Bad Store Experiences (ie: Why Best Buy Can Bite Me)

[Zerlina]

Sooo... I wanted to share this because I know a lot of us here buy a lot of tech and Best Buy is a popular store, but I would highly discourage you from buying from them, or even thinking about their Extended Warranty Policy. Also I'm pissed and want to vent and they can bite my shiny metal ***.

Long version:
[SPOILER]
When reading this story please keep in mind that Best Buy is an hour from my house and an hour back, and also note the price of gas.

I bought an HP Pavilion DV5 for school and got suckered into the Extended Warranty from Best Buy. Under it there's supposed to be a "No Lemon's Policy" where if your computer breaks three times you can get a replacement one at no charge.

About a week after I got my computer it started shutting down randomly, overheating, and making noise. I brought it into Best Buy and they repaired it.

A couple of months later I had the same problem only now the track pad was broken. Best Buy's fairly far from my house so it was a while before I could bring it in again. They acted extremely condescending (like Comic Book Guy on the Simpson's condescending) and insisted it was a software problem. I told them my track pad wasn't working and the computer was overheating so it had to be hardware. They continued to argue, and then said they'd fix it. After leaving it with them for a few days I brought it home and guess what? It was still overheating and shutting down. I brought it back to Best Buy and they told me that they had to replace the cooling system. I asked them shouldn't they replace the whole PC. They said no, because by breaking three times, they mean breaking four times (getting fixed three times then having to be repaired again). So fine, I left them my computer. I brought it home again and guess what? It was shutting down randomly, overheating, hanging up during soft shut downs and restarts (I have to take out the battery and unplug it to turn it off), and the track pad blew again. So I brought it back, and they took it in for a few days, then called me and said it wasn't broken and it must have been a fluke. I took it home. It was still broken. We drove it back, they said they'd take a closer look. They called and said it wasn't broken and I had to come pick it up. Then when I got there and showed them all the problems they continued to be very condescending towards me (as well as every other female customer at the counter) and told me it was my fault because I must not know how to use a computer properly.

To edit Terra I needed to borrow my friend's Mac, so I traded him my PC. He had to switch back with me after a couple of weeks because he couldn't stand using my computer as it continually overheated, shut down on him, and the track pad went crazy. He volunteered to drive me up to Best Buy so that we could get to the bottom of this.

Suddenly (maybe coincidentally, or maybe because I was with a guy) the same people were a lot more respectful, didn't act condescending, and actually looked at the computer. They said they'd take it in because it looked like it might be overheating, and that if it was, they would replace it because of the Extended Warranty Policy. Of course they told this all to my friend even though I was sitting right there and was the owner of the computer.

I thought my computer was finally going to be replaced. But then I got a call from them yesterday saying that they would repair it but they wouldn't replace it because the second repair "doesn't count," and now I have to wait 15 days for them to send it away to the factory, and I have to drive up again to sign some papers. But I was also informed that there was"Good news." because I was now at the three repair mark and if it broke again they'd replace it. He assured me that they don't believe in "selling lemons. **** Best Buy. [/SPOILER]

Short version: I got suckered into buying an extended warranty from Best Buy with a No Lemons Policy. Supposedly if my comp breaks three times I'm supposed to get a replacement computer. The first three times it broke they repaired it with little trouble. But after the third time they started saying things like "It's not broken you're just using it wrong" "it's a software problem," "certain repairs don't count toward the policy" (ie: anything they can say to not replace the computer). So I just paid a whole lot of $$$ for a warranty that the store never planned on honouring. Not to mention all the time and gas driving up to Best Buy, or going to class without my computer. Plus the Geek Squad acted like a total boy's club and talked down to me and every other female customer that came to their counter. They were only polite and took me seriously when I went in with my dad or my male friend. Not to mention they reeked of incompetence. For example, they ran a 6 hour scanning program and told me to "wait a minute while it scans." After half an hour I asked them how much longer it would be. They turned the laptop around so I could see the 5 1/2 hours remaining on the timer. Then they informed me that "Oh, if you want to leave you can." Followed by surprise when I wanted to. Or how bout their insistence that my computer overheating, randomly shutting down, and having a broken track pad was a software problem?

I have no idea what the hell is up, but it feels like they try to sell you on the warranty, but then are instructed to come up with any excuse not to actually replace your computer either by saying that it's not really broken, or by not counting all repairs toward your replacement.  Anyway, I feel like I've been gouged in the stomach by some evil CEO in a yacht filled with money and the tears of orphaned hookers.

To make this more general, I guess- have you guys ever had any shitty experiences like this either with Best Buy or another company?

[X_marks_the_ed]

I got a DVD recorder for my birthday from my folks. We had a hell of a time trying to get one that could just recognize that there was a blank DVD in there. I think they finally gave us one worth more than what we bought just so we would leave them alone.

That's what we get for trying to buy something from Wal-Mart.

[Ben]

Yeah, those extended warranties are a joke. Avoid them like aids

Zerilina, you live in toronto dont you? I had an old compaq presario that had similar problems. A little place just off Queen and roncesdales hooked me up like crazy. Its all about the mom-and-pop-shops

[Dragonium]

Bought Guitar Hero from GAME (UK videogame chain). Got home, controller didn't work. Went back.

Me: I bought this yesterday, and the controller doesn't work.
Clerk: Okay, we'll just test it in the back.

He takes it into the back and is gone for maybe 2 minutes at most.

Clerk: Okay, I just played through a few songs and it works fine.
Me: I doubt that, it doesn't work at all.
Clerk: Well, it does, and we can't replace it if it's not broken.
Me: Can I see it working?
Clerk: No.

I took it back. It still didn't work, so I fixed it myself.

[Archem]

Wal-Mart (I think a trend is surfacing) tried to tell me that they couldn't accept a returned product for some reason. I know that's bullshit, because I see the return lines a mile long all the time, and I've returned a handful of things in the past. What was I returning? An MP3 player. It was a gift from my dad. We got home, I opened it up, realized that it wasn't properly sealed, and was missing a few parts. There were also batteries already in the device, which is an oddity. Oh, did I mention that the space on the MP3 player was only 512 MB? Definitely not the 4 GB that was on the box, and had been payed for. This thing was behind a locked glass display, so there's no reasonable excuse for why any of this had happened. Clearly, somebody had been using it, and decided to lock it back up, hoping nobody would notice. Well, that, or Wal-Mart is putting returned products back on the shelves. Whatever, here comes the fun part.

I go to return the item, and they tell me they don't accept returned electronics. I was fine with that, I'd rather just have a replacement. Couldn't do that either. Bullshit, I know their return policy to know that this isn't true. I ask to speak to their manager. This total douche comes out, I explain my problem to him, and he feeds me the same line. My dad had already gone back to work (he delivers roofing materials, so his schedule is inconsistent. At the time, he was on break), so I give him a call. I let the manager know that he's going to be speaking to the customer who shelled out for this mess. Let me tell you, I could hear my dad yelling over the phone at this guy, and I could see his facial expression change in an instant. My dad is a very convincing man. God, I'd never been so happy to hear my dad exploding over the phone.

After that, we went back to the electronics section, got a new box, I opened it in front of them, inspected it, and gave them a sarcastic thanks before leaving. I know they were pissed, and that they were casting curses on my eternal soul, but I was happy. Fruck those guys.

[Archem]

[] don't know what the he[][/i]ll you[]re talk[/i]ng about.

[Zerlina]

God, I'd never been so happy to hear my dad exploding over the phone.

I'm a bad person and my mind is in the gutter.

Yeah, those extended warranties are a joke. Avoid them like aids

Zerilina, you live in toronto dont you? I had an old compaq presario that had similar problems. A little place just off Queen and roncesdales hooked me up like crazy. Its all about the mom-and-pop-shops

Yep I'm from The Big Smoke. I've never heard of a comp store at Queen and Roncesvales (don't spend too much time in Roncesvales), but I did check out some shops at College and Spadina and I agree with you- it's the Mom and Pop stores. That's def. where my next comp is coming from. Bought a 1tb harddrive from Future Shop that didn't work and I had to send away to the factory. Bought a 1tb harddrive from a store on College and Spadina, and they replaced it right away, just on my word that I didn't break it.

Also holy **** you're from Toronto?

[FFL2and3rocks]

At Best Buy, I was looking for a phone. It was a Christmas present for my grandma who couldn't see very well, so I needed one that had big buttons. An employee saw me and asked if I needed help, so I told him what I needed.
So he said "Oh, so you're just looking," and walked away. Thanks for the help! 

[SaiKar]

At Best Buy, I was looking for a phone. It was a Christmas present for my grandma who couldn't see very well, so I needed one that had big buttons. An employee saw me and asked if I needed help, so I told him what I needed.
So he said "Oh, so you're just looking," and walked away. Thanks for the help! 

Maybe you smell very bad.

[Ben]

I'm a bad person and my mind is in the gutter.

Yep I'm from The Big Smoke. I've never heard of a comp store at Queen and Roncesvales (don't spend too much time in Roncesvales), but I did check out some shops at College and Spadina and I agree with you- it's the Mom and Pop stores. That's def. where my next comp is coming from. Bought a 1tb harddrive from Future Shop that didn't work and I had to send away to the factory. Bought a 1tb harddrive from a store on College and Spadina, and they replaced it right away, just on my word that I didn't break it.

Also holy **** you're from Toronto?

Nah...not from. I have family there, and I lived out there for a few months for tattooing stuff...but Im more of a vancity and edmonton guy. Allthough my fams keeps bugging me to move back out. I dont know...I kind of like home.

[Valiere]

God, I thought Fry's had the shittiest service at an electronics store.

That part where they tried to make you wait out a 6-hour scan is hilarious. I think they didn't actually know how to fix your laptop, so they were hoping to tire you out so you'd give up on trying to get it fixed.

[drenrin2120]

I knew a friend who got kicked out of best buy for a year for allegedly trying to steal something. Pretty lame. but that could happen anywhere.

[Prpl_Mage]

Trying to find a Bidoof plushie in a children's store is hard.
Everyone who worked there looked at me like I was about to blow the place up.
And when I finally asked them about it they looked stunned, rambled, went out, came back and said "sorry".
I'm paying some kid to follow me in there next time...

[Prpl_Mage]

Haha. Awesome story bro.

By the way... Your title. Its not purple. Why do you still keep it?

I'm keeping it 'till it works again. It worked like 5 years ago.

[Zerlina]

I'm keeping it 'till it works again. It worked like 5 years ago.

I'm not sure if time is cyclical...