DEAD: TV had to be purchased by 8/16 for rebate. Panasonic 42" 720p Plasma for $550 at BestBuy.com AR

[brisar]

Best Buy [bestbuy.com] has a Panasonic 42" 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV plus Philips Home Theater System plus Installation for $690 after $200 Rebate. Choose instore pick-up to save on shipping. Thanks youngcoolguy.

Follow these steps:

1. Add the Panasonic 42" Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV [bestbuy.com] to cart for $990 (will drop to $690 when you choose installation, see step #3)
2. Add the Philips 5.1-Ch. Home Theater System [bestbuy.com] (Free in your cart w/ purchase of the TV)
3. Add Geek Squad Home Theater Installation [bestbuy.com] to your cart for $200
4. Select in-store "pick-up"

Your total will be $890 - $200 Rebate = $690

Specs:

• Built-In HDTV Tuner
• 42" measured diagonally
• 1024 x 768 resolution
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• High contrast ratio of 15,000:1
• 3D Y/C digital comb filter
• 20W full-range 2-speaker system with virtual surround sound
• Ultraslim (3-5/8" deep) design
• Progressive scanning
• HDMI inputs
• Secure Digital media card reader with Gallery Player
• Inputs: 3 HDMI, 6 audio, 2 composite video, 2 S-video, 1 RF & 2 component video
• Outputs: 1 composite video, 1 analog audio & 1 optical digital audio
• V-Chip parental controls

[Laxin213]

WoW! Seems Slick to me!

Here is the 10% Best Buy Mover's Coupon, expires 8/31
The fine print does not specifically exclude the TV, only Home theater installation

So, potentially $621+tax (AR AC B&M)

[lilbuddy]

It would be super slick to send in the Panasonic install rebate and then return the Geek Squad install.

[slickwilla]

Quote from sp44 : Who has had GS come to install to get the rebate? If you did please post the install receipt or whatever they give you. Thanks!

I had a GS install check sheet from instore purchase, but they didn't even ask for that. This is what they gave me after they finished (bad scan, but it says component cables $30, and Previous Paid $174.99 for HT setup-tv,stand,cables,speakers" :

[sp44]

Cool, I hope the guys are nice enough to do that.

[carrar]

Quote from under9hell : Well just try and try again then For the second call to BB, I told the guy that I want the discount price for TV without having to rebuy the GS installation. He did tell me that there is no way he can give me the discount price for TV without GS installation but I told him it's useless for me to get GS installation since it's already a week, I opened the box and installed TV by myself. I offered to pay an extra $150 to get the discount price for TV (its the same for buying $200 GS installation with $50 discount). That was when he took my phone number and told me to wait for an hour. One hour later I got my money back! So yeah be nice when you talk, make them transfer your case to someone who has the authority to do a credit!

Finally, after so many calls I lost count! I finally spoke to a CSR today that tried to reread me the same thing posted on my account about having to rebuy the GS setup in store. I told her that wouldn't fly as I didn't cancel the GS setup, they did because of the glitch and that I was also losing the rebate money for the GS set up, because they took to long to get back to me. She totally understood and said her managers where the highest managers available, "just below before coorperate". After about 20 minutes she came back with a resolution. She is going to send me a $200 gift card to purchase the GS set up instore. I will then call back and have them credit me $350 for purchasing the GS. So I won't have to deal with a rebate. I will now get the TV for $639.99, free HT and free GS setup. Damn this whole ordeal has drained me, thank god it's over.

[j59kim]

I am happy to report that someone from the promotions dept called me back today and put in the order for my free samsung HT! I will be picking it up in store at the best buy 5 min from my house! YAY!

[dclive]

IANAL, but...

I originally bought it at $550 + $200 for the install (without home theater).

BB delivered the tv on the 19th.

BB sent me the cancellation email (cancelling the install) on the 22nd. This caused the price of the TV to go up - AFTER I bought it!

I called BB on the 22nd to dispute this and was told this would go to the credit department. Nothing happened. Called on Sat the 23rd and same - nothing happened.

Called again today - was told they can't do anything; I can buy another GS install, they'll drop the price by $350-ish down to $550, but Panasonic won't give me $200 for the GS install since the buy date on GS would be after 8/16 and it wouldn't be on the same receipt.

I've now escalated this to my credit card vendor for them to fight out with Best Buy. From my point of view BB has increased the price without my permission, changed the bill of goods from what I originally bought, and made it impossible for me to collect on one of the major incentives involved in this deal.

Oh - and I offered to let them pick it up in return for all monies spent. They refused saying there was nothing wrong with the TV. Once I heard that I realized they were screwed up, and that's when I bid the BB drone a good night and started calling the credit card company.

We'll see what happens next...

[kago]

Quote from slickwilla : I had a GS install check sheet from instore purchase, but they didn't even ask for that. This is what they gave me after they finished (bad scan, but it says component cables $30, and Previous Paid $174.99 for HT setup-tv,stand,cables,speakers" :

Thanks for the receipt

[corey0583]

Well, I was able to get the 42" Pana, the Xbox 360 60GB, GS Calibration for 550 off, plus I got BB to give me an additional 200 off for the rebate (which had expired). And then, they were willing to allow me to exchange the Xbox for a PS3 80 GB (I paid an additional 50). The TV, the calibration (which is something I wanted, I know not everyone thinks it is worth it but I do) and the PS3 for $900...

Sometimes, it is better to complain (if you have to) to corporate. The email addresses for all of the BB corp officers are on the web (just do a google). Be nice, and flood them with an email explaining your concern. I did, and the next day I had a call from their exec. CS guy, and he started making me offers I just could not refuse. Plus, he said I could call him anytime if I wanted a better price on any BB item that is not on sale...

They goofed, and orginally, their CS reps did a poor job handling the situation. But in the end, they got a customer that will continue to do business with them.

[corey0583]

Quote from corey0583 : Well, I was able to get the 42" Pana, the Xbox 360 60GB, GS Calibration for 550 off, plus I got BB to give me an additional 200 off for the rebate (which had expired). And then, they were willing to allow me to exchange the Xbox for a PS3 80 GB (I paid an additional 50). The TV, the calibration (which is something I wanted, I know not everyone thinks it is worth it but I do) and the PS3 for $900... Sometimes, it is better to complain (if you have to) to corporate. The email addresses for all of the BB corp officers are on the web (just do a google). Be nice, and flood them with an email explaining your concern. I did, and the next day I had a call from their exec. CS guy, and he started making me offers I just could not refuse. Plus, he said I could call him anytime if I wanted a better price on any BB item that is not on sale... They goofed, and orginally, their CS reps did a poor job handling the situation. But in the end, they got a customer that will continue to do business with them.

One more thing, BB does have Exec CS reps that do monitor Slickdeals, and all the various "deal" websites. He listed the ones he looks at. So, if you wonder why some great deal works for some people, and not for others...

[lilbuddy]

Quote from dclive : IANAL, but... I originally bought it at $550 + $200 for the install (without home theater). BB delivered the tv on the 19th. BB sent me the cancellation email (cancelling the install) on the 22nd. This caused the price of the TV to go up - AFTER I bought it! I called BB on the 22nd to dispute this and was told this would go to the credit department. Nothing happened. Called on Sat the 23rd and same - nothing happened. Called again today - was told they can't do anything; I can buy another GS install, they'll drop the price by $350-ish down to $550, but Panasonic won't give me $200 for the GS install since the buy date on GS would be after 8/16 and it wouldn't be on the same receipt. I've now escalated this to my credit card vendor for them to fight out with Best Buy. From my point of view BB has increased the price without my permission, changed the bill of goods from what I originally bought, and made it impossible for me to collect on one of the major incentives involved in this deal. Oh - and I offered to let them pick it up in return for all monies spent. They refused saying there was nothing wrong with the TV. Once I heard that I realized they were screwed up, and that's when I bid the BB drone a good night and started calling the credit card company. We'll see what happens next...

You must not have read the terms of the offer:

Limited time offer. Excludes Power Price and Outlet Center items. Valid only with purchase of the select Geek Squad home theater installation services listed on the offer page. May not be valid in combination with other offers.

Savings will be reflected in your cart when all offer requirements are met. If you remove either of the qualifying items from your cart or cancel all or part of your order, you will not receive the promotional savings. Valid on in-stock items only. Items may ship separately. Offer subject to change.

[nursekris]

Quote from lilbuddy : You must not have read the terms of the offer: Limited time offer. Excludes Power Price and Outlet Center items. Valid only with purchase of the select Geek Squad home theater installation services listed on the offer page. May not be valid in combination with other offers. Savings will be reflected in your cart when all offer requirements are met. If you remove either of the qualifying items from your cart or cancel all or part of your order, you will not receive the promotional savings. Valid on in-stock items only. Items may ship separately. Offer subject to change.

Yes, but if I am reading correctly, they canceled on him...not the other way around.