[~Candy~]

Originally Posted by Alex Ethridge

The person who does this work has to maintain a listing in one or more telephone directories, maintain a shop and storage space, pay for insurance on vehicle(s) and in some cases, be bonded, pay for a stock of parts and software and suffer the losses when those parts and software go stale (outdated), keep books, pay quarterly taxes, self employment tax, make books available to every local and federal agency that has authority to examine them, keep track of taxes he owes every city in which he does busuness, every county and for the state, not to mention federal taxes and licenses for every city and county. Oh, and don't forget gasoline and maintenence on the vehicle(s).

By all means, jump right in.

That is what folks never realize. All they see is BIG $ signs, and have no real concept of what it really costs to be in business.

And you left out potential lawsuits

[prescottn]

How many people on here have ever worked with an incompetent co-worker? I have 6 years experience in this field, and was trained by the US Navy. You all are slandering a company that is only a year and a half old. Geek Squad is enforcing more strict highering policies, but at the same time if you all are experiencing problems as severe as described (which I find hard to believe). Please call our corporate office or 1-800-Geek Squad and schedule a redo on your service if one is warranted. As for our prices? I'm sorry I spent 6 years in the military learning my trade not to mention many hours of school time. I like getting paid for what I worked hard to learn. I know my $#!+ and if someone in a different district/state/city whatever doesn't reffer them to me, and I can make your experience with a Geek Squad agent like myself more enjoyable, and your confidence in our expertise much more defined.

CI Agent Nick Prescott store 00421 Chesapeake, Va 23320

[primetime212]

Originally Posted by prescottn

How many people on here have ever worked with an incompetent co-worker? I have 6 years experience in this field, and was trained by the US Navy. You all are slandering a company that is only a year and a half old. Geek Squad is enforcing more strict highering policies, but at the same time if you all are experiencing problems as severe as described (which I find hard to believe). Please call our corporate office or 1-800-Geek Squad and schedule a redo on your service if one is warranted. As for our prices? I'm sorry I spent 6 years in the military learning my trade not to mention many hours of school time. I like getting paid for what I worked hard to learn. I know my $#!+ and if someone in a different district/state/city whatever doesn't reffer them to me, and I can make your experience with a Geek Squad agent like myself more enjoyable, and your confidence in our expertise much more defined.

CI Agent Nick Prescott store 00421 Chesapeake, Va 23320

sure...but $150 to set up an XBox ??

[~Candy~]

Geek Squad is enforcing more strict highering policies

Good to know

[Davec]

True, most people prefer taller geeks.

[RedHelix]

Originally Posted by dr911

Hi All,
GEEK SQUAD...pppplease !!!!

Here's what they chargeon-site)

Wireless Network Setup:$159.00
Add a Device to an Existing Network:$129.00
Broadband Service : $159.00
Media Center® plus Network Setup : $229.00
Broadband Phone Added to Existing Network : $129.00

.....etc

Oh come on. All of the services you've posted are in-home services for Geek Squad. No matter which company you approach in any industry, you will always find that's it's extremely expensive to have someone come out to your house to do labor. Plumbers. Landscapers. Carpenters. Floor finishers. Electricians. Painters. Cable TV services. Even those guys who come to your house to install a new windshield on your car. It's a simple fact of business that bringing the worker to you is never cheap.

Think of all the costs associated with bringing a GS Agent to your house. Company car payments, car tuneups and repairs, gasoline, the agent's wage, several hours of skilled labor.... you can say that those prices rob you blind, but in reality, GS hardly makes any profit at all by selling an in-home service. Plus, we guarantee our work.


In-Store services are not outrageously overpriced either. Sure, it's easy to say that $79.00 is way too steep a price for restoring an OS. But the reality is that that's a flat rate for all model PCs. A restore on an HP computer might take about a half hour, sure. But restoring a Dell or some model Compaqs can be an investment of over two hours. That's because you have to individually reinstall and fully update each individual driver, which is both tedious and time consuming. Average Joe Shmoe PC user has no idea how to do all that. That makes it skilled labor, and 80 bucks for two hours of skilled labor with guaranteed service is not overpriced. Heck, I have to pay a hundred bucks for a Sears auto technician to take 20 minutes to install a new brake pad on my car. Skilled labor is simply not cheap, and you're an uninformed consumer if you expect it to be.

[primetime212]

Originally Posted by RedHelix

Oh come on. All of the services you've posted are in-home services for Geek Squad. No matter which company you approach in any industry, you will always find that's it's extremely expensive to have someone come out to your house to do labor. Plumbers. Landscapers. Carpenters. Floor finishers. Electricians. Painters. Cable TV services. Even those guys who come to your house to install a new windshield on your car. It's a simple fact of business that bringing the worker to you is never cheap.

Think of all the costs associated with bringing a GS Agent to your house. Company car payments, car tuneups and repairs, gasoline, the agent's wage, several hours of skilled labor.... you can say that those prices rob you blind, but in reality, GS hardly makes any profit at all by selling an in-home service. Plus, we guarantee our work.


In-Store services are not outrageously overpriced either. Sure, it's easy to say that $79.00 is way too steep a price for restoring an OS. But the reality is that that's a flat rate for all model PCs. A restore on an HP computer might take about a half hour, sure. But restoring a Dell or some model Compaqs can be an investment of over two hours. That's because you have to individually reinstall and fully update each individual driver, which is both tedious and time consuming. Average Joe Shmoe PC user has no idea how to do all that. That makes it skilled labor, and 80 bucks for two hours of skilled labor with guaranteed service is not overpriced. Heck, I have to pay a hundred bucks for a Sears auto technician to take 20 minutes to install a new brake pad on my car. Skilled labor is simply not cheap, and you're an uninformed consumer if you expect it to be
.

yeah they hardly make any profit...thats why they make millions

[Colossus610]

Originally Posted by RedHelix

Oh come on. All of the services you've posted are in-home services for Geek Squad. No matter which company you approach in any industry, you will always find that's it's extremely expensive to have someone come out to your house to do labor. Plumbers. Landscapers. Carpenters. Floor finishers. Electricians. Painters. Cable TV services. Even those guys who come to your house to install a new windshield on your car. It's a simple fact of business that bringing the worker to you is never cheap.

Think of all the costs associated with bringing a GS Agent to your house. Company car payments, car tuneups and repairs, gasoline, the agent's wage, several hours of skilled labor.... you can say that those prices rob you blind, but in reality, GS hardly makes any profit at all by selling an in-home service. Plus, we guarantee our work.


In-Store services are not outrageously overpriced either. Sure, it's easy to say that $79.00 is way too steep a price for restoring an OS. But the reality is that that's a flat rate for all model PCs. A restore on an HP computer might take about a half hour, sure. But restoring a Dell or some model Compaqs can be an investment of over two hours. That's because you have to individually reinstall and fully update each individual driver, which is both tedious and time consuming. Average Joe Shmoe PC user has no idea how to do all that. That makes it skilled labor, and 80 bucks for two hours of skilled labor with guaranteed service is not overpriced. Heck, I have to pay a hundred bucks for a Sears auto technician to take 20 minutes to install a new brake pad on my car. Skilled labor is simply not cheap, and you're an uninformed consumer if you expect it to be.

That's the point this thread is trying to make
Skilled labor is simply not cheap, and you're an uninformed consumer if you expect it to be.
Geek Squad for the most part , is NOT skilled labor. No mandatory qualifications, no required industry experience, no required schooling, etc etc.

Most mechanics have gone to trade schools at the very minumum,(UTI, Lincoln Tech, that sort of thing in my area), so that 100 bucks for the brake pad means that that guy that can do it in 20 minutes has done it before, and knows how to do it correctly.

[prescottn]

Large scale problem = every single Best Buy in america has Geek Squad
Large scale problem = every single Best Buy in america has customers needing PC's repaired
Large scale problem = Geek Squad is less than a year and a half old. To say Geek Squad Agents are incompetent will insult a lot of respectable people. Rest assured there are people with huge credentials working for this company trying to make this thing work. In today's day and age what would you consider minimum hiring requirements for a Geek Squad agent? What could someplace like Best Buy afford to pay an agent with all the written qualifications without their employees throwing the one finger salute and walking out the door. I wish I could disclose pay info, but if you think we're ripping people off why don't you apply and see what we're making. There is an online test required as part of the application process. Geek Squad has employees filling a few different roles too though....
CI agent: instore computer repair
Counter OPs agent- mostly shipping, contacting customers, keeping work flow consistent in the workplace
Double Agent- in home computer service
CIA senior- usually the most highly qualified agent in the store with the most experience
Deputy- esentially precinct manager

[sglv]

Originally Posted by Colossus610

That's the point this thread is trying to make
Skilled labor is simply not cheap, and you're an uninformed consumer if you expect it to be.
Geek Squad for the most part , is NOT skilled labor. No mandatory qualifications, no required industry experience, no required schooling, etc etc.

Most mechanics have gone to trade schools at the very minumum,(UTI, Lincoln Tech, that sort of thing in my area), so that 100 bucks for the brake pad means that that guy that can do it in 20 minutes has done it before, and knows how to do it correctly.

Unlike my husband, who swears he knows what he's doing, until the brakes literally fall of the car in the middle of the intersection

[sglv]

Originally Posted by prescottn

that's our in home networking set up fee... Have you ever dealt with local DSL companies or cable companies over the phone?

They're local? Didn't know that. I swear every time I've had to call with a problem I'm dealing with someone from a foreign country.

Not only can I NOT understand a word they're saying, they insist that if I don't have the red and/or yellow cable (replaced with a better "white" or "black" cable mind you), that the conversation is over. I don't have the proper equipment. Next thing you know, I receive the "red" and/or "yellow" cable in the mail with a note to call them now that I have the proper equipment!

[prescottn]

Originally Posted by sglv

They're local? Didn't know that. I swear every time I've had to call with a problem I'm dealing with someone from a foreign country.

Not only can I NOT understand a word they're saying, they insist that if I don't have the red and/or yellow cable (replaced with a better "white" or "black" cable mind you), that the conversation is over. I don't have the proper equipment. Next thing you know, I receive the "red" and/or "yellow" cable in the mail with a note to call them now that I have the proper equipment!

I feel your pain....

[prescottn]

Originally Posted by JStergis

From what I have seen it looks like they are better out of the store, such as in training semenars, etc. Maybe as not to be caught for not prooving 'cost effectiveness'. Maybe that explains the advice some have given to buy some things that are unreasonably expensive and over-powered for the customer's use. Too bad you couldn't break away from best buy, eh? Anyway, many seem to think that one bad apple spoils the bunch, but in this case, I think lots are in for the money, and know nothing. However, there seem to be a few like you that care about the customer and work your hardest. Unfortunately, it seems like more of the 'I don't care' type in my area.

Three weeks ago I was fortunate enough to have gone to a Geek Squad trainging seminar in Baltimore, Maryland. There we did get to meet with corporate representitives and express our concerns as agents, and believe me our corporate reps are aware of those "I don't care agents". They are being and will be weeded out! I wish I could talk about money but damn I can't.... rest assured though it's not going into the agents pockets....

[~Candy~]

Originally Posted by sglv

Unlike my husband, who swears he knows what he's doing, until the brakes literally fall of the car in the middle of the intersection

Ah, so that explains THAT traffic jam

[Alex Ethridge]

Smety,

From what you write, one can safely conclude you have never run a full time business on which you have depended for several years for your entire support.