OK, I placed an order online at Best Buy Thursday for a mouse. I ordered it around 10:30am and planned to pick it up in the store. By 2:00 I still didn't have my pick up email so I called the store and was told they didn't have any and an email shoud have been sent to me saying so. I finally got that email around 8pm. Of course, when I placed the order BB "authorized" my debit card for the $17.xx. Well, I had to have a mouse so DH & I went to our local BB yesterday and there were 5 of those same mice on the shelf. I took one up and asked could I be given that one since they clearly were in stock and was told rather rudely, no. So I called BB CS today and was told the stores have 2 kinds of inventory, one for walk in customers, one for online customers and they could never cross over. And the authorization would not fall off my debit card until at least 6/19. So, BB is "holding" my money for a week for a mouse they have in the store but won't give me. That bothers me. Am I alone in thinking this is just wrong?

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Email me at jodell443@yahoo.com

I don't do in store pickups anymore because of this! I had something similar happen at Circuit City. I feel for you, and I don't think it's right that they "hold" your money for a product you didn't receive. To me, it's seems that they should be able to credit your card back for the "online" puchase, and then swithc it over to a "instore" purchase. Sorry this happened to you.

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Nicole

I say dispute this with the cc company. Sorry you had to go through this!

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I'd be upset about this, too. BB shouldn't have taken the money out of your account unless they had the merchandise in stock in their 'online' store.

I'd be calling corporate on this one. They should change their policy. Plus I never use my debit card online. Only a credit card. Gosh, suppose it had been one of those big screen TV's and BB took it out of your account for something they didn't even have??

Yep, you have the right to be upset!

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"Many people lose their tempers merely from seeing you keep yours..."

I totally agree. I've heard stuff like this before, Best Buy doesn't exactly have the greatest reputation

Debit cards are pure junk for online purchases and have much less buyer protection than credit cards. DO NOT USE DEBIT CARDS ONLINE.

Call your bank if the authorization is a problem. They can remove it.

As you've seen, Best Buy's customer service stinks. Well known for this.

Yes, you should NOT be upset with Best Buy for getting an authorization on your Debit Card. And your bank controls when that authorization comes off, not Best Buy. Debit Cards are designed for convienece shopping, like gas, groceries, and small immediate purchases....not for internet shopping, purchasing travel or hotel stays, or renting cars, etc. People make the mistake of thinking they can use their Debit Cards like Credit Cards....and I'm even guilty of doing it sometimes....but, we really shouldn't.

Not having the item in stock and not following up with you in a timely manner is what should make you upset.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

I don't do business with Best Buy.

My teenage son got a credit card there and they were hard to do business with.
And I spoke to the rudest person who I have ever talked to on the phone just trying to find out if you can pay THEIR credit card at THEIR store.

By the way, they do NOT accept payments on their card at their stores.

Best Buy is a rotten company that treats staff like crap - it shows in how they treat customers.

I don't blame you for being upset. Best Buy is a dreadful company. I hate them even more than Hellmart.

I had something similar happen with a couple of "Friends" boxed set DVDs. Except for me, they charged me shipping when I picked it up at the store. This was after a very very long wait and being treated horribly.
I finally stopped shopping there. It's been close to 3 years that I haven't stepped foot in that store. I doubt they miss my patronage and I sure don't miss them.

OP, I don't think you are wrong to be upset.

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l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

Boy are you wrong!
My "debit card" was used online for a purchase and the company's server got hacked and my card number was stolen. They put in a false charge for $3.12 on a Saturday and my bank called me immediately and told me..closed down the card...then I was given a new card with a new number by Wednesday. It just goes to show that you are not responsible for fradulent charges. Debit cards are safer than cash. Debit cards are just as secure as credit cards. That's why Visa and Mastercard BACK the cards with their logo therefore securing your money the same way they would your credit.

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Best Buy is the WORST for buying something on-line and picking up at the store. It takes FOREVER for them to process the order. DH bought an Ipod Touch on-line for in-store pick-up. He figured that would be easier than going to the store and trying to find someone who knew if they had them in inventory and then getting one for him.

We waited 2 hours and finally went to the store -- same thing, on-line and in-store are two DIFFERENT things. We could buy it at the store and then try to cancel it on-line. Finally the store manager came over and told us he'd figure it out so we could get the Ipod now and not be charged twice. Just as he said that, DH's order popped up in their system.

Circuit City is much faster for in-store pick-up -- I think they have a time guarantee, but the store by me NEVER has what I want in stock.

Sarah..........

Debit cards are not the same as credit cards. Debit cards are attached to your bank account and your money is held while you are attempting to resolve issues. It is not a good idea to use them online as it can take awhile to resolve issues.

I personally would be sending a letter to the Better Business Bureau and make them reply to them as to why you were charged for an item that they knew was not in stock, but then was found on the shelf at the store? This not only notifies them of poor business practices but others to be aware. Also if this has been going on for so long why has someone not done a class action on Best Buy for holding funds that do not belong to them and drawing the interests on them? Just wondering?

Best Buy can call and have that authorization manually removed. But it has to come from Best Buy. Try to call during the workday and see if you can get someone in there office that handles the cash and creditcards.

I used to work in credit card security and want to clear this up for you before you get burned.

As you said, you are well protected against FRAUD with most debit cards.

Your protection against merchant disputes and merchant billing errors is much less.

Think of this one. Merchant puts charge through more than once, overdrawing your checking account. You get hit with NSF fees by both your bank and merchants whose checks bounced. Offending merchant reverses the duplicate charge and refuses to pay the NSF fees you were charged by the bank and other merchants.

This happens a lot and leaves you in a world of hurt.

Debit cards are trash just as Clark Howard says. Banks push them on you because debit cards bring them fees from merchants. Paying with checks does not.

Only use credit cards online. Best, destroy debit card and have an ATM card issued to replace it.

It can and will happen to you.

Gee, I wouldn't know anything about debt cards vs. credit cards.

I guess those 3 years I spent running a fraud prevention group at an online retailer, where I delt with all of the major credit card companies and banks, showed me nothing.

Security wasn't the issue with the original post....it was the holding of funds, which I said before, a true credit card company can remove immediatly....and some banks take up to 72 hours.

Maybe you should check your facts before you start highlighting stuff in red.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."