Best Buy customer orders one Apple iPad, receives a box of five, and is told to keep them all

posted by Alan F. / Dec 08, 2012, 11:28 PM

Best Buy customer orders one Apple iPad, receives a box of five, and is told to keep them all

A woman named Alexa has a boyfriend who was supposed to receive an Apple iPad for Christmas from his mother who had ordered it from Best Buy. Instead, the box that arrived at the mother's house contained five tablets. Alexa asked her boyfriend's mom to double check to make sure that she didn't order five tablets by accident and when she was satisfied that the error was made by Best Buy, Alexa sent a letter to the electronics retailer informing them of the mistake. Best Buy never responded.

So Alexa decided to contact The Consumerist. In the letter, she mentioned that her theory was that the person doing the fulfillment at Best Buy had slapped an incorrect shipping label on a box of five tablets. The box had a label showing it contained five tablets while the shipping label showed just one being shipped. Alexa had done research on the situation and found other situations where a company overshipped an order and rewarded the customer for stepping forward by giving them a gift certificate, But she could not find a situation where the mistake was valued at the price of four Apple iPad tablets.

The 5 Apple iPad units that came from Best Buy

Alexa eventually found a document stating that if a package is mistakenly sent to you, you get to keep it. This is done to prevent scam artists from sending you items you didn't ask for and then billing you for it. So by law, her boyfriend's mom was the proud owner of five new Apple iPads. Meanwhile, The Consumerist was more concerned about the ramifications of the mistake on someone's job, so without mentioning names they got in contact with Best Buy. Eventually, Best Buy was put in touch with Alexa who received a letter that is sure to wet the eyes of every cold-hearted Scrooge. Best Buy told Alexa to keep the extra tablets and give them away to people in need, a charity, a local school, her favorite PhoneArena editor or friends and family.

Best Buy couldn't have scripted this any better than if it were planned out in advance. So let's recap. Alexa's BFF gets his Apple iPad, Alexa's mom has four to sell on eBay to give away. Best Buy comes out looking quite charitable and perhaps there is now an opening in Best Buy's shipping department. Especially since the very same thing happened a few days ago to someone named Nick. Nick ordered one iPad and received a whole box of five tablets. When he called Best Buy, he was told that the retailer shows that he only received one tablet, so Best Buy couldn't do anything about it. If the retailer continues to ship five Apple iPads to everyone who orders just one, it might be time to short the stock.

"Good afternoon, Alexa –

Laura, from the Consumerist, contacted us here at Best Buy on your behalf. First and foremost, I wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your honesty. That is so rare in this day and age and I sincerely thank you!

We, here at Best Buy, acknowledge that we obviously made a mistake, but in the spirit of the holidays, we encourage you to keep the additional iPads and give them to people in need – friends, family, a local school or charity.

I have not shared this resolution with Laura, as you are the customer, but it is up to you if want to let her know the outcome of your discussion.

Thank you so very much for coming forward and I hope your boyfriend enjoys his new iPad. Merry Christmas!"-Letter from Best Buy

source: TheConsumerist (1), (2) via Gizmodo

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63 Comments

1. wendygarett unregistered

Holy ****!!! Why god!!! Why I'm not the chosen one!!!

posted on Dec 08, 2012, 11:33 PM 20

7. wendygarett unregistered

And merry Christmas to best buy :)

posted on Dec 08, 2012, 11:37 PM 15

36. ECPirate37

Posts: 334; Member since: Jul 14, 2011

why would anyone thumbs down a Merry Christmas to best buy?

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 8:59 AM 12

37. TROLL

Posts: 4851; Member since: Apr 13, 2012

Looks like your new here? ™®©

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 9:01 AM 9

49. Nadr1212

Posts: 741; Member since: Sep 22, 2012

I hate it when people that aren't me, get extra stuff without even paying 4 the extras But I'm Happy that he'll not get to em :P

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 11:27 AM 2

17. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Wow that was very generous of Best Buy. 5 of the best tablets on the market is sure to brighten someone's christmas day.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 1:04 AM 14

34. blingblingthing

Posts: 969; Member since: Oct 23, 2012

The article clearly said she got iPads. How did she get the best tablets.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 8:14 AM 13

35. Ruckus

Posts: 286; Member since: Oct 20, 2011

Id put the iPad in the top 3. Just imagine the resale value..

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 8:35 AM 2

59. metalpoet unregistered

oh come on guys, who cares who hates what product and all! I may not be a fan of iPads and iPhones but if i received 5 and paid for only one then id be one happy person!

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 6:29 PM 6

63. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

He said "of the best". Even Android fanboys should acknowledge that yes, Ipad is one of the best. Whether its the best or not is debatable, but among the best should be more than true.

posted on Dec 10, 2012, 6:42 PM 0

41. arqjav

Posts: 55; Member since: Dec 29, 2009

That's not true, all she got where ipads.... Not the best tablets, a box with Nexus 10's that's the real deal.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 9:46 AM 8

42. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Mxy, you need to learn how to comprehend - the article did not discuss Nexus 10 tablets.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 10:37 AM 5

58. Berzerk000

Posts: 4275; Member since: Jun 26, 2011

I'd say the best tablets are; 1.) Surface 2.) Nexus 10 3.) iPad And the Note 10.1 as honorable mention. Silly Mxy

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 5:35 PM 3

38. TROLL

Very lucky guy™®©

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 9:15 AM 1

51. -box-

Posts: 3991; Member since: Jan 04, 2012

Hmm, I wonder if they'll do this for good products... Wouldn't mind a box full box of Alienware laptops or Asus TaiChis, or a wall-full of TVs, haha.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 12:03 PM 2

2. networkdood

She could sell 4 of them, or three of them, on Ebay. With the money buy a Nexus 10...and have money to spare. I am not sure if 'needy' people's needs/priorities include getting some sort of tablet. Maybe the local school could use them.

posted on Dec 08, 2012, 11:33 PM 10

5. wendygarett unregistered

Or just give for a charity, simple as that :)

posted on Dec 08, 2012, 11:36 PM 7

43. networkdood

Give it to charity? Like GOODWILL? Why would someone who needs the basics need a tablet? Now, you could sell it on an auction site and give the proceeds to a charity - that would be better.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 10:38 AM 5

48. wendygarett unregistered

Either ways, it still consider charity right?? I don't mind they use anyway to charity tho, sell or direct give, or even recycle lol... As long as they do the right things to this world :)

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 10:49 AM 1

25. monkeytown

Posts: 125; Member since: Jul 26, 2012

why should she step backwards?

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 3:32 AM 3

44. networkdood

ok, then sell all 4 - both are good tablets - one just likes to rip you off..or, one of the tablets could be used for buying an itunes or google play card.