Best Buy ISF Calibration

[destrekor]

So... I just discovered that, since I've spent so much at BB recently (having the items I want and at the best prices? Or price matching to reach best price? hell yes I'll still shop there!)... I'm now at the Premier Silver level of Reward Zone.

With that, comes this:
FREE House Call from a Geek Squad® Agent. To schedule, call 1-866-RZ-PREMR (1-866-797-7367). We'll help you make the most of your technology with your choice of one of the following services per year:

TV Calibration – Having an HDTV is one thing. Having it personalized to your exact needs is another. Our ISF-certified installers will come to your home and calibrate your HDTV so you're seeing it the way it was meant to be seen.

Setting up your home wireless network (or upgrading your current one) so that you're able to safely and securely surf the Internet at blazing fast speeds. (router hardware not included; Agent will connect up to 2 devices).

Personalized training for one hour so you're able to harness the full power of your devices.

Customized programming of your Harmony TV Remote, giving you the convenience of controlling your entire home theater system with one remote.

Home Theater Consultation A Geek Squad agent will design and lay out a system that captures your home theater dreams, and works within your budget. Our agent can also help you choose products that work best with your design.



Considering everything else is a joke on that list, the ISF-certified calibration, for free... is pretty damn impressive.
I'd still have a couple questions for the tech... but considering I've even thought of, a few months down the road, having a professional calibrator work on my TV... getting it done for free would be awesome. And if it makes it look worse because they did a bad job of it... well, I guess I didn't lose anything right?

 

[JackBurton]

You get what you pay for. I wouldn't let a BB employee touch my TVs. If you just want to see what it would look like after they get done with it, give them a shot. If you REALLY want to professionally calibrate your set, call an expert. And the Geek Squad isn't what I'd call an expert, especially in the ISF field.

 

[TrueBlueLS]

Put your TV on vivid and save the hassle of them coming out.

 

[destrekor]

Put your TV on vivid and save the hassle of them coming out.

I should have figured there would be better replies at avsforum.

"Best Buy calibration" is not the same as some minimum-wage corporate monkey simply fiddling with controls or presenting the brightest image at the store.

From what I've read on AVS, the actual individuals who do the calibration are ISF certified and do have the same standard equipment that other ISF-Certified calibrators utilize.
If they are ISF, and follow professional standards, it shouldn't matter if they are self-employed or work for a big national chain.
I've read they are typically even scheduled weeks/months out due to the amount of work and maybe only having one or two certified calibrators in a region.

All ISF Certified calibrators aren't the same though, and I imagine even Best Buy has some stand-out pros and also some individuals who bring shame to the professional calibrator community.

 

[mshan]

Best Buy has to reinvent itself as something other than Amazon's showroom, so perks for loyal customers that actually spend alot in their stores makes sense.

Perhaps the ISF technicians are like installers Home Depot or Lowes uses (lowest price they can find, and whether they are exceptional or mediocre may just depend upon particular individual you get).

The sub-contractor, so to speak, gets a steady stream of business from Best Buy referrals, but probably gets paid less per job by Best Buy as trade off.

 

[destrekor]

Best Buy has to reinvent itself as something other than Amazon's showroom, so perks for loyal customers that actually spend alot in their stores makes sense.

Perhaps the ISF technicians are like installers Home Depot or Lowes uses (lowest price they can find, and whether they are exceptional or mediocre may just depend upon particular individual you get).

The sub-contractor, so to speak, gets a steady stream of business from Best Buy referrals, but probably gets paid less per job by Best Buy as trade off.

From what I've read, Best Buy actually sends people through the ISF training program, so it sounds like they are official employees. Whether they do anything else, I don't know.
It sounds like the people most familiar with all of this are in the BB Magnolia store section, so I'll have to ask around inside my local Magnolia and start deciding there.

I'll have to dig into the service menu and check out of the number of hours, but I should have some time before it makes the most sense to calibrate it. I did 100 hours of solid color slides, and have since been trying to focus on 16:9 content (save for a movie or two) but am now mostly just "breaking in" through regular use as opposed to leaving it on all the time.

 

[Gintaras]

I want and at the best prices? Or price matching to reach best price? hell yes I'll still shop there!)... I'm now at the Premier Silver level of Reward Zone.

When I bought my TV on Newegg, Best Buy or Wallmart hat it for ~$150-200 more than I paid for...

I won't even go to Best Buy anymore - wasn't there for 2-3 years...and no plans to go there...

If you want to learn how to calibrate your TV, go to AVS forums....

 

[destrekor]

When I bought my TV on Newegg, Best Buy or Wallmart hat it for ~$150-200 more than I paid for...

I won't even go to Best Buy anymore - wasn't there for 2-3 years...and no plans to go there...

If you want to learn how to calibrate your TV, go to AVS forums....

I know how to do price research.

the lowest for my TV was $50 less than BB had it, and would require delivery. Dealing with local for a $50 premium ($1000 as opposed to 950) was a no-brainer.

Plus, if it's at a major store, including newegg, BB price matches.
I've price matched so many things at BB - I'll buy there if I can get the same price.

And you can't be taught to calibrate it yourself unless you pay for the calibration equipment. You can get approximate results, but without the right equipment to measure the display, there's no way to reach the best calibration results.

 

[LikeLinus]

You get what you pay for. I wouldn't let a BB employee touch my TVs. If you just want to see what it would look like after they get done with it, give them a shot. If you REALLY want to professionally calibrate your set, call an expert. And the Geek Squad isn't what I'd call an expert, especially in the ISF field.

Are you sure they just send a Geek Squad person to your house for ISF services? Or do they contract it out or have an agreement with local ISF experts? That same expert you are calling may very well end up being a contractor for Best Buy.

I dont know, but It's a question to ask.

 

[LikeLinus]

When I bought my TV on Newegg, Best Buy or Wallmart hat it for ~$150-200 more than I paid for...

I won't even go to Best Buy anymore - wasn't there for 2-3 years...and no plans to go there...

If you want to learn how to calibrate your TV, go to AVS forums....

You may want to rethink that. I found the lowest price on my Panny 55" GT on Amazon at Christmas time. I went to Best Buy and they price matched the Amazon and took extra 10% off after I talked to a manager.

I don't shop at Best Buy hardly ever, but they will price match online stores and it's much smarter to get it locally with the ability to return it. Which is exactly what I had to do when I found a small scratch on the screen. I took it back the next day and they gave me a new one. You know how much hassle that would have been trying to ship back a TV and get another? Not worth it if I can get it for the same price.

 

[Born2bwire]

You may want to rethink that. I found the lowest price on my Panny 55" GT on Amazon at Christmas time. I went to Best Buy and they price matched the Amazon and took extra 10% off after I talked to a manager.

I don't shop at Best Buy hardly ever, but they will price match online stores and it's much smarter to get it locally with the ability to return it. Which is exactly what I had to do when I found a small scratch on the screen. I took it back the next day and they gave me a new one. You know how much hassle that would have been trying to ship back a TV and get another? Not worth it if I can get it for the same price.

Amazon is now starting to charge sales tax in places. For me, it costs the same to get the ST60 from Amazon and Best Buy, delivery and tax included. Also, Amazon offers a 2% store credit rebate on the TV, but at the same time Best Buy's reward's program will give you the same 2% back (albeit only on increments of $250). So the rebates even work out to be the same. I'll probably order from Amazon because I get 3% back on purchases with them via my credit card. I would be interested in buying from Best Buy if it meant getting the Silver rewards and calibration. Let's be honest, the best that I can do is go on to AVS and go through the same PPT burn in and use someone else's results to calibrate my TV. I don't have access to any proper equipment. But I would have to spend $2500 at Best Buy within a year and I'm not going to be buying any more electronics at the moment beyond the TV. I might do a basic home theater but I highly doubt I would get the same good deal at Best Buy on that as the TV.

 

[LikeLinus]

Amazon is now starting to charge sales tax in places. For me, it costs the same to get the ST60 from Amazon and Best Buy, delivery and tax included. Also, Amazon offers a 2% store credit rebate on the TV, but at the same time Best Buy's reward's program will give you the same 2% back (albeit only on increments of $250). So the rebates even work out to be the same. I'll probably order from Amazon because I get 3% back on purchases with them via my credit card. I would be interested in buying from Best Buy if it meant getting the Silver rewards and calibration. Let's be honest, the best that I can do is go on to AVS and go through the same PPT burn in and use someone else's results to calibrate my TV. I don't have access to any proper equipment. But I would have to spend $2500 at Best Buy within a year and I'm not going to be buying any more electronics at the moment beyond the TV. I might do a basic home theater but I highly doubt I would get the same good deal at Best Buy on that as the TV.

I didn't even think about that. I did get back $100 from Best Buy on my Reward Zone card.

I used the 100 hour burn-in from AVS as well. I also recommend the Disney Wow Blu-Ray as well. I got it mainly for my projector but it's a good tool to have.

All said though, it's still much faster to get it at Best Buy for the same cost and I can return it and have another one in 30 minutes if needed. To me it's a no brainer.

 

[JackBurton]

Are you sure they just send a Geek Squad person to your house for ISF services? Or do they contract it out or have an agreement with local ISF experts? That same expert you are calling may very well end up being a contractor for Best Buy.

I dont know, but It's a question to ask.

I guarantee you he is not. BB sends their Geek Squad goofs to ISF training, however just because you are certified, doesn't mean you possess the same skills that someone who's been doing it for years AND is good at it. The BB goofs couldn't even unlock the ISF modes on my TV to do a proper ISF calibration. And if you aren't using the ISF modes on my TV, you are not doing an accurate calibration.

I only use ONE calibrator for my sets, and he is very well respected in the industry.

 

[JackBurton]

I should have figured there would be better replies at avsforum.

"Best Buy calibration" is not the same as some minimum-wage corporate monkey simply fiddling with controls or presenting the brightest image at the store.

From what I've read on AVS, the actual individuals who do the calibration are ISF certified and do have the same standard equipment that other ISF-Certified calibrators utilize.
If they are ISF, and follow professional standards, it shouldn't matter if they are self-employed or work for a big national chain.
I've read they are typically even scheduled weeks/months out due to the amount of work and maybe only having one or two certified calibrators in a region.

All ISF Certified calibrators aren't the same though, and I imagine even Best Buy has some stand-out pros and also some individuals who bring shame to the professional calibrator community.

No they don't.

 

[destrekor]

No they don't.

It sounds like it is hit and miss then.

Like standard ISF calibrators - there is no guarantee the one you contact is a quality professional.

As you said - just because you go to the training program, doesn't mean the calibrator is skilled.


Again, as I've said, some on AVS stated they arrived with standard equipment and did a good job.

Others have said they've made some bad calibrations. One (a calibrator) said he cleaned up with the BB people in his region made a mess of.


For my part, I'm at least going to talk to the Magnolia folk and see if I can get a heads up. I'm not paying a thing one way or the other, so hopefully I can get some honest input.
If it sounds like the certified folks in my region are up to snuff, I'll take the offer.

 

[alkemyst]

A big box store is not interested in calibrating your TV.

They will sell it to you, you will never get what you paid for...

 

[frowertr]

A big box store is not interested in calibrating your TV.

They will sell it to you, you will never get what you paid for...

This and the rest of the replies you got from this thread +1.

I wouldn't let BB touch my TV with white gloves. My father just purchased a ST60 from a BB last week and while they offered to deliver it for free, I convinced him to let us pick it up. I don't want the Geek Squad anywhere near a new TV.

 

[Number1]

This and the rest of the replies you got from this thread +1.

I wouldn't let BB touch my TV with white gloves. My father just purchased a ST60 from a BB last week and while they offered to deliver it for free, I convinced him to let us pick it up. I don't want the Geek Squad anywhere near a new TV.

They wanted to save your father the trouble of picking it up and carrying it into his place and this for free.

What would they do during the delivery that's not helpful or detrimental?

 

[sdifox]

If they send ISF Certified people, you are good. You can always take down the technicians name and bitch to ISF if they do a shitty job.

 

[brainhulk]

I've send this before regarding ISF calibration, but I'll say it again. I spoke to my local Hi-Fi dealer regarding the ISF calibration (he's certified in ISF calibration). He says that he's done a ton of calibrations and the general public doesn't like the results. He can get the picture come out technically accurate, but people don't want technically accurate. They want the wow factor, which is better served by adjusting yourself to your personal taste and not paying someone.

I believed him because he could have easily upselled me on a calibration but he's always been a straight up guy with me.

If you want accurate and they send out a certified ISF calibrator then, I'd say that's a good deal.

How much do you have to spend to get to premeir silver level? lol, I go my projector there last year

 

[frowertr]

They wanted to save your father the trouble of picking it up and carrying it into his place and this for free.

What would they do during the delivery that's not helpful or detrimental?

They also want to set it up for you. I'd rather save everyone's time and do it myself correctly the FIRST time.

 

[destrekor]

I've send this before regarding ISF calibration, but I'll say it again. I spoke to my local Hi-Fi dealer regarding the ISF calibration (he's certified in ISF calibration). He says that he's done a ton of calibrations and the general public doesn't like the results. He can get the picture come out technically accurate, but people don't want technically accurate. They want the wow factor, which is better served by adjusting yourself to your personal taste and not paying someone.

I believed him because he could have easily upselled me on a calibration but he's always been a straight up guy with me.

If you want accurate and they send out a certified ISF calibrator then, I'd say that's a good deal.

How much do you have to spend to get to premeir silver level? lol, I go my projector there last year

They just changed up the Reward Zone system to "My Best Buy", and also changed the requirements. It was $2500 in a year for Silver.
Now they've got $1500/yr for Elite, and $3500/yr for Elite Plus.
They actually automatically gave me Elite Plus even though I am shy of that mark, which is nice. Get a small bonus in point generation as well.


Regarding calibration: I had a calibration done for my 32" 720p LCD forever ago (bought in 2006 - calibrated within the year after that).
It was totally worth it in my opinion.

And I've used a calibrator's settings on my plasma - based on his work. Some professionals on avsforum have also commented that his settings, on the displays they have worked with, are actually pretty damn close to the mark based on their measurements.
And I'm FAR more pleased with the picture compared to the default.

The vivid initial settings on TVs can look "pleasing" - but in my mind I know it is artificial and inaccurate. After calibration and working on settings for various devices, I've always been far more pleased. It's more balanced and neutral.
Especially with this plasma and the more colors/contrast it can produce, it just looks that much more lifelike.
And dialing in the settings also had a profound impact on black levels and overall visible detail at both the dark and bright ends, and, to my color-deficient eyes, appears to give plenty of "pop" and yet skin tones appear natural.

Based on those settings and some professional opinions stating they reach about 90-95% of the way to calibrated accuracy (depending on individual set, some might be right on the money or a degree off)... I'm not sure I'd really want to spend money on a calibrator. But if there's a chance a free visit could bring it ever so slightly closer to that "perfect" mark... sign me up!

I do actually need to call Reward Zone/MyBB and see if that offer is even still available. Perhaps it's grandfathered for me based on previous purchases, but I am worried as I do not see it even available on the new site.
That said, all I want to do is at least get in touch with a local calibrator from BB and see how they even answer my questions.

They also want to set it up for you. I'd rather save everyone's time and do it myself correctly the FIRST time.

I'm sure you can set up a delivery and that's it, nothing more.

They WANT to sell additional services, that's how they make the majority of their profits.

That said, at least my store generally knows what they are doing.
When I went to take my plasma home with me, they asked about that and also ensured I knew how to properly secure the TV for the trip.

When it came to put it into a friend's SUV, they determined it could not sit perfectly upright. They would NOT allow it to lay down, in any way, without signing my documentation saying such so that any broken glass or defects would be my fault if returned the next day.
They were very hesitant about allowing it to be tilted a little bit diagonally, glass up, but eventually let that happen and never wrote down anything.

That's pretty good on them, and that wasn't even geek squad folks I was dealing with.

If I wasn't impatient, I would have let them deliver just so I could avoid the liability. As it was, I wasn't waiting.

 

[goobee]

A big box store is not interested in calibrating your TV.

They will sell it to you, you will never get what you paid for...

There aren't very many "big box" stores anymore as many have gone out of business. Best Buy management realizes this and knows that in order to survive, they must provide more than drone service. Clearly, Circuit City led the way in stupidity when they redefined their business model, fired their most experienced people and relied on unexperienced low wagers to carry on. They are no longer in business and deservedly so.

Best Buy management knows that they have to provide satisfactory after sale service to distinguish themselves from internet ordering vendors.

 

[alkemyst]

There aren't very many "big box" stores anymore as many have gone out of business. Best Buy management realizes this and knows that in order to survive, they must provide more than drone service. Clearly, Circuit City led the way in stupidity when they redefined their business model, fired their most experienced people and relied on unexperienced low wagers to carry on. They are no longer in business and deservedly so.

Best Buy management knows that they have to provide satisfactory after sale service to distinguish themselves from internet ordering vendors.

There aren't many boutique type vendors you mean.

Best Buy, Fry's, hhgregg, etc are all big box stores.

 

[goobee]

Yes, I mean "big box" stores such as Circuit City, CompUSA, The Good Guys, The Federated Groups, etc. all of which has disappeared in CA and other states.