What is Digg?273 Comments
- hawksfan03, on 07/02/2008, -5/+190They didn't think it was strange when it took .2 seconds to backup his entire My Documents folder? Geek Squads incompetence never ceases to amaze me
- yargthepirate, on 07/03/2008, -3/+177I wish I had a job where I could take 5 days to back up a shortcut....
- benliles, on 07/02/2008, -4/+171That sounds like a standard geek squad. I'm surprised there haven't been more lawsuits because of their incompetence.
- basye, on 07/03/2008, -4/+146The only time Geek Squad backs up data is when you have porn...and then it's to their own hard drive. No porn? You're outta luck!
- MattFromSeattle, on 07/02/2008, -4/+103At this point, nothing that the Geek Squad does shocks me. I'm just amazed there's still people foolish enough out there to take their stuff into them.
- lambda, on 07/04/2008, -4/+98To be fair, at least they did a bang-up job of backing up the shortcut.
- inactive, on 07/04/2008, -3/+85Geek squad is just as knowledgeable as the guy that keeps recommending you to buy the Monster Cables.
- etherreal, on 07/04/2008, -2/+82Thank you Geek Squad for doubling my business in the last year. - Average Joe PC Repair
- Oddish, on 07/04/2008, -1/+76He "picked up the CPU and brought it home". *sigh*
- ivan423, on 07/02/2008, -5/+70So Mike doesn't know how to copy and paste?
- inactive, on 07/03/2008, -18/+65The Consumerist bashing Best Buy? Shocking!!!
Oddly enough, this guy was tech savy enough to be able to tell that a Trojan was slowing crucial processes on his computer, but not tech savy enough to know how to back his drive up prior to letting somebody tinker with it? Not to mention paying for a backup job he could have done himself, even if he knew nothing about computers. *****, if nothing else, just google "how to back up my hard drive" and save yourself some cash and a headache.
This story reeks of incompetence all the way around, not just on the part of Geek Squad. - ProphetSix, on 07/03/2008, -4/+50I don't know what's worse: the fact that anyone still goes to Geek Squad after all of the horrendous stories, or that anyone still wants to WORK at Geek Squad after all of the horrendous stories...
- wildfire, on 07/03/2008, -5/+45Well at least he didn't try to back-up the monitor...
- Rndm_Tngnt, on 07/04/2008, -1/+38Hey, it paid for my beer and didn't take any effort.
That being said, there are some real schmucks in that organization.
"Can you install a video card or RAM?"
"Uh... Like blindfolded or just regular."
"Regularly."
"Yeah. Of course."
"Your training starts tomorrow."
Sheesh. - brstilson, on 07/04/2008, -1/+38Geek Squad is not so much a tech service now as it is a vehicle of promotion for floor salesmen. Their main function isn't even to fix computers, it's to sell services to customers that the floor salesmen couldn't. They're essentially salesmen masquerading as techs. But in the customer's eyes, a "geek" knows what he's talking about, so if he suggests you buy something, you're more likely to do it.
They're the McDonalds of tech services. You don't go to McDonalds for a Filet Mignon. Of course, Geek Squad would be more like McDonalds charging you for a fillet mignon and giving you a fillet-o-fish. - coltrane68, on 07/04/2008, -2/+38This just proves that no matter who you are, you need to be your own tech support specialist. Never allow someone you don't know permission to screw with your computer.
- nukemunky, on 07/04/2008, -0/+35It sure beats having to lug a 20lb computer case full of components home. :P
- Lugano, on 07/03/2008, -1/+35The people that work there aren't actually "Geeks". Any real geek would actually be able to get a good job.
- Cubedude04, on 07/04/2008, -0/+34http://www.geeksquad.com/agents/detail.aspx?id=537
I like making dreams come true. - twiztidsinz, on 07/04/2008, -0/+32They most likely set it to copy then walked away and came back to it 3 days later and thought nothing of it.
- KLowD9x, on 07/04/2008, -3/+33"When we took the CPU into the Geek Squad"
No wonder they couldn't fix it right. I wouldn't know what to do with just a processor either.
/s - mtanis, on 07/04/2008, -0/+29"Wow that backup went faster than the last one..."
- bibble13, on 07/04/2008, -0/+29Sorry about your data but those who call computers "CPU"s inflict much of their own anguish.
- sims5487, on 07/04/2008, -1/+25I once walked into a Best Buy asking for an HDMI cable (I needed one quickly and couldn't wait to have one shipped from online retailers). He pointed to the rack I was standing next to. I said, "What about the cheap stuff?" ***** had to take me around a corner and two aisles down to find an HDMI cable of the same length for 20 dollars cheaper.
His response to my question was classic though. A simple "A ha", as if to say "I see we have a customer who knows what he's talking about." - sfcaptainrob, on 07/04/2008, -0/+24Apparently he does because he ended up doing it himself.
- Ravatar, on 07/04/2008, -2/+26Gotta throw out the comment spam on this one..
I used to do on-site work with this company a few years back (***** off bury brigade). This was nothing like the in-store service in that we were given the freedom to do our jobs however we felt necessary (although we have to answer to it later). Back in the day you'd meet with your manager a few times a month to go over numbers and crap, and that was pretty much it. And that's how it should have stayed. Once the managers got their paws in the on-site business it became subjected to the same "***** the company motto of accurate and swift, just do swift" in addition to "sell them everything".
As far as blunders like this, I can only attribute that to the fact that in-store hiring practices have changed over the years, and they also vary by store. I believe nowadays they just take whoever is the best at sales in the computer department and make them into in-store agents (lol).
But as far as on-site guys, we had a good measure of pride in what we did. We had the tools (yes, properly licensed) necessary to perform pretty much any repair that could reasonably be completed, and I feel that, in the end, I really did have a positive affect on peoples' lives. I helped a number of business get their start by installing their workstations, and network, and continued to support them as they grew. I remember people sharing stories of them breaking down and crying when they feared they had lost an important file, photo, or memory, before we came and were able to retrieve or repair their issue.
But, you don't hear about the positive stories, because that doesn't make juicy news. Instead, it's popular to prey on the in-store business (which is downright terrible). Why is that? Well, for one bean counter managers shouldn't be within 100 miles of geek squad business. But they run that business now. From the employees, to the sales tactics, to the failed customer experiences, I'd be willing to wager all that on bad management.
By the time I left the company my internal customer satisfaction scoresheet was hovering around 97% with $220,000 billed over about 1000 service calls, and I'd received more than 15 writeups for failing to toe the company line in regards to overselling, going the extra mile "unnecessarily", and refusing the manager's orders to leave a customer's house in the middle of a repair to take lunch breaks. It was a pretty fun job tho ;) - ogre2112, on 07/04/2008, -0/+23I've heard the computer called everything from a "can" to a.. get this.. "modem". Someone actually thought their whole PC was a modem.
- muldots, on 07/04/2008, -0/+23I work in tech support, and I hear people call their system unit some weird stuff. Usually hard drive or modem. One guy insisted it was called the Floorbox.
- iatethecake, on 07/04/2008, -1/+23Someone is definitely disappointed...
http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/3646/lolha9.jpg - Manumit, on 07/04/2008, -4/+26I work for Geek Squad, in the phone area (specifically, "Retail Dispatch", the place for stores to call in home theater installation/computer services that were just purchased). I find that outside of the phone departments:
-10% of the people know what they're doing
-20% of the people aren't too sure of what they're doing, but don't do anything wrong (experience issue, resolvable)
-45% of the people propagate misinformation (appointment availability, warranty coverage, etc.)
-25% of the people are just plain...awful
Many people where I sit, including my supervisor, have witnessed the misinformation process. Some consumer will buy a computer, they'll tote the "Performance Service Plan" (read: extended warranty) as covering everything, and to call us if something happens. So they go nuts, get a virus, call us, then find out removing it isn't covered. Same thing with home theater installation, they'll tote the wait times for someone to install something as low as 24 hours (which is nearly impossible to do), when the soonest time is 2 weeks out. This is especially bad for the "calibration" service (which can book out as far as 90 days, the max our systems allow).
Any questions about what goes down? ask here and I'll watch this thread for a bit. - Evi1d33d, on 07/04/2008, -1/+19Seriously the requirement for getting hired as a "technician" is ridiculously low. When I applied to Firedog I got a call 2 days later for an interview. During the interview the manager asked me if I have any computer troubleshooting experiences, I answered "Well do I use Windows...". It gave the manager a chuckle and I was hired at the spot.
For someone who have been messing with computers since 10, I was pretty disappointed at how easily I got hired.
Of course there are /real/ geeks that work there and do a good job on fixing customers' problems but that'll never end up on the news will it? - oMeSSiaHo, on 07/04/2008, -3/+20I love these stories because it sorta enforces the "I'm so damn smart" attitude associated with geeks. "Its so simple, just do it yourself". "Geek Squad is dumb, I would never make that mistake".
Granted that is a pretty stupid mistake but we all make them. Knock on wood I hope I am never distracted enough to do something like that to a customers computer but it *could* happen. Regardless the Consumerist is not to be taken seriously. They rank around Fox News when it comes to their fact checking.
*edit*
Just to make it clear, I dont work for Geek Squad. I could never wear those stupid outfits! - drakenlot, on 07/04/2008, -0/+17Guess he really didn't want his $150.
Wish I could say that. - inactive, on 07/04/2008, -1/+18Actually that's stored C://Windows/Addins/Stuffs
- inactive, on 07/04/2008, -0/+15 Remember this post when a mechanic messes up your car one day. Hey you were a fool right? You pretty much admitted you knew nothing just by going to him. They are supposed to providing a service as professionals.
- sweeneypng, on 07/04/2008, -0/+15In my Intro to Computer Science class, taught by the head of the CS department, I was taught that the computer (case and everything in it) was called the CPU. I tried to argue that, but the professor wouldn't listen. So, I finished the class, mislabeled the CPU on the exams to get points, then transferred to a school where they required you to have a PhD if you wanted run a ***** department.
- Wakkyweed, on 07/04/2008, -0/+14These so-called professionals scare me. Then again, the Idea that I would trust backing up my data to a stranger is laughable.
- WoollyMittens, on 07/04/2008, -0/+13Sometimes they back it up so far, it falls of the desk.
- PhrosTT, on 07/04/2008, -1/+14in their defense he did delete all instances of 'isShortcut' in regedit.
(kills gay shortcut arrows) - wilsgrant, on 07/04/2008, -1/+14I am an in store CIA, and while I agree our company hires too many incompetent techs, Retail Dispatch has some of the most brain dead people I have ever encountered on this planet. It is nothing but head aches with you guys. Please don't talk.
- ToastPop, on 04/17/2009, -1/+14I was a knowledgeable geek who was forced to push the Monster Cables if I wanted to keep my job. Trust me, I knew they were a rip off.
- supersayanyoda, on 07/04/2008, -2/+14Geek squad gives geeks a bad name
- Jeremyz0r, on 07/04/2008, -0/+12I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed that (twice). -.-
- roflbrothel, on 07/04/2008, -1/+13Geek Squad pretty much IS the guy recommending you buy the monster cables.
- paradigmx, on 07/04/2008, -0/+11and when you buy your own computer you can store it directly on the desktop, just like me
- Wavemancali, on 07/03/2008, -7/+18RTFA he did end up backing up his own hard drive, he just paid them to do it and it wasn't done. He was trying to save himself some time.
Had he not checked their work, or lack thereof, he would have lost all of his data. - chrisn750, on 07/04/2008, -3/+14Funny, that's the same thing the doctor told my girlfriend..
- chaoswings, on 07/04/2008, -2/+13They hire part-time teens who claim to know what they are doing with nothing to show for it. What did you expect? Also I still don't understand why people go to geek squad instead of a proper computer store. At least there you know it's their focus and not a side business. Your less likely to get screwed there.
Even though I say that I'm the one who usually does all the fixing on my computer unless it's a hardware issue. - imneveral0ne, on 07/04/2008, -1/+12why are you acting like you actually take your computer to them to fix it? if your disguising and encrypting your files like that, it doesnt sound like you need the geek squad to have a crack at fixing your computer.
- rodrigorules, on 07/04/2008, -0/+11those damn cables are expensive, the guy you speak of is only a few paces from the geek squad
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