Lady Gaga used as lure by unscrupulous retailers!
Many of you probably recall the long lines at Best Buy on boxing day as penny-wise bargain hunters braved the elements to be the first to snap up discounted electronic products - laptop computers - in particular.
Unfortunately, a handful of consumers are grumbling now in the aftermath, for good reason.
In restrospect, it appears that Best Buy engaged in deceptive business practices, sold defective products, and hood-winked a trusting public in general.
For example, when customers snatched up discounted computers at three or four hundred bucks, they weren't aware that what they were buying was a shell of a PC, and that there would be additional greenbacks to fork out in the near future to maintain installed programs.
For starters, Microsoft Word was installed as a trial version, and not a keeper.
On each occasion a user opened up the software a message informed the startled individual that there were only twenty-five sessions available before the hapless victim would be required to buy a license at considerable cost to facilitate use of the program in the future.
In fact, as it turned out, a handful of the installed programs were offered up at purchase with the same provisio - but get this - Best Buy did not disclose that all-important detail at the point of sale.
Shoppers were also shaking their heads at check-out when it came time to purchase their computer.
A clerk at the cash register noted before ringing the item up that the laptops were installed with a security feature.
When the buyer uttered "okay" - after assuming that "security" meant there was a lock or tracer on the product (it turned out to be a simple anti-virus packet) - they were shocked to learn that the feature not only cost $100.00 - but also required special servicing at the Geek Squad counter!
One consumer was anxious to zip off to pack for a week-end get-a-way - and so - opted to pass on the software item.
Gotcha!
Opting out of the security feature also required a trek over to the Best Buy nerd experts so that the program could be deleted from the "guts" of the computer.
I don't know about you, but when I purchase a computer, I expect to be the first (and only) individual to ceremoniously log on to what amounts to a very pricey personal belonging.
But, the mind-boggling "fraud" doesn't end there!
When one intelligent computer-savvy buyer chose to acceept the sealed package - as is - and pay cash, his nose went a little out-of-whack when the annoying salesman tried to get him to fork over his credit card for a scan.
"I'm paying cash," the startled gentleman hissed at him.
The response was unbelievable.
"We need to swipe the card so that when the anti-virus license is up for renewal a year from now (!) we can charge your account automatically."
Did they ask the consumer if he wanted to renew?
No, of course not!
The angry customer was so annoyed, he told the salesman to cancel the anti-virus protection.
Not one to lose a sale, the clerk was quick on the uptake.
"Okay, I'll delete the anti-virus program on the laptop, and install one that doesn't require a license renewal at the end of the year," he stated with smug satisfaction.
Even still, the disgruntled shopper was forced to wait a half-an-hour until that task was completed.
Customers need to be forewarned, too, to double-check the packing box and contents before leaving the retail outlet.
When Best Buy "nerds" effect the installation changes, they snatch up the original recovery CD's shipped from the manufacturer with the new laptop, and substitute them for copies they've handwritten labels on.
Tacky!
Meanwhile, when the excited laptop owner aforementioned got home, he could have kicked himself for even stepping inside the door of Best Buy, in view of what transpired later.
Shortly, after he logged on to the Internet, the laptop went to blue screen and crashed.
Uh-huh!
The geek squad at Best Buy damaged the computer before it even left the store!
The moral of the story?
Shop somewhere else, even if Lady Gaga appears in the store for photo ops, in the future.
In the final analysis, Best Buy has been deceitfully trading on the pop star's name and reputation, to lure potential victims in the door.
