[dr911]

Hey All,


I've read reports concerning " Geek Squad"........here is the link: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff170242.htm

I live near the Best Buy Headquarters in Richfield, MN, and I too think the Geek Squad is ridiculous. Besides for Best Buys incredibly high prices, their young computer technicians seem unqualified, especially when you buy a PC and they assume that you want to pay 79.99 for Norton Antivirus without the CD, so they install it on the thier PCs.

One time Best Buy left that Geek Squad Software installer in a PC of someone whom I know, I checked out the CD, it was nothing but a CD full of Software Installers, and Microsoft Windows XP Key Generators and cracks which violates Microsofts Windows Laws. And this software was created inside of the Best Buy headquarters for the Customer! Just for myself, I made a copy! These people called for the CD and wanted it delivered back to their store ASAP! I hope Microsoft is okay with Best Buy using illegal CD keys to install there software onto a customers PC. So the next time you decide to bring your PC into Best Buy, and they re-install Microsoft Windows XP, check your version of Windows for a Legally valid CD Key!

Anonymous - Eagan, Minnesota
U.S.A.


Just my 2 cents worth !!!

[Alex Ethridge]

Maybe he/she thinks Geek Squad is a southern institution.

[RedHelix]

Originally Posted by dr911

Hey All,
I've read reports concerning " Geek Squad"........here is the link: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff170242.htm

I live near the Best Buy Headquarters in Richfield, MN, and I too think the Geek Squad is ridiculous. Besides for Best Buys incredibly high prices, their young computer technicians seem unqualified, especially when you buy a PC and they assume that you want to pay 79.99 for Norton Antivirus without the CD, so they install it on the thier PCs.

Sir, you have no idea as to what you're talking about. All Geek Squad antivirus installation services include the actual CD itself, so the customer leaves the store with the software physically in their possession. And even if the technician did keep the CD for his or herself, not only would they be fired if their boss found out, it would not be possible to activate it for antivirus protection on any other machine. One section of the Norton install wizard activates it and binds the product key to the machine it's being installed on. And besides, if you were to actually poll a number of Geek Squad techs as to what AV they use, I guarantee you Norton would be far from the top of the list.

One time Best Buy left that Geek Squad Software installer in a PC of someone whom I know, I checked out the CD, it was nothing but a CD full of Software Installers, and Microsoft Windows XP Key Generators and cracks which violates Microsofts Windows Laws.

Seeing as you've already completely made things up at this point, I don't see any reason why I should believe that. There is Geek Squad software that's specifically designed to legally install programs and Windows patches (such as a wizard we have that installs Spysweeper with the matching product key and a batch Windows updates,) but anything you claim to have seen on your 'friends' computer, provided you aren't lying, is in no way shape or form allowed by Geek Squad.

And this software was created inside of the Best Buy headquarters for the Customer! Just for myself, I made a copy! These people called for the CD and wanted it delivered back to their store ASAP! I hope Microsoft is okay with Best Buy using illegal CD keys to install there software onto a customers PC. So the next time you decide to bring your PC into Best Buy, and they re-install Microsoft Windows XP, check your version of Windows for a Legally valid CD Key!

Also lies. There are three pieces of software designed by BestBuy and GeekSquad for use in precincts:
One is MRI, which is a bootable command-line PE used for virus scanning, memory testing, hard drive testing, and CPU benchmarking. It's what we use for preliminary diagnostics to rule out the most basic problems before diving too deep into things like registry or hardware issues.

The second is GS Analyzer, which almost never gets used. It is a standalone program agents usually keep on their thumb drives that does several things: It does a very quick virus/adware scan, it checks the status of Windows updates and Antivirus/Antispyware definitions, and it gives the hardware specs a quick glance-over to see if any upgrades (memory, hard drive) would be applicable for the machine. It prints all of this information out in a little report card that you can print out and give to the customer. It's useful for selling services, but again, rarely gets used.

The third is MRI Customizer, which is a program that automatically installs Webroot spysweeper and applies all of the recent Windows updates. Right at the beginning of the program, it asks for a valid Spysweeper product key before continuing. There is no sign of piracy anywhere in this program.


We also use ERD (all of you admins and IT guys out there have probably heard of this,) which is not made by BestBuy. Rather, BBY has a legal contract to use the software until February 2006, which is when we'll have a regional GS meeting to discuss whether we want to use it permanently or not.

[Alex Ethridge]

Agents and Precincts--what a crock.

Okay, RedHelix, you claim a high standard upheld by Geek Squad; but, that doesn't change what I have seen in the field, which certainly doesn't jibe with your comments. I don't know what part of the country you are in; but, from my perspective, that standard doesn't get off the ground in Birmingham, Alabama USA.

[RedHelix]

Originally Posted by Alex Ethridge

Agents and Precincts--what a crock.

Forgive me for referring to people by the job title they were hired under. I wasn't aware that it would offend you so deeply. I suppose you're the type of person who cringes when a person says "foreman" instead of "line-level boss" or "associate" instead of "employee." To me, it doesn't make a god-awful lot of difference.

Okay, RedHelix, you claim a high standard upheld by Geek Squad;

Wrong. False. I'm saying that GS has standards above software piracy, stealing from consumers and the poor worksmanship that dr911 is accusing them of. I'd call all of that an average standard, if anything... certainly not high. I've never said anything to the level of GS technicians being better or even comparable to a corner-computer-store technician.

but, that doesn't change what I have seen in the field, which certainly doesn't jibe with your comments. I don't know what part of the country you are in; but, from my perspective, that standard doesn't get off the ground in Birmingham, Alabama USA.

What, exactly, have you seen in the field that differs from what I've said so far? What, so you're going to argue that GS and BBY, companies that thrive on retailing software, aren't against software piracy? That a multinational corporation, monitored by several federal branches of business, does facilitate and encourage installing illegal copies of Windows on consumer computers?

I can't even justify formulating a counterpoint to that. All I can do is ponder over whether or not you know how ridiculous that sounds.

[pamike89]

I will start off by saying i am a Double Agent for the Geek Squad. I have been in the IT Industry for over 4 years and have the skill set to prove it as well as certs. It is easy to use a blanket statement attacking the Geek Squad due to their size, so I reserve the right to do the same for Mom & Pop service centers. I have had to go behind many of these people to fix many problems. So, due to my experience I can say that all Mom & Pop shops are a rip off? Of course not!!! There are qualified service technicians whether they are the Geek Squad or a Mom and Pop outfit. So those of you who get off slamming the Geek Squad, you can go blind doing that.

[Alex Ethridge]

The comments that started this thread were specific in nature. They referred to specific events in a specific area all occurring within a few months' span.

As a service tech, I am offended by this kind of work. I am not usually called when things are running fine so I will admit if there are a vast majority of GS jobs done right, I am not in a position where I would likely know.

The law of averages in such a large organizations is that there are most likely a lot of good techs. In light of my own experiences, I guess the only conclusion I can draw fairly in that GS at least has their share of incompetent, I-don't-give-a-damn, just-let-me-get-the-Hell-outa'-here techs, just like all professions have their varying qualities of workers.

I still think this business of agents, precincts and badges is too much like the Dick Tracy games I played as a child and is very silly for adults wanting to present themselves as professionals.

[ekim68]

This just reminds me of people who are good and really enjoy what they're doing,
in what ever vocation, and people who just pass the test...
It usually depends on the individual..

[RedHelix]

I still think this business of agents, precincts and badges is too much like the Dick Tracy games I played as a child and is very silly for adults wanting to present themselves as professionals.

I don't disagree with that at all - I, for one, hate wearing clipons to work - but in all fairness it's proven to be an outstanding marketing tool.

[uofmfbal]

In April of 2005 i began working at the geek squad. 2 months later i was promoted to senior of the department from my outstanding ability to fix computers extremely fast and efficient. As of late though ive been beginning to actually look at how the whole place is ran. If an audit was done on about 98% of the geek squads you would find out that %60 of each "precincts" agents are incompetent and have no computer repair experience. (aka they dont know how to install a motherboard any more than 13 yr old acne ridden cousin). Virus removals are done with tools such as mcafee, adaware, spybot, and spysweeper. Now i believe mcafee and spysweeper gave permission to use there programs since they are sold at best buy. But i know 100% for a fact that adawre and spybot have never given any consent to this, but yet still geek squad uses it and profits heavily from the use of it. Ive seen customer sold restore cd's to computers and laptops that already come with them in the box. Ive seen multiple illegal copies of win xp and mce 2005 installed and the activation cracked. Ive seen agents completely reformat hdd's before a data backup is done due to incompetence. How do they get the data back? Ontrack easy recovery...cost....around $200, best buy paid nothing for its use. The MRI cd is ****, best buy profits of the free use of dft and mem test , found for free on hitatchi's web site and on majorgeeks.com. Our geek squad used a little program call PC-check by eurosoft to test motherboard controllers and processor's, making diagnostics a point and click test which required no skill or repair ability to be able to diagnose it's hardware. That program was $600 and was never shunned away by managers because it made them the bucks faster. BEST BUY CARES NOTHING ABOUT YOUR COMPUTER!!! ONLY YOUR MONEY!!! Geek Squad solely relies on the will of the agent working on your machine, and with rapid spread and growth needed for the geek squad to keep up with the stores being built and soon standalone stores, the incompetent hiring of employees will only increase with the years to come. Big Business and Efficient computer repairs do not mix, especially when that big business pays their "agents" **** in comparison to other it jobs. Geek squad is a joke, in every sense of the phrase. Never recommend anyone to take there computer there!! EVER!!

[RedHelix]

Precinct Seniors are made Seniors because of their understanding of how the department budget works... not because of their technical knowledge.(If anything, a lack of tech-savvyness, plus the current senior moving on to 'Deputy' and seeking out a replacement, is what will land you a precinct senior job.) It is an administrative position, dealing with customer problems, budget expectations, sales and leadership. In fact, the senior is almost never supposed to do any work on computers at all.

Now, question: SINCE you were the senior and you saw these terrible activities going on, why did you let them continue? It's your fault that your techs were employing illegal methods to fix computers in the workplace. It's also your fault that you allowed inexperienced techs to continue coming to work. As the senior, you're in charge of the schedule. I don't see any unionized BestBuys... if a new tech wasn't impressing you, why were you continuing to schedule them?

In my precinct, there were plenty of instances where my GM would hire an imbecile of a tech and my senior wouldn't give him any hours. He also made it completely clear to us that we are supposed to use store-authorized software like MRI and such. If that software didn't fix the problem, the PC was to be restored. To tell you the truth, if that software didn't fix the problem, even stuff that we weren't supposed to use (Ad-Aware, SB) didn't fix it either. Granted, using this limited software made life a little harder, but when BBY bought the license for ERD, life was bliss.

In short, I don't see why you're blaming BestBuy and GS for your inability to do your job properly.

[uofmfbal]

These procedures were implimented and being used far before i even got there. So you can throw those theories you just produced right in the garbage. Ive been to 5-6 diffect geek squads in our district and its pretty much the same chaotic micromanagement in each one.

[RedHelix]

The same chaotic micromanagement... that you're in charge of.

[Alex Ethridge]

Hiring uncertified techs without first determining, first hand, their capabilities, or lack of, is the responsibility of GS/BestBuy.

I used to be in the construction business. When I hired someone, I made him read a measuring tape, tell me how long a precut stud was, tell me what width joists were used for given spans, how many nails were placed into each roofing shingle and how far above the key, how many keys a standard composition shingle had, how much of each shingle was exposed to the weather, what thickness drywall was required for studs in sixteen-inch centers and on twenty-four inch, and a host of about a hundred other questions.

This test weeded out those who said they were qualified and were not. It also saved me a lot of headaches.

Before GS turns a tech loose to be supervised by anyone, GS should qualify him/her in a controlled environment first. I think you have a naive idea of the GS business model. Their point is to make money, with the customer's needs placed second to that. The pressure is on to complete a certain number of service calls and produce a certain bottom-line dollar amount or heads roll.

If you firmly believe it to be any different, you are very naive, very inexperienced in the business world, very young or all three.

[ekim68]

Originally Posted by Alex Ethridge

Hiring uncertified techs without first determining, first hand, their capabilities, or lack of, is the responsibility of GS/BestBuy.

I used to be in the construction business. When I hired someone, I made him read a measuring tape, tell me how long a precut stud was, tell me what width joists were used for given spans, how many nails were placed into each roofing shingle and how far above the key, how many keys a standard composition shingle had, how much of each shingle was exposed to the weather, what thickness drywall was required for studs in sixteen-inch centers and on twenty-four inch, and a host of about a hundred other questions.

This test weeded out those who said they were qualified and were not. It also saved me a lot of headaches.

Before GS turns a tech loose to be supervised by anyone, GS should qualify him/her in a controlled environment first. I think you have a naive idea of the GS business model. Their point is to make money, with the customer's needs placed second to that. The pressure is on to complete a certain number of service calls and produce a certain bottom-line dollar amount or heads roll.

If you firmly believe it to be any different, you are very naive, very inexperienced in the business world, very young or all three.

Wow Alex, I didn't know that much about construction, thanks. That's an excellent test.
(I usually just nail something and then my wife tells me never to try that again.)

But, in my experience in computer repairs, it comes down to this in my area. Either I do
a competent job or lose a customer....And, I agree when it comes to big companies'
profits....They make huge demands on their techs...