How much does Bust Buy charge if you bring in a computer to have them check for problems?

Question

I'm pretty sure it's the motherboard that is not working, but I wanna double-check. If it's the the motherboard, I'm just gonna buy a new desktop b/c I've had this machine for 6 years already.

I was thinking I should not bring in the computer b/c I'd rather save that part of my money to go spend on the new machine.

But then again, I'm not !00% sure it's the motherboard, so I'm curious how much it's if I bring in to Best Buy. I wanna know the approximate cost, that way I can decide whether it's worth it.

Thank you!

Answer 1

According to their website, they will run a diagnostic on your computer for $69. Then they will charge you another $39 to replace the motherboard, plus the cost of the actual motherboard itself. Then they will try to sell you a bunch of crap you don't need, my favorite being their $19 Computer Cleaning, which roughly amounts to them spraying some canned air on the inside for about 30 seconds.

To sum things up, the Geek Squad is a rip off, find a local computer store, or better yet, just find someone who knows a little about computers.

Answer 2

I really really don't recommend using Best Buy. My sister has returned the computer she bought there twice and each time they had it for months, she couldn't get any info while they had it, and they returned it broken without fixing problems. Some of the work was under guarantee and others she had to pay for. They severely overcharged her. I would def recommend going to the local computer store with your computer. They will fix it on site usually, without having to send it away like Best Buy did. They will generally work harder for your business and sometimes even provide free services. I can't speak for all local computer shops, but if they are going to stay in business, they have to keep a solid reputation. I know the two that are in my town are top notch. They are just as well equipped to handle your needs as Best Buy. And these guys diagnosed the problem for free. Many things can be done easily, and the big companies charge whatever they want because most people don't know how easy it is to do. The local companies tend to be more honest. They guys from one of my local shops even traveled 15 minutes to a guys house who just brought his computer home and couldn't figure out how to get his cd-rom drive to work for free. You'll never find that at Best Buy. I will say that when I bought a comp from circuit city 9 years ago and my computer was still under guarantee about a year later, my cd-rom drive went bad and somebody came to my house and replaced it free of charge. That was about 8 years ago and I really really doubt their customer service is still the same considering the ratings they get on http://www.resellerratings.com/. By the way, that's a great site to visit before you buy any type of product from any company.

If you are going to buy a new computer and don't want to buy local, newegg.com is the absolute highest standard other companies should be measured against. Some local companies don't sell laptops, so if you want one, newegg.com is the place. I did A LOT of research before buying my laptop and they had the absolute best deal on my system. I always recommend them to my family and friends.

Just some food for thought.

Answer 3

If it is 6 years old, just start looking at new systems. To replace the motherboard you are looking at 2 hours of labor, if they are honest, and plus you are going to pay a good price to find that motherboard brand new. Better to get a new system, more bang for your buck.

Answer 4

Geeksquad is way overpriced and they are basically 16 to 18 year old kids most of the time. Find a local small shop that takes care of their customers.

Answer 5

40 bucks.. a rip off if you ask me. Geek Squad is just wrong. Find a mom and pop PC shop in your area. More personal service and you keep your dollars in the local community.

Answer 6

I think $100 to $150.

Answer 7

Why don't you just ask yahoo answers to diagnose it for you? Just provide details about what's wrong with your PC and what you've tried to do to fix it.