Lots of negative reviews here, and my own history with them has been somewhat dicey over the years…read more Had I written the review a few weeks ago, my rating might have been 3 stars, and potentially even lower. But my most recent encounter elevated my opinion of them a bit. To some extent, any consumer buying experience is a matter of chance, or luck. Maybe you get a good, helpful salesperson one time, and the next time you encounter the exact opposite. But if you go to a place more than once, it's possible to discern a trend.
Back in the day, when I worked in nearby Piscataway, I occasionally came to this shopping center on my lunch hour in order to browse in the late, lamented Border's Book Store. I bought shoes, once, at DSW. And, very occasionally, I've patronized Best Buy. It has always seemed very busy, but at least parking spots are plentiful.
My 1st memory of it, long ago, is when my old friend talked me into getting a flip-phone. They were already on their way out, but...as I've mentioned in other reviews...I'm nothing if not resistant to change (while recognizing the truth of Eastern philosophy that nothing is permanent). With his assistance, I came to Best Buy to purchase one and set it up, and it went smoothly. (At one point, a little later on, I was on the verge of getting rid of it, until Hurricane Sandy occurred, and explicitly demonstrated the utility of having such a device-- it proved to be my only means of communication with my elderly parents, who were still alive at the time, and my birth mother,)
When I finally bought a DVD player, I bought it here.
Years later, I talked with a technically adept co-worker about my wistful desire to have some of my prized (and deteriorating) VCR tapes transferred to DVD. He mentioned a machine that I could purchase at Best Buy that would actually accomplish this. Enthused, I went to Best Buy and was blithely told by the seemingly knowledgeable salesperson that...yes...such a machine existed. I paid for what he took down from the shelf, brought it home, and realized I had been sold something completely different. Enraged, I stormed back, approached a manager, and that machine was exchanged for the one I had intended to buy. It wasn't a pleasant experience, obviously, but it was resolved satisfactorily.
Back home, I soon became aware that I had no idea on how to operate it. I'm pretty much of a dope when it comes to all things technical (some other things too), and I figured an investment in having "the Geek Squad" come out to my crib to assist would be a wise one. I called and made the appointment. At the last minute, it fell through. I called again, set up another appointment, and that one fell through as well. Frustrated, I was at the point of giving up, but the 3rd attempt worked. They came out, patiently explained the process of how to set up and connect the machine to the TV, the logistics of transferring VCR to DVD (while I laboriously wrote everything down in a notebook), and left.
Thankfully, I was able to transfer the most important of my VCR tapes to DVD (and also did the task for a few other people I knew).
My old friend came to Best Buy a lot, and when I accompanied him, I'd look around the CD/DVD section of the store (that section seems to be gone now).
My most recent experience? I went to turn on my TV, and it didn't. The red light at the bottom indicated it was still operative, but it wasn't turning on. I panicked (recalling the lyrics to Black Flag's "TV Party" as I went into melt-down mode) and called Optimum Help Desk. After a re-boot of the cable box didn't rectify the situation, the rep told me to get the original remote control that came with the TV (I always use the one I got from Optimum). Luckily, I found it, but that wasn't working either. I figured the batteries were dead and struggled to open the back compartment. It didn't open, even after I broke several fingernails. Feeling ridiculous (has old age really brought me to such a state as this?) and in a near frenzy, I brought the remote to Best Buy. I couldn't think of any other options.
I approached the young gentleman in the TV department, explained my dilemma, and he took the remote and struggled to open the back compartment. Saying, "It's broken," he continued the struggle, and finally succeeded in opening it. I put in new batteries that I had brought with me, and he suggested I put tape on the back and not try to re-attach the broken compartment lid. Feeling sheepish, I asked if I could pay him something. Generously, he said, "No. Just mention my good deed to people you know."
I said I would, and now I have. Thanks again.
(What about the TV, you ask? The original remote still didn't work, even with the new batteries, and I called Optimum again in despair. Thankfully, I got a different rep, who told me to pull the TV plug from out of its wall socket, wait 10 seconds, and then put it back in. I did and...voila!...my TV was back in action. Thanks, 2nd Optimum rep.)
