Comments on: Why Computer Repair Services Like Geek Squad Suck http://helpdeskgeek.com/random/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks/ Help Desk Geek is a blog for Discussions about help desk tips and how-to computer tips Wed, 23 May 2012 08:14:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Cindyhttp://helpdeskgeek.com/random/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks/#comment-135617 Cindy Fri, 11 May 2012 23:56:18 +0000 http://helpdeskgeek.com/index.php/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks#comment-135617 I took your advise and contacted a local IT Pro that my sister and some friends had used. WOW what a difference. MY PC was infected with some root kits and other junk . the Geeksquad said it had to be reformatted and they wanted 159.00 I took it over to the guy and he fixed it for $75.00 and the thing runs GREAT , he didn't have to reformat it. Told us all he had to do was runs some scans and fix a few registry problems. Places like Geeksquad are such a rip off I took your advise and contacted a local IT Pro that my sister and some friends had used. WOW what a difference. MY PC was infected with some root kits and other junk . the Geeksquad said it had to be reformatted and they wanted 159.00 I took it over to the guy and he fixed it for $75.00 and the thing runs GREAT , he didn’t have to reformat it. Told us all he had to do was runs some scans and fix a few registry problems. Places like Geeksquad are such a rip off

]]> By: John Palacehttp://helpdeskgeek.com/random/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks/#comment-126214 John Palace Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:20:00 +0000 http://helpdeskgeek.com/index.php/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks#comment-126214 Most of the Best Buy and other repair centers work on a "cookie cutter" recipe formula. that's why so many are dissappointed with their results. Also, as pointed out in previous comments, the technical expertise found at many of these "repair centers" is very basic. Lost data is very common. Backup your data before you go in, or better yet, do the repair yourself. There is so much help available on the internet, and some instructional products available to help you do it. Check out products like Home Technician which you can have as a resource any time you need it. Most of the Best Buy and other repair centers work on a “cookie cutter” recipe formula. that’s why so many are dissappointed with their results. Also, as pointed out in previous comments, the technical expertise found at many of these “repair centers” is very basic. Lost data is very common. Backup your data before you go in, or better yet, do the repair yourself. There is so much help available on the internet, and some instructional products available to help you do it. Check out products like Home Technician which you can have as a resource any time you need it.

]]> By: Ex-geek squad techhttp://helpdeskgeek.com/random/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks/#comment-124910 Ex-geek squad tech Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:55:48 +0000 http://helpdeskgeek.com/index.php/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks#comment-124910 I worked for Geek Squad in Nanaimo BC Canada, and was told one day that my job isn't only to just go into people's houses and fix things, I'm there to sell them things while I'm in their house. Very uncomfortable. They could care less about your teching skills. The entrance quiz they give you is all about sales rather than actual technical ability. I quit over the phone, my conscience couldn't take it, and the GM of Best Buy tried to guilt me out and lied to my former co-workers about why I was gone. He no longer works there, I've heard. Good riddance! NEVER go to Geek Squad. Take your business to your local techs who run their own thing, those people are smart and dedicated. I worked for Geek Squad in Nanaimo BC Canada, and was told one day that my job isn’t only to just go into people’s houses and fix things, I’m there to sell them things while I’m in their house. Very uncomfortable. They could care less about your teching skills. The entrance quiz they give you is all about sales rather than actual technical ability. I quit over the phone, my conscience couldn’t take it, and the GM of Best Buy tried to guilt me out and lied to my former co-workers about why I was gone. He no longer works there, I’ve heard. Good riddance! NEVER go to Geek Squad. Take your business to your local techs who run their own thing, those people are smart and dedicated.

]]> By: Barb Johnsonhttp://helpdeskgeek.com/random/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks/#comment-124122 Barb Johnson Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:24:16 +0000 http://helpdeskgeek.com/index.php/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks#comment-124122 I came to this site to check on Geek Squad and any other ideas for getting my computer fixed. My son put in a new graphics card yesterday and now it won't boot up. We recently moved and I can't find the boot disk for my 4 year old Dell PC. I'm worried. Want the thing fixed and am scared about getting ripped off. I'm going to try to find a local person. Thank you for this helpful site even though I'm not an IT professional. I came to this site to check on Geek Squad and any other ideas for getting my computer fixed. My son put in a new graphics card yesterday and now it won’t boot up. We recently moved and I can’t find the boot disk for my 4 year old Dell PC. I’m worried. Want the thing fixed and am scared about getting ripped off. I’m going to try to find a local person. Thank you for this helpful site even though I’m not an IT professional.

]]> By: Devanhttp://helpdeskgeek.com/random/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks/#comment-122870 Devan Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000 http://helpdeskgeek.com/index.php/why-computer-repair-services-like-geek-squad-sucks#comment-122870 I got into this type of deal recently. My laptop would not turn on so I though why not support a local business, so I took it to a small local repair shop. I am low on cash so the first thing I asked upon entering the office was "How much is your hourly fee?" the man behind the counter said, and I quote "We don't have an hourly fee." He then proceeded to tell me if I wanted to pay $50 to have it looked at quickly I could or it would be free to diagnose and he would charge me to fix it.I thought this sounded awesome. I would have paid an hourly fee, but I am more likely to pay a high repair fee when the diagnosis is free. When my husband went to pick it up(over two weeks later) the guy told him it was $35 for diagnosis. He then said he would waive that fee if I would pay the $35 as a fee to have the files transferred. He said the motherboard was shot and it wasn't worth fixing a one year old base model laptop. Really? It's not worth it to put a one hundred dollar part in to have a new laptop? Wouldn't that still be cheaper than a new one? Even if he charged a hundred to put it in. I believe he just wanted to keep my computer for himself and probably sell it to someone for a couple hundred bucks. So it went from no fee to $35 to give me my broken computer back. I really don't mind the fee....however I do mind being lied to. On top of that when I got home and plugged it in...."fried motherboard" and all, it started charging again. I'm assuming something was disconnected. It has worked ever since. I will never take anything there again. Waste of time and money and poor business ethics. These people give a bad name to "geeks." I got into this type of deal recently. My laptop would not turn on so I though why not support a local business, so I took it to a small local repair shop. I am low on cash so the first thing I asked upon entering the office was “How much is your hourly fee?” the man behind the counter said, and I quote “We don’t have an hourly fee.”

He then proceeded to tell me if I wanted to pay $50 to have it looked at quickly I could or it would be free to diagnose and he would charge me to fix it.I thought this sounded awesome. I would have paid an hourly fee, but I am more likely to pay a high repair fee when the diagnosis is free.

When my husband went to pick it up(over two weeks later) the guy told him it was $35 for diagnosis. He then said he would waive that fee if I would pay the $35 as a fee to have the files transferred. He said the motherboard was shot and it wasn’t worth fixing a one year old base model laptop. Really?

It’s not worth it to put a one hundred dollar part in to have a new laptop? Wouldn’t that still be cheaper than a new one? Even if he charged a hundred to put it in. I believe he just wanted to keep my computer for himself and probably sell it to someone for a couple hundred bucks.

So it went from no fee to $35 to give me my broken computer back. I really don’t mind the fee….however I do mind being lied to. On top of that when I got home and plugged it in….”fried motherboard” and all, it started charging again.

I’m assuming something was disconnected. It has worked ever since. I will never take anything there again. Waste of time and money and poor business ethics. These people give a bad name to “geeks.”

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