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Best Buy, the most customer friendly *coughs* retail chain in the world, has really done it this time. Raelyn Campbell is suing them for $54 million US dollars. Even if she won the big yellow price tag company would end up trying to pay her in worthless "gift cards" no doubt.

So, what could possibly be worth $54 million? Try a lost notebook computer. Campbell was suckered into the in-store extended warranty program and decided to use it's coverage to repair a broken power switch on her laptop.

Apparently Best Buy had no quarrels accepting the computer and telling her it would be ready within 6 weeks. After 6 weeks past there was still no laptop for Raelyn. Three months later they ended up offering her $900 in gift cards for her laptop she had purchased for $1,100 because they could not locate the computer. She countered demanding $2,100 which the company ignored completely. Big surprise here...

Aside from the fact that I would never want to give my computer along with any of my precious data to a Best Buy representative, I would most assuredly NOT want it lost by them with no explanation of how or why. Obviously Campbell feels the same way as she's filing suit in an attempt to make Best Buy explain their actions and how it happened in the first place. I'm going to say it's definitely a long shot, but some good could come of it.

It is a strange world though...a laptop can just grow legs and walk away, however if you attempt to walk out of the store with a $20 CD in an official bag they're going to need to see some papers. Or remember the time a fellow bought a hard drive that just turned out to be a bunch of bathroom tiles in a hard drive box? Kinda crooked dontcha think? I think it's time for Best Buy to pay the piper.

If you ever ever are "detained" by the goons there be sure you've already read this HOWTO I found posted by the great folks over at BoingBoing.net. It may not stop the jack booted thugs from breaking down your door to check your receipt, but it will send a message that will help protect your rights and the rights of millions for generations to come!