RE: This is a cautionary tale of Consumer Fraud perpetrated by Best Buy
I purchased a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop at Best Buy in 2021. Because I had previously had very poor luck with the durability of other laptops like HP, I also purchased an extended warranty plan costing an additional $300 dollars. [Normally, I never purchase extended warranties since they are "rip-offs"]
Last week my computer would not boot, so I went to Best Buy, Geek Squad with a warranty claim for repair. The manager, Brandon Duck handled the matter. What a crook. He was able to diagnose that the problem was a defective charging cord and tried to talk me into accepting a USED charger from his repair room as a replacement part in order to satisfy the warranty claim. He explained that Microsoft no longer repairs computers, but instead replaces them. I wanted a new cord, which he said he could not supply. The coercive conversation went on for more than 20 minutes.
At this point, I asked to see the actual language in the warranty agreement and he said he did not have the agreement, but that I had been sent a copy of the warranty via email back in 2021. I save all receipts and correspondence regarding any purchase and I checked my archived emails for the warranty agreement. There was no correspondence from Microsoft or Best Buy in 2021. They had never sent me a copy of the warranty. All I had for documentation was my cash register receipt. Mr. Brandon Duck was lying and making stuff up.
I still objected to accepting a used charger cord because I wouldn't be able to ascertain when the used cord would also fail, and possibly after my warranty had expired. [A new charging box and cord has a retail value of about $70.00] Then he said that I could receive a new computer and he would credit back the initial cost of my broken computer and apply the monies to the purchase of a new one. He said he did not have the exact model in stock, but he did have a similar model which cost an additional $150.00 more. [So instead of being able to make a claim against my warranty, I would now be forced to pay out additional monies. I agreed to that option, he then informed me that the computer, although on display in the store, was out of stock. So, we were back to square one after an hour of negotiation.
So, now Mr. Brandon Duck said he would order the computer and ship it to my home, but that I would have to surrender my broken computer. I reluctantly agreed since that seemed to be the only option, according to the dishonest Mr. Duck.
Thereupon, Mr. Duck tried to ring up the transaction and the computer system wouldn't let him cashier that transaction. At that point, Mr. Duck said he could order me a new cord and ship it to my home. This is what I asked for from the very beginning and over an hour ago.
Anyone caught lying and misinforming customers would normally be embarrassed. Mr. Duck was not embarrassed and in fact doubled down on the attempted warranty fraud. He informed me that at least having retained my old computer, I would not lose any of my files. I remained very polite and corrected him saying, I would not lose any data with the replacement by a new computer since all my files were located in The Cloud. He was still trying to misinform and manipulate me.
Lying Mr. Brandon Duck went way over the line of salesmanship right down the black and thorny path of consumer fraud. Buyer beware, they will cheat you coming and going given half a chance. read more