I'll put my 14 years of Best Buy training up against your 18 months, anytime. First, you have NO idea what you're talking about. While "plasma refilling" may have been a ploy for some retailers, this was NEVER part of the trainings supplied buy the company, and you can't produce any documentation to prove otherwise. On the other hand, I have a whole binder of training materials and manufacturer documents that prove that the guys in blue in khaki KNOW how to speak to customers about HD, plasmas, LCD and DLP technologies.

If you think you have proof, I encourage you to put up a link to it.

"Did you fall for the Bestbuy sales ploy of refilling plasma TVs with plasma gas?"

Which store did you get THIS imformation from? That was never part of any training I got from Best Buy!

"Now the true downside to internal DVD players in HDTVs..." HEAT! Until you're able to purchase a combo with a consumer removable/replaceable DVD player "module", I would stay away from larger (32" and above) combos altogether.

"So if you have to send out your DVD player to be repaired, you end up sending your HDTV along as well."

This is one reason why I would never offer one of these as a "main use" television.

Don't be foolish. Running the card without it physically being there is just as easy as with it being present. However, if you must key in the credit card number, that requires a manager override function. So, obviously she had the stolen/lost card. There are always ways to defeat the system, especially when it's in the name of customer convenience.

I think they still sell these at Best Buy!

There's always going to be someone we're jealous of to the point of anger, I suppose, when it comes to these largeer companies. Personally, I don't go to Starbucks for the same reasons I don't pay $1.49 for a glass of ice with a bit of cola sprinkled over it at a fast food place; and I make a better cup of coffee at home, anyway. I'll go to an ACE hardware in a heartbeat, just because of there better service - same with my local Publix supermarket. Gasoline and oil companies? If Wal-Mart is Satan, then what does that make Exxon-Mobil?

Let's all learn to ride a bike again!

Figure it out, guys.

Best Buy opens up roughly 80 stores a year, and has done so for quite a while. Seems to me they will always be looking for talented staff to help them run these new locations, so why aren't you knocking down their door for a career position?

Circuit has lost their way, and will only be saved by a buyout or going private.

To my thinking, the ball was dropped more than a couple of times in this situation. First, the camcorder that was exchanged for the camera should have been closely inspected by the store before it left. But, on the other hand, if I were the customer on the paying end of a $1600 camcorder, I would have opened the box prior to purchase in the store for inspection without any one's prompting; just to make sure everything was there that I needed to record those priceless family memories.

But, let's go just a bit further. Let's say that $1600 camcorder WAS a return at that store. WHY was it put back into stock without inspection at the store in that particular department; let alone when the previous customer returned it? This is FAR from the only time something like this has happened at Best Buy when dealing with the return of previously purchased photo products. In fact, it happens FAR too often.

There are policies in place, but too many times those who choose to ignore them are left to repeat their mistakes at the customer service counter, while the salesmen in the department are held to a higher level of responsibility.

This problem is TOTALLY the store's fault all around. I highly doubt that "Classico" pasta sauce is readily available anywhere close to where Sony camcorders are made.

Wal-Mart's biggest problem is it's own devices. While Best Buy is considered by many a warehouse style retailer, their customer service and designed-in passion to speak to the customer is the real key.

Ever try to get help on anything in a Wal-Mart...such as surround sound systems, high-definition TV or small appliances?

"How can I help you today?" is clearly emblazened on their backs, as they walk away from you to stock another shelf, somewhere else in the store.