If you buy a new laptop or desktop from Staples, you’re likely going to get ripped off…unless you listen to me carefully.
While Staples may have good prices on their computers and peripherals, they are running a scam in their stores, at least in Canada. If you’re in the U.S., let me know if they are using the same scam down there.
The sales staff at most outlets are very helpful, when you can find one, and they seem to know their stuff. The problems begin once you decide on which model you want to buy. When you get to that point, the csr (customer service rep) will do his or her damnedest to hook you up with all kinds of extras that you DON’T NEED. Here are some examples:
1. A bogus fee to transfer your files (documents, photos, videos, etc.) from your old computer to your new one. This charge was recently quoted to be over $200.00. This is a completely unnecessary fee. Don’t pay it. Set yourself up with a flash drive, 8 or 16 gigs should be enough, and transfer the files yourself. A drive that size might be $15.00 or $20.00 but it’s both useful after you’ve backed up your stuff and a lot cheaper than the ridiculous transfer fee that Staples wants to charge.
TIP:Here is my how-to about backing up your computer Part one, part two and part three.
2. An expensive and completely phony charge to set up your new computer. Staples will tell you that the charge is to load the software that comes with your computer onto it. The csr will lie to your face and tell you that the software isn’t already on the hard drive, that it takes hours to load it but they will do it all for you. The fee is, again, in the $200.00 range. Trust me, this money is the worst ripoff out there. Every new computer comes loaded with all kinds of software ALREADY ON THE HARD DRIVE! There is absolutely nothing for you to do on a new laptop or desktop except to create a log-in name and a password, if you want one. The password is optional, of course. There is nothing else to do, even if the csr insists that there is. Don’t listen to the csr and if things get out of hand, walk out of the store. If you are firm about buying from Staples, in spite of what I am telling you, call their head office and insist that the store stop pushing you into these totally unnecessary extras.
3. Extra warranties. All computers come with a year warranty, at least they do in Canada. Believe me, if something is going to happen to a computer, it’s going to happen in the first few months. After that, there is no sense in paying for extra coverage that will, undoubtedly, be money down the drain. HP (and Compaq), Dell and most other computer manufacturers offer these extra warranties anyway. You have time to think about things like this, you don’t have to buy them at the store level. No matter how hard the csr or the manager tries, just buy the damn computer, nothing else.
4. Pay extra for Microsoft Word. Most new computers come with a Starter Edition of Word. This version of Word is fully functional, not time limited and is included in the price of the computer. There is no reason to pay extra for Office unless you KNOW that you must have it. Regardless, you can often get deals from Microsoft on the Student Edition of Office. Alternatively, you can download Libre Office, a completely free, open source version which is compatible with Microsoft Office. Get it here: http://www.libreoffice.org/
If you are firm about buying from Staples, in spite of what I am telling you, call their head office and insist that the store stop pushing you into these totally unnecessary extras. All of these things are generally done at the store level, none of this seems to be part of Staples corporate policy. However, head office must know that this kind of thing is going on and, as far as I can see, has done nothing to stop it. I have gone so far as to interrupt a csr who was deliberately lying to a customer in the store, saying that their new laptop had to be set up by an expert because the software wasn’t already loaded on the hard drive. In spite of my protests, the csr continued to mislead the customer. I finally took the customer aside, told them who I was and what I did for a living, and walked them out of the store. At least I saved one person from being conned by a Staples csr.
If other stores are doing the same thing, let me know. Buy the computer if you want but don’t pay for ANYTHING else.
Thanks for reading!