the life and times of endenizen » Products

Yes. It’s Best Buy.

I was recently inspired to hassle Best Buy yet again for it’s incompetence. I am a member of the Reward Zone program. Don’t ask me why, it costs $10 per year and I suppose it’s much easier to take advantage of their failure to accurately price products than to be a member of this “coupon club” that only encourages more negligent spending. I received an email containing my recent coupons but alas, like I discovered on the single other occasion I’ve recieved coupons (I’ve been a member for almost 3 years) they require you to use Internet Explorer! Far be it from me to reboot my computer to print these coupons (or use the one sitting next to me running Windows) I felt it was my turn to complain, once again. Since the email address linked from the coupons was “rewardzone.bestbuy.com” I felt I’d better find a method of communication that wasn’t improperly formatted (ha! good luck…). I went to the reward zone website and there was a “question/concern” form that looked promising. I filled it out as so:

My concern is the installation of Internet Explorer that the reward zone program assumes. I don’t use Internet Explorer because I use Linux. Even when I do use Windows, the mere thought of starting up Internet Explorer makes me throw-up a little. If Microsoft is paying you to limit your business to their customers, I’ll gladly go elsewhere. Otherwise, there are many alternatives to employ including a system that will simply email the unique coupon codes (or let them be downloaded with any web browser) and require the reward zone card to be presented when the coupons are redeemed.

Thanks,
Brian Ferrell – A long time but unfaithful and never altogether satisfied Best Buy customer.

I’m not sure I’ll ever get a response, let alone in the “24 hours” they promise on the website. Or maybe I will get a response, with what I’ve come to expect from such a company “we’re sorry for your recent experience, here’s more coupons.” We live in an age when one poor technology retailer can be replaced by 5 others with better service so I won’t feel bad if I have to avoid shopping at Best Buy altogether. Or maybe I’ll just limit myself to purchasing their signature “accidental loss leaders.” I wouldn’t feel bad about that either…

Update 1: There’s some lack of communication between their “guy who writes content for website” and “guy who writes content for emails originating from website” departments because I just got an email saying I will get a response within 48 hours. Perhaps they’re not as “eager to assist” as they claim.

Update 2: (and the end of my story) Less than 24 hours, so at least they’re proficient in responding to concerns… or are they? It took them 24 hours to come up with nothing and default to this auto we-don’t-care message:

Brian,

I am Michael with Best Buy Customer Care.

I apologize we did not meet your expectations with the RewardZone program. Best Buy strives to make each experience you have with us positive and as fun as possible, and we are disappointed if we don’t live up to that expectation. Best Buy relies on feedback, both positive and negative, to help us find areas to improve the Reward Zone program for our members.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Thank you,
Michael
Best Buy Customer Care Team

So, it is a sad ending to my story. No more coupons (not that I use them anyway) and not even a genuine response to my concern. I can’t say I’m surprised, but maybe, by some small stroke of luck, my concern has ended up in the hands of someone who actually read it. But that might be wishful thinking…

I’ve arrived early to statistics class. You see, I’m on a mission. I intend to taste “Coca-Cola BlaK.” It’s a new coke-coffee “carbonated fusion beverage” and frankly, it doesn’t sound like a good combination. On the other hand, I did just partake in a yearly ritual at the local bar involving Guinness and Lucky Charms for breakfast on St. Patty’s day and, those two definitely didn’t sound good together but guess what? They actually tasted good together. Although, the Lucky Charms wasn’t floating in the Guinness like so many people asked me (with disgusted looks on their faces).

I’ve concluded that this beverage, Coca-Cola BlaK will be totally different. You see, the difference is the “fusion.” Guinness and Lucky Charms can hardly be “fusion”-ized, which I’ve determined is the process of combining two substances into a package and selling it in stores. That would just be ridiculous and it would take away the mystery and amazement every year when people work up the courage to actually try it. No, BlaK is different. Although I can’t say I’ve actually tried it yet…

First, the packaging. I had to do a double-take when I first saw the pleasant box of 4 bottles nestled quietly in the middle of the Pop/Soda aisle ready for an absent-minded adolescent to stumble into them and spill their “New!”-ness all over the floor. It looked just like those Starbucks boxes of Frappucino that are sold in stores. In fact, both have 4 glass bottles, both are coffee-esque, and both get in the way while you’re trying to walk down the aisle. The Coke version is completely covered with a snake-skin looking texture that blends their classic Coke-bubbles and… blackness that could only be the “coffee.” The shape of the bottle is a miniature version of Coke’s signature bottle shape. I unscrewed the plastic lid and readied my senses…

It smelled faintly of coffee, then coke, then coffee, then coke, almost as if my mind couldn’t make itself up because it had never come across something quite so strange. The taste… it was weird. I mean, I can taste the coffee, and the Coke, and so I’m confused. Maybe after more sips I’ll get used to it.

Hmm, no still weird. I’m all the way through the 8 oz bottle (a size which holds only the finest of drinks) and I guess the only thing I can say about the taste is that it tastes like Vanilla Coke, but with coffee flavoring instead of Vanilla flavoring.

Mission successful! I’ve finished the bottle of “Coca-Cola BlaK” and I’m still alive! Though I can’t say my life is any better because of it.. not the being alive but the drinking of this strange concoction. I guess the moral of this story is that “Coca-Cola BlaK” is a decent drink but probably not worth the $4.99 you’ll have to spend on just four 8oz bottles. Oh well, perhaps my purpose is to inform you, the reader, so that you can then make “informed” decisions. To that end I hope I have served you well.