The Source (Bell) Electronics, Canada
Reviews and Complaints

Highly recommend NEVER purchasing any type of listening devices from The Source. I've never dealt with such a poor exchange policy. I purchased Air Pods less than two weeks ago and since the first day they've had issues with cutting in and out. I can't have my phone more than a foot away from the pods before the music cuts in and out. I replaced my old phone thinking that was the issue, and it was not. It happens with both my personal phone (iPhone 12 Pro) and my work phone (iPhone XR). I went to the store to exchange for a new pair and the sales associate said "I explained this to you when you purchased them. Once they've been opened we do not take them back". First off, this was not explained clearly, if at all. Secondly, HOW would I know there was something wrong before they were opened? I understand that this is written in their exchange policy when reading it online, but I do not know a single person who reads a policy prior to purchasing an item. If I had understood this from the beginning I would have just bought them from Walmart, because they actually have a reasonable exchange policy on headphones and will take them back if there's even the smallest issue (like if they don't fit properly). If another big box company can take these on exchange, then The Source ALSO has the power to make their policy more customer-centric. The Sales Associate is just doing her job and following the policy, but The Source 100% needs to update this policy. I will not be shopping here for anything in the future just based on the fact in order to be confident in their customer service, I'd have to read each item's exchange policy prior to purchasing it.

On September 18th, I bought Samsung Galaxy Tab S5E at the store above.
When I tried to set up the product, I realized there was something very wrong about it and not working at all.

I brought it back to the store but the woman there told me that she couldn't refund the money to me OR exchange the product, because she was not authorized! She said only the manager of the store can do that, therefore I have to come back to the store another day. I told her that I was leaving Montreal in two days and I don't have time. Then, she told me to go to the one in Eaton Centre, because that store would do the exchange or refund. She had no intention to help me. Her name is Asma.

I brought it to the Samsung shop in Eaton Centre first. The technician there found out that the one I had was for a DEMO, therefore it was in a RETAIL MODE! Even the technician in Samsung couldn't change the mode to regular use.

I went to the Source in Eaton Centre to see what they could do for me. The guy at the counter first refused to reimburse me because I bought the product at Complex Desjardin but consulted a few other members there and finally decided to reimburse me. I needed a tablet for my trip, so I ended up buying Samsung Galaxy Tab S7FF. Fortunately, this one is working.

But I need a compensation for that incredibly stupid mistake at Complex Desjardin Store and Asma's horrible (un)service. Just before my departure, this stressed me out greatly and wasted my time. I will attach the invoice below.

On May 1, 2017 we purchased a number of items on The Source's online store. On May 5, 2017 the items were all delivered to our local store in the Greenwood Mall store, Nova Scotia. We set up our computer as per instructions online because we didn't get a manual or an instruction booklet on the product only a piece of paper telling us how to register our Windows' product online. The box wasn't even the original product box but a Microsoft Refurbished Product box with make-shift packaging. We didn't think to keep the box because we felt pretty safe that we bought a reliable computer. Four days later our worse fears were realized when the hard drive began to fail and we were advised to contact our sales rep. We did and were told we could return the product for a full refund for an unsatisfactory product. We returned the defective PC tower to the store and were promptly told nothing could be done because we were returning the PC without original packaging and which I told them wasn't possible because we never had the original packaging with serial numbers or model numbers on it. Essentially they were treating us like we were trying to scam them out of money. They said they wouldn't even exchange the product. After a lengthy conversation and our assertion we'd make this a living hell if they didn't they relented to tell us we could exchange for another refurbished PC unit. At this time we felt pretty sure that our concerns were not met and we wanted a full refund. We didn't want to never feel happy with a product that could possible fail on us again. We were denied a full refund and were not given an grounds for the reason why. Their website and store polices say they will honour a full refund for unsatisfactory product and this was definitely unsatisfactory. The poorest customer service I have ever experienced.

I purchased this item on November 30th through the Source store at Jackson Square, Hamilton. The salesman. Hugo. did not tell me the item was on back order. They took my $180 and promised delivery in 48 to 72 hours. It is now December 17th and I can still not get a delivery date. It will be at LEAST after Christmas. DO NOT order items from The Source that are not available in store. Their Live Chat people have been promising delivery next day for 3 weeks now.

Order confirmation # = 716582
Date of order placement = 27/12/2011
Copy of letter sent to The Source with a copy to BBB

Dec 14 2011
Just to let you know that your lack of "customer care" and falsehoods have deprived an 8 year old of his Christmas gift! I WAS PROMISED delivery to our local store within 3-5 days as the order was going to be sent to our grandson by courier as we had just learned that he was going to spend Christmas with his parents in Disneyworld so it was imperative that we receive the order no later than Friday Dec 2nd. I told them that if there was any doubt about delivery I would prefer not to order - I could drive to Sudbury and pick one up in person at a competitor! No, it would be there on time I WAS PROMISED! Well.. this is the 2nd time I have ordered from Source via the web - and both times a screwup. The last time, my order kept on being delivered to a no-longer existing Source Store address, and re-delivered to that address over and over for almost 3 weeks! The Source apparently did not realize that their store no longer existed there! I guess this time is is partly my fault as I should have known better not to trust the word of one of your employees! I now know better! I will be contacting your local store (Elliot Lake, Ont) asking them to refund my payment and send the items back. NEVER again will I deal with your online operations and, since I am a well-known web master, I will be happy to warn others of the disorganization and what I see as a tendancy to secure orders by lying about deliveries. Now I know the true meaning of ther term "Caveat Emptor" - Buyer Beware! Try to have a good day!

I had purchased a (8GB iPod Touch 2nd Generation - Refurbished unit) from The Source on-line store on the 1st of March 2011.Very happy to pick up the unit from the Cote-Vertu St-Laurent Quebec store two days later. This was a gift to my wife and after giving it to her the next day. She had told me that there is a problem with the unit. When you use the unit with the headphone the speaker inside the unit will not mute. The volume control doesn't control the sound on the headphone. I then e-mail the on-line sale office for help (issue/question 189174). The Source Support had ask me to return the unit to the store to get a full refund.
I then brought the defective unit back to the Cote-Vertu, The Source store here in Montreal, which I had explain what is not working with this (8GB iPod Touch 2nd Generation - Refurbished unit) to a salesman where I had pick this unit up a few days ago from this same store. He had checked the unit and found that the unit is defective. I then give a copy of the e-mail (issue/question 189174)to the salesman and I had ask him for a refund for this purchase.
He had ask me to wait and an other salesman came out from the back office and he told me that they will not refund me for this purchase. I ask him why and he told me that this is a refurbished unit and it is not the store's problem if the unit is defective. He ask me to call the store manger Mr. Andre at [protected] tomorrow and he will tell me what to do. I then show him a copy of the e-mail(issue/question 189174) and told him that the Head office had ask me to bring this unit back to the store to get a full refund. He told me that he is the assistance manger of the store and he don't care what the Head office says and he will not refund me at all. He say that it is my problem and I have to bring it somewhere to get it fix. I had told him that the unit was sold to me and it never work (defective unit) from day one . He say I only pay $129.00+tax for this unit and it is too bad for me. I then ask him for his name and he had refuse to give his name to me. After asking him three more times for his name, then he told me his name is Mr. Kamal and he send me on my way by telling me to have a nice day!
I had never had this type of bad service in my life from any salesman even if he is the assistance manger. When I was picking up this unit on the 3rd of March, I think it was Mr. Kamal who served me. He didn't look too friendly then and he just want to rush everything make me sign and I didn't get a chance to ask him anything and he was gone. May be he is not making any commission by serving me, but that was not right.
I then send a few complaints to the online customer service. No one reply the email and after a few days I had to called the customer service and they told me to bring it to an other store. Brought it to the Fleury East store next day and no one in the store know what to do. They told me to give them the unit and they will send it back to Online sale Head office for me. No paper work was done and I ask the salesman about my refund. I was told that the online office will refund me soon? Two weeks later still no refund, call customer service and they don't know where the unit is. I had to call them again the next day and they told me that they had found the unit at their shipping dept. and then they finally refunded me the next day. Until today no one from The Source had say that they are sorry or reply any of the complaints that I had send to them . I had spend over $1500.00 last year shopping at The Source online store. But now I will never buy anything from this store and their online store again. The Source Online and their retail stores don't care about each other or their customers. If you need help from their stores or the customer service then GOOD LUCK!

This is an exact copy of a complaint I left on The Source Canada website: Just want to say Thank God for the iPhone recording feature...wish I had thought of it at the beginning of the trouble!

I have never in my years been treated so rudely by a sales person. I bought a camera on Monday and when I opened it realized that it had been used. On Wednesday I went to return/exchange the camera. I told the salesman that the camera had obviously been used and showed him the ripped bag, unwound cord and used handstrap. He told me that he did not have any more in stock, but would check with another store and could get one there by tomorrow. I told him this would be fine. Once he located one, he told me to take the used camera back and return tomorrow. I told him that I wanted to return the camera and would buy the new one. He told me it would be easier for him if I would do it his way, and I told him that, nonetheless, I wanted to return this camera now. AT THIS POINT, he said to me that I was wasting his time. Why didn't I say this sooner? I should have told him that so that he could have looked for another camera for me in 10 minutes (this is what he said) and deal with the other customers. I was quite taken aback, but held my ground. I told him that he had no right to say this to me. That I wanted to make the return and would now THINK about returning to buy another camera. ANYWAY this went on for OVER 10 minutes. At some point during this, I turned on the recording device on my iPhone and was able to capture over 7 minutes. At a point YOUR EMPLOYEE STARTED RAISING HIS VOICE and my husband jumped in and started raising his...asking him what is problem was...just do the return already...Because of where we live (Quebec) my husband felt that this was language motivated (i.e. French speaking salesperson/English customer)...and said to the salesman: What is your problem? Is it because we are English? I don't necessarily agree with my husband, but this is how HE felt. Your employee then threatened to call Security to have my husband removed because he yelled at the employee who yelled first (this is caught on my iPhone). In fact, he did call and the security showed up. At some point in here, your salesman threw the bill and my credit card on the counter and walked away yelling. Another salesman (the person who initially sold me the camera) came in to finish. He maintained his composure, as did I, but was equally as rude saying he agreed that I was wasting their time. I told him that I would not return home with a used product and wanted my credit. I also wanted my original receipt, which I was refused - they gave me a copy - I keep a copy of ALL my credit card transactions - all purchases/whether returned or not. I will NEVER buy another thing again at The Source. The ONLY just thing to do is FIRE this employee. I can honestly say that never in my 40+ yrs have I been treated like this. Never have I felt so strongly about an employee. Even with bad service, and although I believe that if you don't like your job, get a new one, have I ever felt that an employee should lose their job...until now. THIS WENT BEYOND acceptable. Why did the employee chose to tell me I was wasting his time? Could he not have said: Please bring the camera back tomorrow when I can do an exchange - it will be simpler...and then, when I reply, No. I'd like a refund, respond to me with, Sure. No problem? I will now give my business to other stores - stores that know how to hire staff and staff that knows how to treat customers. I just can't believe I have wasted this much time on this; that I actually believe so strongly in this to write all this; and I can not believe that your employee ruined an absolutely perfect day...the 3rd of my husband's vacation. If I could return the other items I've bought at your store - I would...as I whole-heartedly believe that my money is better spent elsewhere. **So the question now will be if a manager/a provincial manager/head office will actually care that a customer has been treated this way -> yelled at and had security called on them. I will save my voice recording...just in case you are!

Hi, I would like to bring to your attention that recently I had endured a very horrible experience with the Source Circuit City and their customer service. Firstly I had made a payment on my account on Sept 11 2008 of 20 dollars and the due date on the account was Sept 13th 2008. No problem right? Wrong the Source never registered my payment at all and sent me my bill on Oct 1st without indicating my 20 dollar payment was made on Seot 11th 2008 and added interest on top of that. This was very disturbing to say the least. I made the payment with CIBC and had my proof of payment stamped and still in my possession for my records. I immediately called the Source customer service and spoke with Miriam at approx 13:15 on Oct 1st and hit a brick wall. She was no help and nobody could provide me a reason on why my payment was never received. I then went to the CIBC branch where I had initially made my payment and waited 30 minutes in a line up and finally spoke with the branch manager. I had spoken with the same lady in person whom processed my payment on Sept 11th 2008. Her name is Kalie Fong atCIBC 5705 Victoria Drive Vancouver BC V5P 3W5 [protected] ext 242. Kalie said she would take care of it. She was also very confused like myself and could not explain why my payment did not go through and would investigate. I had given Kalie my proof of purchase documents and personal information and she said it would take 48 hours. After returning home I decided to call the Source once again and had spoken with the supervisor Myra and explained my current situation once again. I had made the call at approx 14:15. Myra eventually hung up on me for no reason after I had tried to get some answers to this current dilemma. I thought that hanging up on a customer was wrong? In fact I know it is wrong and will make a formal complaint. I am also happily aware that the conversation was recorded which is proof yet once again I have a reason to complain. I had checked the customer service with Source the next day OCT 2nd 2008 and my payment of 20 dollars that I had made on Sept 11th was processed! Why now, and why so late? Why did I receive poor customer service from the Source? Why was the payment delayed? My valuable time was wasted, and this is not the way to treat valuable customers. The next business day I received a call from CIBC from Kalie and was told that the error originated from the Source Circuit City. Why did this happen? What if I had not noticed this error? Perhaps there are other customers like myself whom had the same thing happen? This is not acceptable! I would like someone from your company to contact me on this matter. This email will be archived for my records and by all means please investigate this matter. I am a valuable customer and need some answers on many issues and one of them regarding the un professional approach the Source Circuit City had given me, and the mistreatment of my account and myself. This was a huge inconvenience for me and a big headache! Sincerely, John