![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-176865-100x100.png\")
They were just checking it for porn. Duh!
They were just checking it for porn. Duh!
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1274025-100x100.png\")
I have to wonder if these so-called \"optimised\" notebooks are ones that customers bought and then changed their minds about the purchase while geek squad was \"optimising\" them. I can't imagine that best buy would be doing this for free, just to help the consumer.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-74896-100x100.png\")
@incident_man:
If only that was true. I found a bunch of laptops on a pallet at our local bast buy which were \"new this week!\" that had all been \"optimized\" and all cost about $30 more than the \"unoptimized\" versions available...
![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
\"optimized\" when done right generally means that all your windows updates are done. (including service pack2, which STILL isn't shipping with retail laptops, good work microsoft!)
trial programs have been removed.
and some modest speed tweaks.
@endless: So Microsoft is the reason why Dells don't ship with Dell branded SP3 disks? They really DO have their tendrils in everything!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1312305-100x100.png\")
@endless:
Thats because SP3 is shipped with any new XP laptop you buy.
You cannot get XP anymore unless you pay extra for it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-762676-100x100.png\")
@endless:
I doubt it. My guess is that \"optimization\" consists of turning the machine on, turning the machine off, putting a sticker on it, and raising the price by $200.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-690615-100x100.png\")
@YouDidWhatNow?:
I worked for Geek Squad for three months. When they optimize a laptop, they install the newest updates, but not from the Windows Update website. Geek Squad has their own software with updates built into it, so you are not getting the most recent updates. And through that software you edit the registry to remove the crap manufacturers put on it, like those stupid trial games, stupid trial programs, etc. You also use that program to remove start up processes. And if I remember correctly, the optimization does not include restore discs. You have to purchase those separately.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1037-100x100.png\")
@NumberEight: I'm guessing part of this optimization program also involves setting the browser home page the bestbuy.com and setting a best buy/geek squad background image.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-350350-100x100.png\")
@Hooray4Zoidberg: My mother in law bought a laptop at Best Buy awhile back and the salesperson was trying like crazy to get her to buy one of these optimized laptops (I'm certain he gets commission on them).
I didn't mind that, but what I did mind was when I pointed out to my mother in law that it wasn't worth it and I could do everything BB does to \"optimize\" the computer at home in a few minutes, the BB guy immediately told her not risk that because I wouldn't necessarily know what I'm doing and could FUBAR the computer. I told him I know full well how to handle a computer and I wish my mother in law would have walked out on the sale at that point.
Unfortunately she bought the optimized laptop.
So to her, a strangers advice weighs more then families.
Either that or she just did it out of spite.
Way to go \"mom\"!
@dragonfire81: Oh WOW. That's cold, dog! That's the last time i'd escort that ungrateful mother to best buy!!
@dragonfire81: Sounds like your mother in law trusts Best Buy's salesperson over you. And to think you married her daughter - yet she won't even trust you with her computer.
You are incorrect on price and what is done.
As for price, a best buy optimization costs $39
@endless: It is not Microsoft's fault that OEMs are not shipping updates pre-installed. You can blame the individual OEMs for not updating their images, and basically giving a giant 'F-U' to the customer.
We're always so quick to blame Microsoft. It is not always their fault. Just usually.
@RyanAEH:
I will give you I can't blame MS for sure on this....
BUT, NO one is shipping with SP2. Not, HP, Gateway, Acer, Toshiba, Sony, Dell.
And Dell is the one that gets me,Their images are fairly stripped down as is...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-738213-100x100.png\")
@endless:
I'd like the choice to do this myself, thanks Geek Squad but no thanks. That way I know its done right.
@JGKojak:
If you're so sure that you can do it \"right\" then clearly your aren't the Geek Squad's target customer.
The consumers that visit blogs such as this one don't represent the average customer. Most customers are pretty clueless when it comes to maintaining a PC and don't know how to do something as simple as upgrade the trial Internet Security that comes with a new PC with a new full copy.
Think of it this way, if consumers really knew how to take care of their PCs Geek Squad and other companies like them wouldn't be around.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-126486-100x100.png\")
\"...needed a laptop for internet access while cooking and eating.\"
I can't believe I lived for 35 years without internet access while cooking and eating.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-767887-100x100.png\")
@backbroken: @backbroken:
LOL
Ya, the \"needed a laptop for internet access while cooking and eating\" did pop right off the page, didn't it?
Sometimes these writers don't seem to read what they send to Consumerist and something unrelated to the letter matters more then the letter itself.
Not sure why the laptop was needed even had to be in this letter and I understand online recipes, but you need a laptop while \"eating\"?
@PLATTWORX: Umm, Hello?? How else are you going to Twitter your meal?? Telepathy?
Took a bite of potatoes
:minute ago from web
Chewing food 22 times
:less than a minute ago from web
Swallowed potatoes
:less than a minute ago from web
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-537475-100x100.png\")
@backbroken: I understand what the OP means though. I regularly pull up recipes on my laptop and have it in the kitchen while I cook, so I can refer to it without printing off a recipe (which can be 3 to 4 pages long). It's always a hazard because I only have the one laptop, and it irks me to put a $1,500 laptop near a stove or water, so I get why the OP would want to buy a cheap laptop if that was his purpose.
@merist: TOTALLY!
My recipe as follows:
1 lb. beef (or bison)
1/2 regular-sized can of black beans (I prefer Goya)
1/2 regular-sized can of red kidney beans
1 regular-sized can of Tuturosso tomato sauce with basil (these are the big cans)
2 regular-sized can of diced tomatoes (or you can dice about 6 tomatoes)
Chili powder
Paprika
Salt
Pepper
Oregano
Optional ingredients: diced onions (2 medium), tabasco sauce
Start by browning the meat and breaking it up so it doesn't become one giant mass of meat. Add chili powder and other spices, starting with 1 tablespoon and season it to taste. Stir your beef, then add the beans (drain the kidney beans, but not the black beans). If you're going to add onions, add them at this point. Mix that all together, then add the diced tomatoes. Then add the tomato sauce. Bring it all to a boil and cook for about 30 minutes to 45 minutes. If it's too thick, add some water. If it's too thin, take out some of the sauce in the pot. Less liquid will help the solid ingredients spread out.
A variation to make Texas chili is to add in a few chilis in adobo sauce (you can find it in either a can or a jar). That adds a little heat.
Add tabasco sauce if you want it any hotter.
I usually add a dollop of sour cream on top for flavor. If you accidentally make your chili too spicy, the sour cream helps to reduce the heat.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-488475-100x100.png\")
@pecan 3.14159265: Mmmm...I saved that on my 'puter as \"pecan pi's chili recipe\" so's I could try it. It sounds yummy. :)
@pecan 3.14159265: I feel the same way, I love online recipes but there's no way in hell I'm bringing my ~$1k laptop into my messy and chaotic kitchen during cooking. I generally try to go paperless, but printing off a couple pages everytime I want to try a new recipe vs. risking my laptop seems like a no brainer. If the recipe sucks I throw the few pages in the recycling, if it's good it goes in a drawer for future use.
@mizike: I have a little raised counter top/bar area that is large enough for my laptop, so I keep it there, far, far away from everything else. But when my hands are wet and I need to scroll up or down, it becomes problematic to have a laptop in the kitchen. I usually print off recipes, but I've found several that are very, very long, and I hate using the ink, especially since it's usually gross and wet by the time I get done cooking, and I would have to print off another one for future reference.
@pecan 3.14159265:
Thats what we do...Who keeps cookbooks anymore and printing is such a waste...It is cheaper and uses less space to just have a netbook on the counter with the cooking sites bookmarked. Plus it streams some background music/TV/Movies for when am cooking or cleaning alone.
I just couldnt imagine going back to cookbooks and counter radios.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-545239-100x100.png\")
@bender123: \"I just couldnt imagine going back to cookbooks and counter radios.\"
This is sarcasm I hope.
<3s her cookbooks
@bender123: I have a ton of cookbooks, and I love them. I take cookbooks to the kitchen too, because I prefer \"professional\" recipes rather than the home cook recipes I find online, which I find to be very hit or miss. If I do take my laptop to the kitchen, it's a recipe from a past issue of Gourmet, Cooks Illustrated, one of the Giada, Alton Brown or Mario Batali recipes from Food Network (though I do have their books), or Smitten Kitchen.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-365402-100x100.png\")
@pecan 3.14159265: Me too! I love my cookbooks, particularly the ones that are so well used, they fall open to the splattered pages of my favorite recipes - which is EXACTLY why I'm so afraid of ruining my laptop. Love the recipes on epicurious and foodnetwork, as well as a few other sites, but am worried that one of these days as I'm leaning over my laptop reading the next step, I might just drip something on the keys.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-267279-100x100.png\")
@backbroken: Actually, we use a lot of online recipes and I was thinking a netbook would be a good addition to the kitchen when I move and my living room is separate from the kitchen area.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-73986-100x100.png\")
I & my g/f have both bought PCs in the last year from Best Buy. In both cases they weren't opened or \"optimized\", but they tried to sell us the service.
In both cases they were super-cheap models that were on the website & stocked in he store but had no demo models on display. So they probably didn't bother optimizing computers that were only likely to be bought via the website.
This is no big deal. The Best Buy in our town only had \"optimised\" laptops and I refused to pay for this as Dell ships out recovery disks with the particular model that I purchased. BB said, \"OK, We just won't charge you for the optimization and we'll trust you to restore the system to factory specs using the discs inside\" I obliged and wiped their crap off the system as soon as I got home.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-609917-100x100.png\")
\"While I have no reason to think poorly of Geek Squad...\"
Obviously, this guy isn't a computer tech and doesn't spend much time reading reviews and customer testimonials...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-261962-100x100.png\")
@hunter3742: Or this man has no reason to dislike the Geek Squad. I know that hatred by proxy* is easy on the internet, but maybe, just maybe, they have never done anything wrong to this person first hand.
While they may be sloppy, I doubt the GS's mission statement is to ruin everybody's lives. They are still in business, after all.
*For the record, I hate them and I've never used them nor will I ever have a need to use them or purchase a computer from BB, but this comment isn't about me. :)
I bought a Macbook at Best Buy a few years ago in the mid-time when older models still exist as Apple rolls out new products. You can usually get those at a discount.
Best Buy had only one left in the model / price range I wanted, and not only had they \"optimized\" it, which, for a Mac, meant they logged in and typed the word \"Best Buy\" on the administrator's account (which took gymnastic feats to change) but they also tacked on a $60 surcharge for this special service.
In other words, they don't do it for free and they don't ask anymore. It's perhaps the lamest excuse for a money making service that I've seen in a while.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1348016-100x100.png\")
Stores like Best Buy & Staples that have pc services will always optimize at least 50% of their door buster laptops. Since they lose anywhere between 1% to 20% Gross Margin. Their overall goal is to sell you at least 250$ in accessories & services to make somewhat of a profit. My best advice is to buy online and do store pickup. While the Optimizations isn't really no more then Windows Updates, and removing a few applications that might have pop ups when ran. It is something anyone can easy do or use PCDecrap to scan and do it for you. Or your oder option if the Recovery Disc are available just run them it would be restore to the original MFG Specs.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-353294-100x100.png\")
I recently bought a new Asus G71GX from BestBuy.com and I would have raised holy hell if I found it to have been \"optimized\" by them. Thankfully, it wasn't. Plus, it DID come with its own recovery discs.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-468761-100x100.png\")
@edicius: I used to work at Circuit City in the firedog department...we would \"optimize\" a certain amount of laptops whenever the service was advertised in the Sunday paper. We usually just installed Windows updates and removed some of the bloatware.
If its got an \"optimized\" sticker over where the factory stickers are, you can return the pc at any time as long as you dont remove the \"optimized\" sticker...
But as @endless said, they run batch scripts that speed up desktop performance, download all the updates, etc etc, so that when you get home you dont have to sit around doing it yourself...
Its good for the joe blow that knows nothing about PCs... the normal tech savy person would look down on this, but Joe Blow needs it...
My wife once purchased an \"optimized\" laptop from Circuit City about a year or so ago. The price was inflated about $50 because of this service and it was the only laptop remaining in stock of this brand. I complained to the manager that this should be optional and he agreed to cut the extra fee.
Needless to say the laptop was still bloated and I had to reinstall the OS within a couple of months.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-147328-100x100.png\")
Concerns for privacy. What if the tech was one of the unsavory types, planting trojans and keyloggers on the system? Come on BBY, your little department has not been without some controversy in that subject matter.
All the more reason to raise hell with them over breaking a factory sealed package open. Not even for a 50% discount would I take an open box that they claimed they optimized for consumers. Someone else might, but you take the risks...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-39606-100x100.png\")
@Nighthawke: So basically you'd rather pay full price for something that may or may not have been opened than pay half price for something clearly labeled as opened. Or do you think \"unsavory types\" put big labels on all the stuff they open?
They try to pull this one all the time. If you decide to buy a laptop at Best Buy for some reason (fantastic Black Friday deal or whatever), make sure the item you get is sealed intact with the manufacturer's tape (not Geek Squad's or Best Buy's tape). And then open it as soon as you leave the register, before exiting the store, to make sure there's a laptop in there and not a brick or a rock.
Or try to find a matching deal at a merchant that has a better history of respecting their customers.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-665956-100x100.png\")
@clickable:
Deal or no deal, I wouldn't buy a computer from Best Buy. A CD or DVD, sure. But not a computer.
sounds like snake oil and market crap to me....
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-4808-100x100.png\")
I had to raise holy hell with Best Buy customer support to get a non-optimized laptop at my local store. The store supposedly only had one left in stock, which was optimized and they're supposed to offer you the option of ordering one from their district warehouse. They didn't. After an hour on the phone I had one ordered and ready for pickup at the local BB. I had a number of issues with their optimization: 1. Windows 7 ships in less than a month, so what good would their optimizations be anyway when I'm going to be doing a fresh install over the top of Vista since the upgrade is free?
2. Someone else opened the box and touched *my* \"new\" laptop... That's what's known as Open Box merchandise, not \"optimized, then sold for $50 more\"
3. Dell still ships all the recovery CDs with their systems
I've also read a lot of complaints from people who bought laptops and were surprised at how much setup they had to do for themselves to make them usable, including creating recovery discs for reinstalling the OS, removing bloatware, installing dozens of updates (including huge service packs), etc.
Bottom line: some consumers want \"ready to use,\" others want \"untouched by human hands.\" Hard for big-box retailers to serve both. If you want a computer that's still sealed, you might be better off buying it online.
@rdclark:
It is not hard at all. Best Buy can sell new unused laptops and when you buy your laptop if you want to pay an insane price for someone with very poor knowledge about computers to remove some programs off it for you then you can walk over to the geek squad counter.
Also those computers that have the bloatware are \"ready to use\" as is. Many people leave that crap running without any problems. I personally reformat any new computer I buy to get rid of it, but most people can just go to add and remove programs to remove them easily.
This is pretty standard practice for Best Buy, although I always hated it.
My tip would be to avoid a pre-optimized computer, but if you choose to go with it, don't pay for those services!
If you want a computer that isn't pre-setup and they don't have any that aren't pre-setup in stock, they HAVE to sell it to you for the regular price.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-222420-100x100.png\")
The other trick is for the retailer to ask you to come back later and they will \"test\" your new computer. This means, taking the older shelf model, cleaning it and repackaging it so they can display the newer model on the shelf. Say no thanks to open box. I'll test it myself.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-931793-100x100.png\")
@vastrightwing: This sounds almost as bad as claiming the government is sending aliens to get you. Every computer has a serial number on it. Stores aren't that pressed on having a immaculatly clean display that they'll waste the labour to clean a display just to pawn it off on a customer.
If the time is taken to clean the comp, why would any store not just display the cleaned comp and save the lawsuit?
The optimization is just a tool run by geek squad to clean off the crap that new computers come with....stuff like netzero internet, slingbox trial...basically most of the trial stuff that comes with the computer as well as changing some settings so it will start up faster. It also installs (well you are suppose to) Windows updates. Its run from a cd and and should not have been needed to be connected to the internet. Also if they only have optimized computers in stock and you do not want one optimized they have to give you the optimized one without charging for the optimization.......but don't tell them that until they bring you the computer.
As far as having key loggers etc......in my store we ran the optimization on about 5-8 computers at a time in the common area and our boss would randomly inspect them once we were done to make sure they were done correctly (some people would skip the windows updates). So if I were to buy one, I would not have any problems with an optimized one, but would not pay extra for it.
-Former Geek Squad Employee
@gaya2081:
Their optimization tools are garbage since they cannot legally use all the good programs like spybot without paying for them which they won't pay for.
Free programs for personal use are better to use than any geek squad vaporware.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-81067-100x100.png\")
\"While I have no reason to think poorly of Geek Squad...\"
I worked at the IT Helpdesk at a university for 3 years and students brought their laptops in to get setup for the wireless network (it's really not that hard...see that wireless network with the school's name in it? Yeah...) and the most screwed up computer I ever saw had just come back from Geek Squad the previous day.
In case anyone's interested, here's what GS did:
I was trying to install an anti-virus on this girl's computer and I was getting an \"out of disk space\" error. I checked under My Computer and there was a good 40 GB free on her C drive. I also noticed that there was a recovery partition showing under My Computer - these often don't show up (depends on the manufacturer) there as they are usually hidden. The recovery partition was showing as completely full - so I right-clicked on an icon on her desktop and lo and behold it was showing that it was on the full D drive. Turns out she had taken it in to have some virus and spyware stuff taken care of. Geek Squad backed up her hard drive, reinstalled her OS over her recovery partition (so now she's screwed), copied her files back over with out scanning them for viruses and charged her $350. I explained what had happened and that they had actually made things a whole lot worse. She was going to try and get a refund and one of the other guys at the Helpdesk offered to reinstall her OS the right way for $75.
@Donathius: Took my gf's macbook in for a warranty repair (don't live near an Apple store), and the GS guy tried to tell us that because there was only a week left in the warranty, Apple might not fix it, and we should just buy a new laptop (on their credit card). Got it back, and the bottom of the case had something poking out from the inside. Made the 100 mile trek to a for-realsies Apple store, and when GS put the laptop back together, they put a screw in the wrong place, and it was coming through the case. Long story short, I have plenty of reason to think poorly of Geek Squad, as should the rest of the first world.
@Donathius:
At the college help desk I worked at we orginally would have reinstalled it for free, but then we encountered a messed up laptop and tried to fix it, but it was a hardware issue. The girl then tried to blame the school's IT for it so then after that we had to tell everyone to call their manufacturer or find a computer repair service like geek squad if they needed anything that we could not tell them to do over the phone.
I felt so dirty in that something we could have fixed in under an hour they were going to have to pay geek squad like $300 to fix. Geek Squad sucks.
Actually, I had the same issue with Staples; their manager's solution, go get it a different store; this was in winter and I didn't want to go elsewhere (it was cold, ok? :) ). A quick call to corporate explaining my position (it's listed for $N, the ad is for $N and they can't explain why I'd need to pay $N+80; note that HP included the recovery CDs already), corporate called the manager and presto, they would \"undo the optimization by re-installing the OS\" and then I could take it for the advertised price. Time from \"go elsewhere\" to \"let's forget what I said, you can have it\"... oh, 15 minutes; going the other store would have been 45 minutes.
The HP netbook is quite nice though :D
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-453211-100x100.png\")
@ShyamasriPera2: Yes, but sitting around while the drive is wiped and the OS reinstalled takes much longer than 45 minutes...
@supercereal: Not really, I told them to wipe it and give it back to me. 5 minutes of their time; 20 minutes of my time to install centos.
I don't see an issue... If I was going to get the full Geek Squad setup (optimization, recovery disks, etc.) I would rather it be finished when I purchase the computer as opposed to having to wait a few hours to take the computer home. If you're that paranoid about privacy, buy one of their many unopened computers.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-188304-100x100.png\")
@mrm514: You do understand that when they say optimize all they do is click the recovery cd creator and put a disk in and tell it to burn.
Anyone could do it. You also realize they tack on an extra charge as well dont you?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-92115-100x100.png\")
Sigh, no, that's not all that's done. Yes, most of it could be done by someone you know. No, most people are too dumb/lazy to actually do what's done by the Geek Squad.
That being said, I know for a fact that if there is only ONE computer left, and that ONE computer has been optimized, and they can't convince you that buying an optimization is a good idea, they will SELL YOU THAT ONE LAPTOP WITH THE OPTIMIZATION WITHOUT CHARGING YOU FOR IT.
Fact.
Cry about it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-344098-100x100.png\")
@mrm514:
I think you missed the point where people are complaining that it's not an option and GeekSquad is doing this to entire in-stock inventories in order to bamboozle the customer.
Except they are not doing it to all their in-stock computers. This just happened to be the last one left.
@mrm514:
You, sir, need to take your logic and leave this website. Can't you see we're in the middle of a BestBuy circle jerk?
I don't know about other states, but this would SEEM to violate Consumer Protection laws about what meets the legal definition of \"new\".
If the dealership has driven the car around for a while internally, they have to sell it as a \"demo\" or even \"used\". Just as, if Best Buy has taken the laptop for a spin, and they're not the manufacturer, they might have made it no longer \"new\", and thus they would be unable to sell it as such.
@Derek Balling: It would violate what is considered new since the original packaging had been opened and tampered with.
Also, if they \"optimized\" it, then they accepted the EULA for me, which is what I'm more worried about. What if I didn't want to accept the Windows EULA? What do I do now?
We all knew for years and years, that Best Buy had horrible service...if we had stopped buying from them because they do have great product selection, then they might have gotten the clue earlier...
Your service sucks Best Buy.....always has....
Whenever i go to a store, rare to get any real help, instead of a service i get a sales pitch from people who have no clue...
More aware of each products extended warranty, than actual product knowledge...
Yes you have to make a profit, but if you don't know your own product line, and giving the customers what they want and expect, is not within your reach, then maybe it's time to just shut down...
I hope so..
I was at a BB recently and a sales rep was trying to upsell this to a roob who bought it.
I work at Geek Squad. I will FULLY confirm this, and I HATE it with a passion.
Our district manager (we're talking corporate here) rides on my general manager (who then rides on my DCI [my direct boss]) about pre-optimizations. 40% to 60% of ALL NOTEBOOKS are required to be pre-opted (plus 30% with restore discs made as well [$29.99]). Usually I enjoy my job, except when I'm the sucker unfortunate enough to be assigned to be doing pre-ops all fraggin day. Unpacking and repacking times a thousand, plus restore disc creations (2 hours each, when it WORKS) that fail repeatedly because HP and Acer's restore programs are glitchy as hell and finicky about particular disc media. Grrrrrrrr.
The real pisser is when we're out of sealed computers. If you REALLY don't want that optimization, lucky you, it becomes free because we're not going to DOUBLE our lost time and labor by spending another hour reverting it. Our time spent with that machine is wasted and unproductive.
Footnote: That $39.99 optimization is just SP2, patches, and a quick run of a \"trade secret\" optimizer tool that does very little but make a few appearance tweaks. The expectation is that a customer will be much more open to buying a $39.99 optimization if it's already ready to go and don't have to wait an hour my team to do it. Doing it to save time isn't a horrible idea, but the benefits don't outweigh the negatives and the hassle.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-38763-100x100.png\")
The worst part about the \"optimization\", they tack more than $100 onto the price of the computer for the service which isn't advertised on the signs above the machines on display. When I see a broken seal at a store, especially at one like best buy, my internal warning system goes off.
when i bought a laptop for my wife and myself a few months ago, i specifically asked the best buy guy for laptops that were sealed from the manufacturer, and had not been opened/unsealed by anyone. i did not want one of those \"optimized\" laptops. i told him i like to be the first one to open up the box :)
That's a bunch of bullshit if you ask me. I've NEVER in my life come across a laptop that didn't come with it's CD's. A bunch of liars the Best Buy lot are. It burns me up seeing them take advantage of the layperson like that.
@UGAdawg: If you've NEVER come across a laptop that doesn't come with recovery discs you obviously haven't opened many retail computers in the last 3 or 4 years. I worked at Best Buy 2 years ago and back then the only computers that came with recovery discs were Toshibas, Sonys, and a couple of random Gateways. Everything else had a recovery partition with a software wizard for creating the recovery discs. Try not to spew bullshit when you don't know what you're talking about. It just makes you look stupid.
@UGAdawg:
3 years ago I worked for the help desk at my Uni and HP/Compaq has already stopped packing in the recovery media, and there were a lot of students who were hosed when their systems crashed due to viruses or spyware infections. Luckily, we had a deal with Microsoft where students could get full copies of Win XP Pro for cheap, so they usually ended up OK, our services were free to the students who had signed up for ResNet services, so they saved hundreds over what GS would have charged.
@ganzhimself: Did you look to see if there was a recovery partition installed? I know with the Dell's that my university purchases we have that and the recovery disk.
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@UGAdawg: Recently, many laptops don't come with recovery CDs unless you specifically indicate it and pay extra for them. I have bought 4 laptops in the last 5 months and not a one came with CDs; they are an extra fee. This isn't to say that all laptop manufacturers are doing away with the recovery disks, but many are as of late.
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We bought a cheap laptop from Best Buy just yesterday. They tried so hard to get us to buy an 'optimized' one. No thank you, I'll take a factory sealed one thank you. We then proceed to open it right at the service desk to make sure the box wasn't full of tiles.
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\"Waiter, this sandwich has a bite out of it\" - \"No sir, I optimized it for you, for a fee.\"
\"Mike, you slept with my girlfriend!\" - \"No man, I optimized her for you. You owe me $50 by the way.\"
\"When I got my new car home, I found there were cigarette butts in the ashtray, Spanish stations programmed on the radio and 345 miles on the odometer.\" - What does the salesman say?
I work at a university helpdesk as well, and I always cringe when students bring their laptops in for whatever reason, and I see the large purple sticker on their power supply.
I used to work at a geek squad, but it only lasted for 2 months before I cut the hell out of there. I often tell students that come in to never go back as you can find better services for cheaper (or in the case of currently enrolled students, free).
I wish everyone that reads this that has been considering a visit to the GS for virus removal, or other major software problems, to instead go out and get an external hard drive and back up the files yourself. Then if you're feeling adventurous you can boot off the recovery partition, or recovery CD, whichever you have, and it will solve your problems for much cheaper than a GS visit, and you get a neat external HDD to show for it.
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I smell a rat here. I suspect as some commenters have suggested, it's a computer that someone else had bought, that Geek Squad had been paid to set up for them, but the buyer backed out of the purchase for some reason. Given that reason might have been that the thing was defective, I'd definitely opt for an unopened one.
For me, then, this IS a matter of trust/distrust, but not necessarily of GS. Quite aside from GS personnel, I wouldn't trust the laptop itself.
As for \"optimization,\" that could be a good idea ... but it depends on what one thinks that means. If it means \"removing the crapware that's installed at the factory, which you don't need, will never use, and just takes up space and resources on your computer unnecessarily,\" then I'm all for it. However, I'm pretty sure this is not the service that GS provides.
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nice sales tactics... i'll never shop best buy ever
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\"While I have no reason to think poorly of Geek Squad\"
Welcome to the Consumerist, new reader.
I screwed over BB with this, a few months back they had a ls305 toshiba for 350 not a great laptop but good enough for what i needed it for. i located stock and went to puchas the laptop they only had
\"optimized\" models. i refused to purchase it for 100 over advertized and they were about to refuse to sell it to me untill i mentioned it was illegal and i would call the AG. they quickly changed thier tone and said i could pick it up in 2hrs after they removed the \"extra features\". no big deal for me, when i got there i had no issue picking it up for the advertized price. i opened the box and peeked in to see it was a laptop and not rocks/floor tile and was satisfied seeing the laptop. when i got home upon closer inspection i found it was the next step up laptop with more hdd, ram and cpu. i said screw bb this is what they deserve and i kept it. of course had it been less pc i would have gone and started a poop storm (which i hope whoever ended up with hat should have been mine did)
one thing that did upset me was that i was planning to hackintosh it and request microsoft give me a refund for the licence but they(bb) accepted the agreement for me. no biggie i didnt end up going thru the hackintosh cus i was to lazy.
To me it sounds more like this laptop was a return, and instead of selling it at a loss, they just pretended it had been opened by employees and \"optimized\".
Almost same thing for me in Staples last week:
They had a nice $200 office chair my wife wanted. Only one was available in store, the display model. Usually, it was so that display models came with a discount because they had been used a bit. Now, the lady at the store wanted us to pay extra for it, because it was pre-assembled, which they offer as a service. We ordered from the website instead - and funny enough, the chair was $249 online, but only $199 in store. As long as we ordered in store, we only paid the in-store price, which was strange, but nice.
just want to chime in and say i work for geek squad and have done pre-opts on computers. not everyone knows how to add/remove programs, especially when the adware is mixed in with important drivers. for people that want this optimization service without having to wait 2-3 hours it is great... already set up, icons on the desktop, speed / OS stability and restore CD's... these take another few hours and can sometimes fail. i could see someone being concerned about using a brand new computer that has already been used, but we literally do nothing but run updates and remove trial programs... no one i work with has a malicious intent to install software like a keylogger on people's computers, and i would blow the whistle on them in a second if that was ever the case.
if you can do most of it, you'd probably not want to pay the cost of the service -- and that is fine with me. but for someone who is unexperienced with computers, this is something they can appreciate. AgentTweaks is our program that is used, you can look it up if you want to see what it entails.
also, i'd also like to note that i have waved the cost of the pre-opt if it is the last in stock. that is our store policy. we try and guesstimate how much may be sold, and do a few per sale.
as an aside, i do not control pricing or policy, but i do stand by what we do... we help a lot of people that need it. and i know we have gotten hate over ex-employees stealing porn, but I have never seen anyone go through customer's data in my time spent working. everyone is very committed to their jobs. i am but a poor college student, please go easy on me...
When I wanted to buy a cheap sale laptop from Best Buy, I told the guy up front that I didn't want a Geek Squad'ed one. He went back to look in the cage (at which point I thought I was doomed because I've heard storied of them telling you they're out of stock if you don't want to pay for the optimization). To my surprise, he brought one out, no hassles. He also didn't try too hard to upsell me once I told him I wasn't interested. When I went home and opened it, the screen had a hairline crack of some sort. I took it back in and after only a minimum of arguing, the manager of the department brought another one out and even let me run my dead-pixel checking app on it in store so I wouldn't have to come back in again. Overall I was very impressed with the experience.
I'm going to start calling any open boxes \"optimized\" now.
Hey hun, wanna grab me that box of cereal? No not that one, the cheerio's that've been optimized.
Please, nothing they do is special at the geek desk.
Want the crap off the PC? Run PC-decrapifier which is a free and clear download.
Need antivirus? Avira and AVG come to mind
What your router needs a setup? Read the instructions that are one page and you are done.
Most major hardware fixes are off site and better served by the manufacturer directly anyway.
V
\"While I have no reason to think poorly of Geek Squad\"
Clearly he has never read consumerist, friends do not let friends Best Buy.
The cardboard box was optimized for easier opening saving customers precious seconds from opening the box.
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Optimize Prime?
I tried to buy a laptop from BestBuy 2 years ago that they clearly had in stock because I could see about 15 of them locked up under the display. When i told them I didnt want to pay $50 to have the geeksquad optimize it..which means installing AV software and making recovery disks they were magically sold out. So I went to CompUSA and got it for $100 less on sale.
The same day I also wanted to buy a 42inch Sony Bravia LCD which they had in stock until I didnt want delivery and hook up...so I went to Circuit City and got it cheaper by $300 because that too was on sale. So BestBuy screwed themselves out of 2 sales and saved me money at the same time. Thanks BestBuy!
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No thanks, Best Buy. I prefer to update Ubuntu from known repositories myself.
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\"While I have no reason to think poorly of Geek Squad\"
Welcome to the Consumerist Patrick. For initiation you are required:
To return to Consumerist in one year and tell us all the reasons why this statement is false.
I work for Geek Squad and the optimization is $39.99. If you can do it your self great. We remove the trial and junk software, install updates and service packs and get it all setup. This is a service to our customers, its not the end all be all for your new computer it just saves you time when you get home. If you are using this on your 56k modem at home (which a lot of our clients are) we are saving you a lot of time when downloading your updates. Also a lot of people do not want to open up their new computer and look at 20 trial programs filling up half of their desktop. (Toshiba is the worst and there may even be more than 20 icons on your desktop) Some people have more time than money, some people just do not understand, some people do not know someone, and some people just want it done. Regardless all of you IT \"pros\" can say whatever you want about Geek Squad but when some unforeseen circumstance happens while you are working on someones computer in your state-of-art basement and or bedroom, I wonder what you are going to do, obviously you will just buy them a new one! (I hope that sounds as sarcastic as possible) When the same situation happens at Geek Squad I can tell you what will happen, the multimillion dollar corporation standing behind me called Best Buy is going to give them a new one. Best Buy is looking for market share just like the next guy, if the store is being run properly then they should be doing everything they can to accommodate the customer, and you guessed it, that means performing a service on a laptop before its ever sold that usually takes a few hours so THE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT can walk out the door with it that second because its been optimized before it was purchased.
I always think it's a shame when a journalist rants and bashes on a service that he or she doesn't know fully about.
I am disappointed that the sales associate at the Best Buy you shopped at couldn't educate you on our services.
As a Geek Squad Agent, I complete Optimizations everyday. While it isn't for everyone, there are over 100 tweaks our agent's toolset does to help your system run more efficiently. We also take away the hassle of sluggishly moving through the PC setup and Windows updates. The updates alone can take hours. And, yes, we remove aggravating trial software manufacturers who partner with third parties add to your system for a kickback when you fork out big bucks for underperforming software.
As for Restore CDs, computer manufacturers have cut costs by excluding physical Restore DVDs in the box. It's a shame, really, because it seems 4 out of every 5 customers who buy a PC will act surprised when something goes wrong with their Windows Installation, and they don't have any discs to restore it from.
Geek Squad is the real deal.
@temperedreason: The agent's 'toolset' and the 'tweaks' are at best nonoptimal and at worst, detrimental to customer use. Things like changing the menu delay to make the computer 'feel' faster borders on snake oil, things like changing the maxmtu is ludicrous considering that there is no knowledge as to what sort of network the computer will be connected to.
NO there is no deal there. The customer will have updates to install no matter what the 'geek squirts' do. Its very bad to get them into NOT paying attention to updating their computers.
The sales associate can be informed and explain the process to people and if they WANT the service they can request it.
Trying to force an unneeded service down the throats of a customer is simply bad business. By the way how do you get past that pesky EULA the customer needs to accept?
Sounds like it was bought and returned.
I worked temp at Circuit City Firedog, which was pretty much the same deal as Geek Squad. We would set-up optimized systems before big sale days and there would be a promotion.
What optimizations consists of is typically running the updates (including java, flash, drivers, BIOS, etc), removing as much of the pre-loaded junk software that manufactures often put on their systems, and a start-up optimization.
On the worst side they would pre-load some \"industry standard\" security software, it being typically one of the more expensive and bloated options (ie: Norton, McAfee, Webroot)
I would expect that laptop to be more expensive than the non-optimized version
I can't believe a company would kill their inventory by doing something boneheaded like this. Once it's open it's worth 50% less (or more). Creating a backup disk? Why? That's what the restoration software is for. The only reason you wouldn't be able to restore from the hard drive would be a corrupted hard drive, in which case a backup disk isn't going to help you.
This is returned stock plain and simple.
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I used to work for a Best Buy in southern Louisiana, and their practice was to optimize about 60% of the items in stock, if not more. They would optimize it (which usually consisted of removing the typical unwanted software, and installing some Anti-virus program, either Norton or Trend Micro) and increase the ticket price.
Not sure that the policy is at that store, but I've never heard of them making the recovery disks as an \"optimization\".
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Just tell them you don't want it optimized, if its the only one they have take it anyways, (without paying for the optimization), you can just restore it via the onboard factory restore (takes an extra hour or so), and you're good to go.
this is actually against company SOP, computers shouldn't be 'optimized' and put out on the floor, that store can get in big trouble with corporate for pulling that, it breaks some law called 'bundling' or something along those lines
@Draconianspark: I don't believe there is a law against bundling product that I've ever heard of. I'm pretty sure that you can't force someone to take everything in a bundle if they don't want it, but I've never heard of anything specifically against selling product together.
The only thing I can think of that involves bundling products is inboarding, where you reduce the price of a product to sell a service plan. Is that what you're referring to? I'm decently positive that only applies to service plans and the like as well though.
@Mishra381: Yes, that's it, inboarding.
What they do with these computers is they reduce the price of the product by $29 at POS to add the $29 PC setup sku to the product, making the price even, but splitting it among two line items.
One of our more intelligent managers ( who was fired for having too many morals ) forbade us from unboxing and pre-configuring PCs even when it would have saved the department time and customers time because it could have been seen as potential inboarding.
As an ex-best buy geek squad member, I can tell you that it is very likely this unit was opened prior to a large sale. Before black Thursday, every year, we would open half of the sale laptops, and on half of those we would optimize, and the other half we would optimize and install ram. Then it was the job of the sales people to sell the laptops with the optimization and ram upgrades. Made things a lot easier and quicker during these mad rushes, but there were often many optimized and upgraded laptops left over. This is probably what happened, that or a customer went to purchase it, and asked for optimization, and then didn't actually purchase the unit. Either way, has been opened and I would ask for the open box price. Also, depending on which best buy you frequent, an optimization can include anything from simply turning it on and getting through the initial welcome screens, to turning off un-needed services and installing current updates to the os. Always ask what is involved before purchasing the optimization. Personally, when I was running the bench, the $20 optimization we did was worth closer to $60, but I also believed that you should treat your customers the way you wish to be treated, which led me to several battles with management.
Can someone tell me please what in the hell do they mean optimized. Optimized for what. I have a late 08 macbook myself now they are like 400 bucks cheaper paid 1400 last year but i need to buy a laptop for my uncle's niece who lives in Belarus. I know i can get good deals on late tech and prefer to optimize it myslef. I fix pc's for a living. I know my stuff. So what do they optimize cause if I buy a laptop i'll reformat drive anyway and isntall win 7 or hack it to run Snow Leopard and win 7 and all apps that she needs. She really has hard time understanding netowrk security i want to set it up so that its all encypter and secured for her. For me not a problem but still woud be interesting to know what the hell do they optimize. Or do they optimize how fast we can break it so you have to buy warranty and come and let us fix it because i would hate that.
Candle.Jack all computers are set up from their factories. Only problem is that with the operating system you may get what people call crapware or trialware.
reformat drive and problem solved fresh op and no hassle.
Optimized my $&@ I bought a laptop recently from Buy Buy in Omaha, NE and they didi the same thing. They wanted a couple hundred to remove the adware they had installed. I would buy directly from Dell next time and yes you will get the operating system and driver disks.
Stores will typically set up 40-50 percent of their incoming product for the convenience of the customers who want those services and don't want to wait the 3-4 hours it takes to complete them. If you hit up a store and that's all they have you can have them look at other stores or pay for the services.
What they do is pretty extensive and help the machine run better ..plain and simple. Most costumers buying computers at stores like best buy know very little about computers in general and need the help. Those of us that know more about computers order online as we simply know better. For someone to claim they know computers and then complain that a store like best buy is ripping them off simply is not as smart as they claim to be.
As for buying online? It sounds great but eventually we'll all order stuff online and the days of determining what we really like by touching and feeling, but picking up help and trying it on to see how it fits will be gone as retailers won't be able to afford to keep actual stores open. Don't forget that..
Is it wrong for me to think that by doing this, Best Buy's Geek Squad turns a new laptop into a used laptop? One of my criteria for determining whether expensive items have been tampered with is whether the original shrinkwrap and other packaging is still on the product in original condition. If that's not the case, then they're trying to sell you a used or even \"refurbished\" product, and if that's the case I require them to not just assert the fact with appropriate labeling on the packaging, that the warranty is good, that the return policy is specifically stated, and that they took a few bucks *off* the price. Retailers game the language; instead of \"used\" they say \"pre-owned\", instead of \"house\" they say \"home\", and instead of \"original condition\" they say \"optimized.\" This would be unacceptable behavior by any retailer I patronize, and wonder why is anyone doing business with Best Buy when they have this sort of policy?
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\"While I have no reason to think poorly of Geek Squad\"
Ha ha.
@Franklin Comes Alive!: That jumped out at me, too. Does the OP not read this site? Or the internet?
@Franklin Comes Alive!: ... I have no reason to think well of them either...