I recently purchased a high end Toshiba Laptop from Best Buy. I am a 63 yr old grayhaired grandmother and have used a computer for 20 years. I install programs, set up my own network, set up internet and Email and most anything else I want to do (except take it apart!).
I have been shopping around for awhile so I kinew just which one I wanted before the salesman belatedly showed up. Probably because I didn't ask any questions and had gray hair, he profiled me as computer illiterate.
He told me that in order for me to get the computer up and running, I needed to have them keep it for a few hours and get it ready for me—calling it "Advanced Security and Performance" He said they needed to make restore disks and get the AntiVirus protection started.
I fell for it and went home without my new purchase. I returned later and took it home—all for $200 extra dollars. First thing I looked in the re-taped box for the Restore Disks. Nothing. I called the Geek Squad back and the guy said they sometimes just partition the drive and copy the Restore data there. As I hung up I thought that makes no sense, cause if you can't boot up the computer or access the hard drive, how could you even get to it in a partition.
Then I turned that baby on followed their tracks to see what they had done for me. The answer—very little and nothing I could not have done myself. They had set up MSN for me and all its doodads and email. I use Firefox and Yahoo mail. They had installed Trend antivirus (and charged extra for the software) when the computer already had Norton AV on it (albeit for a shorter term). They downloaded Windows updates. DUH!
On this matter I kicked myself mostly. However a couple of questions from the salesperson could determine if a customer actually needs these simple things done.instead they make it sound major and mysterious. Or they could list just exactly what the service entails rather than "Advanced Security and Performance"!!
There was also another unknown charge on my receipt: 1 YR VI-SPY BTP for $29.99. So I returned to the store receipt in hand ready for battle. I decided that I couldn't ask for my money back for the work they had legitimately done, since I had stupidly agreed. But I was still mad about it because it was obviously a gimmick to get more money. Also I still didn't have the restore disks and what was vi-spy?
I went in ready for battle but SURPRISE—I guess I got the right guy on the right day because he apologized and promptly gave me my money back for the restore disk and the Vi-Spy. (VI-Spy was their service contract for a year of virus removal—should the anit-virus software they sold me not work!) In fact he was so nice, I should have asked for all my money back!!! Now I'm kicking myself for that...
But the money grabbing tricks are unethical in my humble opinion.
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