Best Buy Loses Laptop: Owner Sues... for $54 Milli

[Swimmy]

Best Buy Loses Laptop: Owner Sues... for $54 Million

I disagree with several comments attached to this article. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I was not able to post a comment on there.

Anywhooo... It is disgusting that Best Buy would be so callous in how its handling this case. They knew the laptop was worth more than $900 and yet ignored her. They failed to file the requisite paper work that she is now more vulnerable to identity theft. And disregarding all the man-hours put into the data she had on her computer, assuming she used it for work, $4,100 is a punch in the face. I hope this case goes to trial and Best Buy is required to pay the full $54 million as punitive damages. I can't believe their arrogance.

People's identities are never the same after becoming victims of identity theft. Just ask that Healy guy in PA. To not even bother to follow the law to help protect this woman is a disgrace and should be punished. It's time big companies realize that if they spent the extra effort to safeguard their consumers' information, it will cost them less in the long run!

One poster ridiculed the woman for taking her laptop to a cookie-cutter company. That poster is the mentally delayed one. If you have a warranty with Best Buy, only Best Buy will honor it. She had no choice but to go there, if she was going to have the costs of repair covered. If not, then why bother with such a warranty? What a moron!

Ok, I'm done ranting for now.

[neveramazed]

This isn't the first time Best Buy has been in some trouble for data loss. I remember a few years ago they had some hard drives that were to be destroyed show up in an online auction I believe. The new owner found the old owner because of the personal information still on the drive. Amazing since BB's policy for old/defective/replaced HDD was to drill holes in them rendering them useless. Must have slipped through the cracks.

That's one (of the many) reason I won't shop for anything tech related from Best Buy. Their arrogance is astonishing.
I bought a camcorder there once. Against my gut feeling I purchased the extended warranty (at the time the warranty was less than 10% of the purchase price) when I was told that I could have free cleanings every 6 mos, and in the likely event that it stopped working I would be given a replacement or credit towards a replacement if mine could not be fixed. Well needless to say it was time for a repair. Geek squad (they give geeks a bad name) took my camcorder in for repair after the typical diagnostic questions, is it on? did you take off the lens cap? is there a blank tape in the camera, etc... Tell me it should be about 2 weeks, three weeks later I get it back and guess what same bleepin problem. Didn't even work for 1 nanosecond. Bring it back and they go through all the stupid questions again. Are you freakin kidding me! They told me again that they would send it out for repair. I asked if they would actually fix it this time. And that because of this I won't be able to record my child's first easter egg hunt, nor her birthday. BB solution I can buy another camcorder (around $800 at the time) and they would graciously extend the return policy for me until mine was repaired. I asked for that in writing and said they couldn't put that in writing but the manager would note it. (Now for the arrogance part)Then I inquired about my replacement clause in the extended warranty and the geek told me it didn't apply (no surprise) and he told me the technology is out of date anyway so I should buy a new camera. I asked if the tech is out of date after 2 years why bother selling a 3 year extended warranty. Out of date, WOW. I was going to purchase this model regardless of what the CSR said when I was there. But he told me that this was cutting edge and would be relevant and usable for at least 10-15 years. Anyhting to make a buck. After this fiasco never again would I buy anything from BB (I think the abbreviation is appropriate).

Any friends who I talk with who take computers to the "geek squad" for repair have gotten the shaft every single time. $50 to install software, $50 for a diagnostic check. It seems like every problem is solved by formatting the hard drive and installing a new motherboard and memory. My friends CD-Rom stopped working (bad IDE cable). Geek squad solution re-format and new motherboard and CPU.

When it comes to any of the big box stores it's always buyer beware. I hope best buy gets what it deserves.

[rrogers40]

Thats why I like Circuit City- I have a Compaq Lap Top and the back light went out. So I took it in they looked at it and they printed out a work order and said call this number for pick up. Didn't pay a dime and it was out only about 6-7 Weeks.

[dgriffin]

My wife tells me that if you purchase something at Best Buy today, bring it home and it doesn't work and then return it this evening, they won't take it back, but will insist you mail it to the manufacturer for warranty work or replacement. That's what happened to her.
There are many examples of this behavior from businesses who no longer value customer good will. (And since they're still in business, maybe good will isn't worthwhile anymore.) The cable and cell phone companies are prime examples. They outright lie when signing you up ... about rates, about "deals", about everything. And when you leave, they don't seem to care.

[Swimmy]

Because they will always have customers. It's one of those situations where there is such a huge demand and limited suppliers that they will always have customers. It's like microsoft. They don't care if they lose a few customers to Macs or Linux. They have such a huge marketshare, there are plenty more customers to steal from. Until there is more competition, they won't care about consumer ratings.

[dgriffin]

Yes, that's true. And at least in the retail trade of consumer goods, small businesses will probably never reign again. Competition will consolidate until the outcry gets so loud that the government will take over all retailing (more revenues than taxes!) and we'll all be shopping at ObamaMart. Teddy Kennedy will invent a chicken roaster, drive Ron Popeil off a bridge and retire from the Senate to sell his invention on National Public QVC.

[Swimmy]

I would hope the SEC chimes in before the idiots on capitol hill get involved.