Manufacturer Warranties and Protection Plans

[MobileExpert]

The reason I don't put much stock in A+ is because it's fairly simple, and is just a paper test. There's no hands-on tests. Any John Q. Public can buy an A+ test teaching book and end up passing the test. That doesn't mean they know a thing about fixing computers.

[Aryq46254]

So what qualifications are required to get hired on as a Geek Squad agent, then?  Is there any sort of testing to gage if the person does in fact know how to work on computers, or not?  Or do you just need to be a warm body that can be taught the basics?

As GeraldRose said, when you take your computer to a place like Best Buy or Fries to have it worked on, you expect that they've hired qualified people.  I am sure that most of the GS agents are qualified or even over-qualified to work on computers.  When I take my car to a repair shop, I expect that the guy working on my car is qualified to do the work.  I'd be distraught if I took my car in for an oil change, only to find out that the new guy who's never done an oil change before ruined my engine... just like so many reports on here of someone taking their PC in to get something minor fixed, and it being returned to them in worse condition.

Don't mind me, I'm just rambling.

~Aryq~

[MobileExpert]

I have never applied to GS, but from what I understand, experience does play a BIG part. If you have almost no experience with computers, it's unlikely they'll hire you.

But again, in-store GS agents perform very minor repairs. Most likely a complete newbie would be given something automated to do, like the automated diag and spyware removal tools. Yep, most of what in-store GS does is just run software. Very little of it is hardware.

[Mactico]

It is very easy! based on my experience just go to the Geek Squad area and being a geek yourself you will notice they do not have any diagnostic tools. They just do simple restarts and troubleshooting from the computers software. I will just say that it is better to deal with the manufacturer than dealing with geek squad agent who most of the time are not even trained.

[insomniac]

So veering back to the original topic at hand.  Is the GS warranty worth it?  I purchased an open box MacBook Pro with the accidental damage GS warranty.  If something should go horribly wrong with the machine a year from now, I don't get the feeling I'd get a comparable replacement.

[Mactico]

I am sorry to hear that with your computer, I hope you do get a comparable replacement but based on my experience, I would say that you need to be ready to fight and deal with a lot of people or like, me pray for someone on this forum to come up with a solution. Good luck

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

No one can tell you whether it's worth it or not.

Giving an example of how it's worth it to one customer I helped.

He bought a Apple desktop(a G3 I think?) about 3 years ago, it was sent off to service and approved for junk out... he walked out of the store with a brand new, 24" Apple  iMac.

That's pretty good potential value to me. Let alone that your computer will be covered for repairs if the it suffers any accidental damage.... plus you can receive a free replacement AC adapter, and a free battery after the first year you own it....

[insomniac]

I guess I should have qualified my question for purchasers of open box laptops.  I can't reasonably expect a new replacement since I paid a discounted price.  So how will they find me a comparable replacement if the laptop becomes unrepairable?  It's not like they can scrounge up an open box MacBook Pro on demand.

[MobileExpert]

Whether you purchase an open box or not, if you are authorized for a replacement, you get a new replacement.

[insomniac]

But doesn't the language say that the replacement cannot exceed the cost of the purchase price?  Meaning with a limited line like the MacBook Pro, there is not likely to be a new model a year from now that retails at the price I paid for the open box.  So if the unit becomes unrepairable, what happens?  Are they going to try to give me a Windows equivalent?