dDon't bring your macbook to geeksquad(not like you don't ALREADY KNOW THAT!)

[l.a.rossmann]

This has happened with screens, keyboards, missing sleep magnets, bad optical drives. use the apple store, or the forums. If you are truly computer illiterate, use a friend who knows something about how these work in conjunction with Apple's support network. I will explain.

Someone came to me yesterday saying best buy told them that they could not do anything to their machine - it was totally fried, the logic board was bad, she should bring it to apple, and that there was nothing they could do. They even gave her the initial deposit that they require before looking at the machine back to her.

I turn it on. Within 2 seconds, the clicking noise from the right palmrest indicates the problem. I throw in a drive I had lying around with OSX installed to test, and it primed, it memtested, it went online, and it's back in the hands of a happy user. Anyone here could have diagnosed this issue better than geeksquad.

This is the 100th time this has happened to me. I keep a tally in the back of my book, of times best buy has said something will either cost over $600-$1000 when it really cost(including labor) $100-$300, and this was the 100th time. I wouldn't be posting this if it hasn't happened 100 times this very year.

I am not sure if they are better outside the midtown Manhattan area. However, here, they fail, bigtime.

[dukebound85]

yea most people dont know computers

this forum is a very small minority

[Melodic]

With 3 Apple stores and Tekserve in Manhattan why would someone bring their apple product to best buy???? and yeah I've heard nothing but horror stories about geeksquad its ridiculous!

[l.a.rossmann]

With 3 Apple stores and Tekserve in Manhattan why would someone bring their apple product to best buy???? and yeah I've heard nothing but horror stories about geeksquad its ridiculous!

tekserve has quoted people $1000 to replace the inverter board on an LED macbook pro 15.4", prior to the unibody.

Truth.

[applebook]

tekserve has quoted people $1000 to replace the inverter board on an LED macbook pro 15.4", prior to the unibody.

Truth.

I might pass...seeing as how I could get it for $15 on eBay. ;)

[touchdownjesus4]

I was in a best buy the other day and was looking in the mac section. A guy came up and wanted to buy a 15" MBP and was asking a few questions about it. They didn't know the answer to any questions he was asking so I walked over and immediately answered every question he had. They were all super simple questions that I could have answered the first day I got my mac.

Also when he bought the MBP, they didn't give him a case, no restore cds, no cleaning cloth, no nothing. Only the magsafe adapter and the MBP. They said that "they destroy the original cases because they don't have room for them." With the minimal amount of Apple computers they have there, there definitely should be room for a small box in the back of the store. They also explained to the guy that he could get the restore cds from apple if he really needed them but "they weren't really necessary." I was just about to yell at the sales rep right there, because many problems can be fixed easily with the restore cds. If he decided to order them from apple, he would be waiting for at least a few days before he got his computer back up and running. Best Buy electronics people have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to computers.

[l.a.rossmann]

I might pass...seeing as how I could get it for $15 on eBay. ;)

If I could get away with charging a $985 labor fee, I would be living here (http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/abo/1284151951.html).

[Shake 'n' Bake]

I was in a best buy the other day and was looking in the mac section. A guy came up and wanted to buy a 15" MBP and was asking a few questions about it. They didn't know the answer to any questions he was asking so I walked over and immediately answered every question he had. They were all super simple questions that I could have answered the first day I got my mac.

Also when he bought the MBP, they didn't give him a case, no restore cds, no cleaning cloth, no nothing. Only the magsafe adapter and the MBP. They said that "they destroy the original cases because they don't have room for them." With the minimal amount of Apple computers they have there, there definitely should be room for a small box in the back of the store. They also explained to the guy that he could get the restore cds from apple if he really needed them but "they weren't really necessary." I was just about to yell at the sales rep right there, because many problems can be fixed easily with the restore cds. If he decided to order them from apple, he would be waiting for at least a few days before he got his computer back up and running. Best Buy electronics people have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to computers.

I can't believe they don't have the original box!.

I'd have demanded I get the original box and all its contents.

[Eidorian]

I charge $55/hour to install patches for some people. :rolleyes:

It's just so hard for them...

[MacMini2009]

I was in a best buy the other day and was looking in the mac section. A guy came up and wanted to buy a 15" MBP and was asking a few questions about it. They didn't know the answer to any questions he was asking so I walked over and immediately answered every question he had. They were all super simple questions that I could have answered the first day I got my mac.

Also when he bought the MBP, they didn't give him a case, no restore cds, no cleaning cloth, no nothing. Only the magsafe adapter and the MBP. They said that "they destroy the original cases because they don't have room for them." With the minimal amount of Apple computers they have there, there definitely should be room for a small box in the back of the store. They also explained to the guy that he could get the restore cds from apple if he really needed them but "they weren't really necessary." I was just about to yell at the sales rep right there, because many problems can be fixed easily with the restore cds. If he decided to order them from apple, he would be waiting for at least a few days before he got his computer back up and running. Best Buy electronics people have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to computers.

Reading this made me mad for some reason lol.

[Maserati7200]

I assume you went down to the best buy by Bay Parkway right? Is there another one in BK? Anyway you should just go to a Manhattan Apple store, its only like a 30 minute subway or car ride.

[Shake 'n' Bake]

30 minute subway or car ride.

30 minutes by car? In what century?

When I'm in NYC, it takes 50% (or more) longer to get where you're going than you thought.

[Richard1028]

Also when he bought the MBP, they didn't give him a case, no restore cds, no cleaning cloth, no nothing. Only the magsafe adapter and the MBP.Any dufus that shells out this kind of dough for a laptop and gleefully walks out of the store without the original box deserves the Best Buy treatment.

[touchdownjesus4]

Reading this made me mad for some reason lol.

haha I know. I was really angry but I didn't want to make a scene. The guy clearly didn't have a clue what he was buying.

[l.a.rossmann]

The box is essential to any machine sold at retail price at a retail store. That's screwed up that they don't receive it.

I assume you went down to the best buy by Bay Parkway right? Is there another one in BK? Anyway you should just go to a Manhattan Apple store, its only like a 30 minute subway or car ride.

I didn't go to any of them. Read my post!

[NewMacbookPlz]

Any dufus that shells out this kind of dough for a laptop and gleefully walks out of the store without the original box deserves the Best Buy treatment.

Ain't that the truth....sad, but the truth.

[applebook]

Ain't that the truth....sad, but the truth.

+2.

The dolt didn't even get the full Apple experience for his hard-earned dough. Opening up the nice packaging is part of the :apple: fun.

[matthewscott661]

I got my MacBaook at BestBuy, and I don't regret it. Someone had returned it to the store because they ordered it online and received the wrong one. The sticker they had on it read $1099. I told them it was silly for them to try to sell it at that price since Apple was liquidating the unibody MacBooks for $999 that same week(I actually almost got one) because of the release of the 13" MBPs.

They were including everything that originally came with it, except for the box, and I told my friend who was with me that I wouldn't pay more than $900 for it. The guy working there overheard me, which is not surprising since the mac display is limited to a single, very small table, and said he could talk to the manager about the price.

He came back after about ten minutes with the bag of accessories and an authorization for the new price of $899. After I called my dad and begged him to let me put it on his credit card, I was the proud new owner of of a UB MacBook:D.

If the people at BestBuy had not been so incompetent, I would quite possibly still be chugging along on my G3 iBook(shudders).

[applebook]

Congrats.

There are SOME things one should buy at PleaseBuy. Boxing Day (Americans wouldn't know) is an occasion, clearance sales, and massive rebate promotions.

[JamesGorman]

I was in a best buy the other day and was looking in the mac section. A guy came up and wanted to buy a 15" MBP and was asking a few questions about it. They didn't know the answer to any questions he was asking so I walked over and immediately answered every question he had. They were all super simple questions that I could have answered the first day I got my mac.

Also when he bought the MBP, they didn't give him a case, no restore cds, no cleaning cloth, no nothing. Only the magsafe adapter and the MBP. They said that "they destroy the original cases because they don't have room for them." With the minimal amount of Apple computers they have there, there definitely should be room for a small box in the back of the store. They also explained to the guy that he could get the restore cds from apple if he really needed them but "they weren't really necessary." I was just about to yell at the sales rep right there, because many problems can be fixed easily with the restore cds. If he decided to order them from apple, he would be waiting for at least a few days before he got his computer back up and running. Best Buy electronics people have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to computers.

I worked at a best buy for almost a year recently, and honestly some of those people are so stupid. And it starts right from the management. I really can't believe a best buy would not keep the original box? Thats really odd, our store kept every computer in their original packaging, I cant imagine buying a new computer or anything for that matter, In anything BUT the original packaging. Thats half the fun of getting a new product. Secondly, best buy employees are stupid!! A lot of them really are. Get this, I was hired to do inventory, but when it was dead for me, I'd go help out with computer sales. I knew more about computers than even some employees who were twice my age, and had been at best buy for 3 or 4 years. And still, the management would not let me switch my department. I would sell more computers, accessories, and Of course those dreaded extra warranties that everyone hates, In a few hours, than the computer salesmen would sell in a full shift.

[clyde2801]

Congrats.

There are SOME things one should buy at PleaseBuy. Boxing Day (Americans wouldn't know) is an occasion, clearance sales, and massive rebate promotions.

Ehh, BB's holiday promotions have relatively sucked since CompUSA and Circuit City went out of business, IMO.

[andalusia]

Enough people don't know jack about computers that shops like these can afford to hire people who SOUND like they know what they are talking about just to make sales.

[old-wiz]

I was in a best buy the other day and was looking in the mac section. A guy came up and wanted to buy a 15" MBP and was asking a few questions about it. They didn't know the answer to any questions he was asking so I walked over and immediately answered every question he had. They were all super simple questions that I could have answered the first day I got my mac.

Also when he bought the MBP, they didn't give him a case, no restore cds, no cleaning cloth, no nothing. Only the magsafe adapter and the MBP. They said that "they destroy the original cases because they don't have room for them." With the minimal amount of Apple computers they have there, there definitely should be room for a small box in the back of the store. They also explained to the guy that he could get the restore cds from apple if he really needed them but "they weren't really necessary." I was just about to yell at the sales rep right there, because many problems can be fixed easily with the restore cds. If he decided to order them from apple, he would be waiting for at least a few days before he got his computer back up and running. Best Buy electronics people have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to computers.

I'd report this to Apple; the OSx DVDs are part of the package. If they don't have it and claim not to have the package either I would suspect a stolen Mac being fronted by an employee of Best Buy. Highly possible something illegal is involved.

[opinioncircle]

I'd report this to Apple; the OSx DVDs are part of the package. If they don't have it and claim not to have the package either I would suspect a stolen Mac being fronted by an employee of Best Buy. Highly possible something illegal is involved.

Couldn't agree more with you. Doesn't look good to me either...

[js81]

I bought my white Macbook at BestBuy last fall. It was an open-box return, too (like a previous poster) and it came with EVERYTHING - box, discs, cleaning cloth, etc. It was the previous gen white which had been reduced from $1099 to $849, then clearanced another 10% for being opened - I bought it for $765. I will admit, though, that the guy at BestBuy was clueless. If I hadn't already known what I was looking at, he would have been useless.

[5280m]

I just bought a macbook pro for my wife at best buy. i was able to get the student discount, plus a free ipod. I didnt even have to deal with rebates or anything they gave me a 329 dollar item discount. I find that best buy is only good if you know what you are looking for before you walk into their doors.

[avediswolf]

When I was in the market for my girlfriends macbook, I checked out BB. The dude was trying to sell me some kind of geek squad service where they will remove all the crapware, defrag my drives, etc, so it will run faster.

When I explained that Macs don't come with all the AOL junk, They guy continually told me I was incorrect, and I should consider this.

I quickly just left.

Ended up at Micro center. In their Mac Dept. they actually have people who know Macs there.

I'm starting to realize BB is only good for checking things out before you buy them online.

[Richard1028]

I'm starting to realize BB is only good for checking things out before you buy them online.:D Yes indeedy... BB is a great showroom if you can keep the sales staff at bay. I go there to "kick tires" all the time with no intention of buying.

[Sdashiki]

Couldn't agree more with you. Doesn't look good to me either...

As much as i hate BB, and would honestly believe they are capable of doing the missing original box and materials trick...

I have to call SHENANIGANS on this story.

You cant be serious that a brick n mortar corporation like BB would sell NEW computers outside of the box.

Either it was an open box return or there is more to the story than a guy buying a brand new Mac and having to walk with it in his bare hands...I mean, think about it....WHERE WAS THE UPC TO SCAN AT THE REGISTER!?

[touchdownjesus4]

As much as i hate BB, and would honestly believe they are capable of doing the missing original box and materials trick...

I have to call SHENANIGANS on this story.

You cant be serious that a brick n mortar corporation like BB would sell NEW computers outside of the box.

Either it was an open box return or there is more to the story than a guy buying a brand new Mac and having to walk with it in his bare hands...I mean, think about it....WHERE WAS THE UPC TO SCAN AT THE REGISTER!?

Its possible that he could have been buying the display MBP.. I didn't hear the whole conversation between the best buy reps and the guy but I know that they said they didn't have the box or any of the restore disks. I walked over after they had apparently made the sale and I just saw the guy with the MBP and the magsafe adapter in his hands asking about the box and what came with the mac.

[Sdashiki]

Not meaning to imply you're lying, just that it literally seems fishy to have so many things "be wrong" with a sale at BB like that.

[Foxglove9]

I assume you went down to the best buy by Bay Parkway right? Is there another one in BK? Anyway you should just go to a Manhattan Apple store, its only like a 30 minute subway or car ride.

I never went to the Geek Squad at that BB but generally it is hard to find knowledgeable help in that location. It's gotten much better though in the last year or 2.

Another alternative to Tekserve in NYC is Mike Tech's Shop (http://mikestechshop.com/). If you head there see Mike he's a friend and former Mac Genius so he knows his stuff.

[touchdownjesus4]

Not meaning to imply you're lying, just that it literally seems fishy to have so many things "be wrong" with a sale at BB like that.

If I was that guy I would be asking for everything that originally came with it. Even if I was buying the display computer. But since this guy obviously had no clue what he was buying, he didn't pay any attention to what he was getting. He didn't even know what came with the box.

[bearcatrp]

I wouldn't trust BB's geek squad with a palm much less a computer. They get these guys out of school that don't know crap. They hate when I bring a friend in to look for a computer. Since they cannot afford a mac, I go with them so they don't get screwed over. The sales folks start to talk there crap, then I crackem on specifics. They choke. Then I tell them everything from the processor to the fsb, the walk away. Love doing that to the.

[alphaod]

The only time I've ever talked to Geek Squad was to return the overpriced and defective RAM I bought because Microcenter was out of stock and I couldn't wait for Newegg.

[gnasher729]

Any dufus that shells out this kind of dough for a laptop and gleefully walks out of the store without the original box deserves the Best Buy treatment.

What are the chances that he bought a refurbished Mac, but paid the full price?

[ttttaylor]

i bought my whitebook at bestbuy a few months ago. the guy working the mac table actually worked for apple (not one of the blue-shirted know-nothings) so i didn't really get any ********. i actually got it a day or two after the new specs came out, so that was nice. but yeah it came in the box with all the goodies inside. i got the best buy warranty as well. haven't had to use it yet, and honestly i expect them to give me a hard time if i ever need to. whatever.

[Sdashiki]

BB doesnt sell a "warranty" AFAIK.

Its a product repair plan (used to be REPLACEMENT plan years ago, if it broke for any reason bring it in, swap for a new in the box one right then and there) where they try to "repair" your item a number of times before giving a replacement.

In the case of Apple products, as this topic began with, its a bad idea to bring them for repair to GeekSquad/BB

[ttttaylor]

BB doesnt sell a "warranty" AFAIK.

Its a product repair plan (used to be REPLACEMENT plan years ago, if it broke for any reason bring it in, swap for a new in the box one right then and there) where they try to "repair" your item a number of times before giving a replacement.

In the case of Apple products, as this topic began with, its a bad idea to bring them for repair to GeekSquad/BB

oh, yeah you're right i guess it's not a warranty. but that's what i was referring to.

[Sdashiki]

What I meant to get you to realize was that you made a poor choice.

Go back to BB, "return" the repair plan (you CAN do this within a certain # of days of purchase unless they changed the rules).

Then with that money, buy applecare.

Now you have a real warranty that works and is worth a damn.

[ttttaylor]

What I meant to get you to realize was that you made a poor choice.

Go back to BB, "return" the repair plan (you CAN do this within a certain # of days of purchase unless they changed the rules).

Then with that money, buy applecare.

Now you have a real warranty that works and is worth a damn.

i bought it 29 may '09.... is it too late for me to return the plan?

[Kat King123]

anther reason i miss circuit city :(

[l.a.rossmann]

I never went to the Geek Squad at that BB but generally it is hard to find knowledgeable help in that location. It's gotten much better though in the last year or 2.

Another alternative to Tekserve in NYC is Mike Tech's Shop (http://mikestechshop.com/). If you head there see Mike he's a friend and former Mac Genius so he knows his stuff.

It's a small world! I fixed a white Macbook for a guy at a hostle for people who come here for business from europe in that area. He said he had went to a place called mike's first and was told at my prices I must be using used or defective screens!

As for the people selling macbooks with no box out of best buy, that's a great idea. If I ever switch to a career in thievery, I will get a job at best buy and liquidate my stock as an employee. :D

[Richard1028]

anther reason i miss circuit city :(Yeah, me too. All you had to do was tell them that Best Buy had the same item for less and they'd match it.

[JamesGorman]

i bought my whitebook at bestbuy a few months ago. the guy working the mac table actually worked for apple (not one of the blue-shirted know-nothings) so i didn't really get any ********. i actually got it a day or two after the new specs came out, so that was nice. but yeah it came in the box with all the goodies inside. i got the best buy warranty as well. haven't had to use it yet, and honestly i expect them to give me a hard time if i ever need to. whatever.

I don't know if its the same in the states as it is here in canada, but I opted for the best buy warranty because it offers all the same things plus a few more than applecare. The only thing I dont get is phone support, which is okay, since I Could do a lot of the things they would tell me anyway. The way the warranty works in canada is, you buy the best buy warranty, and than when you need repair, take it to an authorized service station or even an apple store, you present your service plan(some service places even have these in file right after you purchase your mac), and than they do the repairs for you, and bill best buy for the cost. Much like the apple warranty after 3 repairs OF ANY TYPE, excluding HDD, you get a brand new mac, of the current generation. That is to say, that if my 2.4ghz alu macbook needed repair, and it was the 3rd time, I would be given a 2.53ghz MBP by apple. It was to. Also it was to my understanding that apple did not cover power surges, which the best buy warranty did. Not that that was a selling point for me between apple care and the best buy warranty, but it may matter for someone else.