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story category Best Buy's Geek Squad
Plans to expand in-home computer service nationwide
(old news - 12:30PM Sunday Jun 20 2004)
tags: business · hardware · software
The Geek Squad, a computer-repair service that makes house calls, started 10 years ago as a small tech-support business in Minneapolis. The business was so successful that Best Buy decided to buy it and make plans to integrate it into their stores. Best Buy has been selectively testing the Geek Squad over the past two years and now plans to expand it nationwide this summer, with agents at all of its 619 stores. "Our basic proposition is - wherever you need service and support for computing, we're there for you," said Sean Skelley, vice president of the services business group for Best Buy Co. in Richfield, Minn.

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TheMetrix
R.T.F.M. - P.E.B.K.A.C
Premium
join:2002-06-15
Utica, MI
clubs:

It's Screwed NOW

OH great, just what we need. Best Buy to take over something good and then screw it all up.

Best Buy theme when trying to repair system:
If you can't fix it by the 2nd try format c:.

BIGMIKE
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Westminster, CA

Re: It's Screwed NOW

format c:. is the Easy way to fix a computer, that what I did win I was first running windows 95 and that what Best Buy is going to do.:D

technick
Premium
join:2000-12-16
Loganville, GA

said by TheMetrix See Profile:
OH great, just what we need. Best Buy to take over something good and then screw it all up.

Best Buy theme when trying to repair system:
If you can't fix it by the 2nd try format c:.

Sometimes you need to format, if you are working with a machine that hasn't been reformated in a few years, it can always help performance to clean off the os, and start all over again. I might try out for this if it comes to the Atlanta area, I worked as a senior onsite network administrator for a pretty large company in NE Atlanta for a year and a half, it's easy stuff and the money is not to bad. I would require a company vehicle though, I don't want to run my baby into the ground =\.
--
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TheMetrix
R.T.F.M. - P.E.B.K.A.C
Premium
join:2002-06-15
Utica, MI
clubs:
·WOW Internet and C..

My question to the two ppl above.

What if a format of the C: Drive is not feasable?

What are you going to do then? Stand there and look stupid is what you're going to do.

I do agree that formating the c drive does cure all but what if the customer has vital data on the computer and you have to way of backing it up?

I also work in the IT field and have done my time as an A+ Tech, I also have enough certs to last me a life time. I'm really gonna hate life when it comes time to recert everything.

What my point was in the original post was that you don't give up on a system after the 2nd try and that the customers data comes first.
--
I hated going to weddings as a child, all of the aunts and grandmotherly types would come and poke me saying "You're Next". They quit years later when I started doing the same to them at funerals

DivineDark

join:2001-08-30
Oklahoma City, OK
clubs:

1 edit

Re: It's Screwed NOW

They will most likely have you sign off on a release form stating they are not responsible for data loss, before and work is done. At least that's what they do at my job.
russotto

join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA

said by TheMetrix See Profile:
My question to the two ppl above.

What if a format of the C: Drive is not feasable?


If you're Best Buy? You do it anyway.

geeker001

@chcgil.ameritech

format c: does not cure all. lol let some techs answer these questions. I am a tech and there are boot viruses as well as cmos viruses that a simple format will not cure. Not to mention if you are using a floppy to clean your system or to format your p.c. it may be infected as well. doing a low level format should fix most new computers that have the cmos on the hard drive instead of hard coded on the motherboard. Other wise you have to find the dip switches to reset your cmos chip or reprogram it for older computers. I don't belong to the geek squad but if you think fixing a computer is easy as format c: your dead wrong.

Giancarlo

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

Re: It's Screwed NOW

well, if that happens, best buy is just going to give you an estimate for a new computer.

(oh, and to the way above, I've always felt if you have to mention certifications, you aren't a real tech) Real techs get their creds in the trenches.
Natfly

join:2004-02-26
Fairfax, VA

Re: It's Screwed NOW

said by inteller See Profile:
well, if that happens, best buy is just going to give you an estimate for a new computer.

Yes, I'm sure thats exactly what they will do ...being that no one from best buy is possibly qualified to work on any electronics..

said by inteller See Profile:

(oh, and to the way above, I've always felt if you have to mention certifications, you aren't a real tech) Real techs get their creds in the trenches.

Wow, I didn't know that certifications actually made you not certified to be a technician... "you aren't a real tech" what type of BS is that? Certifications help establish credibility, although experience is invaluable.
techwow16

join:2004-06-25
Noblesville, IN

Re: It's Screwed NOW

Best Buy has had it's ups and downs and several employees have got screwed by the company, including me. Most of the technicians that work for Best Buy do know computers and electronics and like me have B.S. degrees in computers and are stuck at Best Buy trying to get experience to advance into other careers. It can be very hard to advance after working on computers in a retail setting. A lot of why Best Buy has had problems is because of the controlling factors of Management, Staffing, Constant customer interactions, and our Service Centers that are too far away from the stores. Best Buy hasn't always had a good service reputation, but with Geek Squad coming in, I thing Best Buy has more potential than they would have ever had on their own.

TheMetrix
R.T.F.M. - P.E.B.K.A.C
Premium
join:2002-06-15
Utica, MI
clubs:
·WOW Internet and C..

said by inteller See Profile:
(oh, and to the way above, I've always felt if you have to mention certifications, you aren't a real tech) Real techs get their creds in the trenches.

I got the certs because my job paid for them and required them. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered.
--
I hated going to weddings as a child, all of the aunts and grandmotherly types would come and poke me saying "You're Next". They quit years later when I started doing the same to them at funerals

insomniac84

join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN
Considering I haven't seen one computer infected with the virii you speak of, I don't think BB is going to have a problem. Don't try to make things more complicated than they are by introducing a scenario that isn't going to happen.

Amr
Pointing out the obvious
Premium
join:2001-12-03
Ramstein, AB
clubs:

Bye Bye Circuit City

with best buy having people actually on site to fix computers circuit city will lose quite a few customers because they actually send out there computers to a service center in dallas which can take up to 2-4 weeks but now best buy can probably do it in about less than a week

72276539
Premium
join:2001-01-19
Atlanta, GA

Re: Bye Bye Circuit City

said by Amr See Profile:
with best buy having people actually on site to fix computers circuit city will lose quite a few customers because they actually send out there computers to a service center in dallas which can take up to 2-4 weeks but now best buy can probably do it in about less than a week

You think circuit city is actually going somewhere?
--
some people believe in astrology others believe in technology some people believe in all those -ologies but i believe in swordfish

Jeremy341
Bye
Premium
join:2000-01-06
localhost

Now I Understand

I was wondering why so many of their employees were wearing Geek Squad shirts last time I went there.

Optimized
Premium,Mod
join:2001-05-03
Pompton Lakes, NJ
clubs:

Host:
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2 edits

Need a job ...

Hey everyone, looks like they are still hiring

Not sure I'd be too crazy about driving around in this though ...


The Geek Mobile

--
Chilly likes it

JMan0948
Where's The Background Music?
Premium
join:2003-03-25
Gilberts, IL

Re: Need a job ...

said by Optimized See Profile:
Hey everyone, looks like they are still hiring

Not sure I'd be too crazy about driving around in this though ...

[attachment=1]

Bugs are cool... haha

As for the GeekSquad, they have a ways to go yet. It won't fly everywhere. They have one at the Skokie location here @ Chicago, IL, and that bug sits out there in front of the store. So if they get an emergency call they hop in the Geek-Mobile and drive off? The thought makes me laugh.....
--
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inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

Re: Need a job ...

yeah, Spike TV just recently named the New Beetle the #1 GIRL CAR.

If they were really the Geek Squad they'd spring for a Hybrid Prius with Bluetooth.

JMan0948
Where's The Background Music?
Premium
join:2003-03-25
Gilberts, IL

Re: Need a job ...

AHHAHA good point!
scooper

join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC
Hey ! I have a RED 2000 NB TDI and I LOVE it !

Optimized
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Pompton Lakes, NJ
clubs:

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Re: Need a job ...

said by scooper See Profile:
Hey ! I have a RED 2000 NB TDI and I LOVE it !

;) It's not really the car itself, it more the black/white and logo thing it has going.
--
Chilly likes it
vic102482
Premium
join:2002-04-30
Upper Marlboro, MD

My friend works for them

Id trust him with my PC but I have seen the other "geekers" from the surrounding bestbuys they are not to be trusted.
--
I tie a rope around my penis and jump from a tree, don't you wanna grow up to be just like me!!!!
shashinka

join:2000-09-16
West Boylston, MA

Re: My friend works for them

I got a job from someone when purusing the isles of Staples. He said that he paid Best Buy $250 to set up his home network with a ps/2, they never got it running. It was an ADSL line thru AOL on a linksys wireless router. I charged him about $50 an hour and go it done in an hour or two (2 machines and a ps/2). Now he has called me over for about 20 hours of other work. 4 machines now, wireless, etc. I found 12 viruses on one machine and about 20 on another. I doubt Best Buy would be able to do it unless they paid there techs good and got some with experience like me and others on this board. Not some kid out of high school who tinkers here and there. (NO OFFENSE I USED TO BE THERE) But you can't have someone work on your business machines who doesn't know about security (Ad-aware, Spybot, Zonealarm, AVG anti-virus, etc all loaded on the machine) and lock down the network via MAC-filter, encryption, etc. well my 2 cents take care!

fireflier
Coffee. . .Need Coffee
Premium
join:2001-05-25
Limbo

Re: My friend works for them

I hope he got his $250 back from Best Buy!

shashinka

@dcma.mil

Re: My friend works for them

Yes he did, i'll give it to Best Buy they take care of things on the refund side, i love buying there.

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK
Hey, if someone from Best Buy can get my PS/2 Model 60 to run on my home network, I'd pay them $250 EASY! Cause that would be a minor miracle.

Yowzaaah
Ours Go To Eleven

join:2000-12-14
DamnFlat, OH
clubs:

www.bestbuysux.org

I wonder if the whole time they are in your house "fixing" your computer if they will be required to try to sell you 3 additional products or services and won't actually leave until you tell them to do so 3 times?

This company could screw up free beer served by naked supermodels.

jplove71
IBEW 113
Premium
join:2001-03-16
Colorado Springs, CO

Pricing?

Has anyone ever looked at their pricing for service? They charge you an arm and a leg! It's outrageous!

lazarus_

join:2002-08-31
Resolute, NU

Re: Pricing?

said by jplove71 See Profile:
Has anyone ever looked at their pricing for service? They charge you an arm and a leg! It's outrageous!

I still cant believe people are afraid of the inside of a PC.. PC's are a joke now.. Since everything is plug and play you just plug all the crap into the motherboard and remove it and put the new components in when you upgrade or replace them.. Its not like the old days when you had to set jumpers and configure everything.. If you have a software problem, chances are you need a fresh install of windows.. In that case, you save all the game saves, documents and export all your browser and email client settings and export all your emails (if you dont save a copy on the server). Anyone dumb enough to have to use this lame service deserves to pay a arm and both legs and maybe take out a 2nd mortgage on their house. Who the heck would even buy one of those crappy Best Buy Cicero PC's when you can buy a clone for half the price or same price and get better components..
--
George Bush: "I call upon all Nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers, thank you. Now watch this drive."<-- Best Quote EVER.
Pirod

join:2002-02-27
Redmond, WA

The pricing is rather high. They charge 60 just to troubleshoot and then there are additional prices for removing viruses and whatnot. The funny thing is... if there is a hardware problem, such as a bad mobo the repair doesn't take place in the store. The system is shipped to a service center (generally in the same state). The "geeks" only work with software problems - not even simple hardware swaps.

N10Cities
SILENCE I Keel You

join:2002-05-07
Lavaca, AR
clubs:
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Re: Pricing?

said by Pirod See Profile:
The pricing is rather high. They charge 60 just to troubleshoot and then there are additional prices for removing viruses and whatnot. The funny thing is... if there is a hardware problem, such as a bad mobo the repair doesn't take place in the store. The system is shipped to a service center (generally in the same state). The "geeks" only work with software problems - not even simple hardware swaps.

If it is a laptop issue, yes...it is sent off, unless the service is just a simple memory upgrade. On desktop PCs, stuff like hard drives, modems, and CD-ROMS can be changed in-house (unless it is one of those funky PC's that have the custom front bezel)...and yes I have worked at a BB tech bay...
RBordley

join:2000-05-12
Alexandria, VA

That is not true. If there is a modem problem, they will replace the modem. Of course if the customer purchased the Best Buy Performance Plan, then modem is replaced for free with a modem off the shelf and not sent to the Service Center. Also, if it is a hardware problem and they carry the hardware in the store, they will replace it in the store and not send it to the service center.

I'm not saying that the Best Buy technicians are the best, but you should get the facts straight.

N10Cities
SILENCE I Keel You

join:2002-05-07
Lavaca, AR
clubs:
·World Lynx
·Cox HSI

Re: Pricing?

said by RBordley See Profile:
That is not true. If there is a modem problem, they will replace the modem. Of course if the customer purchased the Best Buy Performance Plan, then modem is replaced for free with a modem off the shelf and not sent to the Service Center. Also, if it is a hardware problem and they carry the hardware in the store, they will replace it in the store and not send it to the service center.

I'm not saying that the Best Buy technicians are the best, but you should get the facts straight.

That's what I just pointed out (FOR DESKTOP PC'S). Most laptops have proprietary hardware and the stores typically don't stock them. Yes, you can get a PC Card modem and install that...but some laptops (particularly Dells) have an internal card that needs to be changed out. Systemboards, hard drives on laptops....gets sent in most of the time...

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs:
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said by jplove71 See Profile:
Has anyone ever looked at their pricing for service? They charge you an arm and a leg! It's outrageous!

Yup.. I used to work for Best Buy Until I told them to go F*** themselfs... But I saw the Price sheet.. it was like $149 for a Friken Windows install...


--
It's NOT Ni-kon It's NE-KON!

"It is a mistake often made in this country to measure things by the amount of money they cost."
Albert Einstein

Geek123

@wv.fronti

Re: Pricing?

Prices are 229 for an OS reinstall now in home. 159 for wireless setup. and 69 on top if you want anything else done per item.

BIGMIKE
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Westminster, CA

said by jplove71 See Profile:
Has anyone ever looked at their pricing for service? They charge you an arm and a leg! It's outrageous!

That the price for not knowing how to fix your computer and for braking it, if you do not like it you spend years to learned how to repair your computer, Like I did , and Certifications are a joke anymore.
RBordley

join:2000-05-12
Alexandria, VA
Their pricing is not that high since they do not charge by the hour. It's a flat rate no matter how long the job takes.

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs:
It's $149 just for them to call them out to your house

Glad I don't work for Best Buy anymore... No more Stress from them. Ugh damn it feels so good.

thisplacesux
There's A Cold One On The Bottom
Premium
join:2002-04-10
Indianapolis, IN

I worked for best buy up untill a few months back, untill they eliminated my posistion, but I did get the price sheet for the geeksquad, keep in mind that these are for the house calls.

$159 for virus removal
$229 for operating system installation
$169 to network up to three computers
$129 for one-hour training.

This company is notoriously greedy, they hasssle their employees, and sure, they pay decent, techs usually get at least 10-12 buks an hour, but if you cant sell service plans and reward zone, and various other types of paper, your gonna be gone quick!

EFudd
Premium
join:2001-09-08
Brownsville, OH

They pay 10-12 an hr and charge those prices? My god. I get paid more than that for sorting paper and stuffing envelopes. Any half way decent company is going to pay you more than that for being a PC tech( please note: I did say half way decent ).

I'd rather give my services as a tech away for free than to work for them making those joke wages... wait a minute... I already do give my services away for free( family, friends, neighbors )
--
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ampegman

join:2004-06-26
Charles Town, WV

Re: Pricing?

You have to remember in store techs may be making that much but double agents in the field start about 17-20 an hour depending on area.
rmdir

join:2003-03-13
Chicago, IL

geeks

Well, since most of their employees are too young to drive, I don't think I'll be seeing the Geekmobile in front of my house.
Last week I sold stereos, this week I'm fixing computers.

Dennis
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join:2001-01-26
Algonquin, IL
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I was at best buy this weekend

And the only difference I see between Best Buy of old, and the "new" best buy is that they are wearing different shirts.

Remember the old saying "you can put a bow on a turd, but it's still just a piece of shit".

They aren't hiring smarter techs, just paying to use a name. Which immediatly makes me think so little of "geed squad" that any opinon I had of them has just gone to crap.

Once again greed defeats standards. Might as well call them "greed squad".
--
Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.

Razor155
Premium
join:2001-12-31
Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Re: I was at best buy this weekend

said by Dennis See Profile:
"you can put a bow on a turd, but it's still just a piece of shit".
I thought it was, "You can't polish a turd"~ From the movie Christine.

Anyway, B.B. prices are rather "hefty". I took a comp. to them one time. I found out later that they first charged me for removing a virus. And because some system files got screwed up by the virus, they charged me to format and reinstall the O/S. At the time, I knew zilch about comp. Then they, handed me a bill for almost $120. Mind you, this was back in 95. I remember thinking to myself,theres got to be something better then this.

TheHelpful1
Premium
join:2002-01-11
Upper Marlboro, MD
·EarthLink

Re: I was at best buy this weekend

said by Razor155 See Profile:
Anyway, B.B. prices are rather "hefty". I took a comp. to them one time. I found out later that they first charged me for removing a virus. And because some system files got screwed up by the virus, they charged me to format and reinstall the O/S. At the time, I knew zilch about comp. Then they, handed me a bill for almost $120. Mind you, this was back in 95. I remember thinking to myself,theres got to be something better then this.
Here here! Almost same thing with my first (and last) HP computer that had a virus. Told me to take it home and use the system disc to reset back to factory - after having my rig for a week. Of course I knew very little about computing (even had AOL). But times change and since then i've built 4 of my own machines and 4 networks (for diff ppl) and havent had a single problem. Except for that NIMDA bug...
--
"Not that you would, but you could"

deadmeat
Premium
join:2003-03-21
Sonoma, CA

Lol

Just when I was considering doing that for a summer job. They couldn't pay me enough to wear a geek squad shirt and drive around in the geek mobile.
--
" That's it Man, Game Over Man, Game Over."
taichino

join:2004-06-24
Miami, FL

Re: Lol

just curious how much did they offer you !!!

izy
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Naples, FL

Geek Squad

Geek Squad has been in the Twin Cities for several years now and they were recently acquired by Best Buy. They did pretty well providing onsite computer services. See them damn bugs everywhere here!

I use to work for another computer repair shop here in the cities and almost every onsite I went to the customer always seemed to call Geek Squad first and always seemed to have some sort of complaint against them. For one, they don't answer their phones, call center is in FL, and two their pricing scheme is horrendous!
--
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mrchris
We don't miss you Bush
Premium
join:2002-10-01
North Babylon, NY

1 edit

Meh

Why bother when we got some people on these forums that are better than these so called "Support" geeks from BestBuy?
--
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CO_Chris
Premium
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Broomfield, CO
·Comcast
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Re: Meh

Meh
Why bother when we got some people on these forums that are better than these so called "Support" geeks from BestBuy?

I have to say How true this is.. I work for BBY and man this is just a joke in my eyes. I am not a tech Thank god for that.

djrobx

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Valencia, CA
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1 edit
Lots of people. And I mean LOTS of people, just don't know enough to come here to ask. They'd much rather just pay an expert to come fix it. They're not even really interested in learning how to fix their computers.
--
\\ROB - a part of the SCB local network

Alex G Bell

join:2002-07-02
Boston, MA

What a Rip Off

Most of us who post here could do this work as a service to our communities part-time charging less than 1/2 the price and still make good money at it. PCs are just not "user-friendly." This reminds me of the great auto-repair rip-off.
--
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mrchris
We don't miss you Bush
Premium
join:2002-10-01
North Babylon, NY
·Optimum Online


1 edit

Re: What a Rip Off

What would be a challenge to the Geek guys is question their techinical intelligence..

"What's the difference between RAM and ROM?"
"What's the difference between a gigabyte and a terabyte?"
"What is spyware/adware?"
"What does AGP and PCI stand for?"
"What's the difference between CD-R and CD-RWs?"
"Which OS is the most vulnerable out of the box?"
"Name two non-MS OSes"
"What port does the WinXP DCOM exploits use?


Stuff like that should boggle their so called techies of theirs
--
God bless USA? I don't believe in God! Still, bless them troops!
Bush must be voted out this November!

Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom

Cheap company

What do you guys expect ?

They don't pay people enough, so what makes you think that you will receive good service from them ?

Retail people are paid around 7-7.50 per hour AFAIK and have no training.

Unfortunately I work in retail myself and to be honest don't really care.

Oh and the full time at Best Buy is 32 hours/week

See 13 replies to this post

whamel
Premium
join:2002-05-09
Clarendon Hills, IL

Best buy sucks...

....I worked there and it is one horrible place. Don't let them screw up your stuff too.
Bill

cowspotter

join:2000-09-11
Ashburn, VA

Re: Best buy sucks...

Those price examples you guys gave are totally off. It is $60 to diagnose a computer, but a windows install is $60, not $149. They do hardware swaps like power supplies, memory, video cards, hard drives, etc. Mobos do need to get sent off, but who could carry all the mobos that the various manufacturers use in a store.
Raydr
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-19
Carrollton, TX

ha.

I don't think I could count the number of Best Buy "repairs" that I've had to go after.

This is what happens when you deal with a company that charges $75+/hr + parts + mileage, and pays their techs ~$8/hr.

cowspotter

join:2000-09-11
Ashburn, VA

Re: ha.

correction....

-$60 for a diagnosis, most stuff isn't charged on an hourly rate (ie. virus removal is $40 even if it takes us 3 hours to get it all off)

- of course we charge for parts, why would we eat the cost of the parts, nobody would do that.

- i just started as a best buy tech and i'm getting quite a bit more than $8/hr, so try not to talk about things you know nothing about.

viperpa33s
Why Me?
Premium
join:2002-12-20
Bradenton, FL
·Bright House

if I can't fix it, then I will learn how

I could never take my computer to a Best Buy, Comp USA, or any other of those places to get it fixed. I just have to much important stuff on my computer to have people screwing around with it. I would rather just fix it myself, and if I can't fix it then I will learn how to do it.

Services like these are for people in most cases who don't want to be bothered to do it themselves.
jhorne79

join:2004-01-26
Fort Wayne, IN

certs a JOKE!!

Ya right you think Certs are a joke then you haven't taken a ms test then. I have pass 4 so far and they were the hardest tests i have ever taken. And for best buy they cant afford to pay a tech with anything other than a A+. Any middle school kid could pass that test anyway. If you go to best buy and pay 30 bucks for a printer cable then you deserve to get your hard drive formatted.

Later,
Jason mcp,mcsa

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

Re: certs a JOKE!!

MCSE tests are made hard by pressure, hype, and trickery and half of what they grill you on you'll never see in the real world. And do you think your customer wants to quiz you on the different layers of TCP/IP? HELL NO he wants his server fixed!

flyguy42

join:2003-11-29
Gilbert, AZ

the point is

Yeah.. I think alot of you guys are missing the point. Geek Squad is not there for the uber geek who knows how to fix their computer already. It for your aunt who just got Sasser for the third time in a row. Its also for the customer who does not thing that setting up a computer and maintaining it is fun (which alot of us do). We will get people in who want a crazy fast system... all the latest gear... but don't want to even carry it to their car.

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

Re: the point is

hmmm...I would love get hired on to geek squad for just a week so I could hand out "Computer Police Tickets" to idiots that have a fake fine for "being too stupid to use your computer"

I would laugh so hard the firing wouldn't even phase me.

N10Cities
SILENCE I Keel You

join:2002-05-07
Lavaca, AR
clubs:
·World Lynx
·Cox HSI

Re: the point is

said by inteller See Profile:
hmmm...I would love get hired on to geek squad for just a week so I could hand out "Computer Police Tickets" to idiots that have a fake fine for "being too stupid to use your computer"

I would laugh so hard the firing wouldn't even phase me.

LMAO!!

Not for BBY

@rr.com
Just had to say somthing about this point.

Why would any one need to fix the Sasser virus 3 times when you should have fixed it and then patched the system from getting it again?

BB tech support is really a big rip off (joke)

Dan
Hamilton Tigers?
Premium
join:2002-12-17
Eh?
·Rogers Hi-Speed

I work

for Best Buy Canada. (Actually Future Shop, but best buy bought us out 2 years ago).

Our tech's are A+ certified. As well, our tech's... well they are more geeky than I, and I am a huge nerdy geeky me.

I have only seen O/S re-installs when a customer asks for one. Other than that we remove the virus/clean up the hdd/ fix the problem. As well we make each customer a cd-rom with a back up of their reg, as well as some useful software, such as Ad-Aware, AVG, and a few other free apps that, imo are essential for pc's on the net.

- Dan
--
NDP - New Energy. A Positive Choice.Don't like the NDP? Still vote. Don't want to vote? Have your ballot nulled.Vote NDP and help Jack.

powerage66
Pittsburgh, 2008 Champs
Premium
join:2004-01-06
Seminole, FL
·Verizon Online DSL

Re: Costly

There was a article I read a couple weeks back, a Best Buy charged a lady $225 to swap out a power supply, and she was happy about it!! My jaw about hit the floor when I read that. I told my brother I can build a basic computer for that price. A ad I saw in a weekly paper here, a guy wanted $50 just to download free anti-virus and a spyware killer. Its all free on the net? Why pay someone to do that?
steve19726
bum
Premium
join:2002-01-17
Chicago, IL
clubs:

Re: Costly

I used to work at BBY in the merch department. The way they handled the products in the warehouse was a joke. People were throwing, kicking, playing catch with lap tops, digital cameras, printers.... 27 in tvs tumbling down the stairs. Half the boxes had somekind of dent or tare on them. Even worse was that the managers and sups could care less. They were too busy standing around chit chatting and tellin jokes. No wonder half the crap sold at BBY get returned!
Matrix_Zero

join:2003-12-27
River Grove, IL

Re: Costly

I wouldn't trust any of those best buy dorks...geeks...whatever ya call em touching anyone's computer. For one they charge a bit steep, and secondly...they're...how can i put this....not exactly knowledgeable in the area that they're trying to service. That plus a personal thing about that company. Few years ago i tried to get a job in that department, they refused, saying i was underqualified (with the people workin there that was an insult to me), so i settle for stearing people clear of that store, and showing how idiotic their employee's are. Can't say its a bad thing, i may more money now servicing people's computers then i would have ever working for them.

Like others have said, unless you like being charged 150+ for a format and reinstall, plus some other bs thing happening (seen countless cases where they claim parts needed to be replaced, when they were completely fine). Go to best buy, else, do the smart thing, buy the parts yourself, buy a 10 dollar book on how to build a computer, and do it yourself.
OafyC
Premium
join:2004-05-17
Indianapolis, IN
clubs:

Re: Costly

"I doubt Best Buy would be able to do it unless they paid there techs good and got some with experience like me and others on this board. Not some kid out of high school who tinkers here and there. (NO OFFENSE I USED TO BE THERE) But you can't have someone work on your business machines who doesn't know about security (Ad-aware, Spybot, Zonealarm, AVG anti-virus, etc all loaded on the machine) and lock down the network via MAC-filter, encryption, etc. well my 2 cents take care"

I'm just out of high school and I tinker here and there and can do everything you mentioned.

Reality_Check

@rr.com

Reality Check for the Rookies

You people need to get your facts straight. Sounds to me like sour grapes. As with ANY company that offers computer repair services, there will always be technicians that are not up to par. At Best Buy there are screening processes in place, and over time technicians that do not perform to company standard are eventually weeded out. Best Buy spends an enormous amount of time, money and effort training and coaching their employees. More then any other retailer. There is no way local Mom and Pop shops can compete on this level.

Best Buy fixes hundreds of thousands of computers every year. The majority of these computers are fixed right the first time. The situations you point out are rare exceptions to the rules. Most redo situations stem from user errors and the ones that do not, are addressed with priority. The system is not perfect but we are working hard to perfect it

Since Best Buy is THE largest electronic retailer in the world, we could have bought ANY in home service company, but we opted for the best....The GEEK SQUAD.
The Geek Squad has better than a 94% customer satisfaction level. As a Double Agent, I have been instructed to never sell anything to a customer unless they need it, i.e.(replacement for defective component, anti virus, etc.). There is absolutely no pressure or incentive for us to sell anything in a customers home.

All Double Agents are provided with ready link equipped
Cell phones so if we run into a situation that we are unfamiliar with, we can call headquarters or over 600 other Agents who will find the answers we need. Since we are on call 24 hour a day, seven days week, we are provided with a 2004 Volkswagen bug for business and private use. The company picks up the tab for gas, car washes and maintenance. no other company even comes close.

You get what you pay for...Geek Squad offers a premium service at a flat rate by professional technicians who are educated, certified, and experienced. If anyone thinks they will save money by hiring a guy that works out of his house and charges by the hour, they are sorely mistaken. The longer he sits in front of your computer scratching his head, the more money you have to pay him. Most of these so called technicians are not insured, offer no warranty in writing, and generally have no clue.

I will close with this piece of advice to all you amateurs who took apart a clock radio once and think it qualified you as a technician ... you should really know the definition of a word before you use it.......
Forums » Best Buy's Geek Squadpage: 1 · 2


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