Screw Microcenter

I dont know if any of you have a Microcenter near you (its a big computer store), but one just opened near my work. I've been in there a few times, looked around, bought jewel cases, nothing major. Prices on software and hardware was higher than Best Buy's.

Well, today I went in to buy some more jewel cases. 20 cases for 18 cents a piece. Thats fair. Less than $5.

So, I bring the cases up to the counter. The guy working the register asks if I've ever shopped with them before. I say no. He then asks me for various personal info (address, phone number, email, etc). Now, last time, I wasnt thinking and I just made up some fake name (which was allready in the computer!). Well, this time I decided to not give the clerk my info..

He says "Sir, its mandatory".

"I dont want you calling me or sending me ads in the mail"

"Oh, well we dont send anything, the info is just incase you have to return anything"

"isnt that what a reciept is for?"

"Yes, but we will need your address"

"Why my phone number?"

"........ Its just needs to be in the computer- its for the returns"

"Well, I promise I wont return any of these jewel cases"

"Thats fine, but I still need your phone number."

"Forget it man, I'll get my cases somewhere else"

How stupid. I need to give them a whole lot of info just to buy some jewel cases. Screw them.

And their prices are high!

LOL, good job AK.... sounds like more fun then last time we were there... did you piss on the building again?


i've made up fake zip code at best buy before, that's about all.

aw, great!

moved to where nobody looks- Complaints

I should have put it in Rants and Raves

Just like on seinfeld several years ago when Kramer says:

"Why does Radioshack ask you your phone number when you buy batteries?"

Originally posted by AK47
aw, great!

moved to where nobody looks- Complaints

I should have put it in Rants and Raves

I woulda still moved it here, y'know

At least it won't get pushed down faster than it would have been if it stayed in Off Topic...

Originally posted by SKYHN
Just like on seinfeld several years ago when Kramer says:

"Why does Radioshack ask you your phone number when you buy batteries?"

Exactly. It's insanity.

I dig, Laggy. Makes sense.

This is also the procedure at PC Club stores in my area, where you have to give your name, address, phone number, etc. Last time I shopped there I just gave the information of my former workplace...

They LIE!
ALL LIES!
LIES I TELL YOU!
LIES!
ALLLLL LIES!
DON'T BELIEVE THEM!

Pc Club here in phoenix asks you "do you want to open an account".. if you say no.. they just put in 555-5555 for your phone number.. finish the transaction and you go away happy..

only time I ever give my info is when I am buying something that has a off chance of being returned for not working.. Processers.. Ram.. Video cards.. so on..

Jewel cases... my name is George Bush.. 1600 Penn. Ave Washington Dc... there ya go.. LOL

im a different person every week... somedays im my co-workers

I give them my work address and my cell phone. They all claim that the info is for returned merchandise info only and won't be release. Yeah, right.

We have gotten some sales calls at work associated with my transactions. Most of the time the sales call come in the evening so they get the business answering machine.

I am fuming right now... I had to search google for a flame of microcenter so I could add this.

I just had a roomate move in with a powerspec pc which was almost to the point where it wouldnt turn on. I spent a day cleaning the inside from the mounds of dust and cobwebs then put windows 2000 on it. Now I realized that it needed sound card drivers so I emailed Microcenter using a form to ask for such.

I got a response saying they dont support Windows 2000 so please try the hardware manufactorers site the name of which can be found on the specs page for the machine. I found it was an integrated soundcard on the intel motherboard but they listed it as a name that intels website didnt recognize. (D850GBSTD4 versus simply D850GB). Now then I wrote an email asking why they didnt just link to the driver on their site and I included the link to the correct page. I got the following email as a response.

> My IdeaHello *My Name*,
>
> Micro Center supports the system as configured with the shipping os.
> When you change the operating system of the computer, you are generally
> on your own. You are correct that I could have pointed you directly to
> the manufacturer's websites but I have done you a much greater service
> by NOT doing that work for you. Now you have taken the first step of
> many towards supporting yourself. (Ever heard the saying give a man a
> fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a
> lifetime? Happy eating sir! )
>
> The difference in listings (D850GBSTD4 versus simply D850GB) are due to
> revision changes that may have been made to the board. The D850GB is
> their "stock" board and ours has either components that are removed or
> added or the bios version is different.
>
> P.S. Good luck with the new OS, by the way. Windows 2k is much more
> stable but it is a little easier to get yourself in trouble if you don't
> have a pretty solid understanding of how it functions.
>
> Thank You,
> -Chris
>
> Micro Center Central Support

now this is not edited except I removed my real name. It even had that MyIdeaHello in there for some reason.

I as previously stated was fuming!!!

so responded with

After reading your latest response and coming to the conclusion you now think I am 15 years old I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your blessed ignorance. Its am disappointing to see this caliber of a response from a microcenter employee, I actually held your store in high regard. If you in any way think I am a 15 year old kid just learning how to fix a computer you are mistaken. I take offense to your statement “I have done you a much greater service by NOT doing that work for you.”, what I got from this was you are not a user friendly company who would rather have customers find support for themselves! I hope you understand that your competitors such as dell or gateway have websites that include drivers for multiple operating systems not just the ones for the OS included when purchased.

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