I don't really expect much from coming to Best buy.
Generally, unless I know exactly what I'm looking for, especially when it comes to TVs and audio systems, I don't even bother coming. Training employees to actually know what their department is, is no longer a requirement, or done, at least when it comes to the TV and audio department.
I remember having employees who could actually answer every question; if you didn't know what you were doing... because they were trained by the companies that were sold at best buy, to actually know what they are selling, and understand it.
Not employees who will sell you an expensive optical cable, to a soundbar, that doesn't have an optical Port.
But I digress.
I usually don't leave bad reviews, or good, unless the experience is exceptional, or the polar opposite.
Essentially, if I stop thinking about it once I leave the establishment, it is not going to get a review, but considering I was thinking about this the entire drive home...
I came in the best buy, mostly to get a Quest 3.
But seeing the the govee table lamp, I really wanted the floor lamp, but you were out, and that was only $53, and I liked how it looked... so, I impulsively picked it up.
And while looking at reviews, and whatnot, to make sure I actually wanted to splurge and buy it, or not.... a white shirt walked up to me, I'm guessing these are in training, because he didn't know where to get the quest from, in the back of the house, nor do he know what the CID was, when it asked him for it after scanning the gift card.
But the way he kept approaching me... made it feel more like he was asset protection, and made me feel like he thought I was about to steal something.
Like, shopping isn't complicated. The first time he walked up to me, asking me if I needed help, and I said, "no thank you, I'm just looking", and he said, "if you need any help, just ask for it", and I said, "will do!"
That should have been the end of it.
But when I got over to the gaming section, and I was just looking at stuff, debating on if I wanted to get a Logitech racing wheel, to go with the quest 3, or not, and then noticed the Pokemon section; I was just looking at what was available, because the Pokemon displays, in Newport News, were usually empty, or behind the counter, because of all of the hype. And thankfully so, because I probably would have spent entirely too much during the prismatic evolution hype, if I could have ever gotten my hands on any.
And he popped up, yet again, asking if I needed any help, making me feel like, yet again, he thought I was trying to steal something...
I almost said no, because I was still looking, but at that point, I came in for a quest 3, I was right by it, I was already going above my purchase intent, with the govee lamp, and just decided to end it there. I told him I wanted the quest 3. He asked me which one I wanted, and I just walked over to the display thinking he would just grab one from the bottom of it, because they were like six in there... Instead he went to the back of the house, and had to come back up like four times to ask where they were.
If he was not asset protection, and all that was because he wanted to make sure he commission, even at the cost of my shopping experience, I'm going to come back and return those items, because I do not want him getting paidn for making me feel as uncomfortable as he did.
But as far as I know, Best buy cut that policy around the same time they stopped doing the extra training for the theater department.
But I can't see any other reason why he would just keep popping up to ask me if I need help, when I told him no already.
Because if he hadn't popped up, I probably would have bought something else, and got in a blue shirt who would have had keys for the cabinet and it would have made the experience so much easier.
Response from Best Buy
November 25, 2025
Hello,
Thanks for taking the time to leave your review. It's understandable to want to be able to take some time to look around to see if there are items that you want to purchase, beyond what you initially went to the store for. We appreciate having someone continually ask if you need assistance, isn't a welcome experience.
If you can send a private message on one of our social media platforms, Facebook (https://bby.me/qqipzy), Twitter/X (https://bby.me/t3wgks), or Instagram (https://bby.me/zk131y), we'd be happy to ensure this is looked into further with you. Please also mention your "Google review #75098" in your message.