Best Buy almost destroyed NES ROB and employee almost fired for saving it

[Uzumaki]

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-buy-will-not-destroy-rob-toy-robot-2013-3

 

R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy), a Nintendo accessory from the 1980s that a Best Buy employee risked his job to save, has earned its place in Best Buy lore.

The employee had posted his story on Reddit, explaining that a customer brought in R.O.B. as part of a Nintendo Deluxe Set to be recycled through the store's "Renew Blue" program.

The employee wanted to save it, but was told by his store manager that if he took it home, he'd be fired.

Fortunately, the story has a happy ending for little R.O.B.

Instead of being recycled, the robot has been retrieved from the store and is on its way to Best Buy's headquarters for all to see.

"We are in the process of retrieving the robot and gaming system from the store so that we may put it on display here at our corporate headquarters in Richfield," Best Buy spokesman Jon Sandler told us. "A bit of nostalgia that our employees and visitors alike, are sure to enjoy!"

"We recycle virtually any consumer electronic device out there, but as you can imagine an item like this is fairly unusual and we can see why it captivated our employee’s imagination," Best Buy senior specialist Jeremy Baier explained to us.

The employee decided to put his job on the line to try to save R.O.B. — a short-lived Nintendo accessory that has become pretty rare over the years — and the rest of the set.

Boxed-up Nintendo Deluxe Sets seem to be running for around $400 now, judging by the prices on eBay.

He packed away the box in a hidden part of the warehouse to buy himself some time.

"I tried everything I could at a store level to get the OK to take it ... but to no avail," he wrote.

"So now the gloves are off. I'm not letting him pull the plug on my Nintendo baby that is on life support, hidden from bad corporate policy."

His story went nuts on Reddit, getting more than 5,000 comments from folks eager to give their advice on how to save poor R.O.B. and the system.

What's going to happen to the employee who posted his story?

Well, we're not sure. He voluntarily posted updates of everything he did (with photos) in the Reddit thread, though fortunately he didn't steal the to-be-recycled robot or system.

Best Buy explained that it doesn't publicly comment on its workers for privacy reasons, but did say that the sequence of events is currently being reviewed to ensure that the company's policies were followed.

 

Kudo to an employee who knew the rarity of the robot, and boo to the customer who dumped the deluxe set to be recycled.

[0078265317]

Holy sh**. And every one thought I wasted my money ebaying a rob.

[darthkur]

The amount of stupidity evidenced in this story by both the complete asshat that attempted to trow away a boxed NES/ROB deluxe set and the brainless corporate drones with their "no exceptions" policy fills me with disgust and loathing. I've got to admire the restraint and perseverance of the employee for I certainly wouldn't have been as patient and more than likely would have told the corporate drone what to do with themselves and left with ROB then and there.

[raskar42]

this reminds me of another story from a while back.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/gun-buy-back-hartford-conn-historic-early-assault-rifle-found-article-1.1216973

 

my dad said he watched his uncle and cousins smashing up a bunch of phonograph cylinders. there are some people who will never understand the value that vintage technology can have.

[+Cobra Kai]

Oh yay, Best Buy Corporate is "in the process of retrieving ROB for display at corporate headquarters". What a loathsome corporation.

[Greg2600]

Why in the F would BB accept old video games for destruction?

[TLD1985]

Why in the F would BB accept old video games for destruction?

 

Because it's the law in many places that all electronic items must be recycled when thrown away.

[onthinice]

Thought Best Buy was having financial troubles? They may want to sell it to keep the lights on!

[Manoau2002]

I know of a recycling center that got a bunch of brand new flat screen tvs that had minor scuffs and scratches and some of the employees wanted to keep them but they were told they couldn't because they had been written off for tax purposes.

[number six]

It's nuts some of the policies stores have.. but usually there's some legal reason behind it. At the end of the day even $400 is peanuts to Best Buy. Well, in the grand scheme.

 

Another nutso example of this sort of thing was we had a Gameworks here in town. When the games had a major break down (monitor blew, pcb died.. whatever) instead of fixing it or selling it for parts they'd write it off and throw it in the dumpster. The entire machine. Even if it was a simple repair. Corporate policy as it just wasn't worth their time to sell it off or deal with it otherwise cheaper and easier to just destroy it and move on. Sad.. but nice if you knew when to be by the dumpster.

[Uzumaki]

Thought Best Buy was having financial troubles? They may want to sell it to keep the lights on!

 

Knowing BB, one vintage and working ROB would only get enough money for their CEO to smoke imported cigar for one more day

[0078265317]

BTW speaking of rob. Is there anyway to make it quiet?? Or not?? And mine I got off ebay won't open and close the arms. Sometimes it did and now it won't at all. If I open it up what to look for??

[Uzumaki]

1: no it's the way they are, the motor and gear will make some noise. However if it's loud enough to wake the dead, you need to have it checked

 

2: look for a nearby funny farm. ROB is rare and opening one up risk damaging it or even making it impossible to put back together. If the seller described it as fully working, neg him for non working ROB and get another one.

[0078265317]

It was as is. But some have bad or worn gears. So i was going to check. But as for the noise other sites also said it w as a noisy toy even back then. I can't stand the gear noise. As for rare he is not too rare is he. There are plenty on ebay. And lots still have one don't they. Anyhow he won't even open so so much for that. The screw driver is too long to fit in the mid section with the arms.

[jhd]

Slighty O/T, but what is a reasonable price for ROB these days?

 

(I'm not looking to buy another one or sell mine; I'm just curious.)

[0078265317]

I pad 36 bare. No attachments. But they go for unto 100 complete on ebay or over 400 with box and everything.

[raskar42]

i paid about 15 for a non working one for a buddy who just wanted a display piece.

 

but then even fully working, they're not much good for anything else.

[jhd]

i paid about 15 for a non working one for a buddy who just wanted a display piece.

 

That's about what I paid several years ago -- I spotted it in the toy section of a local thrift shop.

 

I have no idea if it works (as I don't have an NES), but I don't care as it just sits on top of my entertainment system to impress visitors.