Best Buy rocks... No I hate it... No wait... (1005 hits)
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Rating: 1.61 on 22 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Corn Nugget (View user info) at 2005-06-11 13:16:18 EDT
A few days ago my laptop flipped out... kept rebooting over and over. I had purchased the extended warranty (and I usually never buy them, but since I worked for best buy, and the general manager was standing right next to me when I bought my computer, I got the warranty, just to be nice).
So I took it up to Best Buy yesterday, and they said they'd look at it. They called a few hours later saying that my harddrive was bad (the computer was only 4 months old!), and they said "We're not authorized to fix it... so come on in and get a new computer".
Hey, that's good news!
I make the 30 minute drive to Ann Arbor, and they tell me that they no longer carry the model I have, but they will give me a comprable one.
That's fine with me... I bought mine for 900 bucks, but I had 300 bucks worth of rebates... and it wasn't really a great computer anyway- I just got it because it was cheap, and I needed one.
The guy comes back with this Compaq. He points out that it has all the same options. I notice it's priced at 729.00... which is over a hundred less than my computer was selling for. He assured me that it was the same, and the difference in price was just due to brands.
It didn't seem right. I called Phil, because he's the Home Office manager at another Best Buy, and he'd be able to tell me if I was getting fucked or not. He said it looked like it would be fine... he couldn't find any differences, either. So, since Phil said it was okay, I exchanged my broke laptop for a new one.
Mind you, I was still bothered by the price difference, but... what could I do? If the features are the same, and that's what the warranty does, "Replace with similar product", then I'm okay.
I drive back home and open my computer up. I have books and cardboard all around me. I run through the tedious Windows setup. I create backup disks. I ignored the fact that the new computer was bigger than my old one. I ignored the fact that it only had one PCMCIA slot. I just accepted that this computer was new, and I didn't like it solely based on the fact that I don't handle change well.
After all that hard work, I double click on the little grey and white MSN guys.
Oh, not connected to the internet. I must have forgot to enable the wi-fi.
Oh motherfucker... they gave me a computer without wi-fi built in!? Of course I have an old PCMCIA wi-fi card, but that's not the point. The point is that my old computer had that shit integrated. Plus, if I'm using my ONE AND ONLY PCMCIA slot for my wi-fi card, how will I plug my little compact-flash reader in?
By this time it's nearly midnight. For some reason, Best Buy isn't open at midnight.
I wake up bright and early today (10:30am!!!) and drive back up to Best Buy. They say how sorry they are about not getting me the right computer, and I had to force myself not to say something lame like, "Do you KNOW how far of a drive it is!?". I just smile and say "Mistakes happen", even though inside I'm on fucking fire with anger.
They come out with a black and white box. They're giving me a Gateway??? A GATEWAY? Why don't they just give me an e-machine? Seriously.
But still, I can't bitch. I had worked at Best Buy for too long, and I've heard all the bitching that customers do, and I know that only 1.7% of the time is anything resolved by bitching, complaining, or any other rational tactic used to try to get your way. Best Buy simply does as it chooses... And I guess I'm okay with that. It's what makes them the best. It's what drives their profit.
I reluctantly take the Gateway and go home.
Lo and Behold... it's got this kick-ass beautiful screen. It's got FIVE USB ports. FIVE!! My old laptop had two!! (don't remind me that I'll never need all five of those ports, but it's a luxury... it's like having seat warmers in an Ford Focus!). It's also really skinny, and really light. It has firewire! It has everything anyone could ever wish for in a low-end laptop.
So- the two hundred dollar extended warranty, three hours worth of driving, and working very hard at controling my temper have all paid off.
User Reviews
Submitted by knucklesnelson (user info) at 2005-06-14 22:27:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I hate best buy, but i like you!
Submitted by Wiggles (user info) at 2005-06-12 01:03:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I used to like Best Buy, but now I can't stand it. I went there to get a CD player put in my car after it was broken into. (They robbed the shitty TAPE-deck that was originally in there.) The line in the place just to make an appointment for installation was over 30 minutes long, and I didn't even know if I would be able to make an appointment that day. I went to Circuit City, the same CD player was ten dollars cheaper, installation was free, and they had it ready to go in 30 minutes.
I'm working at a grocery store over the summer for some quick extra cash, and they have those same kind of motivational things like jumping jacks and stuff. Sucks.
Submitted by Amy (user info) at 2005-06-11 23:54:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked the happy ending
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-06-11 23:01:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
YAAAAAAY!
Submitted by corn_nugget (user info) at 2005-06-11 20:04:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I thought it was a pretty good company to work for. If you've done sales ANYWHERE, you realize that you're going to be encouraged (by either bosses or commission structure) to sell certian things.
It's how sales works, and Best Buy isn't any different.
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-06-11 19:59:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yup, I worked for Best Buy a very short time also. I was all excited about being able to work with people who wanted to buy video games, music and movies- that's my meal ticket, baby, I know ALL about that shit!
Then I found out that they don't care a thing about you selling the systems or games, just periphery, because that's where they make the most money. I told them to suck it, that I like getting people what they need, not some extraneous nonsense that they will never use and be pissed at me for talking them into.
At which point I was informed that my opinion didn't fit into the grand scheme of being a team player, and I was asked to leave.
But, then, when I continued shopping with them, because nobody else sells what I am looking for? OH, they'll GLADLY take my money then.
Soulless assholes.
Submitted by corn_nugget (user info) at 2005-06-11 17:30:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
dwr... things have probably changed since you worked there. I was with the company for 2 1/2 years, and I heard stories like that from a lot of old employees, but no current workers had ever experienced it.
The jumping jacks thing- yeaaah. I refused to do them, too. When they said, "aww come on!! You're part of the team!!" my reply was, "I can be part of the team without having my boobs flop around... I won't do it".
They didn't like that, but still... I'm not doing jumpingjacks.
Submitted by dwr_budr (user info) at 2005-06-11 17:08:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Best Buy is a terrible place to work. As a company they seem to take a lot of pride in humiliating their employees. Nothing makes a person prouder to work for a company than being forced to do jumping jacks in front of the store while customers stand around laughing at you. Except maybe being busted down to 5 hours a week for refusing to do it.
Another thing anyone shopping there should know, never tell them you don't want their service plans until you actually have the merchandise in your hands. I was actually told by the store manager to tell customers that merchandise wasn't in stock if they weren't going to buy the plan.
That place is a shit hole.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2005-06-11 16:45:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
We finally sold Gammaws house, and closed this past weekend, I should be getting my new laptop in about a week or so, and I am puuuuuuuuumped...
Gonna be nice...
Submitted by corn_nugget (user info) at 2005-06-11 16:30:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
HadToBeDone... I didn't work in the computer department, so I didn't know anything about Gateway buying E-machines.
I do get tired of the people saying, "Workers at best buy (or any other random retail shop) don't know anything!!!!!!!!!!!". Dude, what kind of people aspire to $8.50 hour jobs? Furthermore, there are a lot of different products in one of these large box stores.
Do you get mad at the guy working the register at the gas station because he doesn't know why there is ethanol in gasoline?
While I was supervising the wireless department, I was an "expert" on cell phones. Was I also an expert on plasma tvs? Nope.
Was I an expert on Gateways or Emachines? Nope.
Have I heard horror stories from both E-machine and Gateway customers? Yep.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-06-11 15:52:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"They're giving me a Gateway??? A GATEWAY? Why don't they just give me an e-machine? Seriously."
----------------
Having worked at Best Buy, you should know they did. Since Gateway bought E-Machines over a year ago.
And I ask people who work there if they know anything...?
Submitted by stevie_says (user info) at 2005-06-11 15:15:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-06-11 13:57:54 (#)
Ranking: 2
Best Buy is just like Future Shop!
---
Best Buy IS Future Shop...
I hate those fucking places. Those assholes are going to get what they deserve one day...
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2005-06-11 14:20:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This post is worthy of +2 by itself, but I'm +2ing everybody today (since yesterday was my b-day)
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-06-11 14:16:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Freight_Train (user info) at 2005-06-11 14:03:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
and?
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-06-11 13:57:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Best Buy is just like Future Shop!
Submitted by Feijuada (user info) at 2005-06-11 13:56:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Lucky you
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-06-11 13:54:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"They're giving me a Gateway??? A GATEWAY? Why don't they just give me an e-machine? Seriously."
best line ever. no one understands me when i say, "don't get a gateway." over the next 2-3 months i have to resist the urge to not say "i told you so" every time i see them.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-06-11 13:52:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Nice job. I kind of thought that Best Buy was one of those places that if you bitch long enough at, they will, you know, go down on you or something.
Submitted by SiskelandFatboy (user info) at 2005-06-11 13:28:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I spend waaaay to much money in Best Buy. It is like crack or something. I can't resist the urge to fork over money for shit I don't need......
Submitted by corn_nugget (user info) at 2005-06-11 13:21:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The only problem I see is that I'm used to the Ctrl key being in the lower left corner of the keyboard. Now I have the Function key there.
I keep trying to copy and paste, and all I end up doing is selecting my block of text, accidentally hitting "FN plus C", which ends up deleting everything I wrote and replacing it with the letter C.
I have a feeling this will end up being very frustrating.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-06-11 13:19:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck you.
Best buy cheated me out of a DVD player when I bought a digital TV.