Home Page for Daniel Spisak-> Fry's Electronics->Sun, 1 Feb 1998 14:33:59 PST

From anonymous@anonymous.org Sun Feb 01 14:35:52 1998
To: "'dspisak@mminternet.com'" <dspisak@mminternet.com>
Subject: Fry's Electronics
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 14:33:59 -0800

Hello Daniel,

I purchased a PII 266 Nexstar computer, bundled with a bunch of other
OEM deals. The help I recieved before I purchased the computer was
great, but after I bought the dang thing and forked over $1600.00 was a
whole 360. I took it home and found no manual for my motherboard or
the computer I just bought the day before! I specifically asked that
this be in the box, I purchased it under that assumption.

So, knowing that something like this happens and it's only a human
thing, I waited until the next day and cooly went to the computer sales
dept. help desk where two guys stood infront of the pulpit like two
preachers and told them my story.

Me: Hello Gentlemen, I bought this computer yesterday (I held up the
invoice slip)
I got everything, but the only thing that was missing was the
manual for the computer and the motherboard.

Bearded Fry guy: I am sorry there's no way of knowing what kind of
mother
board your computer has.

Me: Well, I purchased this computer yesterday and sales rep knew what
was in there. I even asked him if the manual would be
included and he said yes.

Bearded Fry guy: Sorry, we didn't build the computer Nexstar did. You
need to call them and ask them.

Me: Ask them? what I am I suppose to tell them? That- " bought a
computer from Fry's now what type of motherboard does it have?"

[then a short Fry guy interrupts]

Short Fry Guy: The only way to obtain the manual is to actually buy the
actual motherboard...

Me: Could I get a xerox copy of the manual that comes with the
motherboard?

Short Fry Guy: No... do you have a receipt?

Me: I have one and I can go home and get it, but will that get me manual
for my computer? Look someone has to know what type of motherboards you
guys are selling... perhaps an inventory or an invoice or a database?

Bearded Fry Guy: I happen to be the " supervisor" (sic) and I
don't know what type of motherboard is in there... the only way of
knowing is to open the computer up. [he turns around and turns off the
inventory database behind him.

Me: [ I waited for them to grab a screwdriver and check it out, but
nothing but silence, ]...so what happens when someone asks you what type
of mother board is in that Nexstar? What do you say? This is
incredible... I can't get a manual for the computer I just bought for
$1600 in cash? Does it have AGP or SD Ram are jumpers set right, I need
to know.


Short Fry Guy: Listen to me we don't have a manual for that motherboard
or information for that computer.

I walked away and went to customer service manager, one of the guys
who's picture is on the wall. He called the sales dept. asked me if I
had asked talked to the supervisor " bearded guy I asked". He told
me the same story... " manual or information for that motherboard".

me: Is there someone in this building that work's for Fry's that can
tell me what type of motherboard my computer has? Does it have AGP or
SD Ram are jumpers set right? I got nothing, some how I felt if I was
getting less than normal service... namely bullshit. I work for a
software/ publisher company and for them to lie in my face...

I went back home, got my reciept ,computer and lugged that heavy thing
back to the return line. As I got to the return line, the customer
service people behind the counter where staring at me. I recanted my
story once again and finally said

" I buy a car I get a manual with it, if I buy a computer I expect the
same!
If I don't know what the computer has inside it then it's useless."

Something magical happened, The service rep called and asked for the
sales rep that sold me the computer. The sales rep arrived, I told
him my story and he said " PROBLEM" .

He found me the manual for the computer and the motherboard! I thanked
him. The manual also contained registration information, and serial numbers
necessary to obtain customer support from Nexstar.
I was soo pissed off at those un professional sales reps, the Bearded
Fry's Motherboard Supervisor" and the " Fry guy" that I promised
myself to write to there corporate office:

600 East Brokaw road
San Jose, Ca 95112

The opinions expressed in this e-mail are solely mine and do not express
the opinions or policies of the company I work for.

Last updated: 1998/6/29 16:14:23 GMT