Geek Squad: Smarter Than the Average Teenager?
A Teenager Fixes a Computer that Geek Squad Technicians Considered Unrepairable
A few days ago, I started to hear strange noises coming from my Sony VAIO desktop computer. When I tried to restart the computer, the computer no longer communicated with the monitor.
I brought my computer into Geek Squad, which is located in my local Best Buy store. The Geek Squad Manager opened up my computer. He removed the TV tuner card after declaring that it was no good. But the monitor still wouldn't communicate with my computer.
Since I told him I had high speed internet, he removed my modem. But that didn't fix the problem either.
He finally found a potential cause of my problems. My graphics card was sandwiched between two other components which he felt probably caused the graphics card to overheat.
That sounded reasonable since I was the one who had installed the graphics card. I never even considered the fact that it would need a lot of room for circulation.
The Manager asked one of his Geek Squad technicians to come over and look at it. The technician first tried to turn the power on by pressing the CD drawer button. I had to hold back a chuckle as the CD drawer opened up instead of powering up the computer. He quickly shut the drawer hoping I hadn't noticed his mistake. I finally had to tell him where to find the power button.
The computer powered up, but again, nothing showed up on the monitor. He then looked it over and declared that my graphics card had overheated and removed it. First he tried to use one of their AGP graphics cards, but the manager reminded him that he needed a PCI Express Graphics Card instead. He tried a PCI Express card but nothing showed up on the monitor.
A third Geek Squad employee poked his head around the corner to see what was going on. He looked into the computer and shook his head as if to say there was no hope and walked away.
The technician then told me I could have him run a diagnostic to find out the source of the problem for $60.00. But between the cost of the diagnostic, the new graphics card, probably a new power supply, and maybe even a new motherboard, he recommended that I just buy a new computer.
I looked at him in total shock. I was prepared for an expensive repair, but a new computer? How could my computer be running fine one day and need to be replaced the next? And what about all the data that would be lost? He recommended I have Geek Squad put all my data on CDs for $99.00.
My head was spinning. I asked the manager what he recommended. He agreed with the technician that the repairs were so extensive that it would be wise just to buy a new computer.
I was in no shape to make any big decisions, so I had them put the computer back together again and walked out of Best Buy with tears in my eyes and my dead computer in my arms.
When I got home, I called my teenage nephew. My nephew has never worked in a computer repair shop, but he has grown up around computers. Without even looking at the computer, he disagreed with the Geek Squad's recommendation to replace the computer. He suggested that I remove the graphics card, and plug the monitor into the motherboard's video output.
I figured it was worth a try so I did exactly as he instructed. I was overjoyed when my monitor lit up with the VAIO logo. The first thing I did (after doing a happy dance) was back up all of my files. Then I did a calculation of how much money my nephew had saved me. It was close to a thousand dollars.
So my question is, why were not one, but three Geek Squad technicians not able to figure out this simple solution to my problem? How was a teenager, with no computer repair training, able to fix my computer over the phone? Was it a scam to get me to buy a new computer? Or is it that Geek Squad technicians simply aren't smarter than a teenager?
Published by Julie Lind
Julie Lind is a piano teacher, mother, composer and a writer. View profile
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11 Comments
Post a Comment"I had to hold back a chuckle as the CD drawer opened up instead of powering up the computer. He quickly shut the drawer hoping I hadn't noticed his mistake. I finally had to tell him where to find the power button."
So if you add your edit to that statement, it still seems like you were exaggerating because you don't "incorrectly" include the fact that he tried to close it fast hoping you wouldn't notice, then "incorrectly" add in that you held back a chuckle, then "incorrectly" add in that you had to tell him where the power button was" if all of that was "incorrectly" put in, that seems like a little more than just "Oh the technician couldn't see that the computer was on because the monitor was not posting video." But it's nice that you at least attempted to redeem yourself, you're just a rude person trying to get attention. And congrats on your computer working two years later, I'm surprised it hasn't committed suicide after dealing with you for that long.
Edited to add: I incorrectly stated that the technician tried to open the CD drawer while the power was off. He thought the computer was off because nothing was on the monitor. Two years later my computer is still running beautifully. I never said I was a computer expert, that's why I went to Geek Squad to see if they could fix it.
I enjoy reading that extra tidbit about the CD drive opening while the computer was OFF .. you must be one of those people who likes to exaggerate the truth to make you sound more competent and make the other party sound less than mentally retarded, when really, you're an idiot for even adding in something that can't possibly occur.
Lie, if the PC was off, the CD drive would not have opened. Sounds like you just wanted to talk trash.
The Geek Squad fixed my pc. It cost some dollars, of course, but then again, why shouldn't it? Mechanics don't fix cars for free. Plumbers don't work on your pipes out of the kindness of their hearts. A know-it-all friend of mine laughed when I told him my computer was being worked on by the Geek Squad. He told me "kiss that f'n thing good bye". And "those scammers saw your dumb @ss coming a mile away." Well, firstly, they fixed it for a hell of a lot cheaper than what a brand new pc would have cost. Secondly, it runs better than it ever has. So, I really fail to see how I got "scammed". Then, he suddenly has all the answers in the world. Like, "hell, I could have told you that the Geek Squad is a classic pyramid scheme". and, here's my favorite "advise" from him "you should have taken it to a not-for-profit computer repair shop." Really? I had no idea that not-for-profit computer repair shops existed! If they do, pleae point me to one of them. Just one! And of course, the whole thing
First of all, Geek Squad is a business; we exist only to make money. Any of the agents would of used the motherboard's video output, but if we did that we couldn't rail you for more money. We don't exist to help you, we are a business and we want to make money off you.
-Agent Smith
Liability. What the Agent did was wrong. Never tinker around in someones computer without first doing the correct paperwork. Who is to say you didn't break it and then you decided to bring it to them only to blame them for breaking it? I'm glad your Nephew could solve your problem. I hope you learned a lesson from all this. Don't install components without proper consideration of airflow and backup your data. Your overheating issues could have stressed your motherboard. It depends on how many times it shutdown due to the overheating. Good luck to you and don't pick on the Geks because they are a whole lot smarter than you about PC tech work I would gather if you didn't back up your files before your problems were solved.
I'm no computer expert but I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. :)
"I will leave you with the recommendation that your problem likely stems from your motherboard".
"A faulty motherboard causing your graphics card to fail?" Doubtful. Please do not post without stating facts to back up your argument, so as you once said "your ignorance procedes you." The fact that he admitted to locating his graphics card the way he did easily tells one that it probably did overheat, as I was once a computer technician and am now a domino administrator at a medium size corporation.
And if I am correct, the wierd noise he heard was the fan on the graphics card (which is usually the loudest in a PC) not the motherboard.
Your computer is completely fine aside from your graphics card. My suggestion is you do replace the card. And please try to place it in a different slot. If space is a problem, buy a box with more vents + extra fans.
Your ignorance precedes you. Its clear you lack the fundamental business concept that time is money. Furthermore this nephew of yours did not repair your computer, which is what you asked the Geek Squad to do; and they were willing to. Your nephew simply provided you with a temporary "out" which only prolongs the inevitable. On a more positive note, I will leave you with the recommendation that your problem likely stems from your motherboard.