Consumer Rights Wiki

Best Buy: Difference between revisions

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Page created, and filled out with basic information about Best Buy. Section added about discontinuation of Insignia Connect app.
 
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add addtional reading and EFF FOIA reguarding best buy and the FBI
 
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Best Buy is a national chain of stores that specializes in selling technology products.
{{StubNotice}}{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Best Buy
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1966
| Industry = Electronics
| Official Website = https://bestbuy.com/
| Logo = Best_Buy.png
}}
[[wikipedia:Best_Buy|'''Best Buy Co., Inc.''']] is an American multinational chain of stores that specializes in retailing consumer electronics.


== Private Labels ==
==Consumer Impact Summary==
Best Buy has various private labels that it uses to sell products alongside name-brands within their store.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20241124004857/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/brands/best-buy-brands/pcmcat1596746025285.c?id=pcmcat1596746025285<nowiki/>(November 24th, 2024) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Brand
!Background Information
|-
|Insignia
|The most common private label used in Best Buy.
|-
|Best Buy Essentials
|Alternative to Insignia products, typically intended to be more budget-oriented.
|-
|Rocketfish
|Premium private label used in Best Buy.  Most commonly seen in home theater products.
|}


=== Discontinuation of Insignia Connect App for Select Insignia Products. ===
===User Privacy Concerns===
On November 6, 2019, Best Buy discontinued support for their Insignia Connect app.<ref name=":0">https://web.archive.org/web/20191105124635/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/<nowiki/>(November 5th, 2019) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref>  This resulted in major functionality losses for affected Insignia products that used the service.  Best Buy did provide compensation to affected customers, however, this was only in the form of a partial refund in the form of a virtual gift card that was determined by the product type.<ref name=":1">https://web.archive.org/web/20191212130853/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/Help_FAQ#collapseNine<nowiki/>(December 12th, 2019) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref><ref name=":0" /> Customers were also only able to redeem up to 10 serial numbers for product refunds, even if they owned more affected products.<ref name=":2">https://web.archive.org/web/20241125000759/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/6/20853671/best-buy-connect-insignia-smart-plug-wifi-freezer-mobile-app-shutdown-november-6<nowiki>(November 25th, 2024) Retrieved January 15th, 2025 [Note: This source references functionality loss covered in a Best Buy FAQ.  The FAQ has not fully been archived, so the information in the article is the only reference to its contents.]</nowiki></ref><ref name=":1" />  Refunds for affected products has since ceased, as the window to apply for compensation only lasted for 56 days after the discontinuation date.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20191209200148/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/<nowiki/>(November 9th, 2019) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref>


===== Affected Products<ref name=":0" /> =====
*Collects extensive personal data (including sensitive information like fingerprints and health data)
{| class="wikitable"
*Tracks users across devices/browsers without honoring "Do Not Track" requests
|+
*Shares/sells data with third parties by default
!Product
*Opaque privacy policy with difficult opt-out process
!Model
!Affected Functionality<ref name=":2" />{{Citation needed}}
|-
|Insignia - Wi-Fi Smart Plug
|NS-SP1X7<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20240422085625/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-wi-fi-smart-plug-white/5529012.p?skuId=5529012<nowiki/>(April 22nd, 2024) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref>
|Plug can no longer be toggled on or off remotely with the use of an app.  Existing timers that were already set on the plug will continue to function, but are no longer able to be altered.
|-
|Insignia - Wi-Fi Smart Plug with Power Metering capability
|NS-SP1XM8<ref>https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/insignia-wi-fi-smart-plug-with-power-metering-capability-white/5845000</ref>
|Plug can no longer be toggled on or off remotely with the use of an app.  Existing timers that were already set on the plug will continue to function, but are no longer able to be altered.  Users also have no method to view the power metering statistics that the plug provides.
|-
|Insignia - Wi-Fi Smart In-Wall Light Switch
|NS-CH1XIS8<ref>https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/insignia-wi-fi-smart-in-wall-light-switch-white/5884100</ref>
|Switch can no longer be toggled on or off remotely with the use of an app.
|-
|Insignia - 720p Wi-Fi Camera
|NS-CH1IPC8<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20180422174716/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-720p-wi-fi-camera-white/5971603.p?skuId=5971603<nowiki/>(April 22nd, 2018) Retrieved January 15th, 2025</ref>
|"[A]ffected products will still function at a basic level, but any features that rely on its Insignia Connect app and platform will no longer work."<ref name=":2" />
|-
|Insignia WiFi Freezers
|{{Citation needed}}
|"[A]ffected products will still function at a basic level, but any features that rely on its Insignia Connect app and platform will no longer work."<ref name=":2" />
|}


== Sources ==
===Business Model Issues===
 
*Discontinued app support, rendering products partially functional
*Limited compensation (partial gift cards, max 10 devices) with short 56-day claim window
 
==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===Discontinuation of Insignia Connect app===
{{Main|Best Buy discontinuation of Insignia Connect}}
On November 6, 2019, Best Buy discontinued support for their Insignia Connect app,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the Insignia Connect Product Validation Site. |url=https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105124635/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/ |archive-date=5 Nov 2019 |access-date=13 Apr 2025 |website=[[Best Buy]]}}</ref> resulting in major functionality losses for affected Insignia products that used the service. Best Buy did provide compensation to affected customers, however, this was only in the form of a partial refund, issued in the form of a virtual gift card that was determined by the product type.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=FAQs |url=https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/Help_FAQ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212130853/https://bestbuy.symphonysummit.com/insignia.web/Help_FAQ#collapseNine |archive-date=12 Dec 2019 |access-date=13 Apr 2025 |website=[[Best Buy]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Customers were also only able to redeem up to a maximum of 10 serial numbers for product refunds, even if they owned more than 10 affected products.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=7 Sep 2019 |title=Best Buy is leaving smart home users in the cold, but its Wi-Fi freezer will still mostly work |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/6/20853671/best-buy-connect-insignia-smart-plug-wifi-freezer-mobile-app-shutdown-november-6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125000759/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/6/20853671/best-buy-connect-insignia-smart-plug-wifi-freezer-mobile-app-shutdown-november-6 |archive-date=25 Nov 2024 |access-date=13 Apr 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Refunds for affected products has since ceased, as the window to apply for compensation only lasted for 56 days from the discontinuation date.<ref name=":0" />
 
===Collaboration with the FBI===
The FBI payed ''Geek Squad'' employees as informants. ''Geek Squad'' employees reported "indecent material" found on laptop brought in for repair to the FBI. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Wamsley |first=Laurel |date=March 7, 2018 |title=FBI Used Paid Informants On Best Buy's Geek Squad To Flag Child Pornography |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/07/591698708/fbi-used-paid-informants-on-best-buys-geek-squad-to-flag-child-pornography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250726000223/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/07/591698708/fbi-used-paid-informants-on-best-buys-geek-squad-to-flag-child-pornography |archive-date=jul,26,2025 |access-date=2025-08-17 |work=NPR The Two-Way}}</ref>
 
==Anti-consumer Practices==
 
===Data Privacy Concerns===
According to Best Buy's privacy policy,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Buy Privacy Hub |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/help-topics/privacy-policy/pcmcat204400050062.c?id=pcmcat204400050062&intl=nosplash |url-status=live |access-date=13 Apr 2025 |website=[[Best Buy]]}}</ref> the company may collect, sell, and share information that users willingly provide, as well as information gathered through various tracking technologies.
 
In general, users may be asked to provide the company with their name, various forms of contact information, and payment information.
 
'''In "certain situations," users may also be asked to provide:'''
 
*Driver's license number
*Social Security number
*Demographic and lifestyle information
*Health information
*Fingerprints
*Facial/wrist geometry (although the policy states this occurs in real time and the data is not retained)
 
'''The company may also collect data that users do not knowingly or explicitly provide:'''
 
*Camera and sensor data (from physical store locations)
*User IP address
*User browser information, browsing history, and referring URL
*The unique IMEI/UDID or MAC address of users mobile device
*The IDFA (Apple ID) or AAID (Google ID) of users mobile device
*Location information
 
This data collection can occur directly through users browser/device, or through third party web tracking technologies such as cookies, pixels and tags.
 
All of the above information can be sold or shared with third parties, including Best Buy's "subsidiaries" and "affiliates."
 
'''The policy exhibits some additional traits that privacy-conscious individuals would likely find concerning:'''
 
*Users are opted in to data collection/sharing by default.
*The company does not honor the "do not track" request some browsers are able to set.
*It is not easy to quickly read the policy and understand exactly what is collected and how it is shared.
*Opting out may require users to provide some information that the user doesn't want collected.
*Opting out must be done per browser/device, and is stored with a simple browser cookie. If the cookie is erased, the user must opt out again.
 
===Hidden/Unapproved Subscriptions===
Several users have reported that Best Buy enrolled them in Best Buy's ''Geek Squad'' and/or ''My Best Buy'' subscription services without there consent. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Why am I getting charged for this? |url=https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/monthly-subscription/6422008/question/14640e33-04f7-3326-b701-73e40d8e02fc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250818034832/https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/monthly-subscription/6422008/question/14640e33-04f7-3326-b701-73e40d8e02fc |archive-date=2023-08-17 |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=bestbuy.com}}</ref>
 
== Additional Reading ==
 
=== Collaboration with the FBI ===
[[EFF]]'s FOIA regarding the FBI paying Best Buy to act as an informant  [https://www.eff.org/document/first-production-fbi-geek-squad-foia] and [https://www.eff.org/document/third-production-fbi-geek-squad-foia]  Archived at: [https://web.archive.org/web/20240919075143/https://www.eff.org/document/first-production-fbi-geek-squad-foia] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20240819190518/https://www.eff.org/document/third-production-fbi-geek-squad-foia]
 
==References==
<references />
<references />
[[Category:Best Buy]]
Retrieved from "https://consumerrights.wiki/Best_Buy"