(UPDATED)NEVER Purchase a BB Service Plan

[Rahb]

NEVER EVER PURCHASE a computer (laptop or otherwise) from Best Buy with a Service Plan. I spent the extra money thinking hey if any thing goes wrong............I was wrong.

My wife's laptop DVD rom stopped working, we sent it in...they wiped the Hard Drive and it took 2 weeks, I sent it in a second time (angry that I losat all data and problem wasn't fixed) Specific instructions about dvd rom....they wiped hard drive a second time. I sent it in the third time. they showed they put a new dvd drive ($129 part..free because of plan) I get it back.....same drive same problem.....NOW I'm pissed...fouerth time they "cleaned" the drive...5th time and they seem to not know where it is or wat's going on.

THEY don't fix it...they send it off and it takes FOREVER. Then when you talk to the "geek squad" they are mostly 16 y/o part time employees who seriously can't figure out why their computer was looking up looking for my computer. HORRIBLE Customer service, and a TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY.

If I sent my computer in to gateway (the maker) myself instead of through bestbuy, I would have had the new dvd drive for $120 by now ... AND I STILL WOULD HAVE SAVED MONEY.

[Cope]

But they would have probably wiped the drive too. What is the deal with wiping the HD very time they install hardware, is it to keep you from coming back? My wife's HP has a flaky video connection on the motherboard. HP doesn't want to send me the motherboard under warrant, but they won't guarantee the tech will not wipe the drive either. I would rather buy a video card than go through all of that.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Comp USA sucks too.

[a2rob]

Dell At Home and Accidental Warranty ROCKS! Had some issues w/ my last laptop call them one afternoon and the repair guy was at my house the following day....
I always recommend Dell....

[Noe]

Isn't it in the policy that if you take the PC back for the 4th/5th time for the same problem they replace it with a new one. I know used to be like that a few years ago.

Noe

[AndrewCCM]

ugh..

I am just glad I build my own.

Thanks for the advisory.

[DavidsStudio]

And they wonder why I use a Mac. :)

[Angelo]

About three years ago I purchased an electronic item (DVD player) at Circuit City and took it back twice because of the same problem. The third time they handed me a new one. I prefer CC to BB.

[PhotoByMark]

Today I was just talking to a friend of mine about BB.

His computer would not boot up and he had purchased the extended warranty as well. He took it in in August, 3 weeks later they call and say it was fixed. He takes it home, plugs it in and same problem. I do not think they even looked at it. This process happened one more time. On the third attempt to pick it up after they said they fixed it. He had them verify it worked on the spot. Well they plug it in and it is not working. Even worse, the motherboard was not even screwed down and all the pci cards were not plugged into their slots. Talk about some freaking crappy service, he decides to leave it one more time. The service guy tells him that after 3 attempts he is suppose to get credit or a new computer, since they cannot fix it. Well, I happened to talk to him right after talking to BB today. Supposedly it is fixed and that is where his situation is at the moment. I do not know the final outcome. Keep in mind they have had his computer since August. He is more patient than I would be. Then they told him, he should have a spare computer. Give me a break.

So to the original poster. I would agree.....

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by DavidsStudio

And they wonder why I use a Mac. :)

I think the point is Best Buy warranty. Not GATEWAYs or APPLE for that matter.

A DVD drive in a Mac is no different than many that you find in PCs other than the dang Superdrives which were basically Pioneers with some Apple coding to make them proprietary...at least I believe that is the case back in the day..

Regardless, these days Macs are even more like PCs. Regardless, I know you were joking...I am an equal opportunity platform critic...

[Rahb]

Originally Posted by Noe

Isn't it in the policy that if you take the PC back for the 4th/5th time for the same problem they replace it with a new one. I know used to be like that a few years ago.

Noe

Yes it is the policy...I've been told by them 3 times they'll replace it...but they aren't. THAT'S why i'll never buy a service plan from them again. I bought it from THEM not Gateway. They told me GATEWAY has to approve the replacement. I'm like WTF, I bought it from YOU.....a BEST BUY SERVICE PLAN...not a Gateway extended warranty.....IDIOTS.

Persaonally I didn't want a new laptop, I jsu wanted the DVD replaced...then I got to the point were I was like you better replace the whole thing now....NOW I'M AT THE POINT WERE I'M CALLING THE STORE AND REGIONAL MANAGERS to let them know about the poor customer service and DEMAND my money back for the service plan I purchased on BOTH laptops. we'll see what they do and how much they care about their customers.....probably don't care either way.

[Rahb]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

ugh..

I am just glad I build my own.

Thanks for the advisory.

Oh, I build my own PC's, but I had to buy the laptops for mobile use. It was originally for school, but I had to quite due to job issues. Now I use it for web stuff and minor photo editing or display. I'm no PRO like ya'll. Just a Newbie trying to learn a little.

[PhotoByMark]

Rahb - I believe my friend's PC is a Gateway purchased through BB. Sounds like a very similar situation. If they sell X Brand and offer the warranty. Then it would seem that they honor the warranty themselves and forget the BS about "Lets see what the Manufacturer wants to do".

I hope you can get it resolved.

[AndrewCCM]

You have more patience than I... When I had a problem with my G5 Mac from CompUSA..they gave me a hard time.. I immediately contacted the corporate office and BBB... I got a call from the store manager the next day.. "I wish you wouldn't have done that...you should have talked to me first.. blah blah..." Well.. sir, "YOU...were not available...and I waited entirely too long for YOU to become available."

It was resolved immediately with a refund.

Although it was resolved, I haven't bought a thing from CompUSA since. I hold grudges.

[darktiger]

Geek Squad relies on a cd. If there tool cd does not fix their problem, they resort to guessing. You will not believe how many people have complained about GS to me replacing whole motherboards for more than the computer is worth...