The Horrors of HP Computers and Best Buy
Buyer Beware of the Poor Quality of HP Computers and Best Buy Customer Service
We purchased a HP computer model number A750E in 2004.This is a desktop, not a laptop. I can tell you honestly that this is a piece of crap. We spent approximately 1800.00 with all the upgrades on this computer. We purchased the higher end speakers, the DVD ROM and burner which ca burn dual layer DVDs, CD ROM/burner, the higher processor, the bigger hard drive and windows XP. So keep in mind that this is not a 300.00 entry level computer.
First of all they put the wrong processesor in the computer as we paid for the higher upgrade and got the cheaper one. Then the modem was defective so we couldn't't get on-line. The customer support is all India and let me tell you trying to get a problem solved through these people is a nightmare! They barely speak English and will repeatedly tell you that their products are of the highest quality!
The frustration that this computer has brought to my life has convinced me that I will never buy and HP again. We received our computer on October 6, 2004. The next day we were returning it to Best buy to find out that it was broken already! This was the instance with the modem. They had placed a recalled modem into our computer. I can't begin to explain what a pain this was to commute clear across town from where I live to the closest Best Buy which is a 30 minute drive! Then of course not to mention the hassle of unhooking the computer and getting it in the car and hoping that they can fix the problem, and bringing it home hooking it up again.
Then on October 10 we were headed back to Best buy to deal with the wrong processesor issue. What a waste of time. They did'nt't want to do anything about it until I spoke to a supervisor, and still nothing was done. They said that they were going to credit the account 50.00 for the inconvenience and it never happened.
The computer has a mind of its own, on occasion it won't run programs, or it will stop in the middle of doing something like burning a CD and turn to the gray screen and completely freeze up. Then it's more fun when you have to climb under the desk to unplug it and start all over! There are the issues with the wireless keyboard which on occasion will do strange things like not work. Not due to lack of batteries either. The keyboard is an 80.00 upgrade so imagine my disgust when I had to call India and get tech support which took about an hour and a half for them to figure out what was wrong with my keyboard.
We have given up on dealing with HP's god awful customer service and for that matter we have boycotted Best Buy. We try to live with it as best as we can and everyday that we use this waste of metal we know we have learned an expensive lesson.
I am speaking from almost two years of experience with this computer, its not like I just got it or it's my first computer. Best Buy primarily sells HP and e-machines. Although funny enough we purchased an entry level 400.00 computer for our son through Dell. We have had it for about a year now and it is a great computer!
While I am not asking you to care about my situation or frustration with these two unfriendly companies I ask that you do plenty of research before buying anything this expensive. Otherwise it may be a regrettable mistake which is very costly in the end!
Published by Misha
Working professional helping people resolve their tax issues with the State and Federal Taxing authorities. Also enjoys volunteering and spending time with family and friends. View profile
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21 Comments
Post a CommentI do believe "He doth protest to much!" I have had HP computers since the Commodore quit making computers. I buy nothing else. HP builds one of the finest puters in the world. Perhaps it is where you bought it and not the manufacturer. I will continue to buy HP and nothing else.
I must be the luckiest guy in the world compared to everyone here... I have purchased 2 Compaq desktops, an HP desktop, an HP laptop and most recently, a Dell laptop ALL from Best Buy - and have never had a problem with ANY of them. I own a tech repair service, and I'll be honest, MOST (not all) of the problems I have come across are due to something the user did. Being a skilled technician, I would never let Best Buy's Geek Squad touch my computers. My recommendation - save yourself some money and find a local tech repair guy/shop. More often than not, you're going to be satisfied with the results.
i have to agree with sheepshead bay. i bought a compaq laptop a few years back and it still works like a charm. bought it from best buy its also made by hp. so i guess i am lucky too bc my husbands toshiba bit the dust a few days after buying it from there and having toshiba replace it with another horrible one. so i can say i have been blessed with my compaq made by hp :)
I will never step foot in a Best Buy as long as I live. I brought my camera in to be fixed and when I went to pick it up they said I had already picked it up. To make a very long story short, I ended up filing a police report, an officer actually went to the store and interviewed the store director. The officer told him that the theft of my camera was grand larceny. The next day I call their corporate offices once again and they sent me a gift card worth the value of the camera and tax, which is all I asked for. This whole incident took place over a period of several months.
They lost a customer who had spent several thousand dollars over the course of two years.
Bought new HP Desktop in Oct after years of owning Dell. What a POS. It is definitely the last HP ANYTHING that I will own.
www.tomshardware.com
Check the CPU benchmarks - Intel processors have outperformed AMD processors for the last 4 years or so. Before that, you are correct - AMD was king. No more, though.
I bought an Hp computer at Best Buy 5 years ago and it still works flawlessly.
It is an AMD model.
ALWAYS buy AMD...it is faster and better and cheaper than Intel CPUs everytime.
I bought my HP 1700 desktop almost 2 years ago after much haggling with Best Buy regarding the price. I now get what they refere to as the "blue screen of death". I'm so upset. I paid $400 for a used computer and it worked for years, i should have stuck with it. I wanted what HP had to offer and I took it hook, line, and sinker. I'm disgusted with their product and I want to ship it back to HP and tell then to fix it! Thanks for letting me rant, I know it will never happen, I don't think they can even fix it. Best Buy rep told me it may be my motherboard or hard drive. I would have to restore, replace hard drive plus pay for labor. I'm just going to buy a new computer, a laptop this time, wish me luck!
I got the rebate ripoff too! I don't think it is Young America who can't read; I think it is greedy corporate America.
I didn't buy it from Best Buy but I bought a top-of-the-line HP Desktop and had a bad experience. It freezes up every time I use it. Ugh. I finally bought a new Dell even though the HP is less than a year old, bigger and supposedly better.