From: "warlockg" <warlockg@home.com>
To: <CyberPagan@OutoftheDark.com>
Subject: Another CompUsa Horror story
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 16:19:34 -0700

Welcome to another CompUsa horror story.  This one concerns the MetroCenter store in Phoenix, Arizona.
   In April of 1999, I purchased an Alps MD-1000 printer from the store. After Listen to the spiel from the sales associate extolling the virtures of the extended service plan, I agreed to spend the extra $60.00. It was very patiently explained to me that the service plan was to allow me the ease of being able to bring the printer directly to the store rather than the problems of having to ship the printer (at my time and expense) to the manufacturer. Save time and money. GREAT!!!!!.

   I purchased this printer for special occasion use as I liked the glossy look it put on regular laser paper. After printing about ten pages to "test" :) this option I put the printer up and went back to my regular HP printer.

   Move forward in time. It is now July 9th, 1999. Just three months into my "three year service contract". Taking down the printer I attempt to print a document only to have the ribbon shred and the cartridge lock into the printer. Away to CompUsa we go. I go in and talk to the Technical service person and explain to her what had happened and that I had sent my reciept to alps along with the rebate paperwork I was given at the time of my purchase so could they help? No, But I could call 1-800-336-9884 and get a return authorization number and then they could help. To the phone I go. Two hours later and 4000 repeats of "please stay on the line and your call will be answered in the order it was recieved". I still hadn't heard a real person so I gave up. Talking to the service person again I was told that they would be happy to accept a photocopy of my reciept to service my printer. Off to my storage shed and a half hour of digging, I come up with the reciept. (Apparently I sent the photocopy by mistake, which might explain why I never recieved my rebate.) Cheerfully I go all the way back to CompUsa reciept in hand.

   Entering the store I am greeted cheerfully (and smiling) service tech who still smiling is pleased to inform me that as of two days ago CompUsa is not authorized to accept any service contracts without a return authorization number. I explain to her that I had just spent two hours attempting to speak to a real person for nothing and explaining that I had purchased this contract months ago so therefore should be granted the service I paid for.

   Are you ready for the worst kick in the pants to this whole episode.  After telling her that the service contract was only 3 months old, She promptly told me (still smiling) that the extended service contract only extended the original warranty two years and that for the first year I still had to return the printer to the  original manufacturer.

   God help anyone who buys from CompUsa because it is a sure bet that Compusa won't help them.  As for some of the other stories I have read here, The people that say the staff is knowledgeable and helpful, should consider themselves lucky for that much, the staff here in Phoenix can't answer simple questions about Windows 98 let alone NT. Should you happen to have a hardware problem a blank stare is the best you can expect to get.

   Thanks for letting me rant and rave. I just hope it helps keep someone else from making the mistake of buying from CompUsa