Be aware!
Best Buy has a return policy of 14 days, even when your $550 computer crashes after 18 days. I purchased a Compaq Presario, and after the 18 days, Best Buy refused to repair/replace my computer. I was forced to contact Compaq, and they only wanted to send me replacement parts, and leave me without a computer for several days.
The new hard drive that they sent me ended up being completely empty, so I was left to wait even longer, after two horrific mistakes by both Best Buy and Compaq. After over a week, I decided to make the 90 minute trek to the closest Best Buy, deciding that I would not leave without a new computer. I was offered one, but was told that I would have to pay the difference, I refused, so I was given a computer model from last year, with a service contract, and the clerk put it in the computer wrong for the exchange, so I was out another $26, which the clerk insured me would be credited. It was not.
The new computer was an emachine, and the salesman told me that it was much better than Compaq, but the emachine died a few days short of being 2 months old.
I lost several documents and many irreplaceable pictures of my family on both of these computers, having faith that a new computer would last longer than 18 days or 2 months.
So I took the emachine back to Best Buy, and stood in the repair/return line for approximately 15 minutes, it's a very busy department. The man finally got to me and plugged the emachine in, and as I had told him, it was dead. He proceeded to take it apart, and realized that once again, it was the hard drive. I stated to him that I did not want it repaired, I wanted my money back and to get out of there and never have to return to the store again. He got me the manager she explained to me that their policy is that I could only have a store credit, or they would send me a refund in the mail, and the refund would be sent in 7-10 working days.
Now, when I buy something from a billion dollar company, they expect my measly amount on the spot. And this being the weekend after Thanksgiving, I can assure you that in every single register in that building that they had at least the $550 that they owed to me, but they refused to do that, quoting policy. So apparently no one in that store really cared that for a second time, I lost everything on my computer (s), and that I, the customer, was walking out of the store, without a computer, or a refund in my hand.
Well, I went straight to Gateway, which if you haven't been, it's very quiet, no flashing lights, no blaring music, no one trying to shove computers and accessories down my throat, but a very friendly associate, who explained that they get a lot of people that have come from bad experiences from Best Buy. There was also no huge sign that said repair/returns, apparently there was no need.
Do not buy at Best Buy, they want you to spend your money there when you enter, and never want to hear from you again, unless you are back to spend some more money.
Now, how can billion dollar companies treat the little guy like nothing unless they are getting more money from us? Why should I have to wait over 7-10 working days for MY money? I don't make billions, and that $550 was a lot to ME. And now, since the check has to come from out of state, I will also have to wait a few more days for my credit union to cash it. If it comes at all.
Is this fair? I don't think so.
L Bennett
Maine
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