GPS and the cold. Don't do it!!! Sort of a long VENT

[D L and K's Mom]

I borrowed my DD's GPS earlier last week. I used it and saw that the weather was going to be cold at night so I went out to the car to get it. I took it out of the glove box (in its little camera case) and brought it into the house. The GPS was cold. I took it out, turned it on and it started to crackle as it warmed up. The screen cracked like a spider web. I was speechless!!! I called Best Buy where we had purchased the GPS in June and purchased additional insurance on it. The young man on the phone was great. He said to being it in and they would take a look at it. I asked if I could bring it to another Best Buy and he said yes. I had to go to a dress fitting in another town so I brought the GPS there. I waited in line for about 15 min and spoke to a very nice young lady. She said that yes since I had the extra insurance she was pretty sure it would be covered. Since the weather had not gone down to the temp stated in the manual and the manual suggests storing it in the glove box and it was stored in the case she thought it would be fine. I had to wait in the Geek Squad line for over 1/2 hour listening to the customer service person talk to the women in front of me about fishing, apartments, how to batter fry fish etc. I finally got to talk to the young man and he said I did not have the correct warrenty plan to cover the GPS. He also said that the GPS looked like it had been dropped. I explained that the GPS had not been dropped, I told him about the cold and how it states it should be kept in the glove box out of direct heat, how I had just been told it had not reached the temp stated. I showed him that there was no scratches on the GPS, no dents so it sort of proved it wasn't dropped. He was very nice but said I had the wrong coverage. I asked about the difference in the plans and he said that they had just separated them. I guess the old plan covered everything even if it was the owners fault but the new ones cover only unit malfunctions? I asked when this went into effect and he said late summer.I bought this in June? I said I had a camera and the coverage covers everything and he looked it up on his computer and said that yes it did but hand held devices did not??? Huh?? Isn't a camera a hand held device? I asked to speak to a Mgr and had to wait an additional 20 min. The mgr came over and again he was very nice said that they do not cover the screen cracking. He said there was no way to prove it had not been dropped. I asked how he could prove it HAD been dropped or how he could not prove it wasn't the cold. He couldn't but said if it had been the cold it might have been covered but it wasn't?? Huh? The GPS was still working at this time but the screen was hard to read because of all the spiderweb cracks. I said I was very sad that I had bought extra coverage and the unit was 9 months old and they wouldn't cover it. He said sorry and refunded my pro-rated warrenty cost (less than $10). I asked that he please look at the GPS again and show me why he thought it had been dropped and not cracked from the cold. He pushed on the glass and when he did it started to bleed..a black area appeared and you could not see 1/4 of the GPS. He said that the screen was depressed on one side and that was probably the point of impact? HUH?????? I explained that he had just done that when he pressed on it. When I brought it in the screen was not depressed and there was not a black area on it.He stated his decision was final and that they had GPS on sale for $89.00. At this point I did raise my voice and said that I would not be purchasing a GPS today or any other day from Best Buy and left. I realize that I was partly at fault for leaving the GPS in the car, but it does not say in the manual that it needs to be brought in every night. I guess I wouldn't leave my computer in the car so I should have known better. I didn't drop it and it wasn't "Smushed" when I brought it in . Oh well....lessons learned 1) Do not leave GPS in the car when its cold no matter what temp the book says. 2) Always ask what the plan covers and what it does not cover. 3)Take a photo of the thing you are returning so you can prove that it was in the condition you said it was in 4) Don't stand in line behind a lady who likes to talk about fish frys or you will be there forever!!

 

[Singleminnie]

Sorry about your experience! I just got my first GPS for Christmas, so I will make sure I don't leave mine out in the cold. I have had bad experiences in dealing with Best Buy in the past about returns, ugh!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I have to say the people I spoke with at BB were very nice and tried to be helpful until I spoke to the MGR. It wasn't even that he didn't replace my GPS. I felt he was rude when he said I couldn't prove I didn't drop it. I felt like saying, "Its $89 dollars to you, we have the reciepts, we have all the packaging, we have the extended warrenty, we have a rewards card with you and we have other purchases and extended warrenties for goodness sake just give me a new one!!!" I don't think I will buy from BB in the future.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks for the tip. We just got GPS's this Christmas. Sorry about your dd's GPS, that stinks.

As far as Best Buy, I would call and complain on their corporate hot line about your experience, esp the part where they damaged it further and in addition call the extended warranty people.

Worth a shot....

 

[cm8]

Thanks for the tip. We just got GPS's this Christmas. Sorry about your dd's GPS, that stinks.

As far as Best Buy, I would call and complain on their corporate hot line about your experience, esp the part where they damaged it further and in addition call the extended warranty people.

Worth a shot....

I would do exactly this. They should also have to replace it since he was the one who further damaged it. That is just sad and even if the policy changed, it still should have been covered under the TERMS and Conditions that were listed when you purchased it

 

[mamacatnv]

I hate Best Buy and will not shop there. That manager was rude, he in essence called you a liar. The dimwit at Geek Squad starts in about how your warranty is not the warranty you thought you bought that sometime last summer they changed them? What does your warranty say?

 

[DVCBELLE]

I never buy their extra warranty - I had a camera from them and bought the extra warranty - it was dying after taking about 5 pictures - so they repaired it (had to keep the camera for 3 weeks) and it came back with the same problem - I went back and they offered to do it again - but they really didn't think it would work - I was so mad...why wouldn't that be a defective camera and replace it - they said I had to repair it 3 times and then they would replace it. By that point - I had had the camera for a couple of years and decided to just buy a new one rather than not have a camera for the 6 weeks it would take for them to repair it twice more....

 

[bntlyclg89]

You might try calling their corporate number. My DH and I had a similar situation a few years back where we were unhappy with our local Best Buy. We called corporate, pointed out how much we spent at their store and what we wanted to remain customers. Not only did we get the problem rectified (which is all we wanted). They gave us a $50 gift card for our trouble. Normally we don't go this far but we really felt we were given an unfair shake.

We also received a call from the store manager apologizing.

It worked because we are still loyal BB customers.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Anytime I need an extended warranty I check with SquareTrade online. They are cheaper than the box store warranties, and, since they are 3rd-part, instead of a new unit they send you a check for the purchase price. You don't have to wait on a new unit, or for yours to be repaired.

The SqureTrade warranty I got for my Nook covers everything (they have 2 levels also), including "accidental" damage.

I highly recommend them for anyone.

Sorry about what happened to the OP. I learned many years ago about leaving stuff in my car (my first portable CD player) in the cold. Since then everything goes inside with me at night.

 

[torinsmom]

Ahh....I bet that's what happened to mine! And here I was fussing at my son thinking he had stepped on it. I left it in the car and just brought it in a few weeks ago. Must have cracked in the cold, because there was no other damage to it. Guess I'll know better if I ever get another one!

 

[Belle2667]

Best Buy's the worst when it comes to damages! Long story short......

We bought a brand new LCD 52 inch TV in August. After getting it home, we unboxed it and the display was all messed up. We called BB and told them about it and they said to bring it back and they'd replace it.

A half hour later we were back in BB with the broken TV and they told us that we broke it and that they would not accept our return. DH asked for the manager and he pretty much told him that Samsung doesn't send junk and that we broke it and they do not take damaged returns.

We called corporate, our credit card company and everyone else we could think of. We are paying off that TV (even though we don't have it) because we signed the receipt at the store and on the back of the receipt it says that they do not accept damaged items.

Not only will BB not accept your broken return (ours was same day), they will not let you fully inspect your item before you leave the store. We will never do business with them again.

Thankfully, we have an HHGregg that moved into town and they have accommodated us and opened up a new TV and plugged it in before we left the store even though they would accept a return if it was broken or did not work.

 

[hj0519]

That's too bad! I keep mine out in my car even in the cold and it's been ok - it was around 0 yesterday morning and it worked just fine.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

That's too bad! I keep mine out in my car even in the cold and it's been ok - it was around 0 yesterday morning and it worked just fine.

I think if it stays out there it's fine. It's more the quick change from cold to warm. Most electronics need to sit and temperature adjust before you start them up.

Still, though, I take mine out of the car whenever I'm not in there. Day or night.

Interesting to hear these tales of BestBuy, though. I guess it's hit, or miss, but our BestBuy has always been good about returns and damages. The only thing I don't like is their extended warranties, because they're overpriced.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Thanks for posting this warning. I brought ours in last night just to be safe.

 

[kelly1218]

Call their 1800 number.

I HATE best buy with a passion....but I bought our XBOX there 3 years ago because it was the only store who had in instock.
When I bought the extended warranty...I asked all kinds of questions...one being about the hard drive. I was assured they would replace the console and allow me to keep the hard drive.

Fast forward 3 years minus a day (yes...we got the 'red ring' the day before the warranty expired!!!)
Anyway...they told me I had to give them the hard drive back with the console. They admitted that yeah...they probably told me that I would be able to keep the hard drive just to sell the warranty!!!!!

We had a lot of game data and music on there...they told me I could pay them $100 to transfer the data.... but otherwise it would all be lost.

I ended up calling the 1800 number. Had to explain to THEM 5 times why I wanted the hard drive. Eventually she 'got' it...and called the manager back at the store. When I went back...he was NOT happy that I called...but hey...don't lie to me.

 

[Starbrite]

Crap! This is my 1st winter with a GPS & I never thought to bring it in.


So you guys think it's best if I NOT try to turn it on right now, and NOT run out & bring it inside?

 

[Trish Bessette]

Crap! Mine is in my car and it is currently -20 outside!!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

Maybe bring it in but don't turn it on until it comes to room temperature. perhaps the reason for the screen cracking was bringing it on and turning it on right away got it heated up too quickly????

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Crap! This is my 1st winter with a GPS & I never thought to bring it in.


So you guys think it's best if I NOT try to turn it on right now, and NOT run out & bring it inside?

Leave it in the car all the time OR if you want to bring it inside with you don't turn it on for awhile until it has warmed up in the house. It's the sudden temperature changes that damage it.

Best Buy used to be much better about warranties, they don't care anymore and I rarely shop there because of it now.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Wow, so now there's fine print in your extended warranty? Why would anyone waste the money then?

I decided, a while back, to not buy extended warranties. If the item I am buying ends up being an inferior product, I will remember that the next time I have to replace it!

On the subject of GPSs, I always carry mine in my purse. You never know when you will be a passenger in another car and you will need it!

TC