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Geek Squad

C

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
I don't know, but somehow, I find 10000 VW Beetles roaming the planet, helping Granny unfoil her email, kind of funny, as far as business logic goes. I don't see how such a business is going to survive, not knowing any inside details, of course. It just seems, like their rates for some services, well, hell, you could replace the damn PC. :shocked:

Their commercials are corny as hell too. Think they'll make it?
 
As long as they can continue to get away with charging $30 to run an antivirus check, they'll probably do fine.
 
They accounted for 40% of BB profit last year. It is really hard for them to fail with that marketing engine behind them. Also it is a fairly decent concept, charge ignorant people exorbinant prices to do things they should be able to themselves but are to lazy to learn how to do. Quickelube opperates on the same principal.

 
Their image is awful (IMHO) but I have heard numerous people mention how they had a problem, called the geek squad and had a guy on site within half an hour fixing the problem. So while their prices are sky high they seem to have good service.

Of course that is usually when I give them my number and tell them I'll fit it next time for half what Geek Squad charges 😉
 
I should add, the techs at the local GS (one that is not attached to a BB) all have BS of CS degrees from UW Madison, and make far less than I do with no degree. <Yes Alex if you are reading this I am making fun of you>.
 
Depends on their management focus.With the amount of clueless people owning pc's now,I feel if well managed Geek Squad should do well.With the constant improvements in hardware and the constant flood of spyware/malware/virus promblems,the only draw back they could have is to get too big too quickly.
 
I just started working at GS. I personally can't see them tanking with the clientele that they bring in. Soccer moms who don't know jack about anything computer related, older couples who have a computer basically for their grandkids to use, etc. I just look at the service GS provides as a parallel to an auto mechanic: fixing stuff you could most likely fix with the right stuff (parts/software/elbow greese). Learning how to fix a computer thoroughly doesn't just happen overnight.
 
Originally posted by: Zolty
I should add, the techs at the local GS (one that is not attached to a BB) all have BS of CS degrees from UW Madison, and make far less than I do with no degree. <Yes Alex if you are reading this I am making fun of you>.
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Where I'm at the Geek Squad guys are morons. They will not hire someone that has a 4 year degree in anything computer related.

 
Originally posted by: BigPoppa
I just started working at GS. I personally can't see them tanking with the clientele that they bring in. Soccer moms who don't know jack about anything computer related, older couples who have a computer basically for their grandkids to use, etc. I just look at the service GS provides as a parallel to an auto mechanic: fixing stuff you could most likely fix with the right stuff (parts/software/elbow greese). Learning how to fix a computer thoroughly doesn't just happen overnight.
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QFT. I can't tell you the number of times I get stopped by teachers asking stuff about their home computers. There is no way I can explain to them how to run HijackThis and all the other stuff that you learn to do when removing all the accumulated spyware/malware garbage on their systems.
 
It will survive just fine because there are TONS of people that have no F'ing clue how to work their computer and don't realize that they are getting reamed by the GS's prices and crap service. I started fixing people's computers here at work (that's what I do at work anyway) and have picked up some extra money. Any time I hear someone mention Geek Squad I give them a business card and tell them not to bother with some high school dropout fixing their computer and let someone that know what they are doing do it.
 
They'll do fine I think. Unless some other player of the same size comes in and starts offering lower prices. Better service is irrelevant because people don't really know what good service on a PC is.
 
I actually think in certain rich elderly suburban areas they'll do just fine. They'll fail in other areas but I think they'll manage to stay afloat for a while.
 
yeah, it'll do quite well I imagine...the demand for computer service can only increase as more people move into the digital age.
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
They'll do fine I think. Unless some other player of the same size comes in and starts offering lower prices. Better service is irrelevant because people don't really know what good service on a PC is.
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That's because there are so few places for the average person to go. Most of the local shops I've been in here are far worse than the guys at GS. At least at BB you know you will be getting new parts.

 
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: BigPoppa
I just started working at GS. I personally can't see them tanking with the clientele that they bring in. Soccer moms who don't know jack about anything computer related, older couples who have a computer basically for their grandkids to use, etc. I just look at the service GS provides as a parallel to an auto mechanic: fixing stuff you could most likely fix with the right stuff (parts/software/elbow greese). Learning how to fix a computer thoroughly doesn't just happen overnight.
Click to expand...

QFT. I can't tell you the number of times I get stopped by teachers asking stuff about their home computers. There is no way I can explain to them how to run HijackThis and all the other stuff that you learn to do when removing all the accumulated spyware/malware garbage on their systems.
Click to expand...

It's not that hard. Make them a win98 boot floppy and tell them they can remove all the spyware/adware cruft in a three easy steps:

1. Put Floppy in and boot
2. At prompt type "format c:"
3. Press 'Y' then ENTER

Problems solved :laugh:
 
Sadly, I think they'll survive. Like most here have said, the average Joe Schmuckatelly just doesn't know enough about computers to do it themselves.

In fact, I had a co-worker that told me about 3 months back that he took his son's computer in to BB, and let the GS guys install an anti-virus program for him, run the scan, and took a couple trojans off the system. Something that anyone should be able to do, imho, with not much more than someone standing behind them, pointing out the way.

This guy knows that I work on computers all the time, along with a couple other guys in the shop, and yet he took the computer to GS, and let them charge him......ready for this??.......$90 to do that work!!! :shocked: (this included the price of Norton AV).

Needless to say, I looked at him with a mixture of shock and disgust that made him feel like he'd just raped his own dog, and got caught at it. Sad, just so sad...... :laugh:
 
I just sent back to my brother a PC that he sent to me that GS said was dead. It was his mother inlaw's. GS said that the MB had died and would cost more to replace than a new one cost's. So of course they refered her to BestBuy to purchace a new one. Which she did.
New powersupply and fresh install of XP and now my brother has a like new new P4 HP PC. His mother inlaw has cash, so she will not complain. Good business model for BB.
 
Apply your logic to the following occupations:

Plumbers
Carpenters
Electricians
Masons

Are those types of jobs and businesses associated with them bound to fail?

Same basic concept of "uneducated" people overpaying somebody who is educated in that specific field.
 
Originally posted by: joedrake
🙁 no, people are stupid
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Do you change your oil? Do you even know how? Do you do your own plumbing? Carpentry? Electrical work?

For a lot of people it's a waste of time fidgeting with a computer for a few hours getting it to work. They're no more stupid than you are with respect to that which you pay someone else to do.
 
Originally posted by: BigJ
Apply your logic to the following occupations:

Plumbers
Carpenters
Electricians
Masons

Are those types of jobs and businesses associated with them bound to fail?

Same basic concept of "uneducated" people overpaying somebody who is educated in that specific field.
Click to expand...

I was typing mine before I saw yours. Guess we had the same thought...
 
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: joedrake
🙁 no, people are stupid
Click to expand...

Do you change your oil? Do you even know how? Do you do your own plumbing? Carpentry? Electrical work?

For a lot of people it's a waste of time fidgeting with a computer for a few hours getting it to work. They're no more stupid than you are with respect to that which you pay someone else to do.
Click to expand...

I don't understand why this is so hard of a concept for most of the people on this board to comprehend.
 
Originally posted by: Zolty
They accounted for 40% of BB profit last year. It is really hard for them to fail with that marketing engine behind them. Also it is a fairly decent concept, charge ignorant people exorbinant prices to do things they should be able to themselves but are to lazy to learn how to do. Quickelube opperates on the same principal.
Click to expand...

Well, maybe it's okay for the local economy. Keeps the jobs around, I guess.
 
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