Best Buy Offers Bogus "3D Sync" Service

Token_Internet_Girl writes "Fewer than two weeks after Best Buy offered the first Full 3D HDTVs for sale in the US, its latest Sunday circular (3/21/10) promotes a Samsung 3D TV deal consisting of a 55" 3D TV, 3D capable Blu-ray player, 2 pairs of glasses, a Blu-ray movie and Geek Squad delivery and installation. The ad states the service includes TV and Blu-ray player set-up, connection to your wireless network and 'sync your 3D glasses for an amazing experience.' The package price lists the 'geek' services as a $150 value. The offer's only problem is that there is no such thing as syncing 3D glasses. They sync automatically." Here's Best Buy Corporate's response to this hilarity.

Comments

Best buy response (the site is getting slow)

[zebadee]

Best Buy Responds To “3D Glasses Syncing Service”

(March 23, 2010) We asked Best Buy’s media relations department last week why Best Buy’s Geek Squad offers a fictional 3D glasses syncing service? (link to our original story). Below is the corporate response.

“I wanted to address any lingering confusion about the characterization of services support in the Best Buy Samsung 3DTV offer that was advertised in yesterday’s (March 21) insert. We by no means intended to confuse our customers or offer fraudulent services. The offer is new to our stores, and our own employees were trained on it just this past week.

Let me clarify the services that are included with this offer. Geek Squad will:

1. Set up and connect your TV + up to 5 components (Blu Ray, Cable Box, Satellite Box, etc )

2. Add your internet enabled Blu ray/Gaming Console or internet enabled TV to your existing wireless network so you can access online content such as Netflix and Pandora.

3. Make sure your 3D glasses work – some solutions we sell need TV settings adjusted so that 3D glasses are enabled – there are both 3D and non 3D settings for viewing

4. Review and teach you how to use all of your new gear.

We have some customers who aren’t quite sure how the 3D glasses work, or that the glasses automatically sync with their new 3D TVs. So we wanted to convey that they can depend on Geek Squad to answer their questions during installation and set-up. There is no additional charge for this – and the Geek Squad 3D installation and networking services are included in the total price of this offer.

You know we’re as enthusiastic about 3D as you are, and equally committed to help educate consumers about how to get the most from this home entertainment experience.”

Re:After reading best buy awsner...

[Pojut]

The type of people that would pay someone else $150 to set up a basic home theater also likely don't know you need to "sync" the glasses to the TV. The fee isn't JUST to "sync" the glasses...they are just including it as part of the whole set-up package.

I rarely defend Best Buy, but I agree...there is no malice in this offer, at least no more than Best Buy would usually muster.

Re:Poor choice of verb.

[PsychoSlashDot]

Agreed. There are plenty of instances where dumbing-down technical descriptions of what us technology-savvy folk are doing edges into falsehood. Sometimes to explain things to the uninformed you have to condense to the point of being easily misunderstood by others in-the-know.

The consumer will interpret that "syncing" thing as "doing whatever techno-wizardry is necessary to make sure the purchased stuff Just Works (tm)". The technician will basically test for DOA, or make whatever minor adjustments (ie. take off the packing foam) are needed. Syncing. Good enough.

No sign of intent to mislead or defraud. Alarmism.

Ahh, good old WEAK Squad.

[MrCrassic]

1. The main links are Slashdotted, so here's its Google Cache: link
2. Are all of Best Buy's ads printed nationwide, or do they vary by region? If the latter case is true, then I can't say I'm truly surprised, as shoddy areas would be more likely to offer shoddy services such as this. On the other hand, if the false service was nationally marketed, then it would make me even more worried (and more confident) that Best Buy is caring significantly less about being a quality chain post Circuit City/CompUSA's demise.

Re:Poor choice of verb.

[BoppreH]

Damn +5 limit.

His reply is better than the FTA.

Re:Poor choice of verb.

[twidarkling]

Finally got to read BB's response, and it sounds like a cover. They were full of shit, got called on it, and then decided to go whole-hog and cover their asses. I don't buy it. They already said "We'll set it up and make sure everything works," so they didn't need to mention "syncing" 3D glasses, and the differing responses from employees tells me they didn't fucking bother with any sort of training, or even an explanation.

Then again

[Token_Internet_Girl]

I can understand why most of you think this could be FUD, but here's my argument against that position:

If a company propositions a service, not just any service but an EXPENSIVE one, what legitimacy is there in advertising a feature of that service that the tech doesn't even do and isn't required for them TO do?

Now, in the response, Best buy stated this in relation to the 3D aspect: "3. Make sure your 3D glasses work - some solutions we sell need TV settings adjusted so that 3D glasses are enabled - there are both 3D and non 3D settings for viewing." Making sure the glasses work and syncing them are TWO different exercises. To me, I see an overzealous advertising agent who saw an opportunity to throw out some buzzwords for sales. I don't buy the stupidity excuse, Best Buy knowingly takes advantage of its customers and has done so for years. Just my two cents.

Re:Poor choice of verb.

[dangitman]

Erm, so you're saying that actually they're not doing anything wrong, because this is a legitimate service they're offering - i.e. charging $150 to tell people they need a clear view of the TV to use their glasses to... watch the TV.

The $150 isn't just for the "sync glasses" service, it's primarily for delivery and installation of the TV.

Amazon has a better deal

[Anonymous Coward]

You can get the 46" LED Samsung with the starter kit at Amazon for around $2,200.00. Best of all you don't have to deal with the Dweb Squad.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN46C7000-46-Inch-1080p-Black/dp/B0036WT4EC/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1

Best Buy, not the best at all

[spun]

Best Buy is the worst of all the computer/tv/tech stores I've purchased from. They charge for ridiculous 'products' and 'services' that are little more than outright scams. They have been indicted for some of them. Their prices are terrible, and they outright lie about matching others prices. This IS NOT your usual non-techy "I bought the wrong part" or techy "I know better than you" complaint. The complaints against Best Buy have to do with their criminal behavior.

http://consumerist.com/2007/05/best-buy-employee-confesses-to-scams-similar-to-ones-outlined-in-racketeering-lawsuit.html

http://bestbuyscam.blogspot.com/

http://digg.com/tech_news/Yet_just_another_Best_Buy_scam

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/11/04/best-buy-scams-hdtv.html

http://gizmodo.com/241220/best-buy-admits-they-scam-in+store-customers-with-secret-website

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-bar-tender/2009/10/lawsuit-best-buy-lies.html

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2007/03/buyer_beware_best_buy_caught_t.php

Seriously, Best Buy is evil. Do not shop at Best Buy.

Re:Best Buy, not the best at all

[techdavis]

Future Shop is Best Buy Canada. Best Buy purchased Future Shop in 2001. But Future Shop has NOTHING to do with not providing you with the Windows disc - it is not like they build the computers. They are packaged by the likes of eMachines, Hewlett-Packard and so on - it is not the retailer that is not providing it, it is the manufacturer. Go to London Drugs or Staples and you will have the EXACT same experience. Legally, the OEM discs are only available with a hardware purchase - if Newegg or others sell you one without selling hardware at the same time, they are breaking licensing agreements, and could get their MS software pulled completely from their stock by MS. You want the discs? Build your own damn computer. I just got a Dell for my wife - guess what? No disc. There is a utility to create a backup disc, but no DVD. Back to the topic at hand - $150 to deliver and set up a TV, blu-ray and 3D glasses? Not bad, really. What is delivery and an hour of labor worth? $150 just seems fair to me. I wouldn't pay it, but then I am the family tech that gets the call to set up everyone's computer or TV for them.

Re:Best Buy, not the best at all

[IKnwThePiecesFt]

I read through the first two of your links from start to finish and I have to call bullshit. Specifically, I even worked with Steven Byers (the general manager named in the second link) and while he was a total dick, he would never have sent a customer to the warehouse. For that matter, NO ONE would send a customer to a warehouse. Best Buy has a specific process (Customer Fulfillment) that is set up for just such a situation (store has no stock but warehouse does).

The way it works is, guess what, the warehouse delivers the product to the customer at no charge. Or it gets delivered to store and the customer can pick it up if that's more convenient.

When you have a customer base as large as they do, of course there's going to be some bad interactions. That said, not everything on the internet is true.

Re:Poor choice of verb.

[bane2571]

I'd probably end up paying $150 to get a whitegoods shop to deliver and install my Fridge, if they "sync it to my microwave" what does it mattter? I'm still getting the delivery and installation.

People are blowing this up from a standard delivery charge with some poorly chosen addtional BS to a charge for turning on your TV. Are we really that petty?

Re:Oblig

[blankinthefill]

Since Rocketfish belongs to Best Buy, you're blaming the same company either way: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Buy#Best_Buy_exclusive_brands

Re:Poor choice of verb.

[228e2]

Checkmate.

Bestbuy has a constant track record of trying to confuse customers with computer terms so they will fold over and pay.
Claiming the IP has to be synced is 100% BS because there is no NIC or USB port on the glasses, so saying the BestBuy computer experts (which i use loosely) were confused on the new technology is a cover up.

Re:Oblig

[theskipper]

Yeah, +5 funny but the comments are proof that this type of marketing works:

NoSympathy from Cincinnati, OH
"I have two def tech 7006 towers hooked up to a denon 1909 and my TV running into my reciever with this cable to I can get sound from my antenna. Sounds pretty good to me. I know I could go with an M series monster cable that would destroy this cable , but for what I use it for, it works for me!"

By caramella from san antonio, tx:
"I just got this from my new home theater system and it's great. Sound quality is awesome. Better than my last cables . Also durable with mesh covering. Won't have to worry about torn cables."

Ouch.