Best Buy Return Policy – WTF?

This post really has nothing to do with cell phones, but I guess it might in a round about way. I went to Best Buy today to purchase a Flip MinoHD camera. I thought it would be a good camera to record my video reviews and other video I plan on taking. When I asked a rep at Best Buy to get me the phone she said, “you know there is a 15% restocking fee if you bring it back”. I was like, WTF!!! I asked the lady what happens if I use the camera and I don’t like it? Here response was that since it would be an open product they would have to sell it as an open product for far less than what it would be new. I would call the restocking fee more like a “try it” fee. I might as well just pay the 15% of the camera and try it, and if I like it pay the difference of the original price of the phone.

Now I don’t know about you, but the only open box products that are sold at Best Buy are for televisions. I’ve never seen a camera open box for sale, a router, computer or microwave. Now you can’t tell me that none of these products have ever been returned by a customer after they have been used. I’m willing to bet that Best Buy sends the product back to the manufacturer, receives a replacement and pockets that “15% restocking fee”. Other electronic stores like Wal-Mart and Target have no such policy so why does Best Buy? That really annoys me. Maybe Circuit City didn’t have this policy and that’s why they went under. Make sure you know about this fee next time you buy a big ticket item at Best Buy. Better do a lot of research before making your purchase.