Since this forum is such a great sounding board for sharing positive as well as negative I thought I'd pass on my experience with Best Buy and their less than stellar installation services...
About 4 months ago our dishwasher crapped out and having a Best Buy credit card that we used in the past we went there because they have no interest for 18 months. Bad move. First time the guy comes out and says we need to have a plumber install a shutoff valve - which we did the next day, no big deal. We then went through 4 consecutive missed scheduled installation dates before after hours on the phone with Best Buy/installation company and 3 wasted vacation days it was finally installed. To compensate they knocked $50 off of the final price and waived all installation fees.
Fast forward to last week. My mother-in-law was generous enough to purchase a new washer and dryer as a wedding gift and found the best deal at Best Buy. Funny enough the sales person was the same guy that helped us straighten it out on the dishwasher 4 months ago. He made sure that all of the necessary information was present and correct - unfortunately the installation date came and went again with no call. When I called, the installation company blamed it on Best Buy (same as last time) and said that they had a phone number for me that was disconnected. Conveniently this number had been deleted from their records when they didn't get through (so they couldn't even tell me what number they had called) and didn't bother to contact Best Buy when they didn't get us.
Best Buy uses an installation company out of Detroit called Optima to service the Toledo area. Best Buy itself has actually been somewhat helpful through these experiences but the installation company is awful. Rude customer service, constant blaming on Best Buy, and almost entirely unwilling to make the situation better.
Cliff notes: Best Buy uses horrible installation company from Detroit. Don't have anything installed from them. Buy appliances from a local store with local installation. Lesson learned the hard way.
/endrant
How did you control yourself and NOT drive a truck through the front of that store?
as for the in store audio install dept...
I bought a new cd tuner deck and it came with free installation. I also had a 2 pair speakers I had purchased elsewhere. I ask the BB employees about installing the speakers as well. They say sure and something like $40 or $50. I also make sure they come with the a warranty just like the stereo did, to cover the installation of cd deck and speakers the same.
Now, on my receipt it shows that i paid for an installation. However best buy tells me that it isnt the speakers install/warranty.
(A)So in the end I bought the cd deck extended warranty and had it serviced a few times with no problem...
(B) how/ why would i purchase an instal on something I am/was buying that comes with free installation?
Just to get me mad? urrrggghhh
IamNORMAL posted at 03:45:21 PM on Nov 27, 2011:as for the in store audio install dept...
I bought a new cd tuner deck and it came with free installation. I also had a 2 pair speakers I had purchased elsewhere. I ask the BB employees about installing the speakers as well. They say sure and something like $40 or $50. I also make sure they come with the a warranty just like the stereo did, to cover the installation of cd deck and speakers the same.
Now, on my receipt it shows that i paid for an installation. However best buy tells me that it isnt the speakers install/warranty.
(A)So in the end I bought the cd deck extended warranty and had it serviced a few times with no problem...
(B) how/ why would i purchase an instal on something I am/was buying that comes with free installation?
Just to get me mad? urrrggghhh
I'm slightly confused by this post, but I think you want them to warranty speakers you bought elsewhere? I don't think they're out of line.
Lowes is just as bad when it comes to the install folks.Same excuse, "Lowes messed up the appointment time". Why Best buy and Lowes cant find closer more dependable people to install things for them is beyond me. I suppose these people will do things cheaper and thats why they got the job. We get what we pay for.
I have to give a shout out to Home Depot. 12 months interest free, free delivery, and free removal of my old dishwasher. I had my dishwasher delivered Friday (11/25). I received an automated call on Thanksgiving evening with a 4 hour delivery window. The driver called about 15 minutes before arriving. They uncrated and placed the new washer in my kitchen and took my old washer and all packing materials. I didn't pay for installation, I can handle that, but he looked at my current hookup to make sure everything was ready to install. When I mentioned I liked the stainless braided line that came with my dishwasher, and wanted to replace the lines on my clothes washer, he gave me a new set of SS braided lines, saying they had tons of them in the truck. Great delivery and customer service. -just my .02
@slowsol not warranty the speakers just the installation which i paid for by itself. if they connections come loose and need to be reattached.
the speakers only came with the manufacturing warranty for 1 year or something.
Home depot install was a NIGHTMARE for us
Our installation has been pushed back to this Sunday. I'll update as to whether or not that actually happens...
Any recommendations for future purchases? I've heard mixed reviews from just about everywhere but a couple people have told me that Appliance Center is good (even if they have incredibly annoying commercials).
Hello Fellow TTalkers..
My name is Ken Wanemacher and I am a manager at the Appliance Center..we receive feedback like this all the time about most of the box stores.. Just wanted to say hi and say that Appliance Center would love everyone to know we ALWAYS guarantee the lowest prices on everything we sell, especially appliances.
We carry 24 appliance brands and offer 18 months same as cash on everything we sell. Out of state chain stores and lumber yards only carry about 7 appliance brands.
We always have same day delivery and free recycling with a 3 hour window and a 15 min call ahead. When customers have a dead appliance, we often literally follow them home with their delivery. These are things we do everyday for our customers.
Let our 100+ local employees help you on your next purchase. You definitely can buy local and cheaper too while keeping your business here in our home town instead of sending it our of state. Appliance Center is the largest appliance store in Ohio and family owned.
We would love the opportunity to earn your business. As a fellow Toledo Talk poster, we will a free $25 gift card with on your next purchase this week. Just email me at acwarehousemanager@msn.com.
Thank you again. We appreciate your business. 419-PAY-LESS.
We purchased a dishwasher at Lowes (Central Ave. in Sylvania) and had them install it. Great service by the installers. On time and took care to not damage our existing cabinets. They disposed of the old dishwasher at no cost to us. Would use Lowes or Sears for all our appliance needs.
Sears is excellent on installs. We buy a lot of major appliances from them. Never once had an install problem. However their warranty service is a very nightmare of disorganization, with repetitive computer scheduling calls, calls that contradict each other and calls with the wrong information. Worse, its nearly impossible to get a human to straighten things out. Technicians are competant, once they get there on the right day with the right part.
Just Curious: Who does the installs for The Andersons?
Finally had our washer/dryer installed last night. As before, the installers were friendly and quick. I'm just glad this is over - no more Best Buy.
I have only ever used Appliance Center or ABC warehouse. Mostly cause the always have a great amount of open boxed discounted models around. They were always on time, fast and friendly service and installation wise. You can also deal with them on prices where big box will not budge.
I would rather gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon than go back into ABC Warehouse. You get assaulted by no less than 4 sales associates everytime you enter the store.
We had basement carpeting put in by Home Depot...no problems.
slowsol is absolutely correct on ABC. Just horrible sales practices. My last experience was hilarious, dealing with Muhammad Ali (Name tag) finally kept calling him Cassius Clay because he would not listen after I called him on his bait and switch tactics
Hoops, that is pretty funny about Muhammad. I was referred to him by a former employee of ABC. I went in very informed about their selection. I told him what I was willing to pay for a certain item, and we worked from there. Both times I bought from him I felt like I had gotten a pretty good deal, especially when I compared the product to what the big box stores were selling it for. I could see how he could pull that on an unsuspecting buyer, but I was relentless with him and he knew I was willing to walk out at any moment. Cash in hand and not requiring delivery helps a lot with negotiating for appliance purchases.
ABC - the closer you get to the door without closing the deal - the lower the price goes..........
Is that worse than walking all over the place and being ignored by the salespeople?
Dunno - never had the above happen - but I suppose it would be. Personally, I just don't care for ABC's style of doing business. But, hey, whatever works for the individual consumer is what they should stick with.
Before I step foot in any store to make a major purchase, I've already done as much research on the item as humanly possible - including price. Typically I just show up, tell the sales person what I want and make the delivery arrangements.