #2 they would connect me to a sales person about hearing aides. I hung up an went back to the Best Buy store.
I asked to speak to the store manager. I got a little loud and other customers were listening in, so the store manager took me aside and ended the subscription.
In the future at the end of any purchase where such antics are done, I will say just prior to handing over my credit card, “Please note I have not agreed to any extended purchase plans or other subscriptions, and any charges for those purchase are not authorized.” I’m not sure that will be as effective as I would like.
On Monday I will call AMEX and see if I can specify that Best Buy purchases be limited to transactions where the card is present. Or perhaps they have some other mechanism to combat unwanted subscriptions.
Very annoying.
In the past, I have purchased my Apple products from an Apple Store, but the nearest Apple Store is about 40 miles away and the Best Buy is less than 2 miles from my house.
When offered, I always decline to buy extended warranties and sign up for any subscription service as sometimes the subscription services are difficult to cancel.
Best Buy offered me an extended warranty, which I declined. They never offered any subscription service at all.
Last month I got an AMEX charge from Best Buy for $17.29. I got distracted and did nothing about it. This month a second charge was made for $17.29. I drove to the Best Buy store and asked what is was for. It was for a “Best Buy Membership” which included an extended warranty and damage protection if I dropped or otherwise damaged the tablet they would fix it.
If I declined to buy the extended warranty, why would I buy a membership that did the same? Were they going to sell me both?
In any case, I wanted to end the subscription. Ending a subscription was a process that they made as difficult as possible to do. I asked to speak to someone from customer service. The cashier asked what the problem was and gave me a phone call saying the only way to cancel was by phone.
I called the number which was really a telemarketing number that offered two options: Press 1 if you are over 55 years of age; Press 2 if you are under 55 years of age. If you pressed #1 it connected you to a licensed insurance agent who would explain my options for Medicare insurance plans. If I pressed #2 they would connect me to a sales person about hearing aides. I hung up an went back to the Best Buy store.
I asked to speak to the store manager. I got a little loud and other customers were listening in, so the store manager took me aside and ended the subscription.
In the future at the end of any purchase where such antics are done, I will say just prior to handing over my credit card, “Please note I have not agreed to any extended purchase plans or other subscriptions, and any charges for those purchase are not authorized.” I’m not sure that will be as effective as I would like.
On Monday I will call AMEX and see if I can specify that Best Buy purchases be limited to transactions where the card is present. Or perhaps they have some other mechanism to combat unwanted subscriptions.
Very annoying.
