BestBuy warranties

[Tsutsumiko]

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.

QFT~

Even though I did buy my laptop from Best Buy, I agree with this statement. I buy most of my desktops this way.

Anyways, whenever I have a hardware problem I can't fix, the "Geek Squad" as they're called always tries to give me a bunch of bullshit reasons (usually it's some kid my age). You don't even need to raise your voice or any of that. Or ask for a manager.

Just lean over the counter and say very gently "I'm a computer science major. I know what's wrong with the machine. I know you know what's wrong with the machine. Please fix it quickly so we don't waste anymore time."

Seriously, do these guys get paid by the amount of things they perform on a machine? I knew my machine just had something caught in the fan and I needed him to remove it. He gave me like 20,000 other problems that could be wrong with it...one of which wasn't the thing in the fan. It's as if he knew my warranty was almost up, wanted to try a bunch of stupid shit that wouldn't fix the overheating problem, wait for my fan to burn out, and come back 2 weeks later so he could nail me for the fan.

After this machine, never again from these guys.

[Octavious]

Just lean over the counter and say very gently "I'm a computer science major. I know what's wrong with the machine. I know you know what's wrong with the machine. Please fix it quickly so we don't waste anymore time."

I've done that before and it doesn't really do much other than shut them up when they're trying to give pointless info. Anymore I just google and read until I find a solution to a PC Problem. Online & some of my Textbooks are far better sources of information than any support line i've ever tried. For my HDTV, I said listen I did some research and it seems a main board error on my TV has caused the picture to not decode the digital signal properly which is why my HD signals spasm with wierd colors. He responds, "Do you have the proper HD Antenna?" I almost jumped over the counter.

Geek Squad irritates me to know end after they charged my uncle an insane price to fix a broken laptop hard drive, that they ended up just replacing. He paid $500something when I could have done essentially the same thing for much cheaper. In the age of technology it saddens me people take advantage of what others don't know. Granted, I am a CS&E/Math major and I have done PC support etc, but Geek Squad takes it to the extreme.

[Vandole]

QFT~

Even though I did buy my laptop from Best Buy, I agree with this statement. I buy most of my desktops this way.

Anyways, whenever I have a hardware problem I can't fix, the "Geek Squad" as they're called always tries to give me a bunch of bullshit reasons (usually it's some kid my age). You don't even need to raise your voice or any of that. Or ask for a manager.

Just lean over the counter and say very gently "I'm a computer science major. I know what's wrong with the machine. I know you know what's wrong with the machine. Please fix it quickly so we don't waste anymore time."

Seriously, do these guys get paid by the amount of things they perform on a machine? I knew my machine just had something caught in the fan and I needed him to remove it. He gave me like 20,000 other problems that could be wrong with it...one of which wasn't the thing in the fan. It's as if he knew my warranty was almost up, wanted to try a bunch of stupid shit that wouldn't fix the overheating problem, wait for my fan to burn out, and come back 2 weeks later so he could nail me for the fan.

After this machine, never again from these guys.

Actually.. when i went there they asked me if i want them to run a diagnostics to see the issues with it..

i just said "Look.. i'm a computer engineering major and i know whats wrong with it..." then told it, and once i got the reciept of the issues for fixing etc he wrote down verbatum what i said to him.

edit: i HATE bestbuy, the laptop was REALLY priced well though.

[Vandole]

i just got off the phone with them, my laptop has been junked.
so i have to go to the store tomorrow and pick out a new laptop.

Yay?

not too sure.... my laptop was on sale..

[Cephius]

Make a big stink and hope that they let you pick out one that's more expensive than the one you bought. Start big... like one of the hugeass $1800 Toshiba laptops they have there. Then after fighting with them a bit.. settle on one that's less expensive, but still more expensive than the one you got. Winnar!

[Vandole]

Make a big stink and hope that they let you pick out one that's more expensive than the one you bought. Start big... like one of the hugeass $1800 Toshiba laptops they have there. Then after fighting with them a bit.. settle on one that's less expensive, but still more expensive than the one you got. Winnar!

my laptop model was discontinued, so they HAVE to give me something better than what i had. HAHAHAHA

i talked to their computer salesman, he said "im gonna hook you up with the best laptop we got since yours got trashed, just come tomorrow after our truck gets here"

So yeah, pretty cool.

[Epical]

You're welcome. =P

[Vandole]

http://blog.nola.com/living/2007/10/large_Carell.JPG

You sir, are a gentlemen and a scholar.

[Vandole]

I got a call from the computer department guy saying my laptop was in and just put out from the truck, so he'll go put it aside for me so i can get it no problem. He told me he'll be there til closing, so just come on in and talk to the geek squad and you'll be in and out. Great.

so i got there at about 8:30-ish to get my laptop... and i went to the geek squad to talk to them since i was told go there first when i got there.

No problem, right? Wrong. i talk to them, then they tell me to go to customer service, and i tell them the whole issue about my laptop being fubar'd and they told me to come here to replace it and they get my information for me and such, K.. starting to get a bit agitated, but im not gonna show it on the outside.

I go to computers, it now being 8:50, i have wasted 20 minutes so far. and i talk to the only guy there after he finishes with some stupid woman buying her one of those small ass linux laptops "so he could play wow". And then he tells me he never talked to anyone about a laptop, but he'll look it up on the computers for me. It showed that they had none in stock, but two on the way. ugh. "I'm sorry about whoever told you the laptop came in today, but i cant find anything in the database. i'll have them check in the back for you."

15 minutes go by, its like 9:20 then... "Ok, we didn't find any out back, but the bestbuy 20 minutes from here has two of them in stock. i'll get it setup so you can just go there and get your laptop." Cool.

He comes back 10 minutes later, 9:30. Ok, that leaves me maybe 10 minutes to deal with bestbuy to get my laptop, Yeah... not gonna happen.. still, not acting rude whatsoever to any of the employees(yes this is because of you epical.)

"I'm sorry, but since you sent your laptop through this bestbuy and we were told it was junked, you have to wait for us to get the laptop. We can try to have them send it over so you can get it tomorrow.." Ok, yet again, keeping my cool cause by this point i just wanna get out of the fucking store. "We're gonna have them check inventory one more time for you since you are being so patient, ok?" Cool beans.

So we're just talking and then the manager calls him behind the counter... it's about 9:45 now, and he comes back up to me with a smile on his face. "What's your name again?" I tell them, and then he comes out the back with my laptop. the manager then comes out to apologize for wasting my time, and apparently its because "I'm honestly suprised they did what they were supposed to, it was right here the entire time." ASDFASDFASDFASDFASDFASDF I TOLD YOU THEY SET IT OFF TO THE SIDE FOR ME AN HOUR AGO ASDFASDASDFASDF I TOLD EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT I TALKED TO. no longer having to keep my cool anymore since i'm getting my laptop anyway, i just went to the customer service counter and finished up.

Then kharma started to pay off. "Well, this laptop is cheaper than the one you had.. and im returning your warranty and getting it back for you. You had the 3 year warranty, right?" i said yes and was getting ready to bust out the credit card and pay $350 for a new one. "No, i RETURNED your warranty for what i could, so its paying for your new one and then some. Actually.... you're making out like a bandit. We're putting $150 back into your credit card." Holy fuck, being nice paid off for once? So i got my laptop and had them hold it there so i could talk to my dad. i told him a small version of this and basically said i need a new mouse. He said ok, so i went and got a g9, lolz.

Fuck yeah. this laptop is alot better than my old one, and i was reimbursed for my kindness.

After i got the mouse, the store was closing so i just started bsing with the lady at the counter, so i eventually asked... "So, on average.. how many customers returning things are nice?" she told me that out of 10 people, only two would be nice. and she also said that's why she returned my warranty.

TL;DR:

Thanks epical.

[Epical]

Heh, that's awesome! I'd be all gloaty and say "I told you so", but I'm really not surprised. If you treat the staff well they will return the favor and treat you likewise... it's a nice refresher after the hoards of angry customers come down on them like it's their fault (especially at this time of year). Congrats on your new laptop. =)

[cdgreg]

Before actually working at a retail store (Media Play) I thought being an ass would get you somewhere. But after working for a whopping 7$ an hour and no commission the people I wanted to bend over backwards for and do anything for were the nice ones who were polite and respectful. As for the jackasses, it almost became a game of how much can I spite this asshat?

It finally came full turn when I DJ'd/bartended for about 3 years in a college town. If you were an asshole you either a.) didn't get served, or b.) overcharged like whoa, especially if you ran a tab. If I screwed up a drink and you're cool I'll make you a new heavy one, let you keep the old, and hook you up with a shot/free drink chip, but if you're an asshole you'll get a small replacement and no service for the rest of the night, and if you have a tab open god help you.

[Omnipotent]

Bestbuy's car service is fucking shit. I bought new speakers, and I have a 04 maxima and I didn't know how to take my back seats out, so i coughed up the 70 and let them do both front and back. I was told 1 hour so I waited, and went to D and D next store for a coffee. Come back 30 mins later to see a car guy with his head against my seat crying saying he cannot get my back seat out. I literally start dying of laughing and ask if he is serious, he just stared at me like he was dummb founded.

Told him to move aside and within 1 minute I popped the seat out and then let him proceed to install everything. About 45 minutes later I came back and my car was "done". I regretfully, but happily paid for it and got in my car and started to drive. Needles to say within 15 seconds I notice none of my right door lights are working, my electronic trunk opener trigger is not working and needless to say my back left speaker isn't even functional.

To sum up what happened after that, I created a list of messups, went to bestbuy, had them fix all of it, (only took 6 FUCKING HOURS), told the tech guy he failed at life and to quit his job and got a 50% discount........bestbuy's price's are decent, but their customer service is piss poor.