[allheart55]

FROM THE CONSUMERIST:

Geek Squad: Sorry We Accidentally Hosed Your Motherboard. Here's A Vastly Inferior Replacement [Repairs]


Geek Squad tried to repair a broken fan in Brian's Sony laptop, but somehow managed to instead break the laptop's motherboard, processor, and much of the internal cabling. Though Geek Squad replaced all the damaged parts, Brian soon realized that the laptop's new processor was slower and cheaper than the original model...

Geek Squad only fessed up to installing an inferior chip after Brian got Sony on the phone to confirm that they didn't use the replacement model in their laptops.
Brian writes:

A couple of months ago, I brought my laptop to my local Best Buy for repair. After being told it would be no more than two weeks before I had my laptop back, I left the store content. The only problem with the laptop when I turned it in to Geek Squad was a cooling fan that was starting to go bad.

A month and half later, I finally got my laptop back. They had replaced the cooling fan, the motherboard, the processor, and most of the cabling. Apparently, I was told, they had inadvertently damaged the motherboard and processor during the repair of the cooling fan. That's a kind of silly mistake, but I can forgive them for it. However, they replaced my processor with a model that was inferior to the one the laptop had in it to begin with. The laptop had an Intel T7500 processor, they replaced it with a T7300. It took several days of arguing with them. I finally had to call Sony (they manufactured the laptop) and get them to confirm that the laptop had indeed had a T7500 processor in it.

Eventually Geek Squad agreed to fix the mistake. However, I can't help but wonder how often this type of "mistake" happens. By replacing my processor (which they damaged) with an inferior T7300 model, they saved about $100 on the repair. Your average consumer would never have caught this "mistake." I've been searching message boards to see if anyone else has had a similar problem and have thus far not found anything exactly like my situation. However, there is an overwhelming amount of negative comments regarding Geek Squad's service.

(The link to the article is the red subject heading)

[BeeCeeBee]

Not much one can say about that one. Anytime you buy from these places you are running a risk that you may have to bring it back to THEM. Problem is, they have the buying power.

[Match]

This is why I am here, Tale after tale of retail shops that you would have thought employ staff that are qualified to do the job, yet seem to know less than most people that call themselves novices.

[allheart55]

When I first began my computer repair business most of my clients were

from Geek Squad mess-ups....I could tell some stories.....BUT, I won't. :eek: :D

[pchelp68]

That's a good story as we used to go into Best Buy and would witness the advice given by them. Then the customer would initiate a conversation with us asking if they really needed everything that they were told.

This happened to me just a few months ago when I was in there. A customer was purchasing a Monster Home Theater Surge Protector for a HD T.V. for $100 instead of one they needed for a computer which would have been cheaper and the right way to go.

Just goes to show that Best Buy is only looking at the $$$ aspect of things and their knowledge is something left to be desired.

[BeeCeeBee]

To our British Colleagues, think "PC World."

[allheart55]

BeeCeeBee said:

To our British Colleagues, think "PC World."

Hmmm, I believe Dougie may have mentioned PC World a time or two. ;)

[BeeCeeBee]

Yes well maybe the original owners were sent to Botany Bay! Wouldn't be surprised.

[allheart55]

I know where they should be sent....and They should not be allowed to pass GO or collect $200.00. :snckr:

[Match]

Quote

To our British Colleagues, think "PC World."

I already was cheap, if they have what you want, but don't ask for advice, and under no circumstances take anything there for repair.

makes me wonder if they have the same parent compant somewhere up the corporate ladder,

[pchelp68]

allheart55 said:

I know where they should be sent....and They should not be allowed to pass GO or collect $200.00. :snckr:

That about sums it up! :lol: