TOSHIBA/BEST BUY nightmare!

murf e

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
6
Apoligize in advance for long post but it's a long story.

Purchased Toshiba Satellight C655-S5132 at BEST BUY in Roanoke,Va. On May 15,2011. On June 16,2011 I took the computer back to BEST BUY because when turned on, the computer would come on but the screen was black. When at BEST BUY the Geek Squad Tech turned the computer on but still nothing on the monitor, he then plugged an external monitor in but still nothing. He said that it was likely the video card and that he could ?return it to be repair under mfg warranty?. I agreed and was charged a $35 ?deposit in case it was something not cover under the warranty? (that was noted on the Service Order). After a few days I called BEST BUY to check on the status of the repair. The Geek Squad Tech check online and told me that the RAM had come unsecured and it should be back in a few days. SWEET! The next day the same Geek Squad guy, Steve calls me asking if I had made recovery discs because the harddrive in my computer was bad and had to be replaced. Since I had made no recovery discs (lesson learned) I was told that I would have to buy them from Toshiba. This mystified me that Toshiba would repair but not restore and send it back to the customer. I was given this long story about pirating issues and that it had to be this way. So I reluctantly purchased the recovery media $25.00. While purchasing the recovery Media the first thing I was told was if I had returned the comp. to Toshiba to be repaired that the the computer would have had the OS put back on it. But I did I replied. ?I took it back to BEST BUY and they returned it for me. I was told again if I had returned the comp. to Toshiba to be repaired that the computer would have had the OS put back on it. So I call BEST BUY again to inquire. Steve then reluctantly tells me that no, the computer wasn?t sent back to Toshiba it was repaired by Geek Squad somewhere in Kentucky, that Geek Squad has a contract with Toshiba to perform mrf warranty repairs. I was furious. After putting some more thought into this I wonder; the RAM coming unsecure should not ruin the harddrive. Seems like perhaps Geek Squad just replaced the hard drive unnecessarily in order to inflate the charges to Toshiba. It?s one of the most expensive components in the computer and can be replaced in just minutes. Jus? sayn?. After receiving the recovery discs and returning from vacation I take the discs to BEST BUY to drop them off. While there I ask the Geek Squad Tech about returning my $35.00 deposit. I was told that the $35.00 was for shipping. Luckily I had the original Service Order that stated that the $35.00 was a deposit for? He says ? oh no, that was for shipping? And only after I make an *** out of myself he goes in the back and comes back to show me to the service desk for a refund. Since I have the discs with brief instructions and a 1-800 number for support I tell the Geek Squad Tech to just give me computer back I?ll run the recovery myself. I?d had it with BEST BUY! They can?t be trusted! I will never return to a BEST BUY again. And I suggest that you do the same! After returning home I begin the recovery. Approximately an hour into the recovery I get a message ?can?t read source or disc? I call Toshiba and I?m walked through starting the recovery over. Again, ?can?t read source or disc? I call back and I?m told that I have to return computer to Toshiba (on my dime). So that?s where I?m at now. It is my opinion that since Toshiba is in business with such scum as BESY BUY, that Toshiba should take responsibility for their subcontractor, who made this mess, and AT LEAST pick up the tab for shipping and provide me with a new, unmolested computer. What do you folks think?

Oh yeah! I lost my PC Linux too. Thats gonna cost me another 12 pack of Bud to get replaced!
 

waterinthefuel

Commander
Joined
Nov 15, 2003
Messages
2,728
Re: TOSHIBA/BEST BUY nightmare!

Ironically enough I believe I purchased the same exact computer several months ago. Mine is still working fine though.

If you turn it on and don't get ANYTHING, not even a boot screen, it's an issue with the board or the monitor itself. If you get the "Toshiba" logo screen THEN it doesn't boot, that's a RAM or hard drive issue.

Wait, I'm trying to think, with RAM dislodged.....don't you still get a bios boot screen? Anyone else know? It seems like the one time I had the wrong kind of RAM I did get a black screen too. Shoot I don't remember now! :facepalm:
 

MTboatguy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
8,988
Re: TOSHIBA/BEST BUY nightmare!

Based on extensive work on computers over the years, as well as being married to a lady that runs a large computer orientated business, I would say, that Toshiba is on the hook to deliver the warranty service, ultimately the warranty belongs to Toshiba and they authorized a subcontractor to service their warranty. I would try to contact Toshiba and talk with one of their district managers in charge of warranty service, and make sure and document all conversations about this situation, so that if it proceeds in a fashion that does not satisfy you that you can contact and provide documentation to your local consumer advocate division. It is unfortunate that often times you have to climb the ladder one rung at a time to get satisfaction from some of these companies. I would also write a letter to the head office of Best Buy to express your concerns and dissatisfaction with your local store.

Good luck.
 

jlinder

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jul 5, 2004
Messages
1,086
Re: TOSHIBA/BEST BUY nightmare!

If you look over the internet you will find tons of horror stories about Best Buy and geek squad. I would never buy from them unless I assumed it was a buy as-is sale.

For example, they were caught a few years ago setting up a separate web site that looked identical to the public site but had higher prices and was what you got when you searched inside their stores. People would go in for a sale price, then if they claimed the sale price they would be told it was not on sale. When the sales people would call up the web site to prove it they would see the higher price. See http://ctwatchdog.com/2010/12/13/be...-over-secret-web-site-used-to-cheat-customers for one of the court cases.

Do another search on Google for "confessions of a geek squad" and you will find a number of articles from former employees about their practices.

Had a brother in law who bought a big flat screen TV back when they were $2500. Fell for the extended warranty package. When it died a few months in they came out, told him they needed to order the board and would come back out. Board came in, did not fix it, said they had to order another board. Pretty new $2500 TV took over 3 months to fix, all the time he is out of luck. When he asked about their clause that he could get a new one if they failed to fix it in a reasonable time he was told they get to define resonable - tough.

Sorry for all your troubles - hope it can serve as advice for people in the future.
 

rogerwa

Commander
Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,339
Re: TOSHIBA/BEST BUY nightmare!

I bought an open box LCD TV a couple years ago. When I got it home, there was a big impact spot in it that rendered the panel ruined. This did not happen in the transportation from the store to the house or in unpacking it.

They gave me a major hassle about returning it and said they would do it only this one time. I told them it was a good idea otherwise I would have blown a major gasket.

Even though they are a home town company, I am not a big fan and will buy elsewhere if possible. Usually if the unit is available eslewhere it will be a better deal. I really miss Circuit City as I had very good exepriences with them.
 

CobiaXL

Banned
Joined
Mar 8, 2010
Messages
353
Re: TOSHIBA/BEST BUY nightmare!

If ram was your problem,bios would've booted and sensed a drop in memory and warned you.Use toothpaste on the recovery disk,sometimes it helps with disks that cant be read.Wipe toothpaste on and wipe it off in a circular motion.
 

j_martin

Admiral
Joined
Sep 22, 2006
Messages
7,474
Re: TOSHIBA/BEST BUY nightmare!

If ram was your problem,bios would've booted and sensed a drop in memory and warned you.Use toothpaste on the recovery disk,sometimes it helps with disks that cant be read.Wipe toothpaste on and wipe it off in a circular motion.

Actually, there are disk cleaning and restoration systems in most of the office and computer stores that work fairly well. If you can polish small scratches out, sometimes the disk can be read.

Then attempt to do a complete copy of it with a good copy program. The copy should be good. A copying program won't give up on data drops as quick as a factory restore program.
 
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