Best Buy Removal of included software; Don't let them open your product before you check contents Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Be careful if you buy a computer from Best Buy. Most computers come with virus protectors! Don't let them open your computer box before you yourself check out the contents!
The first time I went there I asked them if the Compaq computer I was interested in buying included any virus protection software. The guy I spoke to, who was the manager of that department, told me it didn't. I told him I thought all computers automatically came with one. He said no and proceded to show me the ones "I should buy from them". I told him my friends already suggested some I could get off the internet for free. He told me those weren't any good. But I just ignored his suggestions.
When I went back 2 days later to purchase the computer, again I asked the different salesman who was serving me about included virus protectors. He also told me there was none included and showed me the $50.00 Norton Virus that I should buy. I stuck to my guns and told him no- I would not buy any extra programs.
He persisted again and again, telling me he's just looking out for my computer and he gets no commision but I should buy a virus protecter. I again resisted and just wanted to buy the computer. He then told me how I have to have their computer techs check it out and make sure the tower is working and set up the programs for me so I can use it immediatley.
While waiting in the 1 hour line to make my $1500 purchase, I talked to a lady in line behind me who knew a lot about computers. She told me not to bother with them setting it up, that I would be able to do it myself. When It was my turn, I told them I just wanted to buy the computer and leave. The kept telling me how important it was for thier techs to set it up and get rid of programs I wouldn't need. I found that suspicious and told them I would do it myself!
Lo and Behold! When I got home with my UNOPENED box...Norton Security 2002!!!
I wonder if Compaq knows that Best Buy is deleting and removing it's included programs, and trying to resell them to unsuspecting customers.
If you are going to buy from Best Buy, do your homework. Find out as much as possible about products and go get exactly what you want. Don't let them convince you to buy ANY extras. You can always go back and buy anything you need later.
I do have to say that I am very satisfied with my computer. I haven't been able to find a comparible product at the low price I paid. I have bought my T.V. and washer and dryer there. They have some quality products at a very good price. Just know what you're looking for and what's a good deal. And don't take any advice from thier sales people. They don't seem to know much about the things they are selling. They just want to make the sale.
Starlet
Akron, Ohio
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Stanley
Boston,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Customers talking to other customers
#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, July 26, 2005
I love how customers feel they know all the ins and outs of Best Buy, and proceed to spread their worldly knowledge to fellow patrons. The only thing I would like to say is, I would also recomment Spysweeper. haha. Also, the free system functionality check is not to delete programs or make your wait long or even set up the computer, which is right you can do yourself (for most people) , it is to make sure it is not a defective unit, which we do get from time to time. As an agent myself, I also tend to customize the computer for the user, putting in their name for instance - some customers get a kick out of seeing their name already in the user list on XP the first time they open it up.
Doesnt
Dff,British Columbia,
Canada
.TRIAL version ..
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, July 11, 2005
I am a computer Sales person myself (not for best buy) and i just wanted to point out that the NIS that you get with retail computers when you buy them is only a TRIAL version of the program and usually expires after 2 months... so the answer to your question would have been that but he wasnt totally off!
Andrea
Concord,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Best Buy does not work on comission and all employees are not malicious and unintelligent.
#4UPDATE Employee
Sat, July 09, 2005
Correction - - -
I would like to make clear that the employee who was discussing with you that no Anti-Virus software comes with the computer is incorrect; however, your assumption that Best Buy takes off the software and resells it is ALSO incorrect. The software of Norton Anti-Virus 2002 is a 30-day trial subscription. After those 30-days your trial version expires and no updates can be made, leaving your computer vulnerable. The Anti-Virus programs offered online are also not as efficent as Norton Anti-Virus and this difference will be apparent to you quite soon, if not already.
Furthermore, Best Buy does not work on comission and all employees are not malicious and unintelligent. I am a current employee of Best Buy and I would consider myself very knowledgable about the products I sell. In no way would I attempt to rip you off just because I am a Best Buy employee. I would, however, just as the other employees did, recommend that you buy Norton Anti-Virus to protect your computer BEFORE you go on the Internet. I am a Norton Anti-Virus user myself and I would not recommend anything that I do not believe in.
In regards to yourself being able to set up your computer: are you fully cabable of deselecting the processes running in the background of your computer? Futhermore, could you explain to me which processes you should delete and which processess if deleted would be fatal to your system? Do you currently know approximately how many programs are running in the background and what each of these processes do? If so, I applaud you; however, if you are this knowledgable about computers I find it ironic that you would not notice the 30-day TRIAL version of Norton Anti-Virus on your computer.