DON'T SPEND A DIME HERE! JUST GO TO BEST BUY!
I recently purchased an off brand GoPro. Being new to this type of camera, I discovered I needed a memory card before the camera would be operational. I opted to shop locally, and found a local electronics store, rather than going to the chain store.
This was a mistake.
I arrived at Computer Depot just before noon. I asked Ali, the man behind the counter, for a memory card that would fit my camera. I brought the camera with me, so I handed it to him to get a recommendation.
Note: Had he said, "I can't help you - I don't know this camera and can't make an informed recommendation," the responsibility would have entirely been mine. This isn't what he did. I trusted his expertise and his recommendation. These were also mistakes.
Ali showed me three memory cards - 2 cards of 32 Gigs (One HD, the other 4K HD) and 1 card of 64 Gigs. I asked specifically, "Any of these will work in my camera?" He assured me they would.
I opted for the 64 Gig card, which was also 4K HD, at a price tag of $75 - with tax, just over $80. I asked Ali to install it, so he's the one that opened the package, installed the card, and disposed of the packaging. I thought he had checked the camera to make sure the card worked. He had not.
I then left. I ran a few errands and got home about 1:30. I checked out the camera and discovered it did not recognize the card. I looked at some videos online, examined the card closely, and eventually discovered that a camera like mine (as well as some older model GoPros) will not recognize a memory card over 32 Gigs.
I went back to Computer Depot. Ali was not there; another guy was. I'd arrived just minutes after 2 p.m., just over two hours after purchasing the card in the first place.
I told him the story. He called Ali. They refused to help me. They said the best they were going to do was take the card back, then give me 50% off whatever card I ended up buying.
I objected. The guy behind the counter told me, "Your best bet is to file a report with the BBB. IF they decide we're at fault, then we'll refund your money."
I was furious. I'd trusted their expertise, their recommendation and their pricing. Computer Depot had failed their customer on every level, and worse, did not care about the problem they had created, much less rectifying it.
Two customers arrived at the store during our dispute. Outside, both asked me what had happened. I told them the same story. Both left without entering the store.
I went back to the front of the store to find the door locked. I called the store and informed them I was going to go to Best Buy to purchase the card and would be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce if applicable, and posting reviews on Yelp, as well as any other consumer protection services I could locate. I gave them a final chance to make it right. He declined.
I purchased a 32 Gig card from Best Buy for $14. A 64 Gig card at Best Buy is $18. The same card I purchased at Computer Depot is available from Amazon for $14.
I posted the card on Facebook Marketplace for what I paid for it, listing it as unused and practically new. I was told how ridiculous that price was and was offered $10 for it.
Computer Depot ripped me off. I won't make the mistake of shopping with them again, and will reevaluate my policy of buying locally because of this experience.
Yeah, I should have known better. That doesn't make it right to price gouge, claim expertise in something you know nothing about, and make recommendations that aren't appropriate for the client.
Additional note: I discussed my experience with a friend of mine this morning, and when I said the words "Computer Depot," he rolled his eyes and told me I didn't need to say anything more. He'd had experience with them, and his opinion was, "They must be a money laundering front, because they don't care about the customer and don't seem to care about actually making money." read more