We just got a new Roomba yesterday and are going to keep it, but I have a couple of questions that I was hoping you'd have the answers to or some input on.
1) We got it at Best Buy and there's no restocking fee. We realized after we got it that our credit card company (Chase) allows us to buy gift cards for Best Buy with points, and we have plenty of them. This would basically allow us to buy the Roomba for free, but we already paid on our credit card. My question is, if I were to go to Best Buy with the gift cards and asked them to "pay me back" on our credit card and take the gift cards instead as payment, will they agree? Alternatively, I could "return" the Roomba and then come back and buy it with the gift cards. I'm debating on this one. Any thoughts? I'm not sure on the morality of this but I'd love your opinions... (it feels okay to me, and I'm usually a toughie on the moral aspects of returns, etc. I mean, we're just talking about an alternate method of payment, not a "free rental"/return, which I really don't sanction at all...)
2) Those of you who have Roombas, what do you recommend doing (other than keeping an eye on the charge and cleaning out the bins/filters regularly) for preventive maintenance? I don't want to have any problems with this new toy.
3) Also for Roomba owners, have any of you tried to "manipulate" them down carpeted stairs? I'm trying to see if I'll ruin it if I try, or if it's worked for others...
Thanks!
Jo
Re: Best Buy/Roomba questions, please
If anything goes wrong with it search the internet for a fix. Ours has had a few issues and I've fixed every single one myself using manuals and tips found online and each time it runs like it is new. If you have pets, their hair can get caught places in the Roomba that you don't normally clean, so have small screwdrivers handy so you can get in there if needed.
If they refuse and you live in a larger city, I'd return it at one store and purchase it at another store.
FWIW, I used to be a cashier manager at Lowe's and would always help people out if it meant saving them a few dollars.
I'm honestly not sure why the store would care. Just tell them that you "forgot you had the BBY giftcards that you meant to use." They should refund your credit card and allow you to repurchase it on the giftcards. They likely will not even need to see the item to do so. Call if you want to double check.
I would not return it and wait to rebuy it. They will lower the price and have to sell it as an "open item" and will discount it by 10+ percent. That would be unethical, imo.