GRRR! Computer / Best Buy Rant!

[IdaBriggs]

My laptop is dead again. Please note the "again" part, because it is now officially 14 MONTHS OLD, and I have now taken it in for multi-week service THREE TIMES!!! The first time it was less than six months old, AND THE HARD DRIVE DIED! The second time it was less than EIGHT MONTHS OLD, and the POWER SUPPLY CROAKED. Now, it is 14 MONTHS OLD, and the SCREEN IS DEAD!!!

So, I took it back to Best Buy. Fortunately (???), I paid the several hundred dollars extra for the "extended warranty" so they want to ship it off to their facility, and I can have it back IN TWO WEEKS!!! (Did I mention this is the THIRD time I've had to have it shipped off???)

I'm mad as anything; I use my computer to make my living, and bought the "top of the line" model. Between the computer, the software, and the warranty, the whole thing was nearly $3,000 -- and its DEAD for the THIRD TIME in FOURTEEN MONTHS???

So, I asked for the impossible: I asked them to remove my hard drive, and put it in a "loaner" computer for the two weeks while I wait. They said they couldn't do that, but if I opted TO BUY A NEW ONE, I could return it in TWO WEEKS, and they would ONLY charge me a 15% RESTOCKING FEE (which translates to $150 for two weeks of computer use)!!!

I'm pissed. I'm pissed off at Best Buy and their so-called "customer service" and I'm pissed off at Sony for making this piece of crap, and I'm pissed off at myself for having bought it.

More importantly, I'm so pissed off, I want to DO SOMETHING, and the only things I can think of are a) rant at DU about it, and b) try to get some consumer protection laws passed in Michigan. So far, the one I'm thinking about goes like this:

Any electronic equipment costing over $100 and purchased from a retailer in Michigan shall be replaced at no charge to the customer within three business day if it has more than one defect within a three year period.

Comments? Opinions? Other Best Buy horror stories?

[Deja Q]

1. Sony = livin' off their name. But BB is VILE:

my floor model laserdisc player developed a fault. Of the 4 times I brought it in, they re-hinged the inner mechanism the first 3 times.

In order to bypass their own lemon law as it became time for visit #4, they simply claimed they cleaned it.

A toast to best buy:

[IdaBriggs]

3. What do you think of my proposed consumer protection law?

I think I need something like 100 signatures per something to get it on the ballot -- think I could make that happen in Michigan?

[Deja Q]

6. I'm hip to it.

I shall sign!

Maybe try for a national one too.

Won't fly in Bu$h's America though. :cry:

[sendero]

Exactly..

... I know so many people who think Sony makes good stuff, I've had nothing but trouble with their equipment (mostly audio/video), I won't buy it any more.

Especially ANYTHING mechanical, they just need to hire some freaking engineers who can make something that won't fall apart. :(

[Deja Q]

15. They used to, before offshoring began...

My mum's Montgomery Ward store brand VCR bought in 1979 or 1980 lasted 14 years.

No VCR since then had lasted even remotely that long. x(

[Lugnut]

20. No more Sonys around here

We had a 7 year old TV bite the dust and a stereo with a CD player that quit after very light use for two years. After a switch to Panasonic we're cooking.

[DELUSIONAL]

2. Brand and model of laptop?? Just wondering.

We bought a Sony lap top -- and it died almost immediately. We had to ship it off -- after they kept stalling and stalling. The thing came back with new problems.

I'd never buy any Sony lap top, camera etc. ever again.

[IdaBriggs]

7. Sony VAIO PCG-K15.

Awesome screen quality (until it went black yesterday). I've got it hooked up to a desktop monitor at the moment because I can't be without my computer for two weeks. I'm so ticked off, it isn't even funny!

:mad:

[DELUSIONAL]

13. Yep ours was a Sony VAIO

So when I needed a working laptop -- I looked at reviews -- for instance -- http://www.cnet.com

Has a good review of laptops -- I bought an ABS -- and this one was a good buy compared to others offering the same options. I've used it for almost two years -- including on the road.

I won't touch another Sony -- even if it was given to me.

[sendero]

14. Well there's your solution....

... external monitor, external power supply, external USB drive - you're all set!

Next!

[IdaBriggs]

18. Yup -- Just what I want in a laptop! NOT!

LOL! Let me just haul the desktop monitor around -- maybe it will fit into my computer case -- oh, wait a minute....

[immoderate]

4. SONY yet?

They generally cost 50% more than the others. Surprising.

That's one of the reasons I put off buying a laptop. I think it pays to get extended service waranty, I know CompUSA offers(ed) one. if it breaks, you smash it real good, and they replace it.

Now. Who makes a good laptop?

--IMM

[IdaBriggs]

8. Yup -- I got suckered by the SONY name.

The Hewlett Packard desktops we have around NEVER had any problems; they just got obsolete.

[Demonaut]

5. good luck, Sony makes decent units but I'm using my four

year old desktop because my two year old desktop bit the dust, both Sonys

[IdaBriggs]

11. Maybe I should just find two other people, and go for "class action"

status? I think there are a lot of other folks who have similar stories!

[cornermouse]

9. Their cheaper computers aren't much better.

Plus, I hate standing at the end of that serpentine setup that you have to go through to get to the cashier.

The fact is, I used to go there for fun and browsing every time I went to town. Now I only go in their doors if they have something I can't get anywhere else.

[Pab Sungenis]

10. Best Buy Sucks.

http://www.bestbuysux.org

[IdaBriggs]

19. Fun site! Guess I'm not the only ticked off customer!

Although the employee stuff is very interesting, too! :evilgrin:

[Submariner]

12. DELL Super Coupons site

I configured a $3100. i9300 yesterday and got it for $1800. The 40% discount coupon is still valid until tomorrow if interested.

http://www.supercoupon.com/Coupons/Computer/Dell_Home%3A_40%25_off_Inspiron_Notebooks_over_%24999/

[Clintmax]

16. File a complaint with Rip-Off Report.

http://www.badbusinessbureau.com/

Check them out.

[IdaBriggs]

17. Excellent website! Thanks! nt