By Ivan Penn, Times Staff Writer
Friday, December 23, 2011
A public relations nightmare for Best Buy means some customers of the electronics giant will get an unexpected gift for Christmas.
After announcing to national criticism on Wednesday that it was unable to fill some of its online orders just days before the holiday weekend, Best Buy said Friday that it was sending electronic gift cards to the affected customers.
The orders were canceled Dec. 15 and the customers were refunded the amount of the unfulfilled purchase.
But because of the magnitude and timing, the Minneapolis-based company decided to give each of the customers a gift card. The company would not disclose the amounts on the cards, but spokeswoman Sue Busch Nehring indicated that it would depend on the purchase price of the canceled order.
The company said overwhelming demand for its "hot offerings" on Thanksgiving weekend and the following ...