23 replies to this topic 2 votes

[+warwagon]

So this customer calls me about this problem they have been having with their Dell XPS 410 system. It's in my shop and haven't miss behaved yet, but from what they tell me, the computer will work for hours, or days, but all of the sudden the computer will shut off, and then will go on off on off on off on of. If they unplug it and plug it back in it will go on off on off on off. The light on the front of the tower will just sit there and blink as it goes on and off. Then when they unplug it again and plug it back in it might work for a while.

So they told me they took this computer to Best Buy to have them look at it. So apparently they replaced the power supply, but didn't even give them their money back when that didn't fix the issue. On top of that they charged them for 2 new hard drives and a reinstall of windows because they thought a virus was causing the problem. Total they have put into this machine for repairs from best Buy is $1,000.

The one part they never replaced was the motherboard. Now it seems sort of obvious given the issue that the only thing it could have been was the power supply, Overheating (but that generally would cause the computer to turn off, not go bat **** (running a prime95 on the system now for the last hour and the temps look good) Or the motherboard.

But they thought it could have been a virus, *slaps forehead*

[threetonesun]

For $1000 you could have bought 3 new Dells.

[Charisma]

After the first paragraph I thought you were going to say it was going into sleep mode

[jimmyfal]

Best Buy has a $309 15.6 Asus laptop I-3 right now. I just set one up. It's nice for what it is. I have done some incredible battles with Best Buy In this vein. It makes me feel good about what I (we) do for our customers, when I hear horror stories like this.

[remixedcat]

how old is the system?

[notta]

After the first paragraph I thought you were going to say it was going into sleep mode

haha, that's exactly what I thought as well.

[+warwagon]

how old is the system?

1/5/2007 So over 5 years old

[Javik]

Retail outlets always rip people off for basic computer maintenance. In the UK places like PC world charge £50 just to look it over and that's before they even do any actual work on it. Being your own IT support really pays in this economy

[+Brando212]

it almost sounds like there's a short in a cord somewhere to me, or a circuit going bad on the mobo

[Farstrider]

Stories of this nature makes me wonder who the hell people (your customers) can trust when it comes to getting decent help for your IT needs! Is Best Buy's disclaimer so watertight, that when customers go to them, they have no recourse after a debacle like this?

Off topic: Who is "Miss Behave"?? This is the second time I've see this "person" mentioned on Neowin today!!

[M_Lyons10]

haha, that's exactly what I thought as well.

Same here.

Honestly, people should know better than to use Best Buy for anything like this. They're morons.

[flynempire]

Best Buy Sucks!! Prices are way high and the service overall leaves a lot to be desired. Newegg and the rest always! I would even take a CompUSA over them.

[Colin McGregor]

Same here.

Honestly, people should know better than to use Best Buy for anything like this. They're morons.

actually i worked at best buy and im A+, Network+, Comptia and MS Developer certified with some comp sci university background. I hardly consider myself a moron.

[cybertimber2008]

actually i worked at best buy and im A+, Network+, Comptia and MS Developer certified with some comp sci university background. I hardly consider myself a moron.

There are exceptions (why don't you have your own service with all of that?). I have been flat out told by a manager that they do not (typically) hire tech-savy folks like myself. They want sales people to sell the black tie services.

And if anyone hadn't seen it before... www.ihatebestbuy.com - funny stores from Best Buy experiences.

[+warwagon]

There are exceptions (why don't you have your own service with all of that?). I have been flat out told by a manager that they do not (typically) hire tech-savy folks like myself. They want sales people to sell the black tie services.

Exactly. For the most part they want people that don't know any better from what they are told to sell and say.