Ok what happened here?
I was concerned about my 2 pc's because XP support is ending in about a month
I asked Greg, owner of Hardware Guys about updating to win 7...he said at $140 a machine that's $240 and he has a really good $300 pc with Windows on it.
Later I came in and asked for the specs on that machine I thought it was a model he offered...turned out it was only ONE used machine he was working on...12Gb of ram, i7 processor, 500Gb hard drive, usb3 ports, hdmi...it all sounded good...I asked if I could give him a deposit, he said no, just name and number...come in Monday...Monday was a holiday, I came in Tuesday he said he was putting windows on it...I said I'd come back Wednesday.
Wednesday Greg is sick a girl sells me the machine. I ask about the mandatory usb keyboard and mouse...she says the usb wireless ones will work. This was not true for the Logitech wireless mice I had...their specs said windows 7 & 8.
At home I discover it's a Windows Vista operating system. Logitech wireless mice I had didn't work...their package said windows 7 & 8. I called Hardware Guys and the girl said they used wired mice and that I should buy one at WalMart...she said Greg would call...(he did not). I found a really old wireless mouse (pre-unifying usb plug) and it worked.
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Thursday I make some calls and was cautioned against Windows Vista. The mouse(s) driver experience confirmed some warnings. I called Greg, got voice mail twice, left messages. I went in to see Greg. I asked how much it would cost to upgrade it to Windows 7. He said I'd have to buy the software and do it myself....he recommended NewEgg.com. I told him I bought his machine to avoid that. He said Vista is Windows 7 (it is not). My receipt said 30 day returns with receipt. Greg said as-is, no warranty...see the (two page single spaced) papers on the wall? Greg said: "Sell it on Craigslist and make some money." I told Greg: I'm not happy with that. He said return it or upgrade it yourself...decide fast. I told him that I'd immediately drive to the other side of the island, get the computer and bring it back.
On the way I found NewEgg had 13 version of Windows 7...I'd read posts about OEM version problems, etc ...this is why I had not done this myself for my XP machines.
I brought the machine back and Greg said: here's a check for 15% less, "re-stocking charge". I said no one told me about that. (Must be on the 2 page single spaced papers.) The reduction was on the total sale, so he kept 15% of the tax I paid too...that's not right.
The check was from "First Tech Fed a credit union in Oregon"??? already written and signed by some lady ...I asked: "an off island bank??? (I paid in cash)...am I going to have trouble with this?" Greg said: "see that sign right there?...that's a thousand dollar sign...if I can buy a sign like that, they can cash your check." ...interesting.
I had been lied to a few times, (told things that I found out were not true), there was no sign of customer support or service or fair treatment forthcoming...just a feeling that I'd been had. (Earlier, when I asked what the processor was he said "you'd be retarded not to buy this" (an interesting sales technique). I asked for Windows 7 and got Vista (classic bait and switch technique?) Now I'm thinking that if this check clears, I better be happy with only a $50 loss.
I will wait for the check to clear and then share this story with the world.
Apparently regular checks don't really "clear"...they either come back rejected, or not...sort of a wait and see system...I think it's too late for him to stop payment of my HEAVILY AND UNREASONABLY DISCOUNTED refund...so I'm posting this now. Yelp apparently is retailer oriented so you won't see this unless you ask to see all reviews (they bury the bad news...fyi), but if he needs to rip me off, others should know about it.
Steve, 40 year Kauai resident using computers since 1967 (Fortran 4 w/punch cards ! ) read more
