The sheer number of stories over the years about the crap Best Buy pulls is amazing. As one of the only brick and mortar computer stores left (Fry’s is the only one I can think of and they’re only in a few states), I guess they feel they can do anything because they’re the only game in town for those not savvy or comfortable enough to buy online and need more than WalMart or Target sells. Read the article for this full, ludicrous story.
Sharon’s husband had Best Buy repair a laptop, and when he got it back the Windows 7 operating system was missing. They complained to Best Buy, which refused to reinstall the system, saying it had held up its end of the bargain because it had originally sold them a laptop, not Windows 7.
Buy a machine with an on-site service contract. NEVER turn over you PC with your precious and often confidential data on it to a technician.
Jason and his agonynuts==don’t even know the context into which you are sinking do you?
Too silly.
“Only liebertardians and repuketards fight common sense in order to feel like free men.”
Haha! Made my morning.
sooooooooooooo this must mean that best buy secretly supports linux!
I finally had to replace a Toshiba microwave that had lasted for 23 years (it finally gave up after what sounded like a relay switch problem).
So I bought GE one at B.B. and its fan, light and turntable all failed at the same time after about a year (also with what sounded like a stuttering relay).
Since I had heard that extended warranty packages are mostly just a cash cow for merchants (which is why they push them on you at checkout), I didn’t get one of those. From what I’ve heard about B.B. other than this post, guess I might as well take it to the recycle pile…either that or get out my soldering iron and parts catalog.
Quick trip to Best buy last week for a couple of USB sticks. Also picked up a set of Logitech speakers and a Compact Flash Card. The checker tried to sell me a warranty on every item. It cracked me up. Buy a 3 year warranty on a memory stick?
There’s a Best Buy down the street but after hearing so many complaints about their service and policies we (my wife and I) won’t shop there.
Hell, we wouldn’t let our cat shop there…
Shopping at best buy is like shopping at Sam Goody, or Musicland, or FYE at the mall. For Grandma’s buying presents for their Grandkids and don’t know any better to pay $18.98 for the latest Britney Spears disc.
Never buy serious hardware of any type at BB anymore, too many online options or Costco for the Video stuff.
Luckily I have a Fry’s and a Microcenter less than an hour away from me. Fry’s is usually messy and unorganized though. Microcenter is nice, but their salesmen make a commission so be prepared to be swarmed by salesman upon walking in the door. Still either one is usually a better experience than Best Buy.
The one and only time I went into a Best Buy was to buy my first laptop (~10 years ago). I spotted a great buy for $1,400 and told the salesman I wanted it. He then proceeded to the expected sales pitch for additional in-store services, such as $30 for installing the OS, all of which I turned down.
Still he wouldn’t let go of the warranty pitch. After politely listening to this for 15 minutes, I finally got him to fetch the box to the checkout counter.
I then had to listen to the checkout clerk’s sales pitch for a Best Buy charge card, which I did agreed to. So while I’m filling out the paperwork for the card, the manager walks over and starts pushing the warranty again, again I politely refused. He wouldn’t stop and the clerk wasn’t ringing up my order; this went on for another 20 minutes. (I really wanted that laptop!) Finally I snapped and told him he could keep his warranty, his charge card, AND his laptop.
I’ve never been back since.
Micro Center is a good tech store, but the closest store to where I live is about 7 hours away. That’s a long drive to buy or repair a laptop.
I have to say, BestBuy took my return merchandise without hassle. There was nothing wrong with it — I just didn’t want it after I had tried it out. Try that with eBay!
I also like BestBuy because their cameras and stuff usually have batteries in them and are working so you can handle gizmo and press buttons. I reject lots of highly rated gear once I get it in my hand. You can’t do that with Amazon.
Lastly, their prices are usually competitive.
But don’t call me a loyal customer. BestBuy is a gigantic impersonal corporation and my relationship with them is strictly utilitarian.
Best Buy is not a computer store. Their closest competition was Circuit City. CompUSA – their brick and mortar stores reopened – in Florida and other some other states; Fry’s Electronics and Micro Center are what’s left of computer superstore retailing. If a new item breaks, it will probably break within the first 90 days. Thus, it will be covered by either the retailer’s or manufacturer’s warranty making the extended warranty unnecessary.
Make sure Best Buy technicians have an appropriate A+ certification.
Still, a friend had a desktop computer with two hard drives – one for the boot OS. His computer wouldn’t boot and took it to Best Buy. They couldn’t fix it and told him he needed to take it to a hard drive data recovery specialist.
I installed both hard drives in my desktop and managed a low level safe boot. I then repaired both drives with Microsoft’s own utility and checked the drives by booting them in my machine. It worked. I don’t know what Best Buy did.
#14 A compliment? Hahahahahahaha. Now THAT made me laugh. Thanks #12!
Why people go tot he box stores for repairs when there are qualified local repair people who will charge you 1/4 price and actually do a good job that they are proud of is beyond me.
Without an OS, how can you tell that the laptop is “fixed”? Honestly, someone please give me a cogent answer to this question.
I will travel an hour and a half to the nearest Micro Center, rather than buy anything from Best Buy, which is about 10 minutes from where I live!
Micro Center is, imnsho, the best computer big box store. The people know what they are talking about, their prices are quite good, and they have a huge selection of the stuff I need.
True, I have only had experience with the Paterson, NJ, and Yonkers, NY stores, but I’m telling you, they are a breath of fresh air.