Best Buy Geek Squad HT install Ymmv?

[Blu350z]

Best Buy is offering a $100 coupon off towards a purchase of a home theater system $499 and up if you are a Rewards Zone Premier Silver.

"Planning a home theater upgrade? Want to optimize system performance based on your room's physical configuration? Let the Geek Squad® professionals help you out.

As a Reward Zone® Premier Silver member, you're entitled to one complimentary Geek Squad® home theater consultation each year - a $99.99 value.

In approximately one hour our installation professionals will:

* Obtain an in-depth understanding of how you envision your home theater system.

* Walk through your home to determine feasibility for all areas of installation.

* Assist you with product selections and pricing, if desired.

* Provide a detailed estimate of work to be performed, including a diagram of layout that best complements your room.

* Hand you a $100 coupon good toward any future home theater purchase $499 and up.


To schedule your in-home consultation:

- Call 1-866-RZ-PREMR (866-797-7367)

OR

- Show your Premier Silver membership card to a Geek Squad Agent at any Best Buy store."


So im guessing you can just try and make some BS planning and get a $100 coupon?

[Blu-Benny]

i bought enough crap last year to qualify to become a silver member (laptop, hdtv, bluray player). i called on this. they said you have to buy a hdtv when you have the silver membership to qualify for the srvc. you can't just call and have them come over whenever you want. sounds good till you get down into the specifics.

[gochumonster]

Actually i went to my local magnolia center and scheduled mine about a month ago no questions asked. I bought my HDTV from them last january, and had them coem do my assessment this january for free and still got the $100 coupon.

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by gochumonster

Actually i went to my local magnolia center and scheduled mine about a month ago no questions asked. I bought my HDTV from them last january, and had them coem do my assessment this january for free and still got the $100 coupon.

will they calibrate your tv?? or is it just a suggestions/advice deal???

[Blu350z]

Originally Posted by gochumonster

Actually i went to my local magnolia center and scheduled mine about a month ago no questions asked. I bought my HDTV from them last january, and had them coem do my assessment this january for free and still got the $100 coupon.

How did it go? I want my tv calibrated, I just want them to look at my tv in my bedroom, I bought a Bravia a year and a half ago, I want to combine this $100 coupon with the $100 certificates I have to get a cinemate or something.


Thanks for the title change btw, I was rushing to work.

[MillerTimeNCSU]

Would you actually trust the $6.25/hr. retard working at Best Buy to give you advice?

Just wondering through the TV/Blu player section of that store and hearing the "pitch" coming from the blue-shirts is unbearable....and I love that store as a means to shop around....but would NEVER let them give me advice.

Prime example, over the weekend, I had to correct a sales rep who was trying to tell a nice older couple that the US Gov't's digital switch on 2/17 meant if they didn't have an HDTV, they couldn't get any reception on their 5 year-old tube TV anymore.

It seems like every time I'm in the store, I hear something absurd like that.

[Sammy]

There is no way that I'm paying anybody to plug in my HT.

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by Sammy

There is now way that I'm paying anybody to plug in my HT.

Agree.

If you do need an install i would recommend not using BB, instead find a proper install company in your town.

[Blu350z]

$6.25 that's pretty low min wage, I guess it's because I'm in the SF area.

It doesn't say they have to do anything. I can just pretend to be a regular customer and ask stuff. Then coupon.

[drWaLLs]

Geek Squad more like Joke Squad..

[Sammy]

I'll do it myself, thank you very much.

[SHines-IT]

Originally Posted by Sammy

I'll do it myself, thank you very much.

Exactly, heres a beer sit down relax. Let me teach you something, give me the coupon, get out.

[Blu350z]

Originally Posted by gochumonster

Actually i went to my local magnolia center and scheduled mine about a month ago no questions asked. I bought my HDTV from them last january, and had them coem do my assessment this january for free and still got the $100 coupon.

Is the coupon one of those printable ones that we can print out ourselves or photo copy or is it like all official and junk?

[Dexter Morgan]

Originally Posted by MillerTimeNCSU

Would you actually trust the $6.25/hr. retard working at Best Buy to give you advice?

Just wondering through the TV/Blu player section of that store and hearing the "pitch" coming from the blue-shirts is unbearable....and I love that store as a means to shop around....but would NEVER let them give me advice.

Prime example, over the weekend, I had to correct a sales rep who was trying to tell a nice older couple that the US Gov't's digital switch on 2/17 meant if they didn't have an HDTV, they couldn't get any reception on their 5 year-old tube TV anymore.

It seems like every time I'm in the store, I hear something absurd like that.

No matter how much I dislike BB, that's uncalled for.

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Originally Posted by Blu Atlas

No matter how much I dislike BB, that's uncalled for.

+1


I know of several employees at my local BB that are very knowledgable and respectful to customers.

[matthew_m_g]

Originally Posted by PS3+HDDVD OWNER

+1


I know of several employees at my local BB that are very knowledgable and respectful to customers.

While calling the Best Buy blueshirts "retards" is a tad extreme (though if you use Penny Arcade's term "register biscuit", I suppose I could let that slide), I still have yet to meet a competent Best Buy employee.

From selling off a television that I prepaid in full and had BB hold until I went back home to get a truck, to telling me X item is out of stock without looking (and then you find said item on the next isle over), to just extremely poor customer service attitudes and manners in general, BB is the last place I care to shop.

There's a reason that ever since Circuit City (who was just as bad, but without competent management at the top apparently...) crapped out, I've been making Amazon.com my new electronics shopping destination.

[Blu_Ray_Fan]

Originally Posted by Blu Atlas

No matter how much I dislike BB, that's uncalled for.

Agree. The geek squad guys actually do know what they are doing. Same with a lot of the guys in the Magnolia section. Yes, standard BB blue shirt employee's do not know all that much, but can you imagine what BB would have to charge if they paid ALL of there emplyee's Geek Squad and Magnolia wages?!?!?!

[Sammy]

I still am not paying somebody to plug in my equipment.

[Blu_Ray_Fan]

Originally Posted by Sammy

I still am not paying somebody to plug in my equipment.

Who would? This brings nothing to the thread. Can you ISF calibrate your HDTV like Geek Squad can?

They offer a ride range of services for easy setup for HT noobs all the way to custom in wall wire runs and calibration, just like any other HT installation business does. The whole point of Geek Squad installation is to further Best Buy in there quest for a monoply IMO. Also IMO, BB is playing all of there cards right. Nobody can touch them right now. If I owned BB, I would be making all the same decisions. You can go in and buy a 22" LCD for $250 all the way up to a $25,000 professional install. What more could you ask for??

[Trean]

I don't work at BB but based on my cousin's experience with the "geek squad" they know more than the average person that uses a computer. Now that doesn't mean they are great or even good at what they do.


But I do know (or guess):

That they get paid more than 6.25 an hour.

The people in the blue shirts at best buy... they aren't geek squad (at least at my local BB).

In addition these people in blue MORE than likely are not certified enough to be any sort of computer technician outside of a grade school or high school lab technician let alone fix computers under some sort of insurance & replacement policy that Best Buy has.