September 25, 2008

Funny little story...Or Not!

So... I took my computer in to an 'unnamed' computer fixer team to SIMPLY have more RAM put into it on Friday. In our casual banter I told the 'Geek' (oops) that it didn't run DVDs very well. I paid them upfront and was told it would be about an hour and a half. Great, I'd be back later Friday to pick it up.

Being smart... I called first! 'Geek' told me that he'd popped in a DVD and it still wasn't running it smoothly and that he'd like to download some system patch kit to get me "the latest and greatest of my Windows version". It was going to be another hour and a half.

Being not so smart...I showed up ready for my computer. Nope, not done. The patch kit download didn't go so well so now they wanted to do a system diagnostic test to get to the bottom of it... this is a $79.99 charge...that they were going to wave for me. Great, THANKS! Yet another hour and a half would produce answers to what the delay with DVDs was.

Saturday afternoon came and I'd heard nothing. I called...the diagnostic test proved nothing was wrong with my computer...um...I know that...I just wanted some more RAM. Anyway, now 'Geek' "needed" to wipe the machine clean and reinstall Windows. This is a $129.99 charge that they were going to wave, BUT if I wanted my data I owed them $99.99 to save it. UM...No Thanks. I'm good at backing up my stuff and have my own external hard drive...I'll be right down and do it myself.

This is when ALL FAITH in unnamed computer fixer guys is LOST!!! "Miss (how condescending!!!) I apologize but I've already wiped Windows off your system and unless you know DOS, YOU won't be able to get your data."

RIGHT! After we had words, I took my hard drive down and they waved the $99.99. I'm now at $310 worth of 'free' work done on my already working computer.
This was Saturday night. I just got my computer back Tuesday night. With all the phone calls that Sunday, Monday and Tuesday morning produced, I was, fairly politely, told that because I was not a paying customer my computer was low priority and that they'd get to it when they could.


WHAT?!?!?!
So...they jacked up my computer and
because I wasn't paying
I didn't matter!

When I showed to pick it up, the 'Geek' (who was actually very polite all along) offered to pop in another DVD just to check it out. NO WAY! NO THANKS! NOT EVER AGAIN!

11 comments:

Brittany said...

okay i would be P.I.S.S.E.D. !!!

julib said...

That is so the way it goes with computers. My husband is the geek I go to and that is always the way it goes. I can totally picture the whole exchange! I would definately avoid those guys if you can possibly help it! By the way, that sytycd show sounds so awesome! I would have loved to see Twitch in person! I am glad you went!

Lisa Cannon said...

Stupid, stupid geek! I hate that! Next time, just ask Mark. He would love to help!

tiburon said...

Oh I would be livid pissed!

Anners said...

What a nightmare!

Morgan Memories said...

Can I know who so I don't take mine there? Seriously!

Suzie said...

Niiiiice.

Crystal said...

So I've been to the 'Geek' that you took your computer too. I paid $99.99 for them to tell me my hard drive was ruined and no data could be saved on it. I was mad, it took them all of one minute to find that out and they would not give me my money back. I will never take a computer to them again!

Heidi said...

Okay... you're a nerd... Brian tried to call you like 3 times to help with the computer...

see? you should listen to your friend... :P

rachel said...

Oh yes...I know those geeks well. They were a big part of all of my computer drama a couple of months back...never again!

Omgirl said...

Oh my gosh, that is HORRIBLE!!! I so feel for you. I had a similar experience at M.A.S. in Orem. My computer wasn't running well, so they wiped my hardrive, took forever, and when I picked it up he said, "um it's running better, but we can't get it to shut down anymore. so just do a hard shut down." ??? so they basically left it crippled. So my husband wiped the hard drive himself and it works fine now. $99 later. It's such a racket with every Tom Dick and Harry Computer Geek thinking they can fix anything.