A1A South

SwampMan’s computer died this week and, despite the fact that I was claiming near death status from the flu, he dragged me to Best Buy which had in stock, so the website said, a basic computer without the package deal which we did not need.   So, since he wouldn’t go without me, I got up from my death couch and accompanied him.

We had never been to a Best Buy before, and were seriously underwhelmed.  There was hardly anything in stock, and the salespeople were unhelpful.  When I asked about the computer that we found over their website, he stared at me as though I had grown an additional eye in the middle of my forehead. 

“We only sell complete packages”, he told me. 

“The website said this particular computer was available at this particular store.”

“The website was wrong”, and walked away without offering to order it for us, or offering any additional assistance whatsoever.  Well, we’re certainly not going to go back to the Best Buy at City Station Drive in Jacksonville any time soon.  Probably never.

We went back home, checked the internet, and went to the next Best Buy where the computer was listed, this time on Southside Blvd. in Jacksonville.  Again, we went in and asked for assistance with that particular computer.  The one that their website said was available for immediate pickup at that store.  The computer that their “customer service” computer in the middle of the store said was available at that store.  The salesman said they didn’t have any and tried to switch us to a more expensive package deal with a monitor that would have taken about 5 years’ wages in Cuba to buy.  “According to the Best Buy website, that computer is available for immediate pickup in your store.” 

“Sorry.”   I hope he caught the flu from me.

We went across the street to a newly reopened CompUSA.  The salesperson was extremely helpful, recommending one computer with a particular chip over another that was equally priced, and carried the computer to the front of the store, stood in line for us, and then placed it on the counter for us before going back to his section of the store.

We ended up paying about $150 more for that particular computer than the one advertised by Best Buy which apparently doesn’t actually exist.  We were pleased that we were able to get Windows XP instead of Windows Vista because we were worried about whether some of the (very expensive) software that SwampMan has would work on Vista.  When I go to get a laptop, I’ll be visiting that young man for assistance.

To recap, our first and second visits to Best Buy were extremely unsatisfactory.  There won’t be a third.  It had less selection than the local Sam’s but attempted to atone for it with nonexistent yet surly customer service.