At least in Willow Grove, PA (just northeast of Philadelphia), Best Buy's Entertainment Weekly promotion continues. In fact, the same cashier offered 6 free issues last Monday & started to again yesterday before stopping upon recognizing me!

Right, you wouldn't want to let the general public to see you as some sort of rube who got taken for a ride -- better just to mention getting taken for a sucker to all your academic colleagues on the blog....

I know for SURE that when I accepted my 'free' issues of Entertainment Weekly, I had already signed the credit card slip.

I also did not receive any notice in the mail, as promised, so I went to the website and canceled the subscription after only three issues. I STILL am getting billed for it, after SEVEN MONTHS!! I am sick to death of this crap. Reminds me of the old days, trying out AOL free for 30 days... we all know how that went for most people!

Amanda

How incredible! I got the charge on my bank stmt and didn't know what it was, so I googled best buy and entertainment weekly, and this came up - Misery loves company! I'm cancelling, but how unbelievably unprincipled these people are! I didn't agree to the free issues OR the charged ones!

Well, I was taken for a ride by Best Buy and Ent. Weekly and Sports Illustrated. Got charged almost 50 bucks, and to be honest, I never agreed to get the "free" issues. Now, I called my bank, they give me the money back (this was 3 months ago) but I just received a letter saying that their investigation turned out against me, so they took the money back. Now I'm mad, I called Ent Weekly, and annoyed the crap out of the person on the other side and she credited everything, including the latest charge of 29.95 to renew Ent Weekly. What's funny, is that the credit card number is different!! that's because I lost the first one after the first two charges and got a replacement about a month ago (different number,of course) so, my question is, how in the world did they get a hold of my new number? Also, I found out the mags were going to my previous adress (where my dad lives now and in HIS name!).

Same thing. 24.95 was debited from my back account (I used my debit card for the purchase). I called the Best Buy corp. office and read them the riot act while I was being given the runaroud. Let them know that I will never step foot in a Best Buy again.

This same thing has happened to me, except here is my story, as written through an email to Best Buy:
Sent to Best Buy:
I have a problem with something I experienced through Best Buy and it needs to be corrected. While I was checking out one day a few months ago, I was asked if I would like to receive 5 free issues of Entertainment Weekly magazine, at no cost to me. I am always wary of these things because there is always a catch. I said, "no charges will be made to me at all?"
Cashier said, "No, none at all."
Me: "No charge to my card?"
Cashier: "I assure you, no charge to your card. Me: "ok, I guess so why not?" The cashier punches some numbers into the computer. Then after all this I ask one more time, "there is nothing I will have to do so that this doesn't charge automatically to my card?" (After the process has been done)
She says, "You will have to cancel after the five issues come or it will charge your card."
My eyes got huge. "Did you just say it would charge my card?"
Cashier: "After the five free issues". Me:"Even though I just asked you three times if it was going to charge my card and you said no?"
Cashier: "I didn't know you meant that."
Me: "Take the subscription off my card NOW."
Cashier: "OK." (Pushes some buttons on the computer.) "Your all set."
Me: "You took it off"?
Cashier: "Yes, you are all set."
Me: "Are you sure"?
Cashier: (looking aggitated and becoming increasingly more rude)"YES, Mam, I'm sure".
Me: "It's NOT going to charge my card if I don't cancel anything."
Cashier: "Mam, I took care of it".
Me: "We would not be going through this if you would have been upfront with me in the beginning."
Cashier ROLLS HER EYES.
What happens three weeks ago? Oh yes, I receive my first copy of Entertainment Weekly in the mail. I'm perplexed and stunned. And then comes another one the week after. And just today I received a third one.
I am VERY upset about this. Why? I think you know by now. Because of this cashier, there has been lots of wasted time. Now I have to write Entertainment and cancel the subscription before they INDEED charge my card. She never removed the subscription from my order. She wanted her commission for selling a subcription. I wouldn't be so upset if I hadn't made such a fuss making sure it was all taken care of at the register after being deceived into saying "yes" in the first place, not to mention her rude behavior and disregard of my request to remove it.
I would like that cashier to be reprimanded big time. I'm sure you can find out who it was by pulling up my records from my credit card from my last visit at your store.
This is absurd! Now I have to go through the hassle of writing you this email which takes up my time, and getting in touch with Entertainment Magazine (which takes up my time) to make sure they indeed don't charge my credit card. And if they have, I have to go through the hassle of making sure they take it off. See where I'm going here?
I am requesting some compensation for the time and aggravation this has caused my husband and I. We deserve compensation. A gift card, or something. This is ridiculous. I have a seriously bad taste in mouth with Best Buy over this experience.
I am sending a copy of this email to the store I visited.
I would like to be contacted ASAP to see this matter resolved quickly and fairly.
No customer should have to go through this hassle.
Regards,
Angela Miller
I can't believe this!

I just discovered I have been had by BestBuy. I received a statement from my credit card company recently with a line item that I did not understand. It says TWX*ENT WKLY/BESTBUY and there is a toll free number next it. When I called this number, the person at the other end said it was for renewing my subscription for six months. On further enquiry, I found out that I have been signed up for a subscription for Entertainment Weekly by Best Buy back in June of 2004, and my credit card has been billed twice already for renewals!! I obviously missed the first two billings for $24.95 and $34.95. I just saw the latest billng for $39.95. I have been getting this magazine (along with many others I get) at home and regularly tossing them in the trash.

Apparently, I was signed up back in June 04 when I bought a video game for my son at the Savi Ranch store in Anaheim, CA.

I think this is a major rip-off by Best Buy - signing up people for a subscription they don't care about, and automatically charging them for something they didn't even ask for.

I have canceled my subscription, and also notified my credit card company. I plan to send a complaint letter to Best Buy, and if they don't rectify the situation immediately, I will then complain to the Better Business Bureau, and somebody in the State Government office.

This is a very dishonest way of making money off customers. My inclination to shop at Best Buy just went down many notches. There is a store nearby, but they just lost any future business from this customer.

i work at best buy, and at least at the one i'm at, we have to reswipe your card if you want the subscription, so it seems legit to me. Also, i participated in the promotion before i started working there, and i canceled my subscription within the thirty days and it turned out fine. i think people are just forgetting to cancel the subscription, maybe. At my store, we're all very clear that if you don't cancel it, it's like $25 or $29 or whatever it is.

Oh, and another thing, once BB sends the info to EW, it's out of their hands. All BB does is put your name on a list. It has absolutely nothing to do with any of what comes after, so people really have more beef with EW than BB.

Sorry, one more thing: at my store, people have to verify on the keypad that they do want to participate in the promotion. The cashiers can't automatically put someone on the promotion without the customer's physical agreement.

PHONE NUMBER TO CANCELL THIS WEEKLY MAGAZINE IS 866-228-1183 YEA I ALSO ARE GETTING THE RUN AROUND. i just got off the phone with and they said they will refund my money back to my account, in 3 bussiness days. i'll wait and see.like you gals i told them i didnt have to buy the magaines it was free for 3 issuses
and i didnt want them next time gals just tell them no if they keep bugging you about stuff like this just tell them what part of no don't you understand..same thing go's for the telamarget calls DON'T BEAFRAID TO SAY NOOOOOOO.

I just found out we were charged as well - 3 separate occasions. I only caught it this time since I looked at my online statement today and saw a charge yesterday - I knew we weren't there yesterday so we couldn't have charged there. My credit card company has opened a fraud case against them
-Dan

Yep, yet another victim. I went Christmas shopping for a friend. Now I'm STILL paying for it. Same situation. AFTER my card had been swiped, I was gathering my things and the young girl at the counter asked about the "free" trial offer. I asked at least two or three times if my card would be charged. The answer, if you could guess, "Not at all ma'am. It's absolutly free." No it wasn't. As I found on my bank statement today. I called, they're going to reimburse my acount---next month! Next month? what about now? Anyhow, shame on Best Buy for agreeing to do something like this. It had been one of my favorite stores for shopping. I think I'll be rethinking that next time I have an itch to do something like buy a gift!

This is nothing but a con and illegal.
I was stung for 29.95 against my checking account this morning. I called the 866-228-1183 and the CSR was rude. Accusing me of going to best buy. Nothing on my bank statement said best buy only "twx entertainment weekly".The CSR said that he would reverse the charges but it could take up to two months to see the reversed charge. I am hoping for a class action lawsuit against Twx entertainment and Best buy.

This happened to me last October. My bank card was cancelled and just last month the change was removed from by checking account. Unfortunately, there is now a new charge from TWX weekly, and I'm starting the whole thing all over again.
I stopped buying at Best Buy since the first incident, so I've no idea how TWX got my new number.
Do banks have no responsibility in this process?

yeah, i think im another victim to this whole scam. i also got charged for the entertainment weekly out of the blue, i didnt know that they were going to automatically bill me to continue to recive them. how they even billed me is mind boggling because i canceled my old check card that i used to recieve the free issues a little while ago. so i dont know how on earth they billed me. im pretty upset

I just called 866-228-1183 I got a guy on the phone who was very polite and cancelled my service and told me a refund would appear in 3-10 days. He did however tell me I qualified for discounts on other magazines.

We'll see if I get the refund.

I recently purchased a Pinnacle Studio Software package for my son. I told the sales person at the Best Buy store in Goodyear Arizona that it was for an old Windows 98," No problem",was the reply. I gave the software to my son and he stated that it would not work for Windows 98. I told him that I was sorry , he stated ," don't worry dad it looks as if someone else had made the same mistake and returned it it had been opened before and the seal was broken on the bottom of the package.

The following day I attempted to return the item but was told that," because the seal had been broken they would not refund my money, further stating that it could have been copied. I was stunned, had I intended to defraud BestBuy all I would have had to do was cut out a circular piece of clear packing tape and replace the seal. A criminal could have field day pirating all the software he or she wanted in this manner. I was amazed at their stupidity and used to the kind of service received at Circuit City ,Fry's and Wallmart.

My attempts to explain this to them were in vain and all I received in the way of a reply from their cusomer," dis-service department was a canned letter from a guy named Michael ( first name only ) explaining the store policies. I also attempted to call the store Manger a Brian AKA ,"BK", again no last names given here, but was told on three occassions that he was not available or not in today. I finally asked the ," Customer Service Person if I could have the name of their ," regional Manager,". We dont, have no regional manager", was her reply. After some more idiotic banter with this person she stated that they had a," District Manager", (same same, but she didn't get it) She finally Gave me His name a Mr. Justin Tichey? (She was not sure of the spelling but did the best she could).I finally got a last name. When Iasked for his number or E-mail she stated that," Oh! we don,t give that information out".

I am so frustrated at this point that I am just going to hit the blog's .If you do not want a similar experience, Stay a way from ,"Worst Buy". With their customer service policies I am certain that they will go the way of K-Mart. How smart is it to piss-off a customer with a household annual income of over 85,000 and two computer happy children?

I had been spending about 5 to 8,000 annually at K-Mart before a similar incident with their ,"return policy", hacked me off about 17 years ago. Wallmart has received all of my business since then, and I have not set foot in a K-Mart since.

Apparently this logic is lost on them, at least until they start to see their bottom line bottom out.

Best Buy?... I don't think so.

I am so glad that I came upon this blog! I was about to purchase new computer equipment at BB, specifically, a laptop, a desktop, and updated software. After reading these postings, I will definately shop somewhere else. I guess in my personal case, the blog has had the desired effect. The more people that read these types of larcenous and unscrupulous behaviors that seem obviously sanctioned by BB, the more shoppers will simply go somewhere else. I guess I am at a point in my life, where rude and apathetic employees send me into a rage anyway. If a manager continues to allow that type of employee to remanin as a representative of the company or store, then I blame the manager! Therefore, complaining to the store serves no real purpose. It has to go "over the store managers head", to have any effect at all.

Add me to the List of BB Haters...Last fall my son bought a portable CD player for me for my birthday. A few days later I attempted to return it (unopened)to purchase a better unit but was refused repeatedly in my efforts to spend more money there. At that point I vowed never to shop there again. BB Sucks!

My job (not in sales) puts me in contact with a lot of people and I've got to tell you most of them when they do something stupid or embarrassing go on the offensive and make up stories about what happened or didn't happen in order to save face, or they were just plain not paying attention when they should have been. It sounds to me like a lot of that is going on in this blog. Get a life. Admit your greed got the best of you, or that you weren't paying attention or whatever. Learn your lesson and get on with life. Quit blaming BB for their (short-sighted) sales tactics, and blame yourself for being a sucker. What a bunch of whiners. Grow up and take responsibility for your own acts.

We are. We aren't shopping at Best Buy any more.

Same thing only I bought a computer from best buy in Ann Arbor. The girl showed me a receipt and said when you get home and get online you can go to this website and sign up for these free magazines. I said Oh sure thanks .. Never went to the site and started getting TIME, Sports Illustrated, and Ent Weekly. FIgured it was from Best Buy and kept looking for the subscription form to write CANCEL on and return. Never came ... you know the ending. 24.95 for each magazine stolen from my account. You give them a bunch of money for a product you need a they swindle you out of more. Best Buy and all of their crappy employees suck! I'll never step foot in that dump again!

I don't have a problem taking responsibility for my actions. What I do mind is being tricked. I also started receiving Ent.Wkly and believe me I was NEVER told that I was signing up for it. I cancelled my subscription and I am moving on with my life, but I will not let it go. That is exactly what BestBuy wants you to do. I won't be shopping at BestBuy anymore.

Same thing happened to me. Went Christmas Shopping in 2004 and they asked me if I wanted 3 free issues. I said no thanks and the guy was like, what have you got to lose? They're Free. I said no again. Then the guy said well, they will probably send them to you anyway. They get your address from the credit card transaction. I asked him if that was legal. He said sure because they are doing it. I left. I did get a subscription to Sports Illustrated and then on the 4th delivery, noticed a charge on my statement for the amount of $29.95. I figured, I do like the magazine so whatever. I let it go and continued to enjoy the subscription, however slimey Best Buys was to pull this on me. The killer is that I stopped receiving the magazine in December of 2005 and just got a collection notice for $29.95 saying that I didn't pay the years subscription. Now I'm pissed! I caught the tale end of a story about it on KFWB last week stating something about a class action law suit. Has anyone heard anything?

I am another victim with this Best Buy thing. All of a sudden I started receiving Time Magazines. I had no idea why. I now get a bill in the mail saying that I agreed to these magazines at Best Buy. I would never order Time Magazine. Now they sent me a bill telling me that they were kind enough to take my word on sending the magazines on credit and now I have to send them their money. I said I never ordered any magazines and I certainly wouldn't order Time. Everytime I got one of these magazines I pitched it in the garbage and said why the heck do they keep sending me this? Time said I had to sign on the receipt when I bought something at Best Buy. What a rip off! This must be the only way they can sell their magazine by conning people like this. Nothing that I know of has been deducted from my charge card, or bank account, but I have not kept close watch at it either. Someone needs to step in and put a stop to Best Buy doing this.

Best Buy sure are going to have angry customers. I never received any of my free magazines and now I get a charge of $29.95. It is ridiculous. But I called Entertaiment Weekly at 1-800-828-6882 at they are giving me my money back and canceling the subscription I never got.

Best Buy sure are going to have angry customers. I never received any of my free magazines and now I get a charge of $29.95. It is ridiculous. But I called Entertaiment Weekly at 1-800-828-6882 at they are giving me my money back and canceling the subscription I never got.

Yea, they got me too. $24.95, called 866-228-1183 and (hopefully) got it resolved. Unfortunately when I was shopping for a computer, Worst Buy had the best deal. Go figure!

I still have my receipt(thankfully) and canceled after the first issue(it reminded me). For all of you, the website listed on the receipt where you can cancel is www.ew.com/subscriberservices
You have to put in your name and address, it will bring up your account and what you "owe", then a link on the left says cancel your subscription. When you click it, your account balance with them goes to $0.00
Hope this helps, and I hope they won't charge me for something that I was in a hurry and didn't care about. BTW, I only signed once, and it was for my debit card purchase.