Problems with Best Buy service

I was working with a friend/customer over the weekend that told me about a recent experience with Best Buy. Now as a general rule I am indifferent about the "big box" stores. They typically provide decent prices with very little service. Sometimes you get lucky and work with a knowledgeable person but for the most part the geek squad provides me with with new customers! I simply provide better service. 

Anyway, the story goes that this person had the VGA (monitor) connection cracked off of her machine. So she couldn't connect her monitor. She brought it in and was told that  a $250 down payment was required which could be applied to any repair cost. It was clear that the motherboard would need to be replaced upon drop off but instead Best Buy took the $250 and told my friend that she would get a call. Upon her return she was told it would cost an additional $300+ to replace the board. At this point she "cut bait" - but much to her frustration Best Buy would not refund the $250. 

Now I am sure Best Buy has a policy and she probably signed something but this is the kind of thing that people remember and gets told to friends and neighbors and, in this case, blogged about. 

So the moral of the story is be careful about tech repairs (especially with computers) and take a look at what the replacement cost is before you pay anything for a repair. Oh, and by the way, you can always call me.