Consumerist
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cellphones
Which Cellphone Company Has The Worst Call Quality In Your Region?
If you want to decide which cellular provider to do business with based on performance, you might be interested in checking out the new "2009 Wireless Call Quality Performance Study" from J.D. Power and Associates. If you don't have time, just remember that Verizon Wireless offers the most reliable call quality around the country, coming out on top in 4 of the 6 regions.
"Overall, Wireless Carriers Reduce Dropped Calls, Failed Connections and Static, Driving an Improvement in Call Quality Performance" [JDPower via mocoNews]
(Photo: TheGiantVermin) -
best
Best Buy's Stock Magically Replenishes (Once You Buy it Online)
Sometimes, we get a tip in that rides the line between malignant incompetence and stupid mistake. I'm not really sure which one this next one counts as, so I'll let you decide. More » -
My Recent Best Buy experience:
I am a 22 year old computer engineer. I
am also a garage drummer. In my garage I have my kit a 4.1 surround
sound and a laptop. <a href="http://tinypic.com"
target="_blank"><img
src="http://i30.tinypic.com/1zdi5l.jpg" border="0"
alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> The
laptops built in sound card was terrible so I wanted to upgrade. I
head over to my local best buy and look for the Creative USB 5.1
surround sound
(http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=206&product=10702).
Now some background I worked at a best
buy for a year, and im well aware that the staff is generally
untrained and incompetent. But this leads into something I didn't
expect; blunt lying.
On my search around the computer dept I
could not find the sound card, In the past I had seen it there and so
I figured maybe they placed it somewhere else. So I looked for a
sales associate. I find one and he points to the spot that I had just
been searching and walks away from me. Ok I am fine with that. I find
the dept lead and tell him the product I am trying to locate. He
heads over to there computer system and types in “creative USB”
it comes up with multiple internal sound cards but no external. Now I
expect him to just say “Sorry we no longer carry that item” and I
would be on my way, This did not occur. The dept lead turns to me and
says “ theres no item like that you cant upgrade a laptops sound
card” I politely responded “well there is a usb sound card out
there ill just check another store” he responds “ excuse me but
obviously I am not making my point, your just going to waste your
time going to another store, it doesn't exist.” Now I am a
generally mild tempered person but this bothered me. Because had I
known any less I may have taken this persons advice and go home
unsatisfied, I could just see that he had the mentality to often lie
to customers. I finally responded and said “ok, you obviously
dont know what you are talking about I am just going to leave.” he
then again says louder “you are just wasting your time, just buy a
better laptop” Thats it I had enough. I approach the store manager
thats walking around w/ a balloon attached to his clipboard and
explain the situation. The store managers response was “ our
computer sales associates are well trained and if they say it does
not exist, it must be true and you are wasting your time.” Appalled
I shake my head leave the store and head to our local “micro-center”
At micro center I pick up my creative
usb 5.1 as well as a information card on the product. I head home and
log onto the creative website as well as new-egg and print out the
detailed specs on the product.
I head back to the best buy, with my
information in hand on this product, I approach the store manager who
was quite surprised to see me again. I show him the product and
information that I had collected. He then pages over the dept lead
that I spoke to, and I requested an apology for his actions,
“obviously the product exists I just want to know why you were so
insistent on why I should give up my search for this product” with
a stunned look on his face, he says “this is ridiculous I don't
have time to deal with this Bullsh&*” Says this in front of his
store manager, The dept lead just walks away and the store manager
requests me to leave the store. Again appalled I said im sick of this
service I want the number to cooperate I am going to file a formal
complaint. The store manager responds in saying you cannot do this
cooperate does not take complaints. I said ill find out for myself.
Again he refuses to give me the number, At this point im getting
heated and making a bit of a scene. Security comes over and is now
“escorting me” out of the building. I later called the cooperate
office and told them of my experience they apologized and said action
would be taken, which It probably wont but, for anyone that goes into
theses stores expecting a knowledge base, do your research first.
Thank you,
ACR.
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housing
The Best Big Cities For Renters
Do you love big city livin', but you're tired of spending 65% of your monthly salary on a 45-year-old studio apartment with a bathroom that feels like it was transplanted from an RV? (Yeah, we're talking about NYC.) BusinessWeek lists the results of a recent survey of rental prices in cities with populations larger than one million. The best deal is (drum roll): Oklahoma City, with an average rent of $520 a month! More » -
robert stephens
Geek Squad CEO Promises To Resolve Any Consumerist Reader Complaint He Receives, And Then Does So
We want to give Robert Stephens, founder of Geek Squad, a giant hug. Squeeeeeeezeeee! More » -
best
Consumer Reports Tells You What To Waste Good Money On
Don't know what the hell to get someone? Consumer Reports has a list of the "best buy" gifts of 2006. So, even Mom hates it, it sure as shit won't break. She'll have that thing for life. Thanks, Consumer Reports? —MEGHANN MARCO More » -
best
Papa John's: Best Nationwide Pizza
Papa John's International Inc. received the top rating among national pizza delivery and take-out chains in the Restaurants & Institutions' Consumers' Choice in Chains Survey. The survey rated national pizza chains on " food quality, service, convenience, cleanliness, value, atmosphere, menu variety and reputation." The competition? Pizza Hut scored highest in the "atmosphere" category, but lost to Papa John's in everything else. More » -
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customer service
Top 10 Companies for Customer Service
CRMLowdown sifted through countless customer service surveys, studies, and real-life experiences to come up with a pretty damn impressive list of the best/worst companies for customer service. More » -
geek squad
Best Buy Sold 'Destroyed' Hard Drive at Flea Market
Maybe the Geek Squad's pocket protectors are strapped on too tight. More » -
deals
Morning Deals Round-Up
• If you are actually going to buy an MP3 player that isn't an iPod, Best Buy has a promotion that gives you a free $50 gift card with the purchase—excluding iPods. The Sandisk Sansa 512MB player is just $100, for instance. More »
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