Best Buy's $10 headset pairing service includes testing, finger pointing
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Jul 14th 2008 5:16AM
posted Jul 14th 2008 5:16AM
[Thanks, Tarek]
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Remarkable isn't it? Just like the VCR, after so many years, many still can't pre-program the darn thing to record a TV... or set the clock right for that matter.
vcr? isn't that some sort of ancient entertainment time-shift device?
Is that any better than what they charge to pop a CD into your disc drive and hit next?
Well seeing as how one is dependent on the other, I could see how that's a problem...
That was @ phantomo.lui
As much as I hate Best Buy I don't see anything wrong with this. No matter how many times I show others how to do things like speed dial or Bluetooth pairing it can sitll be difficult for them.
I'm just thankful they're only charging $10 and not $25 or higher.
All headsets come with easy to follow instructions, this is sad.
I think they are doing it wrong, since this is obviously meant as a service for the clueless will they even be familiar with the word 'pairing' in this context? I fear not, they should make it 'We set up your headset so it connects to your phone $10' .
Also since the one doing it will have to explain some stuff and answer some questions to very clueless people it might be fair to give them $10.
In reality, it should be the state government that pays for this type of stuff, since it's the legistlation that is forcing people to use handsfree devices -- just like the federal government subsidizing converter boxes for the HD switchover.
Driving-while-on-the-phone fines begin at $20, so it's really just BestBuy taking advantage of the situation. "Pay us $10 instead of paying the police $20".
Does the legislation require wireless?
@FH
The govt isn't forcing anyone to use these devices. They are simply banning a dangerous activity. If people are that desperate to be in constant contact, they can pay for it themselves.
Agreed. Even for some very intelligent people, reading and following instructions for any type of electronics causes their eyes to gloss over.
@fh: Oh yeah that makes sense. Lets have the Federal Government subsidize stupid.
Soooo I guess the govt should pay for our seatbelts, motorcycle helmets, driver education, shoes (they are required for driving) etc etc.
I find this development more sad than anything else. Either this is so simple that you should be able to figure it out or at least know someone who can help you for the 3 minutes it takes.
If talking on the phone while driving is dangerous (and I agree that it is), handsfree doesn't actually offer any more safety. Driving concentration is affected more by the mental distraction of holding a conversation, and not nearly as much by the physical act of holding an object (people drive around holding drinks or simply steer with one hand all the time). The number of cellphone-related accidents will still probably decrease, but it probably won't be because people are using more handsfree headsets -- instead, many people will now simply choose -not- to phone at all while driving as a response to the law.
The point wasn't that a state (not federal!) subsidy would be an appropriate measure, it was a rhetorical suggestion that the legislation was misplaced in to begin with. If people are having such a problem learning how to use handsfree, how are they any safer on the road? Thinking about whether or not your earpiece is connected, or if you pressed the correct button to make/answer a call, getting frustrated because you can't hear through the headset, etc -- that's still unsafe because your attention is taken off of the road.
So my problem is not that people are paying for setup that is otherwise included free "in the manual" (I don't have a problem with any other kinds of optional setup services), but that BestBuy is helping people continue the conversations that distract them from driving while they themselves make a little extra money on the side. Handsfree isn't going to make everyone a better driver, and you shouldn't be paying someone to make you feel that way.
Yes, this is certainly no surprise. People ARE stupid, but that is not why this exists. You could teach a child to do bluetooth pairing.
This is an attitude problem, not a competency one.
Many people are very averse to technology for some reason. They would easily and readily accept learning some incredibly basic task for a job or a game if it didn't involved electronics, but as soon as you pull out a calculator/cellphone/computer/etc they absolutely REFUSE TO EVEN TRY.
Y'know, Staples has been doing this for a while for only $5. Best Buy is trying to treat this as a genuine service as opposed to an "oh, well since you're buying a government-mandated headset we'll teach you how to use it for a little more" mantra.
RadioShack has and always will do pairing for free
That's cheap. I charge $190 :P
I would expect a decent sales rep to do this for free, isn't there a reason their sales staff supposedly knows more then the average consumer?
Exactly!
Even though I knew exactly how to pair my BT Car Stereo the installer was kind enough to do it for me... although I guess that kinda goes with the $90 installation fee :P
you paid someone 90 bucks to install a head unit?!?! and you laugh at people who cant connect a bluetooth headset. i love the double standards. next time crack open the manual it's worth it trust me, cause im sure you dont make 90 bucks in a half hour.
nothing in life is free... would you do work for someone just because you were nice? time is money, and believe it or not, lots and lots of people are not to tech savvy...
how about next time you are at work, they cut 5-10 minutes of your pay every hour just because you are doing "easy" things that the average person doesn't know how to do.
watch the amount of money you lose add up
come back to me and see if you have the same opinion
stop reading engadget and stick to your crappy consumerist.com
Hey Hildreth,
I don't know what Best Buy you shop at, but when we went to get my gf a bluetooth, one of the sales reps told her not to buy the one she choose because he couldn't find the batteries for it anywhere. He assured her he looked all over and couldn't find AAAA batteries.
BTW. They were in the store, on the battery display, near the check outs. Stupid kid didn't even know they sold the very batteries he claimed didn't exist.
This is typical of my experience at BB stores. I go in there, get what I want, and only talk to the door greeters and the cashiers. The toolboxes that general work the sales floor couldn't match a pair of gloves, much less a pair of bluetooth devices. To call the knowledgeable is a joke.
@bagh33ra the key word in there was "supposedly"
@ Dan,
last i checked, best buy workers weren't on commission, so your theory is completely false
I do stuff like this for no charge in most situations... Quite frankly I don't even think BBY should charge for a lot of the geek squad services they offer.
Most good retail employees will go out of their way to help customers get setup with their new stuff, but when you have a bunch of other people waiting on you to be helped, the extra fee helps encourage customers to figure if out for themselves. I mean it is kind of ridiculous that customers can't seem to read the 3 step quick start guide.
Wally Worker "Do you Nokia headset take this Samsung mobile phone, to connect and cherish in times of low recharge"
Many people don't really get technology, and are prepared to pay people to do their dirty work. $10 sounds reasonable for someone who can't be bothered to to read the manual and doesn't want to ask a friend. That sounds quite reasonable.
$20 sounds pretty good for a copy of Ubuntu on disk, without having to download it or wait 10 weeks for the free CD.
I know if either of these things were offered in the UK, they'd be a lot more than that.
Reading the manual or asking any geeky 16 years old boy to do it for you is cheaper.
@Homeboy
Grown men can't ask 16 year old boys anything these days, without getting put on some sort of register...
@Homeboy, what if you don't already know a geeky 16 year old? Do you go to the high school and start asking for geeky 16 year olds?
Just because it may be an easy situation for your family and friends doesn't mean it works the same for everybody.
@Nick: This is true, as the ones who prefer not to read the manual and figure it out themselves often run out of friends to ask for these "favors".
How is driving to a Best Buy (currently $5-6 in gas and a half hour for me) and paying $20 somehow better than a completely free download that you can take a crap and make a sandwich while the bits and bytes are gathering?
There HAS to be something illegal about charging money for something that's actually free to stupid consumers. If not, it should at least be legal to bring a gun into the store after you found out you've been hosed.
Actually, in bulk Ubuntu's website shows that the CDs cost roughly $1.50 per disc. So, they're still making $18.50 per disc. That might still qualify for my grandfather yelling "Highway Robbery!!!" at the cashier.
The ubuntu package they are selling includes 60 days support. For someone who doesn't know much, this is very useful.
They are not selling Ubuntu, even though you are allowed to do that. The money is funding the support.
Plus it includes 60 days of support from Valusoft backed by Canonical.
source: http://blog.canonical.com/?p=18
Radio Shack provides this service for free.
Not for long.......
I bet they charge $50 to put an SD card in your camera.
well is also includes taking 3 free pictures with your camera.
At the Best Buys in the Houston area, they charge $15 for a complete camera or camcorder setup. They will insert any memory cards, shove on/in the battery, set the language and date and time, and give a quick run through of how to use the thing. They've also started a new training program for beginner and advanced point and shoot and beginner and advanced SLR photographers for only $30 for the first three I mentioned and $50 for the advanced SLR. I was looking into that as it's [at the least] half the price of what I'd pay else where. Apparently it's a test program and looking to go national. The training are a good deal, the camera setups are not, however.
Apple does this right with the iPhone -
1) Dock iPhone + Headset in supplied cradle or with supplied cable
2) There is no step two
3) There is no step three either.
;)
Great! So one headset from one manufacturer works perfectly with one phone from the same manufacturer. Brilliant!
your comment is pathetic
I think Andy's point is that there exists a simpler, more intuitive method of paring two devices. Perhaps it is this kind of approach that the Bluetooth Working Group could consider when moving Bluetooth technology forward?
You're wrong, Step 2 is ???, and Step 3 is the result - profit.
pathetic
Whats sad about this is not that they're offering it. Its the fact that they're able to, that theres a market for such insanity. Technology is everywhere and some people seem to be scared to explore, experiment, etc. I don't know if its the fear of breaking things or just the complete disconnect from it or simply not giving a rats ass but its sad.
Bluetooth might not be the easiest technology to use but its not rocket science either.
This is completely ridiculous, I'm shocked. It is indeed completely pathetic. AND they have the cheek to charge for Ubuntu as well. That's like a 100% profit margin, for something that shouldn't be 'sold' in the first place.
Best Buy does not just download ubuntu and make a pretty package and sell it. We sell a product that is offered by our suppliers. We pay for it. And if you must know, our employee cost on it is $14. Which is 5% above what Best Buy pays for it. You guys are MORE then welcome to just go download it yourself. And you know, if any of the money actually gets back to the team developing ubuntu and other linux flavors then thats great. They should get some money to help fund their hard work.
What isn't stated in the Article is that the Ubuntu Boxed set includes 60 days of professional support. For £10 that is very well priced. Yet another piece of inaccurate and one sided journalism from engadget.
@Justin
So, what you're telling us is that Best Buy also screws their employees over on a product that costs them all of $1.50. A pack of 200 discs of Ubuntu costs around $300. That's the highest profit margin since oversees child labor became hip.
@Tom
No, Best Buy does not screw their employees. That is what Best Buy buys those discs for, or did you read that? Obviously not. Ubuntu may state that the discs only cost $1.50, but the 60 days of support costs more than that. If you're going to grief, read the whole thing.
now why would best buy pay $14 for a $1.50 CD . . . lies?
"A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to" - Banksy
WHAT? How dare companies try to make money.
Hey, some people don't know how to pair Bluetooth devices...so they'll show you. It's not like they're forcing anyone buying a BT-enabled device to pay this fee.
...'this is where we are'. Not 'this is where we're at.' Yeesh.
/grammar nazism
I would not use, nor pay, for any of Best Buy's services. Paying $10 for something they should do for free is shameless. That's the problem with our retail system, they won't do a thing for you unless you're willing to open up your wallet. Where did customer service satisfaction go? Any retailer, through the respective phone company rep, that does it for free will earn plenty of of "cool points" right away. If you're crafty enough to bs customers into signing up for your phone service, then you should do the Bluetooth setup. The sad thing is that this is probably being pushed as hard as those "extended product warranty." As much as I hate shopping at Radio Shack, if they're do it for free, kudos to them.
I once commented to a Best Buy Geek Squad rep "I can't believe you charge that much to do something so simple. It doesn't even take 5 minutes." His response was "Shhh. Don't tell our secrets."
Obviously, there was no sinister plot involved here, but it was funny for him to acknowledge that was laughable what Best Buy charges people for.
The best way to get me to come back to your store for the big dollar item is to give me the little service for free. Charging for this is fair but it reminds me of the time I went to a sandwich shop. There were people sitting around eating really tasty-looking subs and it smelled great. I was starving but needed to use the bathroom. "Where is your restroom?" "Umm, we don't have one." So to Burger King I went.
Seems perfectly OK to me. As much as we live in a world of technology, not everyone is a geek like most of us are. And some people don't like to bother their friends/family for help all the time, they'd rather pay 10 bucks and just be done with it.
Just the same way many people will pay a mechanic to replace the light bulbs in their car, even though it can be done in 5 minutes without any tools in most cases.
If the price is right for a certain group of consumers, then there's nothing wrong with it in my book.
Well this explains why the new BT standards have that new thing where you just hold devices close together to pair them I guess.
And as I suspected this is why touchscreens are the way forward, because like children the not-too-bright can touch the screen and use an 'intuitive' interface.
'apple patent #676876239 if the multi touch interface detects five fingers are pressed around a picture of a hamburger the computer automatically orders one for delivery to the home'
@ Itemplin
I can not agree, it is not geekness to pair BT devices, no.
It is enough to read the manual.
this is the same thing with people paying for car washes or oil changes
sometimes, people are too lazy to do something themselves or learn how to do it
Well, you're comparing setting up a Bluetooth accessory to car washing and oil changing. Those are two different things that are time consuming and require you to get dirty. Although I know how to do both, I choose to get my car's oil changed because it's cheaper than doing it myself. And, I won't have any oil-covered containers and rags sitting around in my garage. Plus, running the risk of ruining my clothes. You don't need to be clumsy to have a spill, in the Exxon-Valdez style.
Back to the Bluetooth subject, Best Buy should consider doing it for free for those who bought their phones from their stores.
Ok, although there are some good people at Best Buy, you just have to be lucky to run into one, I still feel like I'm getting ripped off whenever I use their services. I remember buying a laptop and being told that I could take it to GeekSquad for them to do a quick check up. I waited over 20mns. When the guy got to my laptop, all he did was turn it on and wait for the Windows setup screen. Wow... I feel relieved now. 20mns wait for this guy to just press the start button??? GTFO. If I had known that's all he was going to do, I would've skipped dealing with GeekSquad altogether. Lesson learned.
im suprised no one has realized that there is an ELEPANT in reflection? Its eye being the dot between 9.9
Too funny.
Guess he had already paid for the classes at Ritz on how to keep the camera steady.
Noticed that they pair the headset, test it, and give you a demo too. Why in the world would you need a demo if you were in the know enough to know that you want to get it paired. Presumably, if you've gone this far, you know what it's going to do.
Guess the Best Buy folks figured people would figure out how to work the system if they gave you the demo then offered to charge you for the pairing.
"Where we're at?"
Note to self: When chastising someone for being stupid, make sure to not end a sentence in a preposition.
People are not angry because Best Buy is trying to make money, its because they are trying to rip off simple minded people. Probably some people believe that they have a right to charge everything and everyone for whatever they can. The kind of people who would like to charge for a glass of water, if someone thirsty came up to their house. Wht happened
to 'Why not just help people because we can and it wouldnt take too much of our effort any way'. Probably because that was the natural,human thing to do.
People justifying this shows what kind of people we are turning into. This is not a sermon, and I am not preaching, so if you want a flamewar, take it somewhere else, but this is how i honestly feel.
When i buy bluetooth headset from a brick and mortar store , wont i try to connect it at first to check if its working or not ? And if i'm unsuccessful then wont i ask some salesperson to "connect" it ?
I think they should be offering it for free too. It would help bring more bluehairs into the stores.
But in this economy, I'm not surprised they aren't charging for printed receipts.
Just sayin.
Wow, no one mentioned this yet... You can have your Bluetooth headset plugged into some Best Buy Doucebag's ears for only $10! Ewwww..
That has been my thought all along too. A safety issue all along!!!
But you'd better take the service when you buy the phone and bluetooth lest you have a problem down the road.....
My friend bought a laptop at best buy about a year ago. They offered to do the initial boot and set-up for just 39.99! We declined, knowing as much or more than any "geek". When his daughter trashed the OS by closing the lid during boot up one day a week or so later, best buy turned a cold shoulder to her because they did not do the "set-up". WTF?!?!?!?!
Kudos to Compaq for handling the problem under warranty. Boo on best buy.
Now they offer this "walk out with it working" thing for the GPS units.
Eventually, they will make it so if you touch it, it's not their problem anymore.
I went to their car stereo's installation shop the other day and overheard some couple coming over and saying "we were told to come here to you guys so you can setup our GPS unit." The tech was confused, and bothered. I don't blame him because that should've been done by the guys selling the GPS. If you need assistance with plugging a lighter adapter and a suction cup in your car, then you should not be using a GPS unit.
I think Best Buy, and probably Circuit City, are starting to sell GPS installation services. How much setup needs to be done to this. Read the damn manual. It's all in there. GPS manuals are like 8 pages at max with plenty of pictures to look at. Put all the text together and you'd probably have 2 paragraphs of reading to do.
The way I see it, people are too intimidated to read simple manuals. GPS units, as well as Bluetooth, are quite easy to do. All you have to do is get your phone and your Bluetooth item manuals ready. Unfortunately, some people never save those. So....
how is it best buy's problem when a product doesnt work and youre out of return policy? Just talk to the manufacturer and they will take care of it for you... Best Buy just sells the shit, they have no obligation to you if you dont have a service plan or are out of return policy..
That's why there's internet!!! How hard is it for people to figure that out. It's so simple these days that I almost can't stand how so many people can't be resourceful with all this information they have access to. People are simply lazy and they do not want to do anything, not even simple tasks a child could do. They'd rather have someone else do it for them, even if they get ripped off. That's downright pathetic, period.
best buy charges $14.99 nationwide to pair bluetooth to your car or to your cell.
Ah, good old Best Buy. I went down there about a week ago to pick up a stick of ram. I walked in thinking, "Alright, most people are using 3-4 gigs in their computers these days, and judging by the prices I've seen online and in competing stores, I really shouldn't have to spend more than 50 dollars for 1 GB."
Yeah its over 100 dollars for a gig.
I think Best Buy will find a way to screw this up for customers.
Let's face it, a lot of "less-knowledged" people are using technology that probably shouldn't be. But the fact that Best Buy is pimping it makes it worse, as it seems to be a more fitting job for the kid next door instead of a mega giant.
I own a cell phone stand at Alvarado and Beverly in Los Angeles and I was feeling guilty about charging 3 dollars for bluetooth pairing.
I never charge if they purchase the bluetooth from us but it looks like I'll be raising my rates!
More proof that being techno-clueless can be costly!
lol @ this....
sad state of affairs. Why are we so angry at besy buy? It's not like anyone is gonna force consumers to pay the $10? I feel like if someone is so clueless not to be able to figure it out on their own, they deserve to throw away the monies. 4307 3100 0104 5736
because too many people read the garbage that consumerist.com says, and somehow believe that there is something wrong with a company that is good at business and making money.
Dude, is that your credit card number? Visa, right. Can I have your verification number and zip code?
Do they pair your stuff right there in the Comedy Central section?
frankly, I think the term 'pairing' is a bit too highbrow for their target customer. Re-think that sign, Best Buy.
This goes to show just how stupid the avg. American can be. Ni wonder you elected dubya twice....
'toothing north of the 49th parallel...."
If a consumer is to stupid or just to lazy to read the simple manual, a company has a right to charge for the customers convenience. No one is forcing them to pay, they are making the choice not to read the instructions. Best buy is a company, they are there to make profit... Especially on those consumers who make the choice of paying for the convenience of having it done for you.
Okay its official I am opening up my own bluetooth pairing shop!
Someone should stand in front of the store with a sign that is easier to understand and a cheaper price for BT pairing.
This kind of reminds me of the time I watched this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxqx4hgeKgQ
Just goto RadioShack they will do it for FREE!!
Reminds me of an old saying.... "A fool and his money are soon parted."
I do not understand why everyone is soo upset at this. It is not like any of YOU are going to use this service. I call it the "I'm to stupid/lazy" fee!
When I worked at a computer shop we had someone bring their computer in. They were complaining that their CD drive was not reading game CD's anymore. I asked them if it was just on one dis, or several. They said it was several, but they only brought one disk, and it was in the drive. I informed them of the $35 diag fee, but that would go tward any repairs (if they choose to reapir it). Later I power it on, open the CD drive, and see that the disk was for MAC... Well they did say they tried several disks... So I pop in an audio cd, and it works! so I try a game disk, it worked! I call the customer and asked them to bring in the disks that they had trouble with. When they got to the shop they handed me one other disk, that was also for Mac. I informed them that the problem was not the drive, but the disks. The disks were for MAC's, and their computer is a PC. When I said that, he looked at the disks closley and saw that they were MAC disks... He paid the $35.00 fee and went home, to check the other disks he purchased at a garage sale...
I do not se a problem with this. It is nearly 100% proffit!
also, i will pity the person who will ask for the pairing service if he wants to pair it with an iPhone or an OMNIA or a Touch Pro....scratch that, i pity the phone, it wont live its full life.
i know, lets put up a service too for RTFM service, then ill explain to you how the gadget works like bluetooth and smartphones (especial discount on iPhone 3G manual), lets charge them $0.25 per page of manual.
RTFM!!!!
9.99 is nothing... I saw that circuit city ONLY charges 149.99 to come to your house and program your universal remote.... the things people pay for....