Complaint Review: Geek Squad Best Buy - Flint Michigan

I have a computer from my neighbor that just came out of GeekSquad. My guess to problem description was simple malware. $200 later the geek told him the hard drive was "locked up". Offered to sell him and install a new hard drive. He bought a new pc. So now I get the pc, first thing that is strange, no COA and missing cover screws. Open it and no hard drive cable! I think that is bizarre, put cable in and it boots immediately and asked if I wanted safe mode, I selected no and it booted no problem, copied his data 100%. Before I start filing reports with BBB and here and every other site and the tv ripoff guy, I want to discuss it further with BB/GS and my neighbor. I did contact the geeks online and was uncharacteristicly calm and nice and asked who/how I should contact, he only said no and hungup. So it would appear to me OP was being nice with his dropout label, since at first glance my issue seems a bit more sinister. And the problem OP had was fixed by seating cards? HMMM I wonder if the new board to replace the fried one would have mysteriously had the same s/n as the fried one had the money been paid? For that matter my neighbors pc probably would have had a new hardrive with same serial number?

It really depends on WHO is working. You can find tech's who do not know what a Front Side Bus is working at Geek Squad or firedog (circuit city's equivalent to Geek Squad). It is a mixed bag, I used to be a tech at Circuit City. We had one guy at our store who would have done exactly this, called it a bad mother board, but me or the other guy, would have noticed that the audio cable was disconnected. Those are two COMPLETELY separate experiences the customer would have had, depending on who worked that day, sad, yes? But what can you expect from paying people $13,000 dollars a year! If that. I went from 13,000 dollars a year to 50,000 dollars a year with the same credentials I had at circuit city working for an unrelated company who does hardware repair and installation, as well as network infrastructure design, installation and repair for small to medium businesses. The guy who was an idiot makes less now because he got demoted to cashier. Its all LUCK of who you get when you go into Best Buy or Circuit City.

Debbi: I agree totally with you. I have been to other Web-Sites complaining about Best Buy, and their Customer Service policy, an Repair policy with the Geek's. Go to: bestbuysux.org and read some of the horrible stories about their experiences with the Geek's. Also Recently CBS 60min's did an investigation about their service at Best Buy. The took a laptop an had several experts very knowledgeable in computer repair, disconnected a wire to the Audio CD/DVD drive. They took it to 3 different places one being Best Buy. Guess what the other two places called it right an repaired the problem for under $70.00, and Best Buy...that's right. They told the investigation team it was the motherboard an needed to be replaced for over $400.00. Now you tell me what kind of "Snot Nose Narcissistic Kid's work for the Geek Squad, and How Best Buy condones them ripping off the customers.

Usually, your best bet is to go to an independent computer shop that builds their own computers. They are usually better than the big box retailers. One key to getting good service is to know how to interview potential service people. Come up with about 10 questions to ask the person and if they can't answer, right away, walk away. Possible computer questions: 1) What is a CPU? 2) Name 3 security suites. 3) What are the requirements for the new Vista OS? 4) Do you know how to install and operate Linux? 5) At what frequency does 802.11b operate? 6) What is a Petabyte? 7) What is wireless USB? 8) What is quantum encryption? 9) What is IPv6? 10) How do you upgrade memory? You can find plenty of questions and answers in computer magazines. Also, know the basics of your system. When the technician asks you about your system and you keep saying "I don't know", they know that they can overbill you if they want to.

I also wanted to make one more clarification to my original post. When I made the statement that the Geek Squad highers unskilled high school dropouts, I was mearly stating my opinion of the Geek Squad people I have dealt with. I was not actually stating a fact. I never said "I know for a fact that they are high school dropouts". I'm sorry that some people misunderstood the factualness of my statement.

Richard, Ok, so "high school drop outs" was a little harsh. And yes, you are correct, I do not work for Best Buy or Geek Squad. However do "most" of the Geek Squad employees have a degree...or "multiple" degrees? I actually know a few Geek Squad employees in Southern California and Idaho, and know for a fact that NONE of them have a college degree, let alone "multiple" degrees. I've also had many dealings with the Geek Squad, trying to get them to honor the extended warrantee. This doesn't make me an expert on your policies, but it does give me insight as to how you treate your customers. When I asked the Geek Squad employee "why do I have the warrantee through you guys and not through the manufacturer". The "Geek" responded, "because you get to deal with us instead". Note: this was after my 5th return to the store to get my iPod sent off for repair since they didn't do it properly the first 2 times. Nor did they ever call me when it came back to the store for pickup. I would have to call them or drive 20 minutes to the store to see if it was returned. -So to summarize, was "high school drop out" unfair...yes. But do "most" of the Geeks have degrees...not even one of the Geeks I know does.

I was having a problem with my HP Pavillion that was 3 or 4 years old. It would lock up and/or reboot by itself over and over. I thought it was a software issue but when the case was removed I had several burned- out capacitors on my board. They looked like mushrooms- either heat or age I guess. My point is, maybe the the problems you were having that prompted you to call Geek Squad were because your motherboard was already fried. Possible?

see... what they told us was geek squad is not owned or operated by best buy so therefore they are not responsible for any damage they had done.

First of all.. no I don't know much about computers... that is why I called a professional.. thinking that they knew more than I... hmmm Well.... Dell walked my father through some steps from India over the phone.. and over a two day span they corrected what the geek technician did.. he pulled all of the chips out and then put then back in.. lone behold the mother board was not fried!! Shouldn't he have known whether it was or wasn't? My point is... If you did not fix, but made things worse.. why in the hell would you take someones money?? Or atleast discount it! I am a hairstylist... If I messed up someones hair.. and you are right.. accidents do happen.. I stand behind my work 100%... Maybe your company should as well and maybe you won't have SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many complaints! When you stare at someone and tell them sorry bout your luck.. nothin I can do.. That is BAD business... but keep it up and you'll fold soon anyways... so I am not angry anymore.. I forgive your company and silly ways.. what goes around comes around.. Karma is a b***h really.... kiss kiss Have a Wonderful Day!

To say that about Geek Squad agents is totally unfair. Unless you are in high school, Best Buy, or any other major company out there will not hire you until you have at the bare minimum a G.E.D. However, Richard, to say that most Geek Squad agents are college grads is also not true in a general statement of the company. I have seen people that have no idea what they are doing in computer repairs be hired as Counter Agents. All I know that is asked is if an individual knows how to do an upgrade or install software. When I was considering returning to Best Buy on a part time basis, I was asked if I was interested in working in the Geek Squad. Yes, I have a college degree, but it is no way related in any way, shape, or form to computers. Maybe your Geeks in Arizona are college grads, but that is not the case everywhere. And it is not a requirement by Best Buy. To say though that it was incompentence on Best Buy's part is also a little shady. Best Buy does not knowingly destroy a consumers property and if in fact someone did do damage due to negligence, Best Buy would quickly remedy the situation. Obviously your computer was not working right in the first place if you had to contact them for repairs.

To say that about Geek Squad agents is totally unfair. Unless you are in high school, Best Buy, or any other major company out there will not hire you until you have at the bare minimum a G.E.D. However, Richard, to say that most Geek Squad agents are college grads is also not true in a general statement of the company. I have seen people that have no idea what they are doing in computer repairs be hired as Counter Agents. All I know that is asked is if an individual knows how to do an upgrade or install software. When I was considering returning to Best Buy on a part time basis, I was asked if I was interested in working in the Geek Squad. Yes, I have a college degree, but it is no way related in any way, shape, or form to computers. Maybe your Geeks in Arizona are college grads, but that is not the case everywhere. And it is not a requirement by Best Buy. To say though that it was incompentence on Best Buy's part is also a little shady. Best Buy does not knowingly destroy a consumers property and if in fact someone did do damage due to negligence, Best Buy would quickly remedy the situation. Obviously your computer was not working right in the first place if you had to contact them for repairs.

To say that about Geek Squad agents is totally unfair. Unless you are in high school, Best Buy, or any other major company out there will not hire you until you have at the bare minimum a G.E.D. However, Richard, to say that most Geek Squad agents are college grads is also not true in a general statement of the company. I have seen people that have no idea what they are doing in computer repairs be hired as Counter Agents. All I know that is asked is if an individual knows how to do an upgrade or install software. When I was considering returning to Best Buy on a part time basis, I was asked if I was interested in working in the Geek Squad. Yes, I have a college degree, but it is no way related in any way, shape, or form to computers. Maybe your Geeks in Arizona are college grads, but that is not the case everywhere. And it is not a requirement by Best Buy. To say though that it was incompentence on Best Buy's part is also a little shady. Best Buy does not knowingly destroy a consumers property and if in fact someone did do damage due to negligence, Best Buy would quickly remedy the situation. Obviously your computer was not working right in the first place if you had to contact them for repairs.

To say that about Geek Squad agents is totally unfair. Unless you are in high school, Best Buy, or any other major company out there will not hire you until you have at the bare minimum a G.E.D. However, Richard, to say that most Geek Squad agents are college grads is also not true in a general statement of the company. I have seen people that have no idea what they are doing in computer repairs be hired as Counter Agents. All I know that is asked is if an individual knows how to do an upgrade or install software. When I was considering returning to Best Buy on a part time basis, I was asked if I was interested in working in the Geek Squad. Yes, I have a college degree, but it is no way related in any way, shape, or form to computers. Maybe your Geeks in Arizona are college grads, but that is not the case everywhere. And it is not a requirement by Best Buy. To say though that it was incompentence on Best Buy's part is also a little shady. Best Buy does not knowingly destroy a consumers property and if in fact someone did do damage due to negligence, Best Buy would quickly remedy the situation. Obviously your computer was not working right in the first place if you had to contact them for repairs.

CJ, It is clear to me that you don't work at Best Buy or Geek Squad, so you don't know what is required from Geek Squad Agents. First of all; most of the Geeks are in fact COLLEGE graduates. Many of them with multiple degrees, and are not only working for Geek Squad as a hobby, but MAJOR companies doing IT and Repair work. So to slander the Geek Squad Agents as "high school drop-outs" is wrong and unfair. Most likely, the motherboard was bad or at the very least problematic. I have used Geek Squad long before I was hired by Best Buy; and will continue to use Geek Squad long after I leave Best Buy. Because contrary to your statements I am not a high school drop-out and am a college student.

Unfortunately the "Geek Squad" does make you sign an agreement that says they are not held responsible for any damage done to your property while in their possession. In other words, they reserve the right to higher uneducated and unskilled high school drop outs to work on your computer, then walk away when one of those "Geeks: destroys your property. Sorry, this is unfortunate...but you can learn from your mistake and never use these characters again. To address the motherboard issue, motherboards are sensitive pieces of equipment. There are numerous reasons it could have broken. Although all fingers point to the "Geek", you really can't be too sure. But one thing you can be sure of, the "Geek" who was working on it will never honestly admit the cause of the malfunction. Sorry, but you're un the river on this one.

Mistakes can happen, and chances are you don't know a thing about motherboards to begin with! Geek Squad is not a scam! Maybe something bad happened, but that does not give you the right to sully the whole company's name.