Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Unfornate PC Observation at BestBuy

Harlowgold1

Harlowgold1

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 14, 2008
266
224
Ohio - GO BUCKEYES!
Hi All!
I went into BestBuy yesterday regarding a Canon camcorder issue. I saw the line and I thought what the heck is going on here? Then I found it was for the Geek Sqaud and I just needed customer service. I could not believe the number of new laptops and computers that were needing serviced!!!! Some were recently purchased and I was saddened when I heard the purchaser's stories. It seemed like there were so many major HP and Dell computer hardware failures. I typically do not get into the PC/Mac argument but I had to smile in that I wished Microsoft was filming this as their promotion. Yes you can save a lot of money with a Windows machine - but you also spend a lot in repairs - so sad!
 
wow

what a reply? sometimes i wish i can teach poeple how to answer a statement politely
 
Did you take into consideration that there are several times more people buying PC's than Macs? It seems statistically impossible for PC repairs to be on par with Mac repairs, even if Macs had a horrendous failure rate.
 
Gee whiz, that sounds a lot like the last time I went to Apple for support. Wait in a line twenty deep with a ninety minute backup at the "genius" bar. There were so many Apple computer failures! Maybe Apple and Microsoft should also film that for future commercials, you know, for comparison?
 
akonradi said:
Gee whiz, that sounds a lot like the last time I went to Apple for support. Wait in a line twenty deep with a ninety minute backup at the "genius" bar. There were so many Apple computer failures! Maybe Apple and Microsoft should also film that for future commercials, you know, for comparison?
Click to expand...

That's because most of those people were PC users who switched and have no clue what the hell they're doing and kill their Mac or claim it's broekn since they installed something wrong or try to install PC programs... It's kind of funny imo
 
0makol16 said:
That's because most of those people were PC users who switched and have no clue what the hell they're doing and kill their Mac or claim it's broekn since they installed something wrong or try to install PC programs... It's kind of funny imo
Click to expand...
Right... I've never once seen someone claim that. I stand in line behind disk failures, logic board problems, screwy screens, bad video cards, fried USB ports, etc. Maybe the occasional kernel panic... Face it, they use the EXACT same hardware systems. Apple's failrate is probably just about the same.

Also, how do you know that the people in line at Best Buy just don't know what they're doing with the OS either, since that's what you think everyone goes to Apple for?
 
stainlessliquid said:
Did you take into consideration that there are several times more people buying PC's than Macs? It seems statistically impossible for PC repairs to be on par with Mac repairs, even if Macs had a horrendous failure rate.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but the number of PC's sold from a single store should be roughly the same as the number of Macs sold from a store of similar size. So your point doesn't hold.
 
akonradi said:
Right... I've never once seen someone claim that. I stand in line behind disk failures, logic board problems, screwy screens, bad video cards, fried USB ports, etc. Maybe the occasional kernel panic... Face it, they use the EXACT same hardware systems. Apple's failrate is probably just about the same.

Also, how do you know that the people in line at Best Buy just don't know what they're doing with the OS either, since that's what you think everyone goes to Apple for?
Click to expand...

From what I have seen and heard at my 3 local Apple stores it's usually user error and not hardware error, I have experienced some hardware failure but that's only form older Macs that I owned (oldest is 5 years old and logic board died a month ago) And btw ur last sentence made no sense. The os is usally the last thing people think of when buying a computer, people go for well known brand names, customer service, realiability, or fanboy reasons.
 
0makol16 said:
And btw ur last sentence made no sense.
Click to expand...
You say that people go to Apple for support with software issues more often than hardware problems because they don't know what they're doing with the software. So how do you know that this isn't the same at another store?

Also, this is comparing a third-party insurance program against the manufacturers' warranties, which is again an unfair judgement.
 
alexlovesmacs said:
I think Apple should go there to film their next commercial.
Click to expand...

Just think of a commercial where Mac and PC are at a Best Buy and PC is waiting in a very long line for the Geek Squad. Mac could say that with Apple, you can book up to 48 hours in advance instead of waiting in a long line.

Hmm, I think I need to copyright this idea before Apple steals it. :D
 
This was just an observation and I apologize for lacking empirical data. This is a store the serves a small city. I am talking about a line of 2-3 people. They had chairs for them to sit in due to the lines. This was on Thursday at 1:30PM and we are talking about computers that were DOA! I have not observed this in an Apple store. I have a Dell as well and it is now five years old and have not had any problems. I just thought it was interesting and sad...

Jenny:p
 
Harlowgold1 said:
Hi All!
I went into BestBuy yesterday regarding a Canon camcorder issue. I saw the line and I thought what the heck is going on here? Then I found it was for the Geek Sqaud and I just needed customer service. I could not believe the number of new laptops and computers that were needing serviced!!!! Some were recently purchased and I was saddened when I heard the purchaser's stories. It seemed like there were so many major HP and Dell computer hardware failures. I typically do not get into the PC/Mac argument but I had to smile in that I wished Microsoft was filming this as their promotion. Yes you can save a lot of money with a Windows machine - but you also spend a lot in repairs - so sad!
Click to expand...

Well, with Apple owning only 5% of the market, it's not surprising that 95% of the people in the queue are owners of Windows PCs.
 
mdgolom said:
Mac could say that with Apple, you can book up to 48 hours in advance instead of waiting in a long line.
Click to expand...
You mean book an appointment up to 48 hours in advance to tell them when you will enter the line? Then you can wait a week for your repair. Or just take the <48 hour turnaround time that almost every manufacturer can give you for mail-in at no more charge.
 
To be fair, I'm sure if you go to an Apple store you'll find a high proportion of Mac users with problems.

Every time I've been to the Genius bar to get hardware fixed or replaced it's been full.
 
FieryFurnace said:
I think(guess), out of 10 computer sales at BestBuy, 9 are PCs and 1 is a Mac.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but my point was that you don't see similarly long lines (as described by the OP) at an Apple store or Apple reseller (of similar size and presumably selling as many Macs as the Best Buy sells Pee Cees).
 
geoffreak said:
Sorry, but this isn't new information.:rolleyes:
This is why we own Macs here.
Click to expand...

On the design and software, nothing can beat Apple. But even Apple's manufacturing quality is very spotty. I've bought, and helped buy 5 macs in the past 2 years and 4 of them have had hardware problems. 2 had to be exchanged within a week of purchase.

The Geniuses were very helpful and resolved the issues but quality across the board (cars, computers, tvs, etc, etc) gets worse and worse as manufacturers try to maximize their margins by lowering costs.
 
mdgolom said:
Just think of a commercial where Mac and PC are at a Best Buy and PC is waiting in a very long line for the Geek Squad. Mac could say that with Apple, you can book up to 48 hours in advance instead of waiting in a long line.

Hmm, I think I need to copyright this idea before Apple steals it. :D
Click to expand...

Save your money on the patent fees. ;)

Good support is essential to a company's success, but why would any company want to advertise that customers would ever HAVE any problems with their purchase.
 
I can't even remember the last time I was in a Best Buy! Course I'm a recluse most of the time anyways :) I do remember that the stores around me, none of them seemed very knowledgeable or helpful regarding *any* type of computer, Mac or PC... it was all about the TVs and stereo systems.

And I've never had a problem at the Genius Bar. I book my appointment ahead of time, show up early to confirm my appointment, and wait around for my specified time while playing with the new equipment. I never had an issue with waiting late, and always had my problems fixed the same day. Being nice to the Genius Bar person and having a sense of humor instead of acting mean goes a LONG way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back