Shocked I tell you!
Anybody else surprised?
Yeah, me neither.
Office Depot has suspended PC Health Check – its malware-scanning service – after it was accused of lying about infections to push antivirus software. Former Office Depot technician Shane Barnett told Seattle TV station KIRO 7 that the PC Health Check service would lie to customers that their otherwise-clean PCs were infected …
Braindead libertarians will tell you that they're unneeded, because the market will shun dishonest companies. No need to get the government involved, as seen here where the company voluntarily shut down their scam after being reported to the media. The system works!
No shite, Sherlock! This is the same chain that sold a business model laser printer to my 72-year-old friend when she asked our local Office Max/Depot store to help her select a personal printer for her home. They loaded her up with the printer, an "accessory" package of over-priced, useless crap, and a two-year service agreement. The price tag? Somewhat over US$500. This lady prints the occasional e-mail, letters, and recipes. She had no use for the office duty-rating, or the built-in scanner and fax functions.
I'd earlier wiped her Toshiba laptop of a buggered Win 8 install, and replaced it with Linux. She'd been using it for six months and loved it. It took two of us to lift the printer to install it beside her desk. It refused to acknowledge Linux print commands. Two of us loaded it back in her SUV; it took her nearly an hour and many threats of going to the state consumer authorities to get a full refund. The sales staff then "ordered" her to buy a smaller replacement machine from them. She walked out.
I sent away for a small personal color laser printer and a full set of replacement cartridges (with two black) for an even $200. She pocketed $320 in savings. It is compact and light enough she can pick it up by herself. It connected to Linux and printed on the first attempt.
Moral of the story: don't trust 'em to help Senior folks who ask for advice and service. And that's my second experience with that store. They did the same thing to an 87-year-old lunch buddy of mine last year. Except I caught it before he unboxed it. I'm 76 and just a hobbyist, but I'm tech savvy enough to know 'em when I see 'em: Greedy Predatory Bastards!
Thus the real issue was you weren't able to make your buggered installation of Linux print on that printer??
Thus the real issue was that I weren't able to make the buggered HP driver for that particular model that I downloaded from their website and installed, work as promised. Her earlier model inkjet printer (not HP) I'd set up both wireless and USB cable and it worked flawlessly under Linux. Problem is, she used it so little that the print heads kept drying up; she used more ink cleaning heads than she ever did in printing. She saw the price of replacement ink refills, and chucked the printer. That's when the Office Max/Depot follies began. (She didn't ask me first, not wanting to bother me.)
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and demand that they meet their advertised prices, they will meet them but you will have to show them their add to get them, then repeatedly say no to the extra warranty offerings to come out ahead. I am only surprised that they were so timid as to ask only $180 for a "tuneup" and imaginary virus removal when $249 sounds more like they have a higher class of security experts.
Corrupt sales practices, agreed. As for "fuck stupid population," many of us use computers as ancillary tools, and have as much need to delve into their inner workings as we do the refrigeration or heating systems--our other home appliances. Despite that (see my comment above re: Office Max/Depot abuse of elderly customers) I'm willing to bet that we're far less stupid than you seem to be arrogant and insulting.
To the (particular) anonymous poster - there are always idiots in all countries and you are proof of that.
I doubt you will be speaking like this in polite and intelligent company.
Being able to hide your real identity is no excuse for talking sh1t.
How would you fancy having your car 'repaired' by crooked garage and subsequently you crash because of brake failure?
Based on your logic this will be your fault, right?
P.S. In case you care - I am not American
Well, I known US citizens who say without shame, for example, that two-years compulsory EU warranty is stupid because it stifles innovation, is anti-business, creates new bacteria resistant to antibiotics, etc. etc... sometimes they really deserve this kind of business practices which looks so "American", because the customer is only a cow to milk.
I have to upvote you. Hate to, but have to.
The entire U.S. economy is based on defrauding the customer no matter the consequences, because the consequence often prove that crime DOES pay.
And the American people vote for it as often as possible. Because, you know, one day they'll get their chance to screw over people and get rich. You can't fix that kind of stupid.
"We have commenced a full review of the assertions and will take appropriate action. Office Depot is committed to providing the best possible service to our customers, and we are suspending the PC tune-up services throughout our retail chain pending our review."
The best possible service that can get you the best possible returns for doing nothing.
I'm sure all the decision makers of the company will deny all knowledge of any wrong doing.
Bait and switch:
http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/more-office-depot-employees-report-lying-to-customers-changing-price-tags
Or search for "Office Depot extended warranty fraud".
Being visited by the three ghosts of Christmas is viewed more as a training opportunity and not an ethics review.
VM send out warning letters to customers suggesting they have SSDP vulnerabilities and offer their "gadget rescue service" to fix things. There is little evidence that those sent letters do have any SSDP vulnerabilities.
VM claim it is legitimate but it has all the hallmarks of a 'scaring folk into buying burglar alarms' scam.
http://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.controller?CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=169598
This reminds me of a commercial I saw Sunday on my once a month TV watching time. (I hate TV in general so nuf said.)
"Wells Fargo is making changes to make things right" (Damn we got caught, hey Vinney we need another avenue)
"Fully refunding those impacted." (If we don't pretend to do something we'll get a fine and lose our bonus.)
"Proactive account notifications." (So if we tell the truth now we can lie later, good plan Vinney)
"Eliminate product sales goals." (Need to find a new excuse to fire employees.)
"We're renewing our commitment to you." (We are too big to fail so we'll make the little ones feel safe from all this happy talk.)
Every marketplace has asymmetrical information. Some people simply know more than others. This body clearly knows more about this issue than Joe Lunchbox but how is Joe supposed to know if he is getting scammed? It appears that the whole system is screwed. The clerk doesn't have any latitude/ knowledge to make decisions but has a pile of pressure to perform. The business has to figure out how to deliver a profitable solution without missing something and causing negligence exposure so use a software package that errs on the side of CYA. The expert techs are more profitable doing other stuff. Joe's lack of knowledge about all things computer does not make him a charitable cause that a business has to support / donate to. I am not condoning the activity but seriously - how to solve?
Starting back in the 80s, OfficeDepot/Officemax (the 2nd and 3rd rank chains recently merged) and Staples drove all the little stationary / office supply stores out of business as part of the "big box store" revolution. They provided one-stop shopping, good prices, and often helpful advice, and made good profits as they took over the SOHO & small/medium business supply market.
Over the last decade, these big box stores have been hit hard as internet shopping (especially Amazon) plus Costco have provided better prices, cheap/fast delivery to the premises, and a wider range of good quality products. Businesses (and most consumers) aren't stupid, so Office Depot (especially!) and Staples have been hanging on by a thread. Clearly, Office Depot seems to be getting desperate.
PS - many people not comfortable with technology developed good impressions of Office Depot / Staples as helpful places to buy technology during their growth, and have not yet learned that the situation has changed.
Not just Computers ...
My local garage owner had his wife take in their Honda for the Airbag Recall, they ran a "Free" check and found that the transmission needed to be reworked, the brakes were all failing, all of the wipers were bad and needed to be replaced, and that various other "issues" existed on the car.
When they got the recall letter they stopped using the car until it could be fixed, he changed all the wipers and checked fluid levels the day before it had to go in. Everything was great... But all 3 wipers on the car were "torn" through wear and tear... Through 1 day of sitting without use - OOPS. The odd thing is that the new wipers seemed to all be clean cut, like with a knife!... He went up there and complained and they have no idea how the wipers got like that, but the transmission and breaks were okay and it was just a mistake during inspection. The "Free" recall went from like £600 down to £45 (cost of the wipers)...
He has made a formal complaint but Nothings going to happen.
But yea, Computers...
I was in a rush to get a laptop one day so went to PCWorld (I know, I know)... But all of the ones they had in stock came with a "pre-configured backup USB stick" that cost an extra £35. I had to argue to get it removed - only for them to then tell me that as the box had been opened I couldn't return it unless there was a fault, I told them it was against the SOGA and she said she had never heard of it lol. They removed my USB stick, but the PR team says that if you go in and only pre-configured are there, that they will give the stick for free if it was reserved. A total lie.
PC World also "Refuse" to price match for me in my local store with Scan (15 miles away from store!) because most people order from scan using the website and not by going to their store! lol.... I tend to reserve, ask for a price match, walk out if it doesn't happen and then return when the current manager has left his shift. Sometimes they will match, but generally if the team has to get a supervisor to approve it then they tell me no.
Best not mention when they told me to go home so they could send a courier to my house to pick up a computer part - to take it to the store (that I was at!) so they could then pay another courier to bring a new part back out (FROM THE SAME STORE THAT I WAS IN) to me....