Complaint Review: Micro Center - Columbus Ohio

This is an unfortunate case, which I would find unusual (though it sometimes happens). Sometimes, people find it funny to deface demo computers or computers that they are returning. While generally these computers are restored to factory-default settings (the OS is completely reloaded), sometimes, albeit very rarely, this step is missed for whatever reason, resulting in problems like your own. With your second computer, it would be under warranty, and the serivce department should have been able to either repair the computer quickly, or replace it with a different computer. The specific issue you described could either have been a hardware or software issue (hardware repairs are covered under warranty, though any software issue is not). However, since you requested a refund for the computer, the store must first repair the computer, and then sell it as a clearanced computer. Since this is the case, the store must charge an open-box fee to recover the money lost by marking it down. Any other computer store has very similar policies for that very reason. Though somewhat annoying, the open-box fee (as clearly stated on all receipts) is justified.

Shayne, I can understand you being upset by the original computer having viruses on it, you obviously didn't buy it new and were aware it was previously owned. It was probably returned when the original owner surfed the web without programs like AVG, AdAware and a firewall to protect them. What I don't understand is why if you found viruses on it, you didn't just remove them and keep it? If it was a good computer, you could have even just reformatted and reinstalled Win XP. Viruses can't hurt you if you do that, they go bye bye once you fdisk that drive and put windows back on again. Was there another reason other than the viruses that made you want to return it? Was something not working right on it? A lot of stores have a restocking charge these days I've been reading in the reports here. I build my own computers, so have never had to deal with trying to return one. It does sound like quite a high cost for them having to have their tech check it over quickly and remove anything you installed on it (system restore is wonderful) to return it to it's original condition, rebox it, reprice it and stick it on the shelf. I'm thinking part of the high cost is due to the fact they can't sell it as new and some of the cash they lose selling it as refurbished or used they recover with the restocking charge. I just bought a 21" monitor that is refurbished. I checked it while still in the store to make sure it was in good working condition. Then I happily paid only $200.00 for it. Buying one new would have cost me a LOT more than that for one with that size screen. I don't understand your problem with your 2nd computer. If you CD's were skipping, did you try reinstalling the music program you use to see if that was the problem? Did you check to make sure the CD wasn't scratched and it did work fine in another player? Do a search for Dell computers on this site and make sure you are wearing your seat belt. Understanding an India accent is also a requirement, since all their help is outsourced these days, if you can call it help. No way I'd buy from them. Can you also tell us what the stats on the 2nd computer vrs the Dell are? What MB, what CPU and it's size, how much RAM, HD size and what kind of Vid and Audio cards they both had? That all makes a difference in the way each computer will work for you and if they weren't comparable, of course you will choose one over the other. Sorry, other than the high cost for restocking, which you weren't asked to pay when you returned the first computer, I don't see a ripoff here. I even question the restock charge and am inclined to agree with it in your case, given you returned 2 computers to this store that sound like they had problems you could have easily fixed yourself. Going off on the clerks wasn't a good thing. They just work there, they don't make the rules. You should have asked to speak to the manager or the owner of the store, whichever applies. You will always get more help with kind words than you will from words said in anger.