Best Buy: Difference between revisions
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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" /> | 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 === | ===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> | 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> | ||
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*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. | *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 === | ===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> | 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 /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Best Buy]] | [[Category:Best Buy]] | ||