Maureen O’Rourke was just trying to be a good niece when she took her aunt, Nancy Hole, into their local Best Buy store to buy a new computer.  It was Nancy’s first laptop computer, so she wanted something brand new.  They picked up the lappy, opened the package, and… well, what Nancy had wasn’t a new computer; it was a used computer, repackaged to look new.

Selling someone used (refurbished) junk and telling them it’s new is something that happens all the time.  Joe Average is pretty unsavvy when it comes to technology, and these big companies can get away with just about anything.  However, Nancy’s difficulties were particularly egregious.  The computer didn’t have any paperwork, it didn’t have any backup disks, and the packaging was obviously opened and in disarray.  Plus, she fell victim to the Geek Squad scam, where Best Buy charges its users entirely too much to “set up” a brand new computer that comes set up from the factory.

I’ve never had much dealing with Best Buy or the Geek Squad, but there has been lots of trouble with the local cable company.   My dad keeps getting DVR boxes that are supposedly new, but that have scratches, scuffs, dings, and other peoples’ recorded programs on them.  Granted, when he complains they give him a different, (supposedly) new box, but the fact is he’s gone through two or three DVRs in 6 months so I have my doubts about how new those things have been.

Tags: Maureen O’ Rourke, Nancy Hole, Best Buy, San Francisco, California, Best Buy sells woman used laptop, consumer affairs, repackaged merchandise

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