Don't Bring Your iPad Into a Best Buy: One Customer's Experience

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If you're one of those shoppers who likes to price-shop and sometimes bring along a smartphone to check competitors' prices, take note: probably best to avoid bringing an iPad into a Best Buy. One customer says he was seriously hassled and threatened by Best Buy security because they thought he'd stolen the device from the store—despite the fact that the store was sold out of iPads. The shopper tells Consumerist: "I went to best buy a few months ago to look at Macbook Pros. I happened to bring along a iPad 32GB with snapshots of competing prices. After seeing what Best Buy had to offer i decided to leave. That is where the trouble started. I was carrying my iPad out in the open, when security demanded me to show a receipt for the iPad. I told them i do not have a receipt due to not purchasing the device at Best Buy. He proceeded to demand that i show proof of ownership."

I told him that I am not required to do so as he doesn't have reasonable doubt that it was stolen. He then threatened me by stating that he will call the authorities if i do not comply and that i will be held here until they arrived. I told him that i will be leaving this store.

He proceeded to stand in my way again demanding that i show proof. I told him again, Unless you have a warrant i am not going to show you the data on my device. The police show up about 10 minutes later. I explain to them that this is my personal device, and that the store falsely accused me of stealing the iPad that i brought in with me. They asked for proof, and that is when i showed how much of an ass the Security was.

I said, "Here are the ways you could have known that this was mine, For one the device is SOLD OUT. Your store doesn't have them in stock. Two, The backs of the demo units have written in Bold Lettering "FOR DEMO USE ONLY, NOT FOR RESALE" Three, the demo units are 16GB models, mine is 32GB. Finally, if i stole it why would i keep it in clear view?"

It was only then that he was allowed to leave the store.
· Best Buy thinks I'm a dumb criminal who stole an iPad from them [Consumerist]