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

57. Jeradiah3

Posts: 1149; Member since: Feb 11, 2010

I dont even like the iPad and I wish I had that happen to me lol

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 5:30 PM 1

54. KingKurogiii

Posts: 5713; Member since: Oct 23, 2011

i think Santa is working as a Best Buy shipping rep in disguise... ;) i hope the Spirit of Christmas compels them to give away the extra 4. i sure would, i think i'd even know to who. c:

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 1:21 PM 0

47. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Nice story - phonearena, but you guys are behind other news sources who already broke this story 24-48 hrs ago.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 10:42 AM 0

53. g2a5b0e unregistered

Right, because everything in life is completely messed up now since phonearena didn't break this story quickly enough for you.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 1:15 PM 0

40. JewBakaUCFG

Posts: 176; Member since: Sep 25, 2012

With word getting out that people could receive more iPads than they ordered, consumers will be flocking to BestBuy.com for a chance to score big. It wasn't a mistake. It was a planned sales tactic in order to gain more business. Brilliant!

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 9:41 AM 1

39. papss unregistered

I'm by no means a apple guy.. Frankly I hate them but the iPad overall is the best "tablet" on the market.. Has a great selection of games, it functions very well and has the larger instal base which tells me that it will continue to be supported for many years to come.. Is it WAY overpriced? Absolutely... Over hyped? Absolutely...

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 9:39 AM 3

52. Xquisite

Posts: 87; Member since: Apr 23, 2012

Fandroids don't care about having a great selection of games and other apps. They only care about putting widgets on their homescreen.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 1:08 PM 3

60. darkkjedii

Posts: 31797; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Lmao, that and quad core.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 7:24 PM 0

61. darkkjedii

Posts: 31797; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

And acting like babies on PA

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 7:38 PM 1

62. TROLL

Posts: 4851; Member since: Apr 13, 2012

Apple fans users don't care of, for anything, they just wanna flaunt with there iPhone! " look I'm cool, I've got a iPhone" ™ ® ©

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 8:57 PM 1

33. ropucha

Posts: 1; Member since: Dec 09, 2012

She better be ready for a nasty surprise in April from IRS-this "gift" is taxable.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 7:41 AM 3

32. drnggaj33

Posts: 127; Member since: Feb 29, 2012

big sale going at her house

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 7:26 AM 0

31. neurobiologist

Posts: 89; Member since: Nov 07, 2012

ipads are selling bad, and the only way to remove them from the shelves is to get rid of them for free. Mistaker even do not take them back, funny. Is ipad so sh..t?

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 5:15 AM 4

27. anshul0000 unregistered

her favorite PhoneArena editor....lol

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 4:18 AM 1

23. semipro1337

Posts: 117; Member since: Oct 01, 2012

If it were me I would sell all 5 of them, and buy five tablets that don't suck harder than my Kirby vacuum, give four of those away and still have about $500 left over.... But that's just me, one smart summabitch.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 2:02 AM 5

22. mydi.maus unregistered

i should start ordering from Best buy,.: )

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 1:51 AM 2

24. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

yea after awhile it would feel like playing the lottery!

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 2:15 AM 2

30. neurobiologist

Posts: 89; Member since: Nov 07, 2012

Such "fails" are aimed exactly on that kind of human reaction. High tech advertisement.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 4:49 AM 2

50. Commentator

Posts: 3723; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

Yeah, nobody's actually being serious here buddy.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 11:43 AM 0

15. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

"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." you don't say? :)

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 12:59 AM 1

18. wendygarett unregistered

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. Did you see the deleted words? :)

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 1:04 AM 0

19. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

lol yea it was pretty funny

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 1:19 AM 2

14. mas11

Posts: 1034; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

Wow respect to best buy

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 12:33 AM 2

13. darkkjedii

Posts: 31797; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Man I wish I could b that lucky, keep 2 sell 3, pocket some cash.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 12:27 AM 5

46. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Yep, at least sell 3 - then, you could afford a Nexus 10, a Nexus 4, and have plenty of cash on hand.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 10:41 AM 1

55. darkkjedii

Posts: 31797; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Nope don't need a nexus 10, or 4, I know they're great devices,but I have an iPad 3, iPhone 5, and an Htc one x. All of them r top notch devices too. So as I said I'd sell 3 keep two for me and my son and pocket the cash.

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 2:08 PM 2

11. hahah

Posts: 3; Member since: Dec 04, 2012

this is a sales marketing stunt.. obviously

posted on Dec 09, 2012, 12:18 AM 2

56. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

Well, it may or may not be. But it sure does sound suspicious. To actually have news about this generates three things. 1) Why does it appear to be only iPads? 2) People will purchase an iPad in hopes of receiving the same mistake. 3) I find it inconceivable that Best Buy would ignore this person's letter and not respond to an obviously costly mistake. John B.