Best Buy store and laptops - Page 2

zoosermom · 07-16-2008, 08:44 AM

Two laptops and four chargers from BestBuy. The Geek Squad is the greatest.

teriwtt · 07-16-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

You can use their school code for a discount through the Dell website.

I believe that's what most schools offer. But if you buy it through the Dell website, with the school's code, they also load any programs that are specific to the school's internal web system.

Was at Best Buy again, today - my new BlackJack is not pushing up my e-mail to my phone, so I 'consulted' with them. Had three guys troubleshooting; we were all having a blast, kidding each other back and forth, brainstorming, etc. I told them after today that I thought I earned a key to the store.

cartera45 · 07-16-2008, 03:25 PM

We were able to buy the Mac directly from the school bookstore so it was nice to be able to actually try the different models. The staff seemed very knowledgeable. We ordered it on orientation day and received it in less than a week. I have had a couple of questions since receiving the laptop and they have been very responsive on the phone. I hope this continues after school starts.

chubeebo · 07-16-2008, 03:44 PM

I am not a fan of Best Buy, and have stopped buying anything from there, due to some sad experiences with their "protection" plans. If you google it, you'll find many others with complaints. If you do plan to buy something from BB, please be fully aware and make sure of what that protection plan really covers. Some sales people will promise you this and this is covered, but it's not in the plan's generic language, and that plan is being used on anything from high-end electronics like laptops and tvs, to dishwashers, and other appliances. It becomes quite easy for them to say that whatever you're bringing to have fixed is not covered in that plan. The charge for just looking at it and doing some diagnostics is not cheap either. Lots of good quality stuff there at great prices and deals, but beware those protection plans. Just some friendly advice.

nysmile · 07-16-2008, 06:16 PM

Thanks everyone.

cbreeze · 07-16-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Chances are, if anything goes wrong, the IT department at his school will be able to help, even if he didn't get it through the school purchase program

Not with Duke.

The best thing is to buy an iron clad warranty from the manufacturer for the laptop for the duration of the 4 years he will be at college including any accidental damages. My DD stepped on hers and the whole LCD screen had to be replaced.

Lenovo covered everything.

cartera45 · 07-16-2008, 07:38 PM

I didn't think the IT departments at the schools helped with computers not purchased through them unless they sell a separate package. With the Mac, everything is covered through them except accidental damage and my homeowner's policy covers accidental damage - dropping, spills, etc.

SoCalGal09 · 07-16-2008, 08:37 PM

Do have to say I'm a fan of the Mac. I've been using one since '85 and have never paid a penny in repairs or support (and never bought extended care). The only two hardware issues I encountered were after I was "out of warranty" and they still fixed it for free. I don't really come across any platform issues these days, and we use our computers with pretty much every application a college student would need.

But... I would maybe buy extended care for a laptop. Ours is now under the care of my overly cautious daughter, but if it was in my son's hands I could see the soda-spilling, multi-story drop scenario playing out.

ellemenope · 07-16-2008, 08:42 PM

>>The best thing is to buy an iron clad warranty from the manufacturer for the laptop for the duration of the 4 years he will be at college including any accidental damages.<<

Manufacturer's warranty was for 3 years and company (Lenovo) called during the summer before D's senior year to see if we wanted to buy one more year. D hadn't had much trouble with her laptop, so we decided not to get the extra year insurance.

You guessed it--computer had some catastrophic failure as soon as she went back to school. After using school or friends' computers for a while, she got a Mac.

Get 4 years of insurance!

cartera45 · 07-16-2008, 08:48 PM

Just to be clear - Apple doesn't cover spills and dropping. You have to find some other source for that.

Singersmom07 · 07-16-2008, 09:53 PM

There are upgraded service plans for Dell's called Complete Care that cover everything, and I thought the others did so too. It is worth checking so you are not arguing with manufacturer. Laptops at school can go through a lot and it was worth it. Repairs were done so questions asked. I don't get it for the home systems.

cartera45 · 07-16-2008, 10:14 PM

Dell does offer the complete care that covers spills, drops, etc. That was the reason we had decided to get a Dell until I found out that we could get similar coverage from the personal articles policy on the homeowner's policy for the Mac. I wouldn't have considered the Mac without that coverage. Even though very little goes wrong with them, something will get spilled no doubt.

Singersmom07 · 07-17-2008, 06:25 AM

cartera45, had not thought about the HO insurance. However, we carry a pretty hefty deductible on that insurance and they have had to have the repairs done at school more often that I would probably want to submit claims to the insurance company. Of course they were the S's too. DD does not seem to have the same issues. All worth considering. BTW - my bad typing - it was NO questions asked for the repairs

cartera45 · 07-17-2008, 08:16 AM

Do you have a personal articles policy - for jewelry and such? That is what the computer will be covered under so there's not deductible. It will be an extra $33 a year for the Mac to be added - but worth it. Not sure what it would be if I didn't have an existing policy.