SIGforum.com Main Page The Lounge Best Buy "Open Box" discount -- Anybody familiar with this option? //Update -- not good
Main Page The Lounge Best Buy "Open Box" discount -- Anybody familiar with this option? //Update -- not goodPage 1 2
Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Member |
I have a sudden urge to dropkick my LG TV all the way to the curb since it stopped working this afternoon and LG's chat line is clueless. It's back to Sony for me, I hope, since the LG only lasted 2-1/2 years, and the sound has been so bad that I had to buy a cheap sound bar some months back. It replaced a many-year-old Sony Bravia that I was very happy with, except for the replacement cost. My question, my local Best Buy lists a Sony Bravia "Open Box" for less than half the cost of a new one, supposedly it was sold and returned by a retail customer who didn't want it, supposedly undamaged, Best Buy swears it works fine, and has the factory warranty. I've never bought like this and want some opinions. Should I try this?This message has been edited. Last edited by: newtoSig765, -------------------------- Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. -- H L Mencken I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is. -- JALLEN 10/18/18 | ||
|
Truth Seeker |
I have bought a few “open box” items from them and never had an issue. The ones I bought worked fine and I had no need to return so I have no experience on returning something bought that way, but I would think they would honor the return if needed. NRA Benefactor Life Member | |||
|
Fighting the good fight |
Open box items are a complete crapshoot. You could get a TV that somebody bought and then realized that it was too big/too small/the wrong color/etc. and returned it without using it. So effectively brand new for a fraction of the price. Or you could get a TV that is damaged or broken in a way that the minimum wage retail worker who inspected it didn't recognize or discover before labeling it "undamaged" and "works fine". Or that only has intermittent problems. Or that is missing parts. Or that has had components swapped. Or that has had a counterfeit item substituted (though that particular one is unlikely with a big TV). Or that is actually their store demo model and has been run for thousands of hours already and is halfway through its lifespan. | |||
|
Character, above all else |
I bought an Open Box TV at a steep discount a few years ago and the TV is still going strong. The story I was told was the previous customer bought it and discovered there were not enough HDMI ports and other features he needed to run his system. I checked the TV over and didn't find any dust in the usual places which would indicate it had been running for some time, and all the cords were still in plastic bags. So that purchase worked out for me, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat next time I need a TV. "The Truth, when first uttered, is always considered heresy." | |||
|
| Member! |
I have bought numerous open box stuff from Best Buy. Just make sure you inspect everything carefully, plug everything in, and make sure it works before you go about mounting things permanently. The items that I purchased open box and did not work right (or more likely scratched/banged up more than I wanted), I had no problem returning for full refund. | |||
|
| Member |
Thanks, guys! I'm picking it up tomorrow. XerO, I'll check it as best I can before I put it in the car. I know I should check for the remote control, cables and manual. Anything else to look for? And thanks for that suggestion. -------------------------- Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. -- H L Mencken I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is. -- JALLEN 10/18/18 | |||
|
| Savor the limelight |
I’ve purchased maybe a half dozen open box items from Best Buy over the years with no issue. Still using the Pioneer Elite receiver and Panasonic plasma screen from 2012. | |||
|
Member |
The single greatest SKU profit robber at Circuit City was big box TV returns. I suspect Best Buy is in the same boat. We tried to minimize returns through carefully sizing the TV to the home space and door (back when BIG screen TV were physically BIG). We lost BIG money on each return. Seeing your current Best Buy discount reminds me of these days. Open Box is never certain quality, but the satisfaction refund is strong. ------- Trying to simplify my life... | |||
|
| Needs a check up from the neck up  |
I have bought a few TVs that way, never had an issue, Don't dally once you get it, get it home plug it in and start fiddling with it. If there are issues return asap. You should be good to go __________________________ | |||
|
Member |
I bought my TV as an open box from Best Buy last year. It was rated as being in "excellent" condition. The only thing wrong was that it was missing one screw for the mount. I think it was roughly a $300 savings for a single missing screw. Learn and love and to do What it takes to step through | |||
|
Member |
I've done Open Box twice. Circuit City, 2 MTX 10 subs with an amp when I was in high school. Off the floor & into my trunk. Worked great until they were launched 35 feet when I was t-boned & thrown into a very rapid 360* that popped the trunk & launched them. The other was BestBuy, Dell XPS laptop, still have it somewhere but it's long dead, unrelated to the OB status. Just old. IIRC, it came with an extended Geek Squad warranty that I used once. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
|
| Member |
Picked it up yesterday afternoon, asked the girls who brought it out to the car to open the box to check contents, they assured me they had done it already and everything was there. Opened the box this afternoon, no remote, no mounting hardware, no instructions. Best Buy isn't answering the phone and I'm too tied up with stuff at home to go over there. Guess it has to wait until later tonight or tomorrow, another day without news during the most epic part of DJT's presidency. XerO, I should have insisted on opening the box before I left the damned store! -------------------------- Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. -- H L Mencken I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is. -- JALLEN 10/18/18 | |||
|
| Fighting the good fight |
 Don't take minimum wage retail workers' word for it. Especially when it comes to open box items. There's zero incentive for them to do a good job, or be accurate, or know what they're talking about. Hopefully the return goes smoothly for you. | |||
|
| Member |
I'm actually hoping they can find the missing bits and pieces, otherwise I don't know if I can really afford a Sony. This one was about $250 as an Open Box, the same thing NIB is $599. I'd have to do a Go Fund Me (J/K)! -------------------------- Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. -- H L Mencken I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is. -- JALLEN 10/18/18 | |||
|
אַרְיֵה |
If you're interested in a bridge, I have a nice one for sale.  הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים | |||
|
| Fighting the good fight |
Then if the TV itself works fine, it may be worth keeping it, buying a replacement remote, and using some universal mounting hardware (if you plan on mounting it to begin with). Would still be cheaper than the $350 extra it would cost for a new one. | |||
|
| Internet Guru |
Yeah, I would plug the Sony in and see what kind of picture it has. You can download the owner's manual. A universal remote is pretty cheap. It could still be a really good value. | |||
|
Member |
Remotes can be a problem for models that have been surpassed. I have an upper line Yamaha receiver whose remote is half dead and Yamaha can't sell a replacement. Next one will be a basic unit for sure. The receiver is nicely done but the remote is cheap crap, a mismatch in quality. Lover of the US Constitution Wile E. Coyote School of DIY Disaster | |||
|
| Member |
The girls weren't even hot. Not by a long shot. -------------------------- Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. -- H L Mencken I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is. -- JALLEN 10/18/18 | |||
|
| Member |
Actually, the customer service guy said BB would pay for the missing parts but I'd have to get them myself from Sony. BB won't do it for me. At least I think that's what he said. BB hires out its customer service to India, I hung up on the first one because I couldn't understand him, the second one said they'd cover the cost of replacement. I think. His accent was almost as bad as the first guy. I hate being cheated and lied to, as well as being without the news for however long it takes to get the parts. I have to get into town tomorrow, maybe I'll stop at BB and see what I can get in a face-to-face with one of the managers. -------------------------- Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. -- H L Mencken I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is. -- JALLEN 10/18/18 | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata | Page 1 2 |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
SIGforum.com Main Page The Lounge Best Buy "Open Box" discount -- Anybody familiar with this option? //Update -- not good
Main Page The Lounge Best Buy "Open Box" discount -- Anybody familiar with this option? //Update -- not good© SIGforum 2026