BestBuy warranties

[Vandole]

im returning my laptop tomorrow, and i have the box and all that good stuff still.

my problem: dead pixels galore and a messed up keyboard, and random memory dump crashes.

What should i expect? like... if i bitch alot will they just give me a new laptop to shut me up? or are they going to take my laptop and not give it back, anyone have experience with this?

[Johnblaze]

I just got my PC back from them... As long as it's under warranty they can't say much... My mobo died and they mentioned that the warranty might not be ok because I threw in my own vid card... 16 days later they called me and I picked it up and everything is ok.

Just be prepared for dumb tech people... They aren't so bright imo.

[Zumi]

If you paid for the extra warranty they are pretty much obligated to give you a new one. If they try not to you just have to bitch at them some more.

[Vandole]

If you paid for the extra warranty they are pretty much obligated to give you a new one. If they try not to you just have to bitch at them some more.

i did. im gonna talk to an angry black chick to find out what to say in order for them to shut me up and just give me a new laptop.

like, im gonna make a huge fucking scene.

[Johnblaze]

If they don't give you what you want... Get loud and demand to speak to the manager. That's pretty much what I planned on doing. But they had my shit ready.

[Vandole]

If they don't give you what you want... Get loud and demand to speak to the manager. That's pretty much what I planned on doing. But they had my shit ready.

like.. did you get a new one? or your old shit refurbished

edit: NERD RAGE TIME
ive been calling them and trying to get on the phone with a fucking person to at least vent my frustrations over my defective product, but NOOOO they dont answer the fucking phone.
its 7:20 and they close at 9. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

[Elites]

rage always works, just dont be a panzy and go quiet on them. Raise that voice up!

[Vandole]

yeah... im gonna flip the fuck out on them tomorrow.

[Epical]

I work for the Canadian equivalent who is owned and operated much like Best Buy (except we're the good side, Best Buy are a bunch of shits), including the same warranties. This is how it'll work in your case:

If you're in your first year of owning the laptop still, even if you have the Product Service Plan, they are going to send it to the manufacturer to get fixed (but they will take care of shipping/receiving, as well as putting a special retail priority order on it so it gets seen sooner). If you're after the first year and own a Product Service Plan, then they still ship the laptop out once the diagnostics are done (or ship the new parts in and do an on-site repair if the problem is quite easy to solve) to a third party repair company (we use Nexicore, personally). You will NOT get a new computer unless this is a) your 4th MAJOR repair utilized through the PSP or b) your computer is absolutely fubar'd beyond any repair attempt. Thus, it is unwise to make a big scene and yell at people, especially the CSRs. Those (commonly) girls deal with people all day long yelling at them like it's their fault, they are just working behind that counter to get your product into the right hands, so don't get mad at them. Same goes for the on-floor manager, don't get all pissy with everyone. When you bought your warranty you agreed to a set of terms and clauses that your product will be processed under, and not to be rude, but there is going to be no exception to change them in your case (even if you think it does).

Now you may be thinking that you can swindle your way into a new laptop or that I'm talking out of my ass, but day in and day out I see people will all sorts of problems march through those doors like they are God themself. The CSRs and managers have heard every excuse under the sun and definitely know when you're lying, so do try to respect both them and yourself when dealing with this. Lastly, keep in mind that this time of year is extremely busy in big box stores and repair depots, so don't be surprised if your wait time in is a bit longer than usual. If you have a pretty serious issue, don't lie to yourself and expect a 3-4 day turnaround time. I'd go in expecting your laptop to be back in your hands in 10-20 days depending on your situation. What you CAN make a big deal about is the waiving of the return policy through a manager's approval for a loaner laptop if you can't be without one. How that will work is you will have to BUY a new laptop (a cheapo open box will do), but it will be refunded in FULL when your original laptop is finished and returned to you. This isn't written in any rule book, but 99% of our stores (again, we aren't BB, but we're literally identical) will do this for you should you ask them.

If you have any other questions I'd be glad to answer them for you.

[Vandole]

I work for the Canadian equivalent who is owned and operated much like Best Buy (except we're the good side, Best Buy are a bunch of shits), including the same warranties. This is how it'll work in your case:

If you're in your first year of owning the laptop still, even if you have the Product Service Plan, they are going to send it to the manufacturer to get fixed (but they will take care of shipping/receiving, as well as putting a special retail priority order on it so it gets seen sooner). If you're after the first year and own a Product Service Plan, then they still ship the laptop out once the diagnostics are done (or ship the new parts in and do an on-site repair if the problem is quite easy to solve) to a third party repair company (we use Nexicore, personally). You will NOT get a new computer unless this is a) your 4th MAJOR repair utilized through the PSP or b) your computer is absolutely fubar'd beyond any repair attempt. Thus, it is unwise to make a big scene and yell at people, especially the CSRs. Those (commonly) girls deal with people all day long yelling at them like it's their fault, they are just working behind that counter to get your product into the right hands, so don't get mad at them. Same goes for the on-floor manager, don't get all pissy with everyone. When you bought your warranty you agreed to a set of terms and clauses that your product will be processed under, and not to be rude, but there is going to be no exception to change them in your case (even if you think it does).

Now you may be thinking that you can swindle your way into a new laptop or that I'm talking out of my ass, but day in and day out I see people will all sorts of problems march through those doors like they are God themself. The CSRs and managers have heard every excuse under the sun and definitely know when you're lying, so do try to respect both them and yourself when dealing with this. Lastly, keep in mind that this time of year is extremely busy in big box stores and repair depots, so don't be surprised if your wait time in is a bit longer than usual. If you have a pretty serious issue, don't lie to yourself and expect a 3-4 day turnaround time. I'd go in expecting your laptop to be back in your hands in 10-20 days depending on your situation. What you CAN make a big deal about is the waiving of the return policy through a manager's approval for a loaner laptop if you can't be without one. How that will work is you will have to BUY a new laptop (a cheapo open box will do), but it will be refunded in FULL when your original laptop is finished and returned to you. This isn't written in any rule book, but 99% of our stores (again, we aren't BB, but we're literally identical) will do this for you should you ask them.

If you have any other questions I'd be glad to answer them for you.

so if i were to use my magical nerd powars to fubar the computer, they'll give me a new one?

[Epical]

Pretty much yes. Like if you walk in there with your hard drive clicking, optical tray not opening, dead pixels galore, overheating, etc, the cost will be too much for them to try to fix, and thus they will give you an equal or better (but brand new) model. Keep in mind when they do, they will consider the PSP fulfilled and you'll have to buy a new one for your new computer should you go this route. Don't go throw your laptop on the floor though, the first thing they do is check for physical damage, because that's the easy way out. =P

[Vandole]

Pretty much yes. Like if you walk in there with your hard drive clicking, optical tray not opening, dead pixels galore, overheating, etc, the cost will be too much for them to try to fix, and thus they will give you an equal or better (but brand new) model. Keep in mind when they do, they will consider the PSP fulfilled and you'll have to buy a new one for your new computer should you go this route. Don't go throw your laptop on the floor though, the first thing they do is check for physical damage, because that's the easy way out. =P

well, i can easily just take it apart and overheat it no problem.

but dewd, i DO have dead pixels galore. at least 10 big ones.

edit: its a 3 year warranty

[Epical]

Dead pixels are a good thing then because replacing screens can be very expensive. At this point though I'm not sure if you qualify as fubar'd enough for a new laptop. D: Up to you what you want to do to it before you go in, but keep in mind anything you do might increase the wait time if they decide not to exchange it for you.

[Vandole]

Dead pixels are a good thing then because replacing screens can be very expensive. At this point though I'm not sure if you qualify as fubar'd enough for a new laptop. D: Up to you what you want to do to it before you go in, but keep in mind anything you do might increase the wait time if they decide not to exchange it for you.

would it help if my friends brother is on the geek squad?

[Epical]

Possibly, if you go to his store. Have him vouch to the manager (because it is his decision after all) for the fubar'dness of your laptop and to process the PSP exchange. The manager will know dick all about computers (unless you're unlucky and have the computer manager on duty at the time lol) so he'll just take the tech's word and forward you to a salesguy who will help you with your new product. If you can't swindle that then I don't think knowing one of the GS guys will help.

[Vandole]

they had no loaner laptops. they said they didnt do that. my estimated return time is the 1st :[

[Epical]

=)

And yeah, there are no "loaner laptops", it's just a grace from the manager to extend the return date beyond the standard 14 on an open box. Apparently you went to the dick store.

[Octavious]

I've got a Best Buy story to end them all, seriously. I purchased a HDTV from Best Buy last August in '07 and bought the 4 yr service plan on it. After ~4-6months the colors started going ape-shit and a little online investigating showed that the particular TV had a factory error, so I called them up and they said someone would come out in two weeks to look at the TV.

"Ok", I thought, "I can wait two weeks to get this fixed."

So two weeks pass and some random service guy comes out to my house. Mind you they give you a 4 hour window or something, so it pretty much took up my entire Saturday Morning. The TV was occasionally spasming random colors, so of course it barely did anything when he looked at it. The technician didn't use any diagnostic tools or try anything, just wrote the board number of the TV down and said I would receive a call within a week about what would happen.

"Hm, another week, I can handle 3 weeks to get this fixed I suppose."

So when the technician said within a week, he really meant 10 days. The call finally came after I hounded them for 3 days after the first week went by and they mentioned they needed to replace the main board on the TV and it would take another week to get the part in. I wait yet another week (4 weeks now) and no call, nothing. I call them and they tell me the part has been on backorder in their warehouse and it won't make it to the store in Columbus for another 2 weeks. At this point I flipped a shit on them, and eventually through bitching up the chain of command got someone to allow me to replace my TV.

I don't expect them to replace my HDTV with a brand new one, but offering a service plan that doesn't do jack sit to be a SERVICE PLAN is retarded. They inconveiniance you every step of the way and make it as tough as possible to even get your repairs done. I would never suggest buying a service plan from Best Buy ever.

Whats even worse, when I bitched out the guy at the store after 6 weeks of tossing around with the phone he responded with, "If you hadn't purchased the Service Plan you'd be completely out a TV." To which i responded, "In 6 weeks I could have made money to buy a completely new TV." It was only a 32'' HDTV LCD so it really annoyed me that after 6 weeks of fucking around he still thought it was about the TV and not their ass service. I can't believe their management thinks a Service Plan that takes 2 months to replace something is a service to anyone.

edit: Additional Clarification; I don't flip out on people for not doing what I want to occur, I got angry because I was constantly told time frames that were inaccurate. If they had been honest from the get go, or made me aware of the bullshit red tape with the service plan, I wouldn't have been as frustrated.

[Cephius]

ITT: people who made the mistake of buying expensive electronics from best buy

Honestly, don't do it. It's a shitty retail store. You're introducing a middle man in an industry that seriously doesn't need one. Not to mention that Best Buy prices are usually higher than they should be...

Buy direct from the manufacturer if at all possible, and get your service plans with them. They clearly know more about their own products, and should you need to get something replaced, have more knowledgeable techs. Don't deal with the 17 year olds at Best Buy. I think it's smarter to buy online at Newegg or TigerDirect at this point, because most sites offer service plans from the manufacturer and not their own. If you feel uncomfortable buying something you haven't seen, go to best buy, look at the TVs, pick one you like, go home and buy it online.

[Octavious]

ITT: people who made the mistake of buying expensive electronics from best buy

Honestly, don't do it. It's a shitty retail store. You're introducing a middle man in an industry that seriously doesn't need one. Not to mention that Best Buy prices are usually higher than they should be...

Buy direct from the manufacturer if at all possible, and get your service plans with them. They clearly know more about their own products, and should you need to get something replaced, have more knowledgeable techs. Don't deal with the 17 year olds at Best Buy. I think it's smarter to buy online at Newegg or TigerDirect at this point, because most sites offer service plans from the manufacturer and not their own. If you feel uncomfortable buying something you haven't seen, go to best buy, look at the TVs, pick one you like, go home and buy it online.

Actually, I didn't plan on buying it from BestBuy at first heh. I found the same TV at CircuitCity iirc and I got them to match the price on it since they were out of stock. I usually shop off Tiger or when it comes to PC parts I go to the Micro Center by my house.

Best Buy never ceases to amaze me with how stupid some of their employees are. I even applied for a Job there in Highschool and didn't get it. I try to stay away from shopping there but sometimes I do it out of the ease (buying games i'd have to reserve elsewhere etc).

Some good 'lol' moments i've had;

I called when Chains of Promathia came out for the PS2 back when I played on PS2, and the lady on the phone from the video game section responded with, "Final Fantasy? Is it a popular game because I don't see any results in the Database." I'm like Final Fantasy? You didn't find any results for just Final Fantasy? "Nope."

Just yesterday I stopped by to pickup a Western Digital HDD since they had a big sale on them and i'm building a PVR (see below topic & help me ;; lol) and I was asked if I knew that I needed a PC to use the hard drive. I was holding Cables & the Hard Drive and I responded, "uh, I thought I could just use the cables and plug it into my monitor ; ;."

idk, I understand these people are just doing their job, but I don't think i've ever actually been helped by any of them. I usually don't go into Best Buy without an item in mind I want (usually on sale or cheap) or a video game that I didn't reserve at Game Stop.

edit: I want to add my love for tigerdirect, lol. I ordered my hdd's for my desktop when they had Seagates on sale awhile back. <3