Best Buy Offers Bogus "3D Sync" Service 248
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.
Poor choice of verb. (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't think this was a deliberate attempt to defraud customers as much as it was a poor choice of verb. People use the term "sync" when it has nothing to do with synchronization. When you "sync" your smartphone you're not doing anything that relates to time, you're just copying data to be the same in both places. When you "sync" your Bluetooth headset, you're actually "pairing" it to tell it which phone it belongs to. When you press the "sync" button on your keyboard, you're actually "pairing" it again.
While you don't need to set a clock on the 3D glasses, you do need to ensure that the glasses can see the IR emitter, with a clear path between the emitter and wherever the user will be sitting. That's the actual service they're offering as part of the larger setup package. I'm sure the advertising people will hear this brushback and correct future mentions of the service, but they're only technically wrong, and using words that better communicate to the people who would buy a Best Buy home install than the technically correct ones... even if technically correct is the best kind of correct.
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:4, Insightful)
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. I'm pretty sure that people will already figure out they need to see the TV to watch it, 3D or not, is your post sponsored by BestBuy or are you hoping to cash in by offering a $99 service?
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:4, Informative)
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.
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Funny)
The $150 isn't just for the "sync glasses" service, it's primarily for delivery and installation of the TV. ... and then they built the supercollider.
--
I love how your sig goes with your comment, sorta.
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Judging from customers I've met, I think you've severely overestimated the intelligence of the average consumer. If you say you've never had a call from someone complaining that their TV doesn't work, just to find out that they didn't know to hit the big red "power" button.
It's the same reason I don't answer my phone some days. "My internet doesn't work.", just to find out the powers out in the whole house. Of course, it doesn't help that when they call the power company and
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Funny)
If it's not a conspiracy then there's no story, and if there's no story, then why are you here?
Now put your tinfoil hat back on and get in line with the rest of us!
We were promised cake if we just stand on this moving walkway.
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Funny)
Hold on, I'll be right back after I sync my mug with the coffee machine.
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Interesting)
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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:Poor choice of verb. (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Insightful)
There is clearly an intent to mislead. Using the term "sync" rather than "unpack it and make sure it works" is clearly intended to make it sound like something you can't do yourself because you're not a 3D TV geek. The idea is to inflate the perceived value of the unpacking and turning on service.
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Funny)
From Best Buy? That is an alarming development. I don't think I have ever had an experience with that chain which didn't involve either of those value added services.
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They made something up to scare people into buying their service. If someone already knows how to install an HDTV, they won't buy the $150 installation service.
But if you tell them that their new 3D TV needs to be 'synced' by the Geek Squad, they may think that something fundamentally different is needed and they better buy the service.
It's fraud, plain and simple. Seeing as the blogger called up three different Best Buys and got three different incorrect answers as to what the syncing was, I feel comfort
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I was just out shopping for a utilitarian laptop. I just need something with a screen big enough to see, and a keyboard that I could touch type on.
CompUSA, Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, WalMart, Target. Best Buy happened to have the best deal. Of course, they first pushed me to accept an upsell. "No, I want this one." Next, they pushed me for the "optimized" version. The only ones on the floor were optimized. They pushed again, and I told them, "As soon as I get home, I'm backing
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Threats don't generally work as well as you'd think. A threat to call the police may invite you a quick exit from the store.
I'm just satisfied that I bought their loss leader without any upsells, which means they lost money on the sale. :)
The one I got didn't come with Bluetooth, and they wanted something like $60 for a USB bluetooth receiver. I went over to CompUSA when I was done, and spent $20 on one. :) (and yes, I'm in one of the markets where CompUSA sti
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What is this, the assburgers guide to annoying retail workers? I expect you people to be dorks but holy shit, at least pretend you've heard of society when you choose to enter into it.
Re:Worst Buy (Score:5, Insightful)
Go on, then, and when the police arrive tell them what lead to you calling. You'll be lucky if YOU aren't charged with wasting police time. "Officer, I entered these private premises to buy a product for them, but they attempted to sell me more than I was looking for. Rather than leaving the store, I called 911."
Sounds like a Social Adjustment Disorder...
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Interesting)
Maybe, if this was an isolated incident with Best Buy. But a quick search on Best Buy, Geek Squad, and Ripoff will get quite a few hits. I'd love to give someone the benefit of the doubt, but this is a bit of a pattern with them.
The margins on selling electronics are painfully thin (ask CircuitCity). Creating a misleading "oh but that's not how we meant it" as they sell low value for the money services is a common thread for electronics retailers.
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It seems like any computer/tv/tech store gets this kind of complaint from non-tech-minded customers who buy the wrong widget, and too-tech-minded customers who think their technology is inferior to what they could build themselves. Such is the perils of mass marketing.
Best Buy, not the best at all (Score:5, Informative)
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 [consumerist.com]
http://bestbuyscam.blogspot.com/ [blogspot.com]
http://digg.com/tech_news/Yet_just_another_Best_Buy_scam [digg.com]
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/11/04/best-buy-scams-hdtv.html [boingboing.net]
http://gizmodo.com/241220/best-buy-admits-they-scam-in+store-customers-with-secret-website [gizmodo.com]
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-bar-tender/2009/10/lawsuit-best-buy-lies.html [chicagonow.com]
http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2007/03/buyer_beware_best_buy_caught_t.php [gpsmagazine.com]
Seriously, Best Buy is evil. Do not shop at Best Buy.
Re:Best Buy, not the best at all (Score:4, Informative)
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.
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Every single item in the ad has an ad minimum listed next to it. Every single store has at least that many of the item on hand on Sunday morning.
There are seriously people waiting outside of many Best Buy's on Sunday morning for them to open in order to snag all of the ad product.
It's not a scam, it's vultures.
--Former Best Buy employee (with little love left for them, but even less left for FUD)
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If the margins are too low then there's too much supply.
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People who are willing to pay $39.95 for this service most likely need it, badly.
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$40 for that really isn't that bad. Anyone who knows how to do would never pay for someone else but for the average consumer who just knows how to open IE and go to www.google.com it's worth it. How long would it take you to do that on a system that has been running for months without updating or cleaning? Of course they probably won't babysit the PC during the updates but it would be on the bench for a while. Of course paying the Geek Squad to do anything is stupid but the price for that service seems
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Insightful)
Syncronization doesn't simply mean making things have the same time. It also means to make things *happen* at the same time. In this case, I'd assumed their "syncing" service to be making sure your glasses are properly shuttering in "sync" with how the player is broadcasting. Something that should happen automatically, and apparently does. And since the glasses are tied to the TV, they're paired automatically as well. It's not a case of "incorrect verb," it's a case of "falsely reporting what the service offers."
They don't need to pair the glasses, they don't need to make sure the glasses are operating at the correct timings. It's a rip off.
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:4, Interesting)
Best Buy does bother with training. They train their employees on how to scam you. [consumerist.com]
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Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Interesting)
Read the article not just the blurb....
"HD Guru called three Best Buy stores. After confirming each employee received training on 3D TVs and installation services, we asked them to explain the process of “syncing” the 3D glasses. We received three different but oddly similar responses.
Blue shirt one said the glasses need to be synced with the Blu-ray player. The second geek referred to the 3D glasses needing to sync to the player via the USB port within the glasses, an impossible feat as there is no USB port on the glasses. The third stated the need to acquire the glasses’ IP address to sync with the Blu-ray player. There is no IP address for 3D glasses; they have no connectivity to the Internet or network. The Samsung battery powered glasses “sync” to the 3D content wirelessly via an infra-red pulse emitted by the TV."
Best Buy has a consistent record of the same issue. How you choose to look at it is one of three things. 1. Their "experts" are worthless and don't know anything, 2. They are intentional trying to defraud consumers, or 3, they assume consumers are all retarded and wouldn't understand something explained to them in clear English. You can choose the one you want to believe. One or all of them are true.
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Same deal as when Best Buy offers to take your money so the Geek Squad can install your new XBox 360 game... and this was before it was possible to install to HDD.
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:4, Informative)
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:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Insightful)
Best Buy is a multi-billion dollar corporation that can well afford copywriters. You can bet they don't make "poor choice(s) of words" when they're writing the fine print on their overpriced extended warranties.
To suggest that this was just a "whoopsie" is absurd. Funny that the "poor choice of words" costs the customer an additional $150. How often do you think they made a "poor choice of words" that was in favor of the customer. And believe me, if that ever happens, there's going to be one out-of-work employee.
Plus, this roll-out of the "3D" televisions is supposed to be one of the most anticipated product category introductions for them. Retailers like Best Buy are betting on a huge wave of "trade-ups" to 3D and they're counting on it saving their bottom line for years to come.
The notion that they'd make an "innocent" mistake that happens to mislead customers to pay an additional $150 stretches the imagination.
Not consistent with the Geek Squad response (Score:2)
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People use the term "sync" when it has nothing to do with synchronization.
'N Sync
QED
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I don't think this was a deliberate attempt to defraud customers as much as it was a poor choice of verb.
"Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest." -me
I think it IS a rippff after talking to Bill. Bill's a fellow a few years older than me, and is your typical computer user -- he doesn't know much about his computer at all. Well, he bought a multimedia computer from Best Buy so he could use HDMI to watch youtube on his hi-def TV (Bill's obviously got money since he d
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An intelligent, thoughtful reply on /.? Expect to get modded to hell. ;D
He's a witch! Burn him!!
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He's a witch! Burn him!!
WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Does he weigh as much as a duck?
Re:Poor choice of verb. (Score:5, Funny)
> He's a witch! Burn him!!
WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Does he weigh as much as a duck?
Well, he SYNCS like a duck! Burn him!!
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An intelligent, thoughtful reply on /.? Expect to get modded to hell. ;D
Luckily the occurrance of an intelligent, thoughtful reply on /. would seem to indicate that hell may have been frozen over.
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So much for global warming, huh? Hell's burnt out, and the world will freeze over. I'm looking forward to some mastodon steak.
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An intelligent, thoughtful reply on /.? Expect to get modded to hell. ;D
Luckily the occurrance of an intelligent, thoughtful reply on /. would seem to indicate that hell may have been frozen over.
Alright I knew it was the Cubs season to win it all!
Poor choice of koolaid. (Score:4, Insightful)
Inasmuch as these aren't actual 3d displays such as this [holografika.com] or this [usc.edu], but simply stereo displays, very limited single-perspective (same as 2d) "flat-image-per-eye" technology from about 1900 [flickr.com] or so, it seems somewhat beside the point to complain about entities marketing installation with the word "sync."
The market has already looked at the jug, poured the koolaid in its mouth, and swallowed it entirely on its own. There's little point in claiming they didn't want any koolaid.
It's 3D if the display offers more than one viewing angle, composite or not. Or to put it in a way that even the most uninformed consumer can grasp, if a one-eyed person (or a person with one eye closed) can view the object in the perspectives we expect from the real world, it's actually there to perceive. That's something worth characterizing as 3D display.
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Sounds like head tracking to me.
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Being the local 'nerd' for my family living in this county, (There are others nerds but they don't live nearby.) I have informed my family that, at any time they ever wish to purchase hardware, they need to schedule it for a day I am free, and I will ride with them to the store for the price of a fast food meal on the way.
I like going there, and usually have something I'd like there, it's 45 minutes away so I don't like to waste the gas, so if they'll take me and feed me, I'm glad to go.
I have also told t
Well then! (Score:4, Funny)
Clearly hdguru.com needs to sync their database with their httpd.
Best buy response (the site is getting slow) (Score:5, Informative)
(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.”
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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.;
The problem with a message like this is they want to use this as a 'sorry we goofed and now here's a fix'. Thing is, the message is still out in the public and will not be changed for the public eye. Thats great that the techie's that already knew this wasn't true got Best Buy to admit that its wrong, but Average Joe on the other hand still only see's that the fliers still state this function still happens, Best Buy's employee's will still state that this function is done, and the in store fliers will still
I've got enough social problems... (Score:4, Funny)
You know how like... some things don't look as ridiculous if several people are doing it at the same time (like, dancing, for example)? Well 3D glasses don't change that. A whole theater full of people still look individually absurd in a way that their numbers somehow do not correct for.
It's not going to take off (Score:2)
The glasses are precisely the reason. Never mind the look, never mind not wanting to wear them. The fundamental problem is that if you are watching in 3D mode, the screen is a blurry mess to anyone without glasses. It can be uncomfortable to look at. This means if you are sitting watching a movie and someone else walks in the room, it is a problem for them. With a normal TV, it doesn't matter. People can watch for a bit, no problem. Seeing it out of the side of your view it looks normal. Not here. It is eit
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The fundamental problem is that if you are watching in 3D mode, the screen is a blurry mess to anyone without glasses. It can be uncomfortable to look at. This means if you are sitting watching a movie and someone else walks in the room, it is a problem for them.
Why is this even an issue? Either you're watching the movie or you're not. Why would you worry about the ability of someone who is not watching the movie to watch the movie? If they want to watch it, they'll put on the glasses.
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If a pair is available. How many pairs do you get with the TV? If you have roommates who generally watch their own TVs, or friends who only come over infrequently, will you have enough glasses for them? Can you be sure someone won't misplace one or more pairs of them? I'm certain pretty much every time we used them one of them would go missing (my wife seems to like finding new places to hide things (completely unconsciously of course)) so I'll probably never get one myself, though I'd like one.
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Why buy the 3D TV if you're just going to turn it off then? Seems rather wasteful. Of course, if it was the same price, you might as well get it, but I'm assuming it will be an optional 'extra' for a little while yet.
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Why buy the 3D TV if you're just going to turn it off then? Seems rather wasteful.
You wouldn't if you were never going to turn it on. But you might want to turn it off in some situations, as mentioned here, and turn it on in other situations. Do you even read the thread before replying?
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You've never stood in a room and chatted with someone while they watched something? You've never watched a bit and then wandered on?
Remember we aren't talking about something here where you just see it in 2D. We are talking about where you see something that is a mass of two images flickering that is hard to look at. It is annoying.
Also there's the issue of number of glasses. Do you get enough for everyone in your family plus some? Or do you have less, but then have to switch it back to 2D when more people
Re:It's not going to take off (Score:5, Insightful)
A 3D movie is intended to be an immersive experience. Not background entertainment. If you want to use it that way, just turn the 3D off.
I, for one, am sick of people treating movies this way. If you're not going to commit to the screening, then fuck the hell off, and don't disturb the people who are watching the movie.
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I, for one, am sick of people treating movies this way. If you're not going to commit to the screening, then fuck the hell off, and don't disturb the people who are watching the movie.
I'm with you.
It is entirely reasonable to throw on some movie in the background, I guess. I probably wouldn't do that, I don't like having distracting narratives running in the background while I'm trying to do things, I prefer music, but whatever, plenty of people seem to be okay with that.
If you do that, you, duh, would
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Re:I've got enough social problems... (Score:4, Funny)
The first thing I'd think if somebody walked into my house while I'm watching some 3D movie would be "how tf did that person get through the locked door?"
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The last thing I need is for people to walk into my house and see me sitting on my couch wearing some goofy looking glasses.
But they will ooh and ahh when they first see your new home theater set-up.
Hear the muscular eight channel surround sound audio. Test the recliner lounge seating. The glasses are simply part of the theatrical experience - and they will give them a try.
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Only two people outside of my wife and I have keys to my house*, and are thus likely to just walk in** - and both are friends of decades standing. Neither would care about me looking 'goofy'.
If you don't want people 'just walking in' to your house, lock you're friggin' door.
* They often care for our pets when we are away. Because it made things simpler I finally just told them to ke
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The last thing I need is for people to walk into my house and see me sitting on my couch wearing some goofy looking glasses.
Maybe if you moved out of your parents' basement you wouldn't have to worry about random people coming in and saying hi.
I'll bet... (Score:2, Funny)
...they don't tell you about needing to adjust the framistat (and the additional charge) until they show up for the install.
The simplest answer is probably the right one (Score:5, Interesting)
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it is very hard to differentiate "marketing" from fraud, especially in this case. "deceit for a profit" is both fraud and marketing, when done like this, it is just not legally actionable fraud...
Wanting to make their service sound more useful and necessary than it really was, is fraud IMHO (regardless if the marketing dept meant to be truthful and failed, they were attempting deceit to justify them over-stating the value of the service.) But the intent would prevent this from being legally
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Hopefully best buy will learn and have someone who is technically savvy review things in the future.
Do you REALLY believe that Best Buy, a company with revenues of 45 BILLION dollars in 2008, and a company who makes most of its money selling 'technology related goods', isn't having a technically savvy TEAM review things? I'm afraid you're overly simplifying things here...
Did they screw up? Yes. Should we give them the benefit of the doubt? Maybe. Their past fumblings do indeed show a pattern, so my inclination to give them the benefit of the doubt becomes smaller and smaller each time I read stories like
Ahh, good old WEAK Squad. (Score:3, Informative)
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I do the same, and, unfortunately, Geek squad isn't the only dirt in the water...
Some Helpful 3D Hints that I'll Give Away for $20 (Score:5, Funny)
Man, if only bullshit was source of income. What a second, I feel a political career beginning!
Re:Some Helpful 3D Hints that I'll Give Away for $ (Score:5, Funny)
Wait, wait, you need to paint the room matte black so those photons don't bounce off the wall and enter the wrong lens by mistake! That's why they make the screen border and all your home stereo equipment black, you know!
If the 3D effect isn't working, make sure the cable isn't kinked. (Like a garden hose, it causes data flow problems if the cable is kinked.) If you're using the component cables, they have to be rotated JUST RIGHT or it doesn't work. I know it's a hassle, but spend the time and you'll get the absolute best picture you can get!
*tips hat to parent poster
Then again (Score:2, Informative)
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
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Oblig (Score:5, Funny)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Rocketfish%26%23153%3B+-+8'+Digital+Optical+Cable/8315147.p?id=1174694191675&skuId=8315147&st=optical [bestbuy.com]
--
Re:Oblig (Score:4, Informative)
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.
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Features - Advantages - Benefits (Score:4, Interesting)
Here's how marketing people work...
They identify the features of a product, translate that into an advantage, then translate that into a benefit.
People buy benefits, they don't buy features (most people anyway).
So, if you have some commercial software package that zips the reports, it might go like this:
Feature: zip tool
Advantage: compress and encrypt
Benefit: Secure and quickly transmit your reports
In this case, they're trying to justify their Geek setup services:
Feature: 3d glasses delivery and setup
Advantage: not worrying about compatibility
Benefit: Sync your 3D glasses to your TV
Sure, it's not accurate, but marketing people don't always know the fine details of what they are talking about. If they did, they would be techies.
As programmers/developers/techies, we hate to deal in Benefits. They are so hard to quantify and define. We like to deal in features, which can be validated (it's there and it works, or it's not there or doesn't work).
Just a scam, really. (Score:2)
By offering a service that does not exist, Best Buy attempts to confuse people who may well be perfectly capable of setting up their home theater system into believing that they don't know enough to do it. Imagine if you will a fairly smart person who has a basic knowledge of home A/V systems. They read this ad and see that Best Buy will 'sync their 3d glasses.' They are pretty sure they can do everything else, after all, they have for every other home A/V system they've owned. But there's that 'sync the gl
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, and drinking Dr. Pepper won't REALLY make you a doctor.
There IS one setting (Score:2)
Usually there's an "invert" button on the IR emitter to swap left/right eye -- you should press this if things look 3D, but horribly wrong somehow (or if the scene gets better when you turn the 3D glasses upside down and look through them).
All verbal confusion aside, it's good that they are offering a setup service -- while the setup on the devices is not that complicated, it's a bit less trivial than programming a VCR. I could see a lot of inexperienced users (which is 99.999% of the population at this poi
Submitter doesn't understand stereoscopics (Score:2)
can't both be true... (Score:2, Troll)
Both these statements can't be true. If the glasses sync automatically, then there is such a thing as syncing 3D glasses.
The real question is, considering that the glasses sync automatically, should they be advertise this as a service they provide.
Most likely not.
I say (Score:2, Flamebait)
No need to sync the glasses thanks - now knock off a hundred and fifty bucks from your price.
Nothing New...Same Best Buy Different Product (Score:3, Insightful)
This type of thing has been going on for months, try walking into a best buy and buying an "on sale" notebook that doesnt have a $39 Geek Squad "optimized" sticker on it. I tried a couple months back when an Acer was on sale that I wanted for my son, after arguing with the sales guy who told me they were basically unusable without it I left. Instead of a notebook I walked out with frustration and a determination to never step foot in a best buy again.
Best buy should be burned to the ground (Score:3, Insightful)
lol (Score:4, Insightful)
Its a genuinely helpful service (Score:5, Funny)
Wearing the glasses upside-down or the wrong way round would cause incorrect left/right shutter sync and resultant loss of 3D effect.
Anyone that would buy a TV from Best Buy must have limited intelligence, so Best Buy thoughtfully provide the glasses-sync service where they permanently epoxy the glasses to your head in the comfort of your own home. This value-for-money service prevents later user-error so ensures users will always get the full "amazing experience".
This helpful service is already under attack from other tv manufacturers as they have identified it as anticompetitive due to the implicit vendor lock-in following installation.
Oh my. (Score:5, Funny)
.. this isn't even news. (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously -- you have to be on glue to buy shit from that big box store in the first place.
they're gonna teach us how to see 3D images. (Score:2)
How to synchronize both eyes. Even after a few shots of Stoli.
Never thought I'd say this... (Score:2)
Yes I know their online corpse lives on, but it's just a frontend for tigerdirect I think.
I for one don't care. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
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:After reading best buy awsner... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)