Best Buy Should I or Shouldn't I

I just passed all of the tests to become certified for the Best Buy Audits. Honestly, I'm a bit nervous after reading some of the posts on the message board and the audit instructions. I'm looking for any strategies, cheat sheet ideas or organizational tips for the Best Buy Audits. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I would love to hear about any shopper experiences with the audits to help me decide if it is worth taking the plunge.

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I think I remember something someone posted about laminating the report form and using dry erase markers so that they didn't have to print out the report multiple times?

My recollection is that they were referring to onsite business verification done for a different MSC. From what I know about the BB audits, this would not be beneficial. Even for the business verifications, the form has to be used many times to overcome the cost of laminating the pages.

OP - If you read all of the comments about doing BB audits, then you know that the answer to whether you should do the BB audits is either yes or no. For me, the answer has been and will remain no, but some on this Forum seem to like doing them. There seems (to me) to be a general consensus that it is best to wait for them to be bonused. And a warning that the cost of their required background / drug test is not reimbursed until you have successfully completed two of the audits (they sometimes get desperate and offer to reimburse after just one audit).

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I think I remember something someone posted about laminating the report form and using dry erase markers so that they didn't have to print out the report multiple times?

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Okay, not having ever done one of these I guess I am no help, especially since I had the wrong information!!!!

In all of this there also is a 'Know your Best Buy'. There used to be three in my normal shopping area. One was kept tidy, well organized and had staff and management who were actually helpful. That one would not have been bad to audit, but they closed the location. The other two are somewhere between a zoo and complete bedlam. 'Stuff' is sort of everywhere and a standard staff person response is, "I dunno." I don't know that there exists enough money to persuade me to try to audit those two locations.

There are probably 7-8 stores within an hour drive from my home. I have done an obscene amount of gas station audits. I guess I'm trying to compare BB with my main audit experience. My first gas station took about 45 minutes and lots of nervous sweating. I swore I would never do another one. I can now do one in about 15 minutes if there are no problems ( someone sitting at the pump eating their lunch, the manager asking me to come back another day, large truck blocking multiple pumps, etc.).Although, some brands and areas I still refuse to do. A little bit off topic, but the area I live near has had at least 10 gas station robberies in the last 6 months. The robbers are not as discriminating to brands as I am. Frankly, some of the areas in the "city" are just plain scary-during the DAY.

these r on my 10foot pole list. i also refuse to take drug test.

There have been many discussions about this offer. Usually it is a sad tail of frustration, long days, unhelpful staff. There have been some happy stories too, just not very many. It really is up to the specific store as to what your experience will be. In the stores in my area, it would be pure frustration.
It's a good thing they do the drug test before you do one of these audits. You may not be able to pass after you have done one.

Based on everything I could read, here and on the MSC site, I determined these would take half a day at minimum. I also would loose the ability to pick up all the vendor quick secret audits that constantly appear across multiple MSCs.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

I cannot recommend these audits to anyone, due to the MSC that has them having a pattern of treating contractors in a disrespectful manner. I'm speaking from experience, I used to schedule these assignments.

Arguing with fools is like playing chess with a pigeon...
...No matter how good you are, the pigeon will s@^t on the board and strut around like it won anyway.

Not scheduling for ANY company.

@MSNinja wrote:

these r on my 10foot pole list. i also refuse to take drug test.

I remember seeing drug test on a MS, Give me a break, no drug test for me!

@MSNinja wrote:

these r on my 10foot pole list. i also refuse to take drug test.

I remember seeing drug test on a MS, Give me a break, no drug test for me!

Why would we have to do a drug test?

First let me state I do not and never have like the idea of drug testing for any job. That said, this client requires it of their own employees and of any vendor representatives. Keep in mind you are working at a business with a lot of expensive electronics and have access to employee only areas which is why they want the requirement to be across the board.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

I too have been considering applying for one of these. For those that actually do them, how long do they take? The description says 7 to 8 hours, but I find that the majority of the audits I have done take less time than the descriptions. My first go at an audit usually takes the full time, but once I get the hang of it, repeat visits go much quicker. Are the Best Buy audits the same? Also, they require a tablet. I have a tablet but it is not data enabled. Can someone verify that I would be able to use the store wi-fi to complete the audit? I would most likely need to be able to complete it in 5 to 6 hours to make it worth my while financially.

@LisaSTL wrote:

First let me state I do not and never have like the idea of drug testing for any job. That said, this client requires it of their own employees and of any vendor representatives. Keep in mind you are working at a business with a lot of expensive electronics and have access to employee only areas which is why they want the requirement to be across the board.

It is funny how from client to client the rules vary so completely. I do some jewelry resets. Lovely, expensive, easy to hide items. No drug check. I do electronics ever other week, cell phones, tablets, games, little portable expensive electronics. No drug test. Both places hand me the keys for both the display cases, and the secure stock room. I am solo the entire time. Never had my work bag checked, never was frisked.
Drug testing is such a joke with all the masking agents available. They are also only testing for a small variety of illegals. I have RX's for 4 different pain killers ( narcotic) and 2 muscle relaxers. I have never failed a drug test. If they are looking for narcotics, I should have. So what exactly is the purpose of the drug test? I doubt many meth addicts, or heroin junkies are applying for jobs. Pot smokers? How do you differentiate locals where it is legal to use to where it isn't? So do they pass where it is legal? The whole thing amazes me as the biggest thieves I have ever encountered at stores were the squeaky clean ones. One ripped X off for around $7,000 in electronics, the other got over $2,000 in activated gift cards that were supposed to go to customers for their purchases. The buy a cell phone, get a gift card offer. She just kept all the gift cards.

There are two shops I refuse to do, Best Buy Audits and anything with Amusement Advantage. You will get hand cramps from all the typing. In the end, IMHO not worth all the extra work for the pay.

Not even tempted by these no matter how high the bonus goes.

I too am curious about the Best Buy audits. How do they go? You must approach the manager I gather if you are to spend 7 to 8 hours there. Are you always on your feet? Can you sit on the floor for a bit while you write or take photos? What are you looking for that takes 7 to 8 hours?

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