An example of bad customer service.

While checking out applegeeks to see if this sketch was going to be coloured (not so far), I came across this example of corporate customer service at its best. The story made digg, which brought it even more attention (5206 diggs at the time of this writing). While the final outcome was favourable, there is no way a customer who purchases a “protection plan” should have to endure an experience like that.

The Best Buy store that this all took place in is the one that is local to me. I have shopped there many times, and purchased big ticket items. Out of the Gateway 21″ display, Xbox 360, Canon Rebel XTi, I only purchased the PSP program for the Xbox 360.

During the purchase I was asked multiple times if I wanted to purchase it, and was fed the line “they do overheat, and if that happens we will replace it”. This was before Microsoft extended the warranty to 1 year, and offered to fix the red ring of death. I still said no. After a week of using the Xbox and a couple of reboots while playing Oblivion, I caved in and purchased the PSP. The Xbox is still working great.

The service and staff at Best Buy have not always been the best, but they were leaps and bounds ahead of the other choice in town, Futureshop. There the sales people have no clue, will say anything to make a sale, the store is dirty and dingy and there’s never stock on what I want to purchase.

I had planned on purchasing a MacBook for my wife from Best Buy, they’re $50 cheaper than Apple and I can get don’t pay for 3 months with their card. After reading about this experience, I don’t think I’ll be giving them my business.