Best Buy update

Remember my post from last week about Best Buy’s horrible customer service? I sent the message to the company’s Customer Service, Public Relations and Community Relations departments, and I also sent it as a reply when they spammed me with sales emails. I was hoping that getting my story in front of all those people would cause someone to realize that their behavior was unacceptable.

It worked! Monday afternoon I received a voicemail from the manager of the Sacramento (Arden) Best Buy store saying that she’d like to talk to me about my complaint and get my mailing address to send my refund! I will say that she was polite and apologized for the way I was treated.

I’m still never, ever shopping at Best Buy again, as this situation never should have happened in the first place. But I appreciate that my complaint was addressed and I’ve received the refund I wanted.

My money order came in the mail today. I feel so vindicated!

Photo Friday: Deviled eggs

Today we're having a Halloween party at work, and everyone's bringing an appetizer. I made deviled eggs.

Here's the recipe I used (omitted horseradish).

I'm not really into Halloween this year... mostly because I'm too excited about Thanksgiving! But anway - Happy Halloween!

Thankful Thursday: Quality time

Today I'm thankful for spending lots of time with my sweet fiance, James!

If you don’t know us, you might not know that he is still a student. He’ll graduate from his Physical Therapy Assistant program in May. I’m excited about this for several reasons – one of them being that we’ll have lots more quality time together!

I met James when we were both students at Sacramento State. We both graduated with our Bachelor degrees in 2008, and the following semester he started the PTA program – which only offers night classes.

For over a year (the whole time we’ve lived together) he’s been gone until approximately 10 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and sometimes Thursdays! I’m forced to entertain myself after work… but that’s coming to an end!

Next week marks the beginning of his externship, when he’ll be working in a clinic 40 hours a week with normal business hours. Then after work we’ll get to hang out together, yay!

I’m thankful for the conclusion of this education journey for many reasons. More time, more money, more opportunities… lots of good things are happening.

Boycott Best Buy

My letter to Best Buy customer service:

I want to share with you the experience I had at Best Buy store #133 in Sacramento, California. I’ve been repeatedly disappointed in my interactions with Best Buy employees, and once again my expectations of reasonable treatment were not met.

When I purchased my laptop at this store in 2007, I purchased an extended warranty for approximately $300 because I was hoping to avoid paying extra fees if I had a problem with it. I was assured that any problems I encountered would be fixed by Geek Squad for free, and I’d even receive a loaner computer in the meantime (Best Buy employees now tell me this was a lie).

When my built-in microphone suddenly stopped working last month, I was not immediately concerned because I had a warranty – I was protected. I expected to receive a service for that $300 I paid.

However, when I brought my laptop to Best Buy store #133 and left it there for several days, Geek Squad called me to say that my computer had a virus, which caused the microphone to stop working. I would have to pay $130 to have the virus removed, and my microphone would then work.

I refuse to give this company any more of my money, so I took my laptop to an independent repair technician, who told me that my computer was not infected with any viruses. Not one. I can only assume that Geek Squad invented this diagnosis as a way to generate maximum profit.

My honest repair technician found that my microphone was assembled incorrectly, causing a wire to become loose. He fixed the problem easily. This is a problem that would have been covered by my warranty, had the Geek Squad employees correctly assessed my problem.

I hope that you will understand my frustration with your company. I purchased a warranty as insurance that I would be protected from these types of problems. Instead, I was asked to pay an additional fee for a problem that did not exist!

My warranty was not honored. The only solution I see to this situation is to receive a full refund for the money I paid for a warranty that now seems worthless. I had a problem that should have received an immediate, free repair. This did not happen, so I am unable to see what I received in exchange for my $300.

Be assured that I will never again patronize a Best Buy store. I have posted about my experience on my personal blog, and will share my experiences with many.

Please contact me at XXX-XXX-XXXX for my mailing address, where you can send my refund.

Europe!

Going to Europe has always been a dream of mine, so now that Rose is studying abroad in Dublin, it’s a no-brainer that I’m going to go visit.

On May 29 I’m going to leave for a 2 week European vacation with her, and I’m ridiculously excited!! We’re not certain exactly what we’ll do yet, but here are my initial thoughts on the plan…

Saturday: Fly out of San Francisco.

Sunday – Tuesday: Ireland

I know Rose will show me around and give me a tour of Dublin, and we'll also go out at least one night there.

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Source (Photo by my sister! Who lives in Dublin!)

We’ll also go to the Cliffs of Moher...

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I'll leave the Ireland itinerary mostly up to her - she knows what I'll like.

Wednesday – Monday: Italy

We'll fly - it's under $100 U.S.! We’ll probably visit 2 different cities. Right now we're thinking Venice and Rome.

Venice for the beauty...

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Rome for the history...

Collusseum (Source)

Trevi Fountain (Source)

Roman Forum (Source)

Tuesday – Friday: Greece

Athens and Santorini, probably. We can either fly from Rome to Athens, or take a ferry between the two countries.

In Athens I want to visit the historic sites like the Acropolis and other ancient buildings. I love seeing history!

Acropolis (Source)

Temple of Olympian Zeus (Source)

In Santorini I want to relax and take in the picture perfect Greek islands. I think it'll be the perfect end to this crazy, exciting trip!

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Saturday – fly home :(

I'm sooo excited about this vacation! My sister is the best person to travel with too, both because she's just as excited as I am, and because we're best friends and never run out of things to talk about (I do mean NEVER).

I’m already disappointed that we have to limit ourselves to 2 weeks (I’d do 3 if I could get away with it. I have to save a few days of vacation time for my wedding, though!). I also am already certain that I’ll have to visit again in a few years to see Barcelona, Paris, London and Amsterdam! One trip just isn't enough!

I'm just going to try to take it all in, and enjoy every moment.

Photo Friday: Kings Canyon National Park

My mom and I in Kings Canyon National Park,
a few days after Thanksgiving 2006.

My brother was on his high school's cross country team, and we were in the Fresno area for the state championships. Kings Canyon was beautiful, and very cold!

Thankful Thursday: Job

Work has been quite busy lately, so much that I almost forgot to post this! And that’s what made me think of how thankful I am to be employed right now.

I know people are being laid off and having the hardest time finding new jobs. A lot of companies are simply not hiring, leaving the unemployed with little options.

It’s tough, and I’m thankful thankful thankful to not only have a job, but have a job that I like in a company that’s doing well. Our office is thriving, generating profit and hiring new employees because we have too much work to do. It’s a great feeling.

What are you thankful for?