[nigmatech]

I have been working with computers for over 18 years now, first as a hobby, now as a profession. I have "rescued" many people who have had poor experiences with GeekSquad. Everything from trying to charge for parts that were not needed, all the way up to completely formatting a system without offering to back the system up. In those cases its really hard to tell the person that the digital photos of their loved ones will never be recovered, at least not without a monstrous expense. I have seen and been personally touched by the fact they are a large company, lots of turnover, and they employ 18-25 year old kids. Mistakes are made, things are diagnosed incorrectly, the people they hire don't have the practical experience to make a diagnosis. Think of these guys as computer doctors, do you want them to operate on your computer the very day that they get out of medical school? Medical doctors spend 2 to 4 years in a rotating doctor and hospital residency, specialists spend upwards of 6 years as understudies. Even in cooking they go to school, get out, and are an apprentice to a master chef. Experience counts, bottom line, and they don't have it. There ARE places out there that do, your mom and pop shop is your best bet for a quick fix-it for hardware. A friend of mine started techlivenow.com and they do a lot of software style fixes, os corruption and stuff that geeksquad formats pc's for.

[~Candy~]

This thread seems to breed first time posters

Why is that????????????

[1002richards]

Do other countries have their own versions of Geek Squad ? Could there be a Worst World Wide?

[~Candy~]

We don't have 'em in Mexico

[dorcom]

Appropriate name: Geek SQAWK

[Compiler]

uh... just because someone FORMATS a Hard drive - doesn't mean all the DATA is lost... someone who knows what they're doing can still recover lots of information.

There are tools out there that costs $50~100 that'll rescue data after a few formats. Restorer2000 does a great job. The Demo version has a size limit until you unlock it.

[lexmarks567]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

This thread seems to breed first time posters

Why is that????????????

cause most work for geek squad and want to say how wrong we are but theres jelous cause we FIX the problems right THE FIRST TIME and for FREE

[Compiler]

We'll... be honest.

Because of the many variables involved and the fact that we go by information that is given to us - it is trial and error with some issues. Or its more than one problem or various ways to get a problem resolved.

It is still easier to FIX the problem with access to the computer - physically or over the network.

BUT - we're not trying to sell someone a $4 USB cable for $40! Sorry, but printers do NOT need gold-plated connectors in fancy blister packaging to work. PS: Same for paying $10 go good quality AV Cables (not the $2 cheapies) will get the job done as good as $90 Monster cables.

[angelize56]

My experience with the Geek Squad has been negative and positive! When I first got this pc a short time ago...the printer wouldn't install properly...at the time I didn't know it was because of the Vista drivers issue...so I called GS the day I got my BRAND NEW PC WITH ALL-IN-ONE PRINTER to ask why it wouldn't install! For FIFTY DOLLARS the GS agent would tell me! My brother called the assistant manager of Best Buy....she had the GS man come right to my home after HE downloaded the drivers and install my printer....for FREE! The GS agent was very nice...but he did cause me momentary panic when he said installing the Vista drivers could cause my pc to crash! I asked what if that happened...he said they'd fix it or give me a new pc! How comforting! But all ended well! The GS agent even came over on his day off which was a Sunday! Since my pc is under in home warranty for three years...the GS better be good or I'm in trouble if I encounter any problems the way most of you are talking!

[fortwuny]

Heh,

I heard of peeps taking their pc's to GS and having a horrible experience akin to those stated above. But here is one for yah! I was at a seminar one night and afterwards this lady had told me and a few others about seeing something in the news that shocked her! A GS tech was at a client's house repairing her pc. She proceeded to take a shower while the tech was working (hmmm?!?). She noticed something strange so she open the shower curtain and found the GS tech video camming her with his cell phone. After hearing that I again put a brow down for the GS Team.

[Compiler]

1 - That is a TRUE story.... GS tech, cell phone in bathroom.

2 - While tech was working on PC - one of these girls took the phone or SIM chip out and ran to another store Radio shark or something, and found the video data and called the Police.

BUT...

3 - What is a lady doing taking a shower while a stange young man is in her home...
with her 12~14yr old daughter/sister (I forget).

4 - Is it possible the TECH left the phone in the bathroom (or other part of home) and she took it in there to film herself? Then use that to SUE BB/GS?

5 - Cell phones have very limited recording time, even with RAM cards.

6 - If the tech actually did this, it is not BB or GS fault.

[bdimag]

Dont blame the squad members, blame the leaders for hiring them...

My mom suggested I work for them - i said hell no.. mainly cause I wouldnt want to be caught dead in the driver seat of a bug.. no offense to any of you who might have one - i know theyre popular.. DOWN WITH VDUB

[skeetsquad]

Originally Posted by Compiler

PS: Same for paying $10 go good quality AV Cables (not the $2 cheapies) will get the job done as good as $90 Monster cables.

Not true.

1.Triple shielded cables are less likely to experience "digital cliff" when running at longer distances. Although you may have a digital connection, if interference and frequency comes into play(which it definately does on A/V), then losing any data will cause distortion to picture quality.

2.When installed inside walls, higher end cables are usually fire resistent(less likely to cause fire in insulated walls).

3.High end cables can run up to 10.2 Gbps. 2 times more than a standard HD cable. Full audio and video streaming without compression = no loss in quality.

My 2.5 cents...

...pwned by a BB/GS employee.

[skeetsquad]

Originally Posted by Compiler

There are tools out there that costs $50~100 that'll rescue data after a few formats. Restorer2000 does a great job. The Demo version has a size limit until you unlock it.

Knoppix is free.

[skeetsquad]

Originally Posted by nigmatech

I have seen and been personally touched by the fact they are a large company, lots of turnover, and they employ 18-25 year old kids.

Age ain't nothing but a number pops. This 25 year old kid has been fixing computers for a bit longer than you.