Best Buy Bucktown

Store is kinda a mess, many items are stocked in the incorrect spot. I was looking to buy a roku streaming stick and saw there were a ton hanging on the shelf for $20. I then find out at checkout it’s actually $40. The cashier had me go back and take a picture of the tag. Then she called her manager who wouldn’t honor the price then blamed the holidays for items being “misplaced” which doesn’t make sense in this situation. I’d understand if it was one that’s in the wrong spot but not a whole rack. Then they made it seem like it was my fault for not reading the tag’s description. So whatever, I still needed one after this so I went to get another model. Went back to check out, and this one was also in the incorrect spot and the wrong price although I read the tag that time👎🏽I was never offered any assistance as I was clearly struggling trying to buy this thing (it wasn’t busy). I understand it’s crazy during the holidays but it’s not a reason to not keep up with your inventory.

I had a very disappointing experience trying to return a device that I financed through Verizon. I was within the return window, and I had previously spoken with another Best Buy employee who helped me return a phone just one week earlier. That employee clearly told me that December 27 was the last day to make the return. I was initially assisted by Samuel, who was willing to help and attempt the return. However, Vanesa stepped in right as he was about to process it and took over the situation. Vanesa was rude and unprofessional and simply refused to accept the return, despite the fact that I was within the allowed return period. She claimed that the manager did not authorize the return, but she never actually checked or spoke to the manager to confirm this. I waited almost two hours with no clear communication or genuine effort to help. In the end, Vanesa just said the return was not possible and ended the interaction without offering any alternatives or solutions. It felt like there was no intention to help at all, even though I followed the policy and was within the return deadline. I expected much better customer service from Best Buy. This experience was extremely frustrating.

Today marks the last $500 I’ll ever spend at Best Buy. Retail shopping for me, as a Black man, is already extremely nerve-wracking and anxiety-inducing because of the microaggressions and the super-surveillance I run into all the time. And today at the Best Buy in Bucktown was an absolute masterclass in it. They couldn’t have made me feel any less welcome in that store. And when they stopped me, the vibe wasn’t “How can we help you?” It was straight up “How can we get you out of here as quick as possible? We don’t want you here.” What makes it even sadder is how many Black employees I saw in there. The microaggressions from the white employees up front were expected. But what really disappointed me was how much disdain I felt from some of the Black employees—like serving a customer of their own race was an inconvenience. I guess the CIA wins today.

I visited this Best Buy location recently and had a disappointing experience. Despite clearly needing assistance, I was overlooked multiple times while other customers who arrived after me were helped right away. It made me feel invisible and unwelcome I went in to get a iPhone 17 pro unlocked and when I went up to a representative i was told that I can’t purchased unlocked phones from Best Buy to go to Apple which I know Apple does sell unlocked phones I wanted to purchase it with my Best Buy credit card that I have used to get several unlocked devices as well as i always send serval customers to get unlocked devices from Best Buy do to working at a mobile store I even sent a customer yesterday to get a unlocked iPhone 17 pro max so honestly I don’t know if it’s do to how I looked or what but I will no longer recommend this location