Best Buy Swindles Customers With $30 PS3 Firmware Update

[Alandoril]

Given the time of year I don't think this was designed to target actual gamers, but rather the people buying the consoles for the gamers.

 

[Canid117]

I wonder how many people actually fell for this.

 

[obisean]

Fools and their money.
I am not saying Best Buy is in the right here but anyone that falls for this disserves the 30$ price hike.
The again its not like Best Buy has any form of competitive pricing plan. I enjoy the store but I never expect to find anything for less.
Fry's Electronics is where its at.

But what about when someone decides to buy the console as a gift, and, knowing nothing about the freeness of the firmware, decides to get the necessary update? Said person might not want to consult the recipiant of the gift that much in order not to spoil the surprise and ends up getting cheated $30.

Hell, I've bought gifts for people knowing nothing about the brands of the product or the specifics of something, and sometimes have been offered extra services for just a little more that sound important, which makes you more inclined when its a gift as it feels like its going the extra mile with it. The target of this update charge isn't people who know the system, but people who know almost nothing about the system.

If you got scammed by a Best Buy salesman, they weren't doing their job. They don't get paid on commission so that they won't be inclined to do stuff like that. I'm sorry that you met such a person.

 

[Quaxar]

The useage of the word "geek" on this scam-poster is a serious insult!
Pitchforks and torches everyone, we're going to Best Buy!

 

[carpenter20m]

If it was $5 or something, I would be OK with it. It's capitalism; you're supposed to pay for everything, even for the press of a button, if you can't do it yourself. But $30 is just too much.

 

[The Bandit]

Fools and their money.
I am not saying Best Buy is in the right here but anyone that falls for this disserves the 30$ price hike.
The again its not like Best Buy has any form of competitive pricing plan. I enjoy the store but I never expect to find anything for less.
Fry's Electronics is where its at.

This blows my mind. What about the mom buying a PS3 for her kid for Christmas? Does she deserve it?

 

[rpsms]

I think this is a scam to upsell opened or returned merchandise

 

[The Bandit]

I used to work at geek squad. The thing is this is not as much of a swindle as the original poster makes it out to be. Some people want to get home connect it up to the tv and go and not wait for updates or even set up their own user account. This is basically the same service as when people gave us routers to pre-setup or a new computer to grab all latest updates for and remove the fluff programs. They probably do it because they do not want to deal with getting everything set up they just want to plug in and go. Granted it is easy especially if you know what you are doing but there are some people who do not want to learn or deal with it. Usually what happened was we would fill out a sheet with what the person wanted username/password etc etc to be and do all the set up and then do all the updates while they were off shopping elsewhere or just hanging around the store then when they got home they could just plug it in and go. Whether it be a router/playstation/xbox/pc/etc etc. So I would have to disagree with this article it is a service as long as they are selling it as a service and not as a necessity.

the real question is this coming from BestBuy/GeekSquad central because if it is not that store can get in serious trouble for that.

If you don't inform the customer that you can go home and do it yourself for completely free, then it's a scam.

 

[Delock]

Fools and their money.
I am not saying Best Buy is in the right here but anyone that falls for this disserves the 30$ price hike.
The again its not like Best Buy has any form of competitive pricing plan. I enjoy the store but I never expect to find anything for less.
Fry's Electronics is where its at.

But what about when someone decides to buy the console as a gift, and, knowing nothing about the freeness of the firmware, decides to get the necessary update? Said person might not want to consult the recipiant of the gift that much in order not to spoil the surprise and ends up getting cheated $30.

Hell, I've bought gifts for people knowing nothing about the brands of the product or the specifics of something, and sometimes have been offered extra services for just a little more that sound important, which makes you more inclined when its a gift as it feels like its going the extra mile with it. The target of this update charge isn't people who know the system, but people who know almost nothing about the system.

If you got scammed by a Best Buy salesman, they weren't doing their job. They don't get paid on commission so that they won't be inclined to do stuff like that. I'm sorry that you met such a person.

No, I wasn't referring to videogames, or even best buy, when someone was attempting to scam me. I've had this happen at a department store, Wal-mart, a grocery store, and a book store. The department store was the only one that got me (can't remember what they offered, but it turned out that it could have easily been done without their help. All I really remember is when I gave the gift and included that I paid extra for that, I was told that was just a scam they pulled on me).

 

[dududf]

Errr... Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty damn sure this happened a loooong time ago that best buy did this. I'm talking like 6 months.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

My local Best Buy loves deceptive practices, as well. They'll frequently try to sell me a warranty on Xbox 360 games.

 

[Cavouku]

I suppose if the buyer doesn't have internet, it might make sense... Other than that, do they inform the customer of the fact that internet connection provides free update?

If not, then... I'm a moral person, I feel this immoral. All I can say.

 

[Steppin Razor]

I'm curious on how many people fell for this scam. Though it sounds like it is only at that one location.

You fell for it, didn't ya?

No need to lie, we won't hold it against you.
[small]*snicker* what a moron, 'sif you'd fall for something as stupid as that.[/small]

On topic: Pfft, stupid people will be stupid people. Anyone that gets this deserves to be parted with their money. Outside of the stupids thinking this is some form of good deal, I could understand if someone was lazy, but not if they had a crappy internet connection. It's in America. You lot have good connections, not crappy third-world/Australian internet.

 

[Truly-A-Lie]

Even if the buyer doesn't have internet access for their PS3, they can still get firmware upgrades free from the PlayStation website if they have a memory stick. If they don't have the internet in their house at all, they should just go to the library (or you know, get on that.). There is no reason at all to buy an update.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Please forgive my ignorance, but what'd Activision do? I need to know whether to put them on my list, which now reads:

Best Buy
BP
Wal-Mart
Exxon
McDonalds
Nestlé
Dominos
Chik-fil-A

I'm a harsh, harsh costumer.

Two words: Bobby Kotick. Just search "Bobby Kotick" on the search bar at the top and you'll see what I mean.

And... what did Chik-fil-A do? Close on Sunday?

 

[8-Bit Grin]

Sign on front door tommorow:

Not able to put up with our shit? Pay $15.95 and we'll escort you out.

 

[Dogstile]

I used to work for best buy. I am not sure why everyone is getting so mad about this. It is for people that do not have available internet connection. It is easy to put together a computer does that mean that you should be mad at (insert computer manufacturer here)? No. Before I get flamed for "being zealous about my previous employer" its just not that big of a deal.

Says it right there in the article. Sometimes firmware updates come on discs with the newer games. Eventually someone will get newer firmware if they buy games.

 

[meowchef]

I wish I could have witnessed this in person. I would have enjoyed destroying the employees.

 

[Michael Macleod]

It's not an issue of swindling people really, some people are just THAT stupid and or lazy. I work for best buy and for some of our customers trying to explain how to connect your ps3/xbox to the internet is like trying to explain the theory of relativity to a 3 year old, you just get a blank stare. I'm not saying that the cost of 30 dollars is warranted but its really no different from say "software installation" AKA putting a disc in a computer and clicking ok. but some people just have more money that brains and I can't blame best buy for capitalizing on that. if you cant figure the most basic stuff like that out yourself then maybe you do deserve to overpay just for being retarded.

 

[Rhymenoceros]

Er...

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Sorry. I cut my arm and I had to pay $50 for my body to repair itself.

OT: It seems stupid but can you blame them. If you could get $30 out of someone for doing nothing, wouldn't you?