In august of 2003 I bought a Cicero computer for $800 from this store. Within a week it was back in the shop for a diagnostic test. They gave me some song and dance on minor problems and that they had been fixed.
Awhile later I was trying to play a CD and there was this horrible squealing noise. For 6 months I carried my system (I don't drive) back and forth for numerous diagnostics and kept getting all these excuses as to what the problem was. They even tried to tell me it had something to do with a person who lived in the apartment below. Also that it was the CD, yet it worked fine in a laptop and regular CD player. Then it was the speakers, yet they also worked fine on other systems. They assured me the CD-ROM was in perfect working order.
Finally after 6 months of the same thing I demanded they change the CD-ROM or I contact their corporate office. They did and that cleared up the problem there. However during this the system had always been running at a snails pace and crashing all the time. But yet again diagnostics said it was tip top.
The system had always run hot since day one, but again they said it was normal. Finally the week my warranty ran out, it really started getting hot. I found an online diagnostic site that was rated good by PC magazine and d/l'd it. It came back with MAJOR problems including my system running so hot it would start affecting other things in a short time.
To make along story short, they told me my warranty was up but agreed to do one more diagnostic. The manager actually did it. 2 days later I went and picked it up. Every move I made brought up errors and then it would shut down.
After 2 more weeks they agreed to order me a replacement. That one kept crashing as well. I took it back and they gave me yet another one. Even worse than the first 2. Finally the stress and having to lug these things 4 blocks and up 3 flights of stairs got to me. A friend hadjust gotten a e Machine T3092 and it was rated very highly, so I told them I would even make up the $100 difference but that's I wanted, I was finished with Cicero!
This week I got my "new" emachine. I'mcertain it was an open box item but haven't the energy to fight that point. They had transfered RAM I had added to my first system and I brought it home. Wouldn't even start up. Completely pissed off I packed it up went right back down. I told them this was totally absurd and that I expected system that actually worked for once. They checked this one and found that the RAM was faulty. Theykept it overnight for a diagnostic and said it was A-OK.
I brought it home and hooked it up. I had to install a driver for the DVD player and also take it back because the front jacks weren't working, but that turned out to be a setting problem. I think at this point and a year later I have a system that actually works.
Out of all the trips made there I was once offered a ride home with my system the night I took the last one back. Since it was staying there I didn't get that either. Today I went in to buy a new headset and I saw the manager I had been dealing with. I said with all the stress and trips back and forth maybe they could throw a free ($34) headset my way. He laughed and said he'd take off $5!! WOW a WHOLE FIVE DOLLARS!
That will be the LAST $ spent at that store. They couldn't even be bothered to send a truck the 4 blocks to help me out and then gives me a big $5 off formy trouble. My friend in the states that had bought the same system went back in for a price match the next day. That store not only gave her the difference along with a free printer like the other store was offering, but they tossed in $30 for her gas and time spent. THAT is a store that appreciates it cusomers.
FUTURE SHOP is PAST SHOP where I'm concerned!
Chris
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
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