What exactly does Best Buy's MIR do? and is it worth the $40?
THey basically conned me into buying a recovery disc and "geek squad optimization". Said it was $60 and it comes as one thing. So I asked if there was a recovery image on the computer itself, he said no. So i buy it. Turns out to be $39.99 each for the recovery and MIR optimization.
Huge make the beast with two backs up...cause there is a recovery image on the disk...and i cant make anymore cause they made the only one....and the CD is CRACKED. :/ so that means i have to lug this thing back. to get a new laptop and save $40 to do the recovery disc my self. I just need to know if the MIR Geek Squad optimization is worth it.
What's an MIR?
I'm not quite sure I understand. You bought a recover disk and it's broken? How'd that happen?
What's on this recovery disk? I'm thinking anything they give you is generic drivers and stuff for reformatting your computer. I doubt it does anything more than that and you should be able to get all of the drivers for your computer online. As for data recovery I guess there could have been a backup program like Ghost but I highly doubt it. I bet Best Buy does have something for data retrieval when you lug the comp into the store but I doubt they'd give it out to you or sell it to you.
Optimization...? I doubt it's worth it but iono. I've never known anyone to spend the money on it. Everyone I know builds their own and does everything theirself or knows so little about computers that they just buy it and try to use it and don't do anything extra to it.
(its a laptop by the way)
I have no idea what their MIR is. But they said the optimization upps the battery life by 10%. From what i found out, its their own home grown tweaking of the firmware. And they provide updates...
THe recovery disc, from what they told me was a copy of windows vista on cd.
To my understanding that ment a genuine vista cd. SInce it is on the computer, should i ever decide to erase it and start over, i have every right to. It just turns out the recovery disc is made by a program built into the computer. It can only be made once though.
Im not sure how it was damaged, but the disc was cracked in 2 places when i pulled it out. And im not allowed to make another one. So unless they have a way of giving me another one (which ill return anyway, cause they lied flat to my face).
make the beast with two backs best buy
our old computer took a shit and I spent two days trying to reboot the make the beast with two backser.
I failed.
so then.... I hook up my old computer and try to add lms old files to it and her ms office stuff.
my old computer crashes
Fail #2
so then..... I scan the papers and see that best buy has computers on sale at a price I deem reasonable. I find a salesman/make the beast with two backsstick and tell him I want the package deal they have advertised. He says... "let me go back and see if we still have those"
I wait.
he then comes back and tells nope...all out. Two seconds later, a guy walks by with a cart (he's wearing the geeksquad outfit), and the salesmake the beast with two backs-stick says...." hey, is that the one I was looking for" the geek say "why yes".
The salesmake the beast with two backs-stick then tells me "cool, he have one, but........ this ones been upgraded by geek squad, and it'll be 20% more better and it'll only cost you 40 bucks more"
I look at the box on the cart.
It's still factory sealed.
I say.... "nope..... I'll pay the advertised price, and not a cent more..... and while we're at it.... ya mind telling me how the computer has been upgraded w/o even opening the f'n box?"
He then went to go find a manager and his dignity. I left while he searched.
I then went to Costco and left there happy with a new hp in my truck.
Ironically.....Best buys Geek squad is what supports the whole damn store. (that and holiday TV sales). They are a bunch of no good pieces of crap.
Im returning this thing and buying it else where.
Two options here.
1) Buy a Mac
2) Have a local build one to suit your needs.
I did option two and have had 5+ years and this machine is a champ. [thumbsup]
Yup. Built my own machine. It's like a tiny god.
^
MrI, that is an awesome description
[laugh]
Quote from: trouble on January 01, 2009, 01:00:31 PM
Two options here.
1) Buy a Mac
2) Have a local build one to suit your needs.
I did option two and have had 5+ years and this machine is a champ. [thumbsup]
1) What does a mac have to do with ANYTHING here?
2) I didnt know local people built laptops with 1 year all inclusive warrantys. Just to be clear, it is a LAPTOP. not a desktop....
Anyway... Bobsapa...thank you for that story. why? That sticker story made the difference today.
First thing he said, BB policy is to note return "services". The recovery disc which is part of the system itself supposely includes the geek squad optimzation. HOWEVER, according to him, i cannot make my own recovery disc because it wont have optimziation on it. Even though he said the optimization is part of the system, not the software.
once i caught him on that, he was spilling over his own words. But again, its company policy to note accept returns on software. Its a common thing, and luckly i purchased it with my AMEX, and AMEX will cover the costs once i call them up.
So with that.... I told him, then get me a new recovery disc. I dont know how your gonna do it, but get me one. They said, its gonna take 2-3 weeks and i need to leave the computer with them. I told them no. Not unless you credit my card the full cost + tax.
I said, how are you going to make a recovery disc if the computer only allows you to make ONE? they said they have "ways". I said, ways? you mean ghosting. they said yea. i told him to shut up and bring me a new computer. because im not losing time over their foul. By this time i had them beat in every corner, and they just said yea fine.
I go to the customer service area. LORD BEHOLD. its BP's story! A fresh new laptop box with OEM sticker sealing it. I said.
"Dude. whats wrong with this box?"
him: "what do you mean"
me: "uhh. hello. This doesnt have the $80 worth of shit i bought. Bring this shit back and get me the right one"
He walks away. and comes back. hands me that note book and says "we dont have anymore here."
me: "Then your returning my $80 back"
him: "we cant do that, you paid for a service..."
me: "where the F**K is my service then? I aint walking out of here until you refund me my money or get me one with the shit i paid for"
he turns around and goes back to search. comes back with nothing said i have to come back.
me: "wheres my mother f***ing receipt, i aint walking out of here with no proof that you took the damn thing."
he runs back up stairs grabs some sort of service sheet, i write my shit up on it and leave.
Going back tomorrow, getting all his information and ID number. calling up AMEX and getting a full refund through my CC.
ONTOP OF THAT. I LEFT MY make the beast with two backsING 8GB SANDISK SDHC CARD IN THE LAPTOP!!!! [bang] I should be able to get it back though.
that sucks that you're having all those headaches. I used to do tech support (pc and servers - i was the IT dept for a small-ish company). Computer half-wits drove me nuts. I got sick of dealing with computer headaches at home and switched to the mac about 10 years ago. It's so much easier. If you are able to not deal with windows machines, you also won't have to deal with "geek squad" nonsense or others like them. Plus, it's nice having a computer I don't have to dick with every so often just to keep it running.
Good luck resolving all that mess.
well, mac has nothing to do with this so.....
HOWEVER, i want the recovery disc becasue certain programs i use, are just easier to run on windows. aka, my rapid bike software.
other wise Ubuntu is my main bootup OS. i love ubuntu!
Best Buy is just evil. Period. I go in there to find cool stuff, then I (used to) go to (CompUSA) Circuit City to actually buy it. Or Costco. AND they trick people:
http://gizmodo.com/5075139/how-best-buy-sells-its-pricey-hdtv-calibration-service-deception (http://gizmodo.com/5075139/how-best-buy-sells-its-pricey-hdtv-calibration-service-deception)
AND
http://gizmodo.com/5119861/best-buy-turns-to-component-cable-deception-to-sell-hdtv-calibration-service (http://gizmodo.com/5119861/best-buy-turns-to-component-cable-deception-to-sell-hdtv-calibration-service)
I hate Best Buy. Scam artists!
Quote from: jclin on January 02, 2009, 01:03:55 AM
http://gizmodo.com/5075139/how-best-buy-sells-its-pricey-hdtv-calibration-service-deception (http://gizmodo.com/5075139/how-best-buy-sells-its-pricey-hdtv-calibration-service-deception)
AND
http://gizmodo.com/5119861/best-buy-turns-to-component-cable-deception-to-sell-hdtv-calibration-service (http://gizmodo.com/5119861/best-buy-turns-to-component-cable-deception-to-sell-hdtv-calibration-service)
http://gizmodo.com/search/geek%20squad (http://gizmodo.com/search/geek%20squad)
Not what I'd characterize as a stellar reputation.
I knew there was a reason I always hear circus music when they start pitching the Geek Squad crap. I wait until their lips stop moving and politely inform them that I'm a much bigger geek than any of their squad and if I can't do it myself there's no chance in hell they'll have it done for me.
Looks like one of those 'clear coat protection' packages car dealers tack on to the price to make some extra$$ :P
looking at the list...one of the things they claim to do is remove trialware from the pc which can be done on your own...but is time consuming...
if they gave you the machine with a fresh load of the OS with no extra crapola on it, that would be worth $40 to me.
but an even better idea if shopping for a laptop is to look online for the business version of the mfr laptops.
these tend to be made more durable, and without all the consumer trialware junk consumer retail pcs come bloated with.
I would also find one that will let you get XP instead of Vista.
Vista is a dog (currently typing on a thinkpad with vista that is slower than the old xp machine it replaced....just too lazy to wipe it and install XP instead)
Quote from: JEFF_H on January 02, 2009, 09:59:20 AM
if they gave you the machine with a fresh load of the OS with no extra crapola on it, that would be worth $40 to me.
lemme know the next time you wanna give somebody $40. ;D
Quote from: derby on January 02, 2009, 12:00:46 PM
lemme know the next time you wanna give somebody $40. ;D
me too
i'd let derby work on my 'puter....bobspapa....not so much. 8)
Quote from: JEFF_H on January 02, 2009, 12:13:33 PM
i'd let derby work on my 'puter....bobspapa....not so much. 8)
I aint fix'n shit.... I just want the 40 bucks ;D
More supporting evidence (http://consumerist.com/consumer/roundups/top-geek-squad-stories-to-date-257316.php) that the geek squad is a coven of retards. This is even out of date, so if you want more gasoline to pour on the fire, just try searching the site.
Apropos of absolutely nothing, I really like my iBook. I have never had to use it, but I have heard pretty good things about getting support through Applecare. Also, there is no Geek Squad in the apple store looking to victimize consumers with their special brand of expensive incompetence. So, as an option to avoid a windows laptop laden with Vista and OEM bullshit, Best Buy, and the perfidious support contracts pressure-sold to scared customers, I think Apple is worth a look. In general, I'm sayin'...
Quote from: JEFF_H on January 02, 2009, 09:59:20 AM
I would also find one that will let you get XP instead of Vista.
Vista is a dog (currently typing on a thinkpad with vista that is slower than the old xp machine it replaced....just too lazy to wipe it and install XP instead)
<thread jack-off>
+250
Vista sucks. Some of the models we have where I work run in milliseconds (Unix formatted computer). When we run them on Vista based PC in some cases we measure times that are 250 times longer.
well Vista on this machine is running faster than my XP on my old machine. Supposely, it has monster requirements to run.
Anyway....heres the story. Im on the phone with AMEX to dispute the $80 they charged me.
They got me. Twice, and theres nothing i can do about it. which make the beast with two backsing blows. because i look at the optimzation on the bill. Guess what it states? NOTHING as to what the guy told me.
-removes unwanted icons
-removes unwanted trial software
-turn on anti phising programs.
When i got my laptop, it was like it was brand new. Ontop of that, the recovery disc isnt made from my laptop. why? because it still allows me to make my own.
I got had hard by these 2 guys at the store. Got their name. and im calling it in. I really feel like starting a small claims against them cause im so pissed of. Really i rather just tune them up myself if you know what i mean. :/
walk in the store with a brick
say
"gee.... I wonder what it would cost to replace the front window of the store.......oh , and can I please talk to you about refunding my credit card?
...says the guy that sells windows [roll]
Quote from: JEFF_H on January 02, 2009, 02:30:20 PM
...says the guy that sells windows [roll]
it's a win win ;)
The consumerist has a lot of info on dealing with Best Buy:
http://consumerist.com/ (http://consumerist.com/)
Often they also have contact info, such as getting in touch with various VP's and CEO's. This typically solves things.
screw calling ceos, I'd rather just not give them my money..... ever.
my kung fu is strong..... theirs is weak.
Quote from: bobspapa on January 02, 2009, 03:13:32 PM
screw calling ceos, I'd rather just not give them my money..... ever.
my kung fu is strong..... theirs is weak.
No, but unless I misread him, he needs his money back so....sometimes escalating is the best way.
Or he can just sign up the CEO for every porn site he can find.
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 02, 2009, 03:17:42 PM
No, but unless I misread him, he needs his money back so....sometimes escalating is the best way.
Or he can just sign up the CEO for every porn site he can find.
brick in a tubesock
walk in swing'n
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 02, 2009, 02:56:28 PM
The consumerist has a lot of info on dealing with Best Buy:
http://consumerist.com/ (http://consumerist.com/)
Often they also have contact info, such as getting in touch with various VP's and CEO's. This typically solves things.
While I think it's good that sites like the consumerist are out there to PARTIALLY inform customers of the things that go on within various corportations, I also think that the vast majority of consumers are raging idiots (no offense He-man. I worked retail in college and most people don't know their asses from a hole in the ground). I can assure you it's insanely gratifying to have done your research and to control a sale when it comes to electronics. An "associate" who is mortified by your overall knowledge will bend over quite a bit more than one who thinks he's that much better than you.
As far as the qualifications for the Geeksquad folks, I don't doubt that they require none. Then again, has anyone actually tried to earn their A+ cert? Speaking of raging idiots..... It's not that difficult.
I try to shop local. Instead of the Duc dealership, I go to a local shop where I mesh with the staff and they treat me well. Instead of Walmart (I have no real problem with Walmart as a whole, I just can't stand the overall "hugeness" of being in their store) I go to the little shops. I don't buy guitar center, I buy from the little shop on 9th here in town. I'm on the cusp of being able to afford such retail experiences, so I do. When it comes to dealing with a corporation as large as Best Buy, you have to expect some corporate bullshit right along with it. With the exception of very small establishments, anywhere you shop is going to be staffed by at least a partial percentage of morons. Sure, the kid working in the computer department may not know shit about what he's selling, but he's making a few bucks to get himself through college. While I tried to make the best of any job I've had in the past, regardless of my personal circumstances, I've worked with a multitude of people who don't deserve college degrees. Moreover, many of the people I had to deal with while living in Southern Illinois as an employee in retail were far worse (and far dumber) than anyone I've had the "pleasure" of working with.
The consumerist does nothing but spread unsubstantiated rumors, some of which come from people that have been let go from places like the Geek Squad for reasons unbeknownst to us readers. I'm willing to bet that 50% of the "insiders" the consumerist recieves their info from are the same lame ass, semi-worthless employees I just yelled about.
*sigh* Rant over. I had a long day and the bourbon hasn't kicked in yet
Sorry to hear about your plight He-man. It is policy for many businesses in the service industry to refuse to refund labor (I'm sure a few auto mechanics can attest to this), but I'm glad you're still fighting. Good luck.
+1 jarv!
Heres the low down from my friend (studying EE, A+ cert, geek squad guy, why i didnt call him up i dont know)
THe MRI stuff, is their secret squrrel shit for Optimization. its a pun on MRI. Does it actually do something? yes. it starts the computer up and shuts it down much faster. how? it forces all programs to close no mater what, so shut down is less than 15seconds normally. Which it was on the pre opted computer. It also does small tweaks into windows registry to make it run much smoother. Again, something i noticed from yesterdays computer vs todays. (the one im on now, was not optimized). So my friend said, call corporate and play nice. I said okay. I call up and get in touch with this very sweet lady. sounded like she was in her 40s, and we chatted a bit (MILF voice!) and she said shed be glad to help me.
BAM. Authorized refund of the laptop, and they are sending me $80 BB gift card to cover the cost of the geek squad stuff! my friend said i can just ride up to his place (Mt Vern in NYC, only 1 hour away from my house, but its 15 degrees here!) and he can do the stuff for me for some pizza and beer!
Under his advisement, i should purchase the 2 year all inclusive warranty for $279.99, (hes done the following). After 2 years, your laptop is obsolete, and with that warranty, you can basically smash your comp, say you crashed your bike, and they will have to replace it with the model that is equvialent to that of that time. Since this laptop is a Best Buy Special, the HP Blue Label notebooks, its safe to say i can get the upgraded version of this in 2 years for the cost of only $279.99, which means i can have smash smash time on this thing when i feel like upgrading. Sounds like a sweet deal, and according to him, hes done it with display models. Hes ought displays wiht broken keyboards for 50% of, bought the plan, and ended up saving over $300.
Not sure if i mentioned this, but i left my 4gb SDHC card in the first comp. THe nice lady on the phone said, call and ask for the inventory manger Mike and ask for the tracking number of that unit, he shoudl be able to help me. I already have an open case with HP, so whenever they recieve that computer back, they are gonna ship the card back to me on their dime.
See how hard is it to just be fair? If they didnt lie to me this wouldn't of happened. either way i saved $80. So this is all settled when i bring this thing back tomorrow!
He Man: 1
Best Buy at houston street, salesman - Mike Feliciano store number 609: 0
I sure would like to make the beast with two backs that guy up though..... Defintely worth $80.00 to kick his teeth in, if only we lived in a Mortal Kombat world. :)
Best Buy sucks.
I wanted to buy a Dell for my firehouse.
I went and picked out a sweet one.
We had trouble loading software for a printer.
We called Tech support at Dell.
Yeah right.
The Dell techie told us that because we bought the 'puter from Best Buy they would not provide tech support and promptly gave us the number to Geek squad.
After talking to the Geek squad techie he told us he could fix the problem but it would cost us $75.00
I explained we were a Volunteer Fire company (And funds are limited) hoping that they would not charge us but no dice.
No problem.
I (we) will never buy again from Best Buy.
Thats another make the beast with two backsed up story....
Well. the best buy thats closer to my house ( but inaccessible via train) has such nice people. Its not even funny. I usually purchase there when i can ride. But the box is to big and its too cold. Well, make the beast with two backs it. i ponied up and geared up rode out there.
The lady refunded the optimization and a recovery disc. And best buy sent me a $80 gift card! So this computer ended up being 899.99 with the discounts i got hooked up with.
MSRP is 1199.99!
Bought it fresh and sealed. works super nice.
NOW its over!!!! WOOHOO!
Nice to hear that you got things sorted. [thumbsup]
For future reference, I do know a couple guys that build laptops. There aren't many but they're out there if you look. Some of the indie guys will support their work for a year or two as well to compete w/ the big box.