harrisdude Posted November 14, 2006 Posted November 14, 2006 Assuming that I get a ticket for either or both the $189 computer and the $379 laptop – what kinds of "preps" do they need to perform before I can pay and get out of the store (to go home and sleep)? Are they going to have to load or unload software? Do they just hand you the computer boxes, and then wait in line to pay? I have been so focused on getting in line early enough – that I haven’t been thinking about how long I’ll be waiting once I get in the store. Anyone with past experiences? Thanks!
dukes4440 Posted November 14, 2006 Posted November 14, 2006 It should be good to go out of the box. You will want to get more memory, from newegg .com or esle where. It is real simple to install. Don't let them sell you anything. Well maybe a surge protector. You will want to neutralize some of the fluff software like AOL 9.0and such. I did that last year but forgot how. Maybe Stationchief or BigJimSlade can cover that info. They seem to know their stuff. I hope this helps.....and by the way...... to Gottadeal !!
bigjimslade Posted November 14, 2006 Posted November 14, 2006 Assuming that I get a ticket for either or both the $189 computer and the $379 laptop – what kinds of "preps" do they need to perform before I can pay and get out of the store (to go home and sleep)? Are they going to have to load or unload software? Do they just hand you the computer boxes, and then wait in line to pay? I have been so focused on getting in line early enough – that I haven’t been thinking about how long I’ll be waiting once I get in the store. Anyone with past experiences? Thanks!When they give you the tickets the BB worker will tell you where to go to get your stuff. You will have to stand in line and when it is your turn you will pay for your stuff and they will give you your computers. They do not do any preps on the computers. They might try to sell you spy ware programs and stuff like that. They can be downloaded for free. Once you get home it is easy to set your computers up. All of it is plug and play. When you do get your system up and running I would run a Microsoft Update to update your system so it will be secure. If you have anymore questions just ask and welcome to the community!
H_Hancock Posted November 14, 2006 Posted November 14, 2006 When they give you the tickets the BB worker will tell you where to go to get your stuff. You will have to stand in line and when it is your turn you will pay for your stuff and they will give you your computers. They do not do any preps on the computers. They might try to sell you spy ware programs and stuff like that. They can be downloaded for free. Once you get home it is easy to set your computers up. All of it is plug and play. When you do get your system up and running I would run a Microsoft Update to update your system so it will be secure. If you have anymore questions just ask and welcome to the community!I'd agree with almost everything you posted, but last year was not Best Buy's best year in dealing with computers. While each ad for BF usually has a minimum # of item in stock at each store, typically there is more. Last year, the BB I frequent had double the minimum number of laptops and desktops in stock. Unfortunately, the "bare" computers were limited to the number guaranteed to be in stock.....the rest were packed with lots of software, some I wouldn't buy, like Norton AV and Net Security. This appeared over and over the day of BF and later as more and more people posted about BB packing software on the doorbuster computers and refusing to remove any of it. I am hoping they do not repeat the same thing this year.....it caused a lot of belly aches for lots of people last year. On the other hand, get there early enough and you'll be guaranteed to get a "clean" computer.
bigjimslade Posted November 14, 2006 Posted November 14, 2006 I'd agree with almost everything you posted, but last year was not Best Buy's best year in dealing with computers. While each ad for BF usually has a minimum # of item in stock at each store, typically there is more. Last year, the BB I frequent had double the minimum number of laptops and desktops in stock. Unfortunately, the "bare" computers were limited to the number guaranteed to be in stock.....the rest were packed with lots of software, some I wouldn't buy, like Norton AV and Net Security. This appeared over and over the day of BF and later as more and more people posted about BB packing software on the doorbuster computers and refusing to remove any of it. I am hoping they do not repeat the same thing this year.....it caused a lot of belly aches for lots of people last year. On the other hand, get there early enough and you'll be guaranteed to get a "clean" computer.Wow. I did not know that took place. That is not right to load extras and making you pay for it.
dsmith922 Posted November 15, 2006 Posted November 15, 2006 please, heed this advice as it happend to my mom last year. i had two tickets for the laptops. i bought mine, and the nerd herd tried to sell me their crap. of course, i said no and paid and left. i went to my moms house, gave her the other ticket to go pick up. she got their at about 10am, well before the cutoff time. they refused to sell her the advertised item. instead, they wanted her to PURCHASE free spyware removal software... not for 20 or 30 bucks, but for 149.99 more. they also tried to charge her 89.99 for install of 'norton antivirus' and she got pissed. that is bait and switch, and its a damn good thing i wasnt there. so if you want one, DO NOT WAIT. BB is shady as all getup and they WILL screw you with any chance they get.
Mike Posted November 15, 2006 Posted November 15, 2006 BB will give out X amount of tickets for each computer. They will have available X number of computers to meet X number of tickets given out, which also matches the X minimum number per store listed in the ad. In addition to the X number of computers, they will also offer Y number of computers with "extra" add-ons that they charge to install. Once the X number of computers are gone, you are only left with the Ys.
xbb Posted November 15, 2006 Posted November 15, 2006 BB will give out X amount of tickets for each computer. They will have available X number of computers to meet X number of tickets given out, which also matches the X minimum number per store listed in the ad. In addition to the X number of computers, they will also offer Y number of computers with "extra" add-ons that they charge to install. Once the X number of computers are gone, you are only left with the Ys.wow, thanks for letting us know that. so if the ad says there will be 10 laptops, the 11th person to get the laptop will get other crap installed on it?
dsmith922 Posted November 15, 2006 Posted November 15, 2006 wow, thanks for letting us know that. so if the ad says there will be 10 laptops, the 11th person to get the laptop will get other crap installed on it?not necessarilly... they dont always ask for the tickets. make a huge stink if you have a ticket and they wont give you the item, they will eventually. OR, you can open the laptop and uninstall the software in front of them. a few people did that last year, just like tons of people ditched the computer monitor on the emachines.
Mike Posted November 15, 2006 Posted November 15, 2006 wow, thanks for letting us know that. so if the ad says there will be 10 laptops, the 11th person to get the laptop will get other crap installed on it?Depends on the store. Say X = 10 and they get in 20 laptops, the 10 leftover arn't all going to be installed with other stuff, but a big majority of them will be.
crazysister Posted November 15, 2006 Posted November 15, 2006 Assuming that I get a ticket for either or both the $189 computer and the $379 laptop – what kinds of "preps" do they need to perform before I can pay and get out of the store (to go home and sleep)? Are they going to have to load or unload software? Do they just hand you the computer boxes, and then wait in line to pay? I have been so focused on getting in line early enough – that I haven’t been thinking about how long I’ll be waiting once I get in the store. Anyone with past experiences? Thanks!I've been going to BB every year for probably six years. We usually are not out of Best Buy until 11:00 AM. Wait in line all night, get in at six and then stand in lines. They snake you into different departments to pay -depending on what you buy. We had to pay at cameras last year because we had mp3 players.
harrisdude Posted November 15, 2006 Author Posted November 15, 2006 I agree – thank you everyone for your assistance. So the moral of the story is to get there early enough so that you can get one of the computers that have no extra software installed – and refuse any extras.
Mike Posted November 16, 2006 Posted November 16, 2006 not necessarilly... they dont always ask for the tickets. make a huge stink if you have a ticket and they wont give you the item, they will eventually. OR, you can open the laptop and uninstall the software in front of them. a few people did that last year, just like tons of people ditched the computer monitor on the emachines.The thing there is that if they have already met the minimum number per store and have sold that many without other stuff, they have no obligation to sell you one at the advertised price.
mccabefamily29 Posted November 16, 2006 Posted November 16, 2006 This info has been MOST helpful. I am hoping to get a 189. desktop. I have never ventured to Best Buy before on Black Friday and don't know what to expect...which makes me nervous !
mccabefamily29 Posted November 16, 2006 Posted November 16, 2006 You are doing the right thing by coming on here and doing research. Now you have to plan and come up with an attack plan. Good Luck!Thanks ! I have always just stuck with Wal-mart and know to expect utter chaos and no help from employees...hoping for better luck with Best Buy...seems they organize better for the big ticket items.
Iowaguy Posted November 16, 2006 Posted November 16, 2006 Couple of questions hopefully someone can answer. What does "early bird" mean for Best Buy? Never bought a darn thing on Black Friday before, strongly believing in avoiding crowds, but this year I am going to make an exception. Does EB mean the same for every store? My closest BB is a solid hour away, but if getting there at some ungodly hour saves me a few hunge, I'll do it.
Adamtanderson Posted November 16, 2006 Posted November 16, 2006 Couple of questions hopefully someone can answer. What does "early bird" mean for Best Buy? Never bought a darn thing on Black Friday before, strongly believing in avoiding crowds, but this year I am going to make an exception. Does EB mean the same for every store? My closest BB is a solid hour away, but if getting there at some ungodly hour saves me a few hunge, I'll do it.Early bird are items that are on sale from 5am-12pm. It depends on your store as to what time you need to be there for the earlybird items. Your best bet is to call the store and ask them what time the line started forming last year and be there earlier than that.
Mp4 Posted November 17, 2006 Posted November 17, 2006 Last year I bought a desktop and after I got home I noticed they charged me $30 to optimize it. They some how "optimized" my computer without taking it out of the factory packaging... hmm. I went to the store and argued with "geek squad" and they would not give me a refund. I then sent the headquarters an email and recieved a check for $30 a couple weeks later.
dsmith922 Posted November 17, 2006 Posted November 17, 2006 The thing there is that if they have already met the minimum number per store and have sold that many without other stuff, they have no obligation to sell you one at the advertised price.they did have an obligation. my mom had a TICKET, which was required to get the laptop. thats called bait and switch, a shady tactic that is illegal.
jawgee Posted November 20, 2006 Posted November 20, 2006 I've been going to BB every year for probably six years. We usually are not out of Best Buy until 11:00 AM. Wait in line all night, get in at six and then stand in lines. They snake you into different departments to pay -depending on what you buy. We had to pay at cameras last year because we had mp3 players. Although I did not make it out on BF last year (my second son was being born), my two previous BF adventures match up with crazysister's post. In '04, I was third in line at the laptop checkout counter (I had already received a ticket outside) and it took me TWO hours to get out of the store with just that lone purchase. It was un-freakin'-believable!! The employees run each & every customer through a gauntlet of addons & upsells and for some reason, creates a "pre-receipt" while you are waiting to get to the real cash register. Once you get there, if the cashier notices that you didn't choose to buy an extended warranty, they'll badger you some more about it. It ruined my plans to go to other stores that BF. This year, I being a bit more realistic in what I plan on accomplishing. I'm just planning on BB with a stop on the way home to Ace to pick up some cheap batteries. Thanks,jawgee
Mike Posted November 20, 2006 Posted November 20, 2006 they did have an obligation. my mom had a TICKET, which was required to get the laptop. thats called bait and switch, a shady tactic that is illegal.They just made a mistake by passing out too many tickets.
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