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If Best Buy Accidentally Gave You A Free Xbox 360, Would You Give It Back?

October 19, 2009 in Blog comments 27

If Best Buy Accidentally Gave You A Free Xbox 360, Would You Give It Back?
That is the dilemma a boy named Ian is currently facing, and he has no idea what to do with his free Xbox.

Today I went and picked up a refurbished Xbox 360 Elite from my local Best Buy that they gave me as a replacement for the one I brought in a couple weeks ago which was broken. The only thing is, I had already returned the broken Xbox and received $400 in store credit for it. I had tried to get it repaired through their extended warranty program (which I know is a terrible deal for everything else, but has worked wonders for my series of Xboxes), and they couldn't repair it. I had been eyeing the release of the Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 being released in November, so instead of simply picking up another Xbox 360 Elite, I asked if I could get store credit instead.

The retail price of an Elite was $400 at the time of purchase, and the new MW2 Xbox will also retail for $400. $400 of store credit was granted, as well as a prorated refund of the extended warranty. Basically, I milked the warranty program to get a free upgrade to a newer version of the Xbox (which I had previously done when my Pro Xbox died and I upgraded to an Elite without being charged due to price drops), but this is an entirely new quandry for me. They gave me a replacement Xbox for one I already returned to the store for store credit. I have a feeling it may be an issue with the Best Buy computer system accepting the refund and the Geek Squad system automatically giving me a replacement for an Xbox they couldn't fix. Do you guys think I should try to give it back?
Miss Razz via consumerist.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Dec 13, 2009

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  • 3
    Play ISDF Oct 20, 09
    Honestly, it's the right thing to do... but damn I know I wouldn't...
  • 6
    Miss Razz Oct 20, 09
    I'm afraid I'd have to follow the law of Finder's Keepers. I found it (or had it given to me as a "gift"), I keep it
  • 0
    conel3 Oct 20, 09
    I think I could handle having another xbox tbh.
  • 0
    Existence Oct 20, 09
    Of course not. Duh.
  • 3
    Daweii Oct 20, 09
    I wouldn't give it back. This is a victory over the system, the system that holds us back, makes us pay for everything in life. This guy beat the system, keep the reward dude you probably won't beat it again.
  • 0
    Zero and X Oct 20, 09
    Why would I? I would have all 3 consoles if I kept it.
  • 5
    Sayyed Oct 20, 09
    lets see, best by is a multi-million dollar company that probably sells thousands of those each week. Them losing 300 bucks is like me losing 5 dollars. So I think they can live with out it.
  • 0
    Slumpy monkey Oct 20, 09
    Lol, *bleep* no.
  • 0
    Tiger of Wu Oct 20, 09
    On the one hand over the past few week I've begun to feel that karma might actually exist in some form, My Name is Earl cliches aside.

    On the other hand Best Buy are arse-holes.

    Keep the damn thing.
  • 1
    Star of Spurs Oct 20, 09
    I seem to remember my dad had something similair to this. He returned something to WHSmith worth £100. She gave him £100, and two copies of the thing. Came out with £200, never gave it back.

    I wouldn't.
  • 1
    Seproth Oct 20, 09
    Well, it's store credit. The money has to go back to them. If you get a few extra games or whatever out of the deal...good for you.
    • 1
      Onvacation Oct 21, 09
      I don't think you read it properly, He got an free new xbox AND $400 store credit.
      • 0
        Seproth Oct 22, 09
        I know. He's got store credit and a 360. So if he goes back to return something...would he go back and return the 360 and then buy it back again or cut out the middle step and just give back the store credit?

        So basically my perception is...give back store credit or keep it. Since it's store credit it's gotta go back one way or another. So basically Best Buy would just be funding their own sales. Which doesn't sound like the worst thing in the world to me.
  • 3
    HisServant77 Oct 21, 09
    Haha . . . I guess I'm the only one here who would give it back?

    First, even though they "gave" it to me accidentally, it's still stealing.
    Second, I've worked retail as I'm sure many of you also have, and I know how I'd hate if it happened to me and I'd either have to deal with the immediate repercussions of getting fired, taking a pay cut, or getting reprimanded . . . or deal with the later repercussions of having yet another inventory problem!
    Third . . . Well I'm not a thief!

    What if you "accidentally" gave someone twice the amount of something you were supposed to? Would you like it if the person took it and ran, or in honesty gave back what wasn't supposed to be given?
    • 0
      Fallen Royalty Oct 21, 09
      quote HisServant77
      What if you "accidentally" gave someone twice the amount of something you were supposed to? Would you like it if the person took it and ran, or in honesty gave back what wasn't supposed to be given?
      But you can't equate me to Best Buy. I'm a human being. Best Buy is, literally, a faceless, soulless, sixteen-billion-dollar megacorporation. I'm an average Joe and Best Buy is akin to the "great owners" in Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. If they messed up and gave this guy an extra $400 in store credit, well, more power to him.
      • 1
        Miss Razz Oct 21, 09
        I wouldn't want it to happen to me, but if I made a mistake then it's my fault and my problem to deal with.
        • 1
          reaver11 Oct 21, 09
          Yep. Its punishment for being a dumb ass. Peope learn from their mistakes, so here's a lesson - don't do it again!
        • 0
          Seproth Oct 22, 09
          Yeah, and knowledge is power.

          Can we really put a price on knowledge? $400 might be a bargain!
    • 2
      Big A2 Oct 21, 09
      I totally agree with you HisServant77. Stealing is wrong, no matter who it's from.
    • 1
      Tiger of Wu Oct 21, 09
      If I worked for Best Buy I would be purposely giving away free shit. It's a multi-billion dollar, heartless corporation ffs.
  • 1
    Red 9* Oct 21, 09
    If I got it free, I'd go back so I could pay for it and keep it (seeing as I would have already had it in my house). Having something that I didn't pay for but should have just makes me feel guilty.
  • 3
    King X2* Oct 21, 09
    I would give it back and take the honest road for two reasons: they might figure out they gave it to me free and realized I never said anything, and because I have no need for it. The second option is pretty much the main reason, but I don't want to feel like a crook.
  • 1
    reaver11 Oct 21, 09
    Duh...let me think...um yeah keep it. What, are you *bleep*ing nuts!? I'm a greedy bastard and when I get free things, I show no remorse. Same thing goes for if I find $100,000 on the side of the road. I found it now its mine! Go away!
  • 3
    Bale Fire Oct 21, 09
    I'd be conflicted, but I'd probably return it in the end. Yes I am a little goody-two-shoes, shoot me.
  • 0
    sonyandnintendorule Dec 12, 09
    what i find surprising is that no ps3 fanboys have commented yet
    • 3
      Raziel_326 Dec 13, 09
      How is that even relevant to the article? Why should they comment?
      • 3
        Onvacation Dec 13, 09
        Probably to say something like "LOL dey cudn't make me keep it ololol hurrdurr"

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