Best Buy denying claims to soldiers

[Squishy0405]

This has happened to a friend of the family. His son actually, who was heading overseas to Iraq to fight for US and OUR FREEDOMS! I just want to pass it on to everyone. PLEASE do!

EVEN if you dont agree with the war -- these are OUR American Soldiers!!!! And they are being SCREW out of money and services for the MIGHTY DOLLAR in Corporate America!


Dear Potential Customers of Best Buy:

We are asking for your help. Our soilders serving abroad are linked to their loved ones with laptops and cameras; many were purcahsed at a Best Buy store. It is what keeps them in touch with home an it is how this war will be documented. Their snapshots will tell the true story and in thousands of cases, their last moments in this life.

Many soldiers have took out what they thought was insurance on these items they purchased from Best Buy. They bought the extended warrantees and felt confident they were covered. BUT - Best Buy has a policy of DENYING ANY CLAIMS TO SOLDIERS SERVING OUT OF THE COUNTRY - even if they have the extended policy! We found this out the hard way. (A side note from me - And the policy was sold while the son of my friend was standing there, in his Combat Uniform, telling the salesmen he was GOING to Iraq!!!)
The corporate office has stated "It is our policy not to extend coverage to soilders serving out of the country and we are not changing it." These are men and women dying and risking their lives to protect our freedoms and this companies ability to do busines in a free society. OUR SOILDERS DESERVE MORE!

We are asking that you either boycott Best Buy until they will change this policy.
Or you can print this letter, walk into one and hand it to a manager and let them know you will no longer be a customer until this policy changes.
OR take a moment to print this letter, write up your own thoughts and mail to the corporate office:
Best Buy Inc
Corprate Customer Care
PO Box 9312
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0312

You can always call too!
1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289)

Or visit this site and send this letter in the email:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....ge&id=cat12104


There are so many things we feel we cannot change about this war, so please, help ys change one small thing. ONE thing that our troops deserve!
Thank you for your support!

[Thebobo]

I am a little confused so I apologize.
Is this your sentiments or are you quoting from another source like snopes often does?
I am not sure if you are asking if this is true or assuming it is and want others to respond.

[Em]

And the policy was sold while the son of my friend was standing there, in his Combat Uniform

I don't know what the rules are in the US, but there are only certain uniforms I'm allowed to wear out in public when not on duty. Without exception, they're the "pretty" ones, not working dress. Would a soldier go shopping for electronics in his Combat Uniform?

[HollowMan]

I read over the Parts Service Plan for my iPod. There was no mention of a specific exclusion of servicepeople, however, there was a statement to the effect of 'international coverage may vary.'

[HollowMan]

Originally Posted by Em

I don't know what the rules are in the US, but there are only certain uniforms I'm allowed to wear out in public when not on duty. Without exception, they're the "pretty" ones, not working dress. Would a soldier go shopping for electronics in his Combat Uniform?

Nope, only in some of the 'pretty' uniforms.

[everett102]

OUR SOILDERS DESERVE MORE!

YEAH! like spelling "soldier" correctly!

[Eddylizard]

I would think it reasonable to assume that a warranty on a product would be geographically limited by the scope of the companies global coverage. This probably applies to all customers, not just soldiers. If I flew in to the states, bought a camera from Best Buy and flew back, there probably won't be a convenient Best Buy service centre nearby (AFAIK Best Buy don't have a presence here), so if the camera malfunctions I too would probably be out of luck, unless I was prepared to fly back to the US to get it fixed, or pay for shipping it back.

I doubt that many electronics retailers have service centres in Iraq, but not for disciminatory reasons.

So if the policy is in place, it probably extends to any customer whose device goes wrong while they are overseas.

[Troberg]

Most types of insurance or warranty has a 'Force majeure' clause, which explicitly exempts damage from such things as war, natural disasters and so on. It should be no surprise that taking the stuff into a war zone might activate this clause.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_majeure

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by Troberg

Most types of insurance or warranty has a 'Force majeure' clause, which explicitly exempts damage from such things as war, natural disasters and so on. It should be no surprise that taking the stuff into a war zone might activate this clause.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_majeure

Part of the OP stated

"It is our policy not to extend coverage to soilders serving out of the country and we are not changing it."

I don't know about the US, but the UK has troops serving out of the country in all sorts of places that aren't war zones and we aren't at war with - like say Belize or Germany. Would force majeure apply then?

Best Buy repair policy

Note that Best Buy will repair something in your home (for major appliances) or at one of their repair centres if you bring it into one of their shops. It doesn't say they will fix it if it is 8,000 miles away from the nearest store when it dies.

My guess is that someone was buying an item for a service relative (or a serviceperson was buying it), mentioned that it was to be used whilst stationed overseas. . The clerk mentioned the warranty or the customer asked about it, the clerk explained helpfully that the warranty wouldn't be valid overseas.

Then it got blown out of proportion. Maybe someone asked if they could make an exception for soldiers, which explains "it is not our policy to extend coverage to soldiers serving out of the country." Or in other words sorry, but though the military have our respect, we cannot fly a repairman halfway around the world if it goes wrong, just like we wouldn't for anyone else.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by HollowMan

Nope, only in some of the 'pretty' uniforms.

I've seen soldiers walking about -- not necessarily actively shopping, but maybe eating out or window shopping -- in their desert camos and berets. I've seen pictures of soldiers wearing the same uniform to, for example, visit a classroom that's been writing them letters. Which uniform is that, and should they be wearing it around like that? Pinqy explained this once, but not in terms that I understood.

[HollowMan]

Originally Posted by Lainie

I've seen soldiers walking about -- not necessarily actively shopping, but maybe eating out or window shopping -- in their desert camos and berets. I've seen pictures of soldiers wearing the same uniform to, for example, visit a classroom that's been writing them letters. Which uniform is that, and should they be wearing it around like that? Pinqy explained this once, but not in terms that I understood.

I spoke too quickly. My answer only applies to the Marines. We basically could not be off base if we were in our Camoflage Uniforms, though there may have been exceptions for special visits and such (as I never went on these special visits, I don't know). The policy probably is different for the other branches.

Lainie, why is it that when time I say something half-assed or confusing lately, you make me come along and clarify myself?

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by HollowMan

Lainie, why is it that when time I say something half-assed or confusing lately, you make me come along and clarify myself?

I'm your intellectual conscience. And you don't pay me enough.

[The Goof]

Just a note, I see Air Force personel in there BDU's and Flight Uniforms all the time out shopping here in Tucson.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by The Goof

Just a note, I see Air Force personel in there BDU's and Flight Uniforms all the time out shopping here in Tucson.

Definitions, please? I'm militarily ignorant.

[Hero_Mike]

What Troberg said. Plus the fact that many warranties for consumer products don't cover accidental damage due to environment. The risks to your digital camera are greater when you go on a canoe trip, than when you go over to uncle John's house for a barbecue. Warranty claims for consumer products purchased for business (i.e. a digital camera bought to take pictures on the shop floor of a factory) are also dicey, because commercial use is not the same as personal use. It's reasonable to assume that the "risk" to personal electronics owned by soldiers in a combat zone is greater than that of your average consumer. The company isn't being unpatriotic, they are protecting themselves from risk.

[remarkgullabull]

Originally Posted by Lainie

Definitions, please? I'm militarily ignorant.

BDU: Battle Dress Uniform

[Deepfrydegg]

There is another point to consider.
Inside the US (and Canada, in general) power supply and internet connections are fairly standard. Farther out, such things vary in their connections and reliability. For example, a standard (3-prong, 115-volt, 60 hertz) power source in the US is NOT found in most of Europe.
Using a 3rd party converter could very well "fry" your electronic device due to a power surge or incompatible flow (frequency or volt or Amps or etc.).

Best Buy (and other companies) doesn't want to be held responsible for such matters (or buyers trying plug a flat plug into a round socket...)

[justusfour]

I agree that it is highly unlikely that the wording is specifically aimed at soldiers. That's just silly if anyone actually believes it. It's probably just store policy that items taken out of the country aren't covered.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by remarkgullabull

BDU: Battle Dress Uniform

Okay, but what does a BDU look like? Again, I am ignorant. My only personal knowledge of military uniforms comes from old WWII photos of my dad and uncle.

[Horse Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Squishy0405

Many soldiers have took out what they thought was insurance on these items they purchased from Best Buy. They bought the extended warranties and felt confident they were covered.

I think the point being made by the person who originally posted this on Myspace is not that Best Buy has this clause in the warranty, but that Best Buy salespeople are selling these warranties to soldiers who are taking the products overseas.

If the salespeople know that these products are going to be shipped overseas, and are still pushing the warranty on an unsuspecting customer, then the OP has a legitimate gripe.