Best Buy Says iPhone X Costs $100 Extra at Full Price Because Flexibility Sometimes 'Has a Cost'

[M5RahuL]

For quite some time, BB takes a copy of your drivers license (ID) when you return something pricey. Either you haven't returned anything in a long time, or you buy very low cost items.

Yup, I buy very low cost items .. like my recently purchased/returned LG G6, or the Bose QC 35s, or Series 2 SS Apple Watch, or the Sennheiser HD 800 S with a balanced Sennheiser AMP.. just those menial items.. No DL required for returns..
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I was Elite Plus until last year, simply from buying a Macbook Pro or two a year from BBY ... didn't do much for me except the extended return period... but I don't "rent" things like some comments on here seem to do. I just trust buying from Amazon more these days. I know I'm far less likely to get something opened\returned than from BBY

I was an Elite Plus for almost 4 years..then, they screwed up my pre-orders, and started giving me run arounds for refunds, billing etc.. and CS was ..well what CS.. So, paid the damn BB card off ( $5K plus balance ), cancelled the card, and was done with them!

Now, like I said, if I have an interest in a product ( been very keen on the Bose QC 35 lately ).. I'll get it from BB, and if I like it.. eventually buy it from Amazon, B&H Photo, etc..

 

[chriscrowlee]

Yup, I buy very low cost items .. like my recently purchased/returned LG G6, or the Bose QC 35s, or Series 2 SS Apple Watch, or the Sennheiser HD 800 S with a balanced Sennheiser AMP.. just those menial items.. No DL required for returns..

HEHE, you do return a lot ;-)

 

[LiveM]

apple needs to shut them down for gouging. I hate buying from them anymore anyway. Everything I have bought lately has restocking fees. They even tried to charge me $150 to return a product that didn't work out of the box.

Hang on a minute. What's the usual Apple margin for Best Buy? Almost nothing, I'all bet. Apple price gouges its retailers.

A returned item should also not be resold as a brand new one, or at full price. Once it's opened it's second-hand.

 

[Tarheels23]

My goodness I miss Circuit City.

 

[chriscrowlee]

So, paid the damn BB card off ( $5K plus balance )

In fairness if you've spent $5k at BBY you've got a right to return whatever you want IMO... but I'm sure the best buy fanboy (employee) will pipe in and say you're an over-entitled customer ... which is why you feel the way you do. LOL
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Hang on a minute. What's the usual Apple margin for Best Buy? Almost nothing, I'all bet. Apple price gouges its retailers.

A returned item should also not be resold as a brand new one, or at full price. Once it's opened it's second-hand.

Their margins on products are non existent, except for things like cables, cases, etc... That's why they've sold out half their stores to their store within a store, comcast tables, directv roaming salesmen, samsung, etc etc etc. It's gross.

I agree with the returns being sold... they're used... but best buy calls them "open box" LOL... understatement of the century when buying something personal like headphones or earbuds, etc. haha

 

[krown89]

I actually work for Best Buy Mobile. Yea I never knew why they added $100 to their phones. It’s only when purchased outright as when activating new or upgrading it reflects Apple’s pricing for installment billing. Buttttt we do price match and almost always I end up price matching Apple for the $100 less which always gets manager approved to save the customer money for accessories. Without this knowledge of price match however it’s said how many actually do pay the marked up price.

 

[gavroche]

Of course they can. Sony and Bose are prime examples. They have vendor agreements that prohibit selling at above or below MSRP unless specifically authorized sale by those companies. It's been that way for years. Same thing as Samsung has vendor agreements with retailers like BBY or Amazon which prohibits them from displaying a sale price below a certain discount without the customer putting the item into their check out process. You do realize this is a very common thing, right? Why do you think the coupons from BBY or BB&B or Target always say "Prohibits Apple, Nest, Sony, Bose, etc etc etc" ??? Because they have explicit agreements with those manufacturers not to discount them. LOL

No, it is not a very common thing. And obviously Apple does not require this of their venders, as it is very commin to see Apple products sold both above and below their MSRP. Or are you going to go on record saying that no venders ever do that? Or that Best Buy just ignored such an agreement with Apple for the hell of it? Perhaps you should wander over to 9ti5Mac, to their section where they show u current sale deals on Apple products... LOL.
And coupons that exclude certain products are most commonly for two reasons: Their price point is already so low that to discount further they woukd be losing money (as opposed to most od their products that have a healthy markup); or products that are in such high demand that they dont need to give up profit for no benefit.

Edit: If you google this subject you can find information about methods companies such as Apple use to try to maintain they proce they want. A primary method Apple uses is that its wholesale price so so close to retial, (one of the reasons i mentioned coupons exclude some products) that they make little profit. This makes it very hard to offer a lower price. They also have incentive programs to encourage pricing they want (i.e. give lower launch day supplies).

 

[wikiverse]

This. So dumb. Price match it to Apple, lol.

The product has to be available in order for them to price match. So if there is no Apple store nearby, and online orders have slipped to 5 weeks delivery time, then they don't need to match the price.

 

[cflasche]

In fairness if you've spent $5k at BBY you've got a right to return whatever you want IMO... but I'm sure the best buy fanboy (employee) will pipe in and say you're an over-entitled customer ... which is why you feel the way you do. LOL

I don't care what people return. The reason they return things is what I care about. Just to test drive, and then buy somewhere else. That we don't like, but if you're in the return policy, then go ahead. It's not about what I think, it's about the company's policy. There's a return policy, and every retailer has one. I'm not arguing about what he returns, the timing of things are what we ultimately care about. You buy a $5K TV, and don't like it, by all means, return it within the return policy so we can help you find something that works better for you.

But just because you spend (or say you spend) a certain amount of money at a store, doesn't mean you get special treatment. (not counting the rewards program, because that is an official recognition program for spending so much money) just because you spend say $10K at Best Buy or any store for that matter, doesn't mean we will do a return out of policy just because you spend that much money.

I will add that when MOST people claim to spend so much money at Best Buy, they are only Core tier members. I am not saying that's what you did, but that's from my personal experience of almost 2 years.

 

[chriscrowlee]

No, it is not a very common thing. And obviously Apple does not require this of their venders, as it is very commin to see Apple products sold both above and below their MSRP. Or are you going to go on record saying that no venders ever do that? Or that Best Buy just ignored such an agreement with Apple for the hell of it? Perhaps you should wander over to 9ti5Mac, to their section where they show u current sale deals on Apple products... LOL.
And coupons that exclude certain products are most commonly for two reasons: Their price point is already so low that to discount further they woukd be losing money (as opposed to most od their products that have a healthy markup); or products that are in such high demand that they dont need to give up profit for no benefit.

Clearly you've never worked in vendor contracts. LOL
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I don't care what people return. The reason they return things is what I care about. Just to test drive, and then buy somewhere else. That we don't like, but if you're in the return policy, then go ahead. It's not about what I think, it's about the company's policy. There's a return policy, and every retailer has one. I'm not arguing about what he returns, the timing of things are what we ultimately care about. You buy a $5K TV, and don't like it, by all means, return it within the return policy so we can help you find something that works better for you.

But just because you spend (or say you spend) a certain amount of money at a store, doesn't mean you get special treatment. (not counting the rewards program, because that is an official recognition program for spending so much money) just because you spend say $10K at Best Buy or any store for that matter, doesn't mean we will do a return out of policy just because you spend that much money.

I will add that when MOST people claim to spend so much money at Best Buy, they are only Core tier members. I am not saying that's what you did, but that's from my personal experience of almost 2 years.

I'm curious, you've been a member of MacRumors for about a year now... and in the entire year, the only 3 forum thread topics you've responded\commented (41 posts in total) on as a member, have been in regards (and all in 100% defense) of Best Buy related threads. And in all 3 threads, you beat the Best Buy corporate drum over and over. I find that a bit unusual to say the least.

 

[cflasche]

Clearly you've never worked in vendor contracts. LOL
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I'm curious, you've been a member of MacRumors for about a year now... and in the entire year, the only 3 forum thread topics you've responded\commented (41 posts in total) on as a member, have been in regards (and all in 100% defense) of Best Buy related threads. And in all 3 threads, you beat the Best Buy corporate drum over and over. I find that a bit unusual to say the least.

I don't follow MacRumors much. I follow them for the comments on when iOS and macOS Betas come out to see issues and new features. I follow AppleInsider more cuz they make an app and I check that daily and MacRumors doesn't. Haha. I'm not only on here to defend Best Buy.

 

[gavroche]

Clearly you've never worked in vendor contracts. LOL
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So please tell me, since you are an expert... what percentage of consumer products do you think Manufacturers impose vertical price control? 1%? 3%? 10% 50%?
And since i was clearly wrong, and Apple clearly does do this according to you... you are telling me that i couldn't possibly provide you to a link to an Apple product being sold by a major vender right this minute for a price different than their MSRP? Care to wager on that?

 

[cflasche]

I don't follow MacRumors much. I follow them for the comments on when iOS and macOS Betas come out to see issues and new features. I follow AppleInsider more cuz they make an app and I check that daily and MacRumors doesn't. Haha. I'm not only on here to defend Best Buy.

Also, like nobody comments on the Apple insider articles. More people comment here so I follow here more for things I want to see comments on. Like preorders and betas.

 

[techwhiz]

It's real simple.
If you don't like that they make a $100 in extra profit; don't buy from them.
As someone said before, "There is a sucker born everyday."
The suckers are those that can't wait 5-6 weeks to get their hands on the hottest gadget.
They will go to Swappa.com, Best Buy, eBay or anyone else that has the good and are willing to pay it.
You have people willing to pay line sitters. So if $100 gets it for them, great.

I just find great entertainment in the lemmings lining up for their share of the "iCrack".
Buy more of it, it makes my stock more valuable.

 

[chriscrowlee]

So please tell me, since you are an expert... what percentage of consumer products do you think Manufacturers impose vertical price control? 1%? 3%? 10% 50%?
And since i was clearly wrong, and Apple clearly does do this according to you... you are telling me that i couldn't possibly provide you to a link to an Apple product being sold by a major vender right this minute for a price different than their MSRP? Care to wager on that?

I'd say 1% at most, it's a small number... and I have no clue regarding Apple, I was simply stating companies like Sony and Bose do it all the time. And Samsung restricts how products are advertised. Thanks for telling me since I didn't say Apple didn't do it, that it means I say they do - you lack any sort of logic in putting words into my mouth.

Want an idea of what companies control what discounts can be offered on a price, just read the exclusions list on the bottom of a Bed Bath and Beyond or Best Buy Coupon.

 

[Danoc]

-

 

[cflasche]

I'd say 1% at most, it's a small number... and I have no clue regarding Apple, I was simply stating companies like Sony and Bose do it all the time. And Samsung restricts how products are advertised. Thanks for telling me since I didn't say Apple didn't do it, that it means I say they do - you lack any sort of logic in putting words into my mouth.

Want an idea of what companies control what discounts can be offered on a price, just read the exclusions list on the bottom of a Bed Bath and Beyond or Best Buy Coupon.

This is true. TV manufacturers like Sony, Samsung, LG; Bose all follow a thing called UMRP. These prices are mostly the same across all authorized resellers. UMRP also means that we cannot arbitrarily lower the price below it. Now a manufacturer and Best Buy can work out their own sale price below the UMRP, but Best Buy can't just go lower than UMRP. Otherwise they could lose the whole vendor. This is how it was explained to me by a supervisor. And a lot of big names are excluded from coupons and even certain items.

 

[gavroche]

I'd say 1% at most, it's a small number... and I have no clue regarding Apple, I was simply stating companies like Sony and Bose do it all the time. And Samsung restricts how products are advertised. Thanks for telling me since I didn't say Apple didn't do it, that it means I say they do - you lack any sort of logic in putting words into my mouth.

Want an idea of what companies control what discounts can be offered on a price, just read the exclusions list on the bottom of a Bed Bath and Beyond or Best Buy Coupon.

You are right... it was the person i originally responded to (and you replied to my post) who said Apple should shut Best Buy down. I then took issue with
1) that it happens "all the time"... as in my opinion 1% (probably actually far lower than 1%) is not anything at all that someone should be saying is all the time.... and
2) that they can "force" best buy to sell at a price. any vender can ignore vertical price control, with the cost of doing this being that that manufacturer can opt to stop supplying them with product. For example, next iPhone launch, Best Buy might find themselves receiving a tenth of the number of phones they did this time.... or none at all..

 

[chriscrowlee]

This is true. TV manufacturers like Sony, Samsung, LG; Bose all follow a thing called UMRP. These prices are mostly the same across all authorized resellers. UMRP also means that we cannot arbitrarily lower the price below it. Now a manufacturer and Best Buy can work out their own sale price below the UMRP, but Best Buy can't just go lower than UMRP. Otherwise they could lose the whole vendor. This is how it was explained to me by a supervisor. And a lot of big names are excluded from coupons and even certain items.

My god, he said something accurate. Light off the fireworks!!!!

 

[cflasche]

My god, he said something accurate. Light off the fireworks!!!!

I was never trying to be an ****** about anything, and not saying you are. Just stating *trying to be truthful to the best of my knowledge* what our policies are. Things have changed in the last few years, and some people are unaware of the changes. I will 100% admit when I am wrong. If you can prove me wrong, please do so so if another situation comes up and I can handle it correctly, then I will. I'm for the customer, I will help to the best of my ability. If the customer gets a great deal at Best Buy's expense, then great. I'm for saving people money, not lining the pockets of the big wigs. The more money people have, the more they spend...usually.

 

[mazdamiata210]

Buying a phone at best buy is literally the worst thing you can do. A bunch of idiots who can't do anything without a manager holding their hand. Plus the long lines and wait times. It makes any of their phone sales invalid to me.

The AT&T store had just closed, so I went to best buy to only get a sim card to activate my new phone I had traded someone on craigslist for. I needed a nano sim. Was there for 2 hours trying to figure out how they can only give me a sim card.

 

[LastName]

Customer: "I'd like a 256GB Silver iPhone X on AT&T, please."
Best Buy: "Sorry, but you didn't pay the $100 convenience fee. Here's a Space Gray 64GB iPhone 8 on Sprint."

 

[furi0usbee]

The want us just "flexible" enough to bend us over...

 

[OneMike]

People willl just get it elsewhere, then.

No they won’t. Sadly. If it’s sold out at Apple they’ll go to Best buy

 

[pweicks]

I currently work at Best Buy, so I'd just like to let you all know that I am very offended by your comments...

Jk If you asked me what it is that keeps Best Buy in business, my answer would be the White Trash of America. Not a day of working there goes by that doesn't reinforce my opinion on how trashy of a place it really is. I would never suggest to anyone that I sincerely care about to go shop there. Out of about 100 employees that regularly work there, you would be lucky to find ten of them that actually live up to the "high standards" that Best Buy projects for itself to be. The only thing that Best Buy is good for shopping is TVs, but even then, I can tell you that by the time you purchase your TV it will have probably already been damaged by the mistreatment of an employee. Whether it be sitting on the box for a break from their hard work, tipping it over because they don't care or kicking and smashing the box to try to get it to fit into as tight of a space as possible. The company itself is also very disorganized. The communication link between corporate and in-store employees is very one-way. Corporate can never figure out how to do anything correctly in the first place so often stores will just disregard what they say and make their own jerry-rigged solutions to what corporate is either not smart enough or too lazy to figure out themselves. Another thing is that 99% of managers in the store are extremely inexperienced with management and business-related positions, so they usually aren't very good at getting things done. I have worked with nearly fifteen different managers while I've been working here, from GMs to sales floor supervisors, and only one of them had a related degree. All the others are, in my opinion, nobodies who are too lazy to go to college but still want to try to make it big in life, and unfortunately, Best Buy is not the way to do that... haha.

Anyways, as an employee who works for Best Buy, I can confidently say that raising the price for an iPhone X by $100 for absolutely no good reason totally seems like something that Best Buy would do.