Complaint Review: Best Buy - Victorville California

"Geek squad & Best buy.. They are not the same company. Geek Squad is a different company that best buy has in their stores. They are fairly new and I will say with confidence that they have their hands tied in a lot of situations. My boyfriend is a geek squad (one of the few with a degree in computer science mind you) and he has fussed many times about the craziness that goes on there. He's never said anything about it being crooked or purposefully fraud, just crazy. But I don't know, I just get it second hand from him. The one's that do house calls, they are the more experienced and probably the more qualified to work on computers. Krista - Smyrna, Georgia U.S.A. ======================== Rebuttal Consumer Comment Submitted: 10/27/2005 8:59:26 AM Modified: 10/27/2005 8:59:26 AM" Please do not respond if you yourself are "not qualified" to comment on the situation. First of all the Geek Squad is not a "different" comapany from Best Buy. We are totally owned. operated, and staffed by Best Buy. Secondly, "computer science" deals with software programming and does not qualify anyone to fix a pc. Yes, some agents are better than others but this is true to any service driven field from mechanics to painters. We are the world's largest computer repair task force and have a verly low rate of customer complaints in relation to the amount of work we do. So you may want to find out where your boyfriend really is when he tells you he is going off to be a "Geek Squad".

How goes your investigation of Kathleen Cooper? Has any more information "SUBMERGED" in the last couple of days? If others are wondering what I'm talking about do a search in the abusive parents area, or just do a search for "KATHLEEN COOPER" in the search field. This "man" has been tormenting this woman for weeks now.

I would like to say that I have many years experience in the computer industry, along with degrees in business, not that it truly matters but it will give you an idea that I am 'qualified' to make this point: Many manufacturer's provide the stock to the companies in large pallets which can sometimes have not been completely checked over, or if the company has had problems with deliveries in the past from a manufacturer they may wish to open factory seals to ensure the product is free from defect. Similarly, some OEM manufacturer's provide their equipment without factory seal (i.e. they just have those cardboard flap seals that help keep the box closed), and in such cases the distributor or reseller will package tape or seal them itself. I have myself had similar - I bought a 386 long before Pentium's were around. I paid over 2k for it and what did I find when I got it home - the 'factory seal' was not the original the computer had been used as a stock model and much of its software had been deleted. There were in fact a few viruses on it too, in the days when viruses just meant a funny screen, but it is not the point. I bought it from, what was a reliable distributor, and in fact, was almost the only way to get the computers in those days. They finally admitted to the fault when I talked about filing charges with the local trading standards office and replaced it for a real new model. I have bought stuff over the Internet that has been promised as new when in fact it has been unsealed and although it has worked I have wondered if it was just checked or whether it was used. You can never truly tell. See if BB has a machine in store to seal packages with clear cellophane, or just pop in and check on the tape on the computer boxes - it may just be sellotape. If they have such a machine you can bet that a majority of the stock is either sold to them boxed but not sealed or they check their stock (the machines cost a lot of money and it would be a waste for a few items).

They are not the same company. Geek Squad is a different company that best buy has in their stores. They are fairly new and I will say with confidence that they have their hands tied in a lot of situations. My boyfriend is a geek squad (one of the few with a degree in computer science mind you) and he has fussed many times about the craziness that goes on there. He's never said anything about it being crooked or purposefully fraud, just crazy. But I don't know, I just get it second hand from him. The one's that do house calls, they are the more experienced and probably the more qualified to work on computers.

If you look through this site you will find several instances of people mentioning the same thing with BestBuy. I often go there looking for the "Open Box" Specials, because they are marked down considerably and usually the equipment is new, it's just someone decided they didn't want it or it needed some minor repair. They don't always mark them very clearly and they are on the shelf next to the new systems so it's easy to grab one by mistake. Whether this is by accident or design I don't know. If they purposely sold you a used system as new I don't think you should have to pay a restocking fee, but don't waste your time looking for a lawyer; there just isn't enough money involved here to make it worthwhile, unless you're into spending lots of your own money just to prove a point. If you have the time to invest your best bet would be small claims court, that way you could recover the money you're owed without paying huge legal fees. As for your computer, there are lots of places to buy them that are cheaper than BestBuy, I'd take my business elsewhere if I were you. Note to BestBuy. If your managers are purposely selling open box equipment as new, you'd better get a handle on it. Look at what happened to Blockbuster over bogus late fees. Between the class action suit and the consumer ill will they have gone from a Fortune 500 company to teetering on bankruptcy. If you mess with your customers they will find somewhere else to go.

You can google your county under Board of Elections, look under FAQ, Consumer Questions Q: I have a complaint against a company in Anne Arundel County. Who should I contact? A: Unless the company is under the jurisdiction or regulatory control of Anne Arundel County, it would be a consumer protection issue and under the control of the Maryland Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Division. Their Consumer Hotline numbers are: (410) 528-8662 and 1 (888) 743-0023 toll-free. I hope this becomes a first step for you. I find it always turns into a marathon taking at least a million more steps before getting someone to hear my complaint if at all. The customer is seldom right according to judges.

The boxes are sealed by the manufacturer, if it was a manufacturer sealing (meaning it had HPs name on it and everything) than it was not a used computer. Is it POSSIBLE that Geeks Squad screwed up your computer? I know from previous experience they are not all they are cracked up to be. The $100 is a restocking fee more than likely, all electronics stores I know of charge this. And is sounds to me that Best Buy is trying to get you a computer. Do they have a comparable model in stock? A lesser one? You said you need this for your business, and yet you are waiting around? GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! If it was truly important, you would take your money and really show them by shopping elsewhere. What good does it do to turn around and give your money back to them. OOOO that'll show em, give them business! Anyway, good luck

First of all, the Best Buy in Victorville, Ca. has upset me so much, that I will do everything to get my computer from them just so they know they can't screw every customer that comes in to buy something. Plus they still owe me a hundred dollars that they have not given to me for a service I payed for that should have been on a New computer as told by a BEST BUY employee. If I have to take these guys to court I promise I will, and I am looking into and talking to a lawyer right now about selling re-used computers to consumers. I don't know what your laws in Alaska are, but in California, what they did to me is punishable by a big fine and jail time, which I am not KIDDING AROUND, look it up. Second, the computer I saw was sealed, then it went to the Geek Squad to put the programs I bought, which is a service from Best buy. They told me it would take 45 minutes. I waited the 45 minutes and went over to get my BRAND NEW COMPUTER. The Geek Squad told me that the computer I bought which was sealed had problems so they had to get another computer and that I had to wait another 40 minutes for them to program the NEW COMPUTER, which ended up being a used computer. You and I know this is fraud, and if something is not done by Monday, I will pursue this as far as the law will let me, which in California is pretty far. LOOK IT UP PLEASE

His comment does not make sense, so it probably does not belong on this thread. ED more than likely misplaced it. Calm down. The employee did nothing wrong, you assumed he was writing to you. Now, for your problem. Was the seal on the box broken? If it was you should have never purchased it. If Best Buy is out of "stalk" then why not just take your money and go to a different store?Or buy one onine. You are not required to get your computer from Best Buy. and the money you did not get back was a restocking fee. Nearly all electronics stores have them, its to prevent people from buying computers to use just for a few days and then returning them. Good luck. Go somewhere else if you don't like Best Buy.

Your ignorant comment has nothing to do with selling used computers to customers who expect and pay for a brand new computer. This comment from a BEST BUY employee just goes to show that BEST BUY has no clue what's going on in there stores. This Best Buy employee obviously did't read my comments because come on, nobody can be that dumb to mix up selling fraudulant used computers to customers with late fee's on a credit card. If your going to make comments on my complaint, please don't write stupid things that have nothing to do with my complaint. Thanks,

Can you explain how Best Buy is responsible for HSBC's failure to post your payments? Did you mail your payments to Best Buy or did you mail them to HSBC like you were supposed to?? Best Buy has nothing to do with your credit card other than assisting you in getting the card. PERIOD. Once you get the card then you are responsible for paying the monthly fee to the bank- not Best Buy. Also you said that HP is somehow responsible for this mess you're in? I think the reality is that you either sent your payments in LATE, sent them to the wrong company, or just failed to pay them. I've worked at Best Buy quite a while and I've never heard of something like this happening. I certainly don't speak for the company but it can be very difficult to deal with customers who have no concept of responsibility, paying their bills on time and understanding that the world goes on, even if you're not around.