The problem is poor customer service. Best Buy Milpitas put themselves above customers - to them, its ingrained that the customer is always wrong. What they don't understand is, that I get much better service from other Best Buys, why would I bother going back? Me, who has been a Silver Rewards Plus Elite (whatever its called) member since the inception of the program.

In all, I'd say I've purchased on average 4 laptops, 6 cameras, 2 projectors, and recommended countless other items and business to Best Buy annually. If they counted the program by how much I spend with them, I'd have several years of premiere membership with them based on what I've purchased this year alone.

If its in stock at Best Buy, I usually try to get it there. Best Buy (and Fry's Electronics), are one of the few remaining brick and mortar shops that I'd like to see still in business.

So this latest experience had to do with a return that I attempted. It was an open box camera which I purchased from LA, but I happened to be in town in SF Bay area and wanted to buy something else from there. The Geek Squad agent said - there's too much missing. Well, what's missing?, I asked. The most important thing missing was the charger, which was clearly documented in the receipt / order pickup. He said, there is a composite video cable missing, but couldn't name anything else... So really? Too much missing?

The manager came out and said - I'm sorry, we can't take the loss from the return here. You will have to return back to the original store. Where was that written on the return policy?

I didn't feel like arguing since I had a long day. I expressed my disappointment and left the store.

Then the next day, I ordered something for pickup in the Dublin Best Buy. I brought the camera with me there too, and returned it there, picked up a business projector on the way out. Because I ordered it online, I didn't have a receipt to show - so the manager asked me two questions:

1. Why are you returning it here? (A valid question since I purchased the camera in LA County).

2. Where does it show that its open box? (I showed him the email order slip)

Based on that experience, I'd go out of my way to try to go to Dublin instead for all my Best Buy purchases around the area.

One more Best Buy I can recommend - Best Buy in Hawthorne. They are the most attentive I have seen - even if they still can't answer any of my technical questions on their products. ie. Does the Sony Tap 11 laptop here include an active digitizer, and what kind of technology is it?

Best Buy West Covina also gets a recommend from me. Particularly their shop online, pickup in store option.

The worst experience I've had with Best Buy Milpitas has to do with the fact that they shafted me $200+ on a service plan because I tried to get service on a lemon of a laptop (Gateway) the date of expiration, which turns out expires at midnight. Long story short, I had to purchase another service plan for a new laptop in order to get service on what I had already paid for. They promised a refund on the new service plan, but never did give me one. They pretty much owe me $200+ for the service plan - and it remains unresolved today, 5 years later.