Complaint Review: Geek Squad - Best Buy - Ocoee Florida

Robert, you have a very good point. As far as I know, A+ does not have course material for Vista yet, so A+ should not be the "only" guidelines. Use common sense first and foremost, and then anything else helps. A+ is not necessarily the "best" way to gauge a person's knowledge of computer hardware and software, but it can be very helpful if you are unsure of the technician. At the least, it shows they took the time to get the certification, and at the most they are usually more qualified than the geeksquad training, I'm sure. However, nothing can beat experience. So Robert does not have a Certification, but he's also been in the business/field for 30 years! If I needed a technician, that would definitely sway my opinion, but each tech shop is unique, so again, good luck in finding a local shop with the technician who could actually help you.

""To be honest, the geeksquad is not required to be A+ certified, however neither is a local shop. If you take your product anywhere local, make sure they are A+ certified by CompTIA"" IMO A+ certification is dubious at best. I reviewed a particular text book for A+ certification that didn't properly instruct students in the correct and safe use of a DC voltmeter. The course material were geared for familiarizing the student with various WINDOWS operating systems and a rudimentary knowledge of hardware. Actuall troubleshooting and repair was severely lacking and in several circumstances was WRONG. FYI, I've been in the computer field (maintenance) since 1973 starting with mainframe computers. To this day I don't have A+ and I don't need it. My formal military training, college degreeS (plural) plus my 3 decades of experience are more valuable than the A+ certification. I'm currently self employed; property management and computer consulting services and business is just fine.

""To be honest, the geeksquad is not required to be A+ certified, however neither is a local shop. If you take your product anywhere local, make sure they are A+ certified by CompTIA"" IMO A+ certification is dubious at best. I reviewed a particular text book for A+ certification that didn't properly instruct students in the correct and safe use of a DC voltmeter. The course material were geared for familiarizing the student with various WINDOWS operating systems and a rudimentary knowledge of hardware. Actuall troubleshooting and repair was severely lacking and in several circumstances was WRONG. FYI, I've been in the computer field (maintenance) since 1973 starting with mainframe computers. To this day I don't have A+ and I don't need it. My formal military training, college degreeS (plural) plus my 3 decades of experience are more valuable than the A+ certification. I'm currently self employed; property management and computer consulting services and business is just fine.

I'm not sure you fully understand how much time and labor goes into a diagnostic. For instance, you have to test the easy variables first, i.e. RAM test (depending on Speed and Size can take up to a few hours) then test hardrive, then dedicated graphics or integrated. It could have simply been bad drivers. So when you purchase protection plans, you are paying for labor and parts. Labor alone can cost an average of $50 for a general Diagnostic, and that's the price of most "mom and pop" shops. Secondly, assuming you need a new motherboard, the cost can range from $50 on up. So now you have spent $50 on the diagnostic, $50 on the motherboard, and then you have to pay for the tech to install it, which could cost another $30 to $40 charge, if not more. So now you've reached $140. That's assuming the local shop can even find the motherboard mind you. Now what if the motherboard was no longer manufactured? Then you would need to find another motherboard (microATX) that is roughly the same cost, however now you need to load all new drivers, and again you are paying a tech for their time. Don't forget about cost to repair a monitor and to ship it off. So you spend $20 on shipping, and we'll assume the monitor costs $100 to repair (i don't actually know the cost of monitor repair since I have never had the joy of sending one off). So now you have spent more than the protection plan cost. So let's break it down by price. Mobo: $50 x 2= $100 Tech: Diagnostics = $50 Labor = $40 Monitor Repair = $100 Shipping = $20 Total: $310 Now some of these numbers are based off of my own research on hardware, and the repair costs are based off of the average cost of local shops. To be honest, the geeksquad is not required to be A+ certified, however neither is a local shop. If you take your product anywhere local, make sure they are A+ certified by CompTIA. So you got a smashing deal as far as cost goes, however I think that either the motherboards are a bad and faulty batch, or there is something actually wrong with your Operating System. If the sound does not work then ask geeksquad to install the proper driver. I wish you luck, but do not take the service you have gotten for granted.

I'm not sure you fully understand how much time and labor goes into a diagnostic. For instance, you have to test the easy variables first, i.e. RAM test (depending on Speed and Size can take up to a few hours) then test hardrive, then dedicated graphics or integrated. It could have simply been bad drivers. So when you purchase protection plans, you are paying for labor and parts. Labor alone can cost an average of $50 for a general Diagnostic, and that's the price of most "mom and pop" shops. Secondly, assuming you need a new motherboard, the cost can range from $50 on up. So now you have spent $50 on the diagnostic, $50 on the motherboard, and then you have to pay for the tech to install it, which could cost another $30 to $40 charge, if not more. So now you've reached $140. That's assuming the local shop can even find the motherboard mind you. Now what if the motherboard was no longer manufactured? Then you would need to find another motherboard (microATX) that is roughly the same cost, however now you need to load all new drivers, and again you are paying a tech for their time. Don't forget about cost to repair a monitor and to ship it off. So you spend $20 on shipping, and we'll assume the monitor costs $100 to repair (i don't actually know the cost of monitor repair since I have never had the joy of sending one off). So now you have spent more than the protection plan cost. So let's break it down by price. Mobo: $50 x 2= $100 Tech: Diagnostics = $50 Labor = $40 Monitor Repair = $100 Shipping = $20 Total: $310 Now some of these numbers are based off of my own research on hardware, and the repair costs are based off of the average cost of local shops. To be honest, the geeksquad is not required to be A+ certified, however neither is a local shop. If you take your product anywhere local, make sure they are A+ certified by CompTIA. So you got a smashing deal as far as cost goes, however I think that either the motherboards are a bad and faulty batch, or there is something actually wrong with your Operating System. If the sound does not work then ask geeksquad to install the proper driver. I wish you luck, but do not take the service you have gotten for granted.

Agree with Trying2hard 'I have to agree with the first comment. You have gotten quite a bit for your $200.' What did he get? You forget that the object of the 'repair was to end up with a functioning computer. Where is the functioning computer he got for $200.00? He has lost $200.00 for nothing. Where was your head? 'Best buys plans are service plans, and you are getting the service that you paid for.' How did that pop into your head? The $200.00 'repair didn't fix the computer. Is that the 'service' he paid for? What were you thinking? 'Were you expecting a new computer?' Not relevant. You don't need to know! What were you thinking? 'And Trying2Hard is correct, all those trips out there would have be about $1000, if not more.' Not relevant. Space filler. So what? 'Considering most places, both big box and not, charge $100 just for coming out.' Not relevant. We are talking about Best Buy here! Space filler. So what?

A service plan is USELESS if the computer is NOT FIXED. As a general rule, such service plans are a waste of money. Even consumer reports does not recommend purchasing this "extra protection" that is offered at the check out. It doesn't matter; computer, stereo, automobile, etc. Most such plans are a big profit maker for the seller and little else. Save your money, and if something should happen after the OEM warranty has expired, use that money to pay a competant tech to fix the problem.

I have to agree with the first comment. You have gotten quite a bit for your $200. Best buys plans are service plans, and you are getting the service that you paid for. Were you expecting a new computer? Good luck with that. And Trying2Hard is correct, all those trips out there would have be about $1000, if not more. Considering most places, both big box and not, charge $100 just for coming out.

Trying2hard Lake Elsinore, California U.S.A. 'Where have you been ripped off?' You really can't figure that out?! 'Geek Squad has come out to your house multiple times, done multiple diagnostics, replaced the motherboard in your computer twice (typically the most expensive part in a store purchased computer), and has also shipped your monitor out for repair - all for only $200?' Wow. Only 200.00 spent for nothing? Great bargain! Useless. Space filler. 'Also take into consideration the coverage has not ended and you will still be protected until your service plan expires.' Irrelevant. What protection? It's not working. 'Sounds like you got the better end of the deal. All those service calls, labor, parts, and shipping and handling would have cost you over $1000.' Irrelevant. Space filler. 'As for your sound problems, you probably need a sound driver installed. I would suggest you go to the manufacturer's web site of your computer and type in the specific model number of your PC. Download the sound driver and install it. You can also try Windows Updates and see if they offer a Sound Driver as well, sometimes Windows is able to locate the driver and other times they are not.' That's the job of Geek Squad. He called them. Remember?

Geek Squad has come out to your house multiple times, done multiple diagnostics, replaced the motherboard in your computer twice (typically the most expensive part in a store purchased computer), and has also shipped your monitor out for repair - all for only $200? Also take into consideration the coverage has not ended and you will still be protected until your service plan expires. Sounds like you got the better end of the deal. All those service calls, labor, parts, and shipping and handling would have cost you over $1000. As for your sound problems, you probably need a sound driver installed. I would suggest you go to the manufacturer's web site of your computer and type in the specific model number of your PC. Download the sound driver and install it. You can also try Windows Updates and see if they offer a Sound Driver as well, sometimes Windows is able to locate the driver and other times they are not.