Micro Center — Attraction in Paterson

Micro Center – North Jersey (Paterson, NJ) 263 McLean Blvd, Route 20 Retail Center, Paterson, NJ 07504

I am extremely disappointed with the level of service I received at this Micro Center location. I purchased an MSI GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card along with the Micro Center Standard Warranty over a year and a half to protect my investment and avoid the hassle of dealing with the manufacturer in case anything went wrong. Unfortunately, my experience was the complete opposite of what the warranty promised. Here’s What Happened:

Faulty GPU and Warranty Runaround I brought my GPU in after experiencing black screen crashes and motherboard error codes indicating a GPU failure. Since I paid for the extended warranty, I expected Micro Center to promptly test and diagnose the issue. Instead, I was given the same runaround I would expect from a manufacturer—completely defeating the purpose of paying for a Micro Center warranty.

Inadequate Testing Procedures Micro Center tested my GPU in an open-case environment using OCCT, a software that is not ideal for identifying real-world GPU issues. Testing in an open case provides better cooling and does not replicate the heat and airflow conditions that occur inside a closed case, where GPUs typically operate. Additionally, running a 20-30 minute test is not nearly enough to determine the stability of a high-end GPU like the RTX 4080.

Unprofessional and Inconsistent Service I spoke with Mr. Anthony at the store, who initially told me that my GPU would undergo overnight testing. When I returned the next day as instructed, I was informed that no testing had been done at all. After wasting my time and making two trips to the store, I had to show them video evidence of the issue and insist that the card be tested properly. Even then, I was met with resistance and was told I could take the card back if I wanted—completely unacceptable when I had already paid for premium service.

No Acknowledgement or Apology from Mr. Anthony What made the situation even worse was the lack of professionalism from Mr. Anthony. After all the inconvenience I went through, I thanked him for his help when I finally received a resolution. Instead of acknowledging the situation or offering even a basic apology, he stood behind the counter and said nothing. He didn’t acknowledge my frustration, didn’t check my hand, and didn’t even have the courtesy to apologize for the time and effort I wasted. This level of disrespect and lack of professionalism is unacceptable, especially after I had to fight to get the service I paid for.

Warranty Did Not Deliver on Its Promise

The biggest disappointment is that I spent over $200 on the standard warranty specifically to avoid this kind of headache. The warranty is advertised as a way to bypass the manufacturer’s delays and complexities, but instead, I had to return twice, show video proof, and argue for proper service. If I’m going to face the same obstacles with Micro Center as I would with the manufacturer, then what’s the point of purchasing their extended warranty?

Final Outcome and Dissatisfaction:

After all this unnecessary hassle and wasted time, I was eventually given a gift card for the full amount of the GPU. While I appreciate that the issue was eventually resolved, it should not have taken this much effort. The service I received was inconsistent, unprofessional, and disrespectful—completely undermining the value of the extended warranty I paid for.

Recommendation:

If you’re considering purchasing an extended warranty from Micro Center, think twice. The service I received was unprofessional, and the warranty did not save me from the hassle it was supposed to prevent. I expected better accountability and expertise from a store like Micro Center, but I was thoroughly let down by this location.

Verdict: Save yourself the trouble and consider alternative warranty options unless Micro Center improves its process and trains its staff to uphold the promises they make...

This is definitely the longest review I have ever left and its because the love I have for Micro Center, particularly Paterson NJ location, is more than I do for any other retail store out there.

Micro center is a godsend for PC enthusiast. It is also such a breath of fresh air when it comes to big box stores. Best Buy and others are just fine but the moment you discover this chain of stores it will be hard to go anywhere else. They have everything for beginner to expert level builders plus everything in between. I'm not sure how I would have been able to finish my new and first custom PC if I didn't live next to one.

The Paterson location is my all time favorite one, out of the locations I have been. And ive been to all the North East locations and a few in the Midwest. If I drive by one I always stop in to check the deals. And deals they have! It become a new sport of mine searching for all the open box deals at them. Or sometimes you find a brand new Motherboard, RAM Kit, SSD, etc. Where you see the sale price and cant believe it lol. It dangerous because with how great the deals are i usually say to myself, " at these prices I would be dumb to not Upgrade this" next thing i know I basically made another PC.

What really keeps me being a loyal customer is the buisness ethics rhey operate by and the support for their customers every location offers.

Paterson location has the most friendly and energetic team working there. That dont just read item descriptions when you ask about a product. They tell you all the details and in a way where you can tell they are just as big a PC lover as you. They also never try to upsell me or try and squeeze every penny from me. In fact most the time they find every last way to save me a few bucks.They listen to what the customer wants to do and achieve, and they actually help you do it while sticking to a budget. And if money is no object (lucky you if its not) you could leave there with the most powerful rig and battlestation possible without using military only level components.

Last point, they stand by what they sell and make things right when they dont work. In the computer and electronic world things just dont work out the box sometimes or break because of a defect that is totally outside the users control. They have never not accommodated the issues I've had. One example of this is I had bought a MSI monitor that came with dead pixels out the box. Brought it back and exchanged it for a brand new one. That is pretty standardpractice, being that it was only a day from the purchase. Then unfortunately that one had an issue a month later. Brought it back they took a look, didnt even try and put any blame on me. The associate just said, lets find you a new model and brand to try this time. I had gotten the first one for a great deal so when I was looking through alllllll the monitor options my old budget was not going to get me something in that same teir. I was able to find a great open box deal on a higher spec and bigger display monitor for like 10 bucks more than I had paid, but when I checked out mentioning the issue I had the associate and manager brought out a brand new one and gave it to me at the open box price. Just because of the issues I had, that were completly on MSI. That's true customer service and that is just being decent humans. When I find a place that operates under that moral code I will always go back there to support there business in return. Paterson Micro Center, know this is just one person, but you have a...

I had an extremely unsatisfactory experience with a particular store. On their online site, they advertised a motherboard replacement for no more than $80. However, when I approached them for the service, they insisted on charging me $200, claiming that it included the repair/replacement of computer motherboards, but not the reattachment of parts. They later admitted that there was a mistake on their website and promised to rectify it in the future. They argued that the advertised price was meant for laptop motherboard replacements, despite the fact that the image displayed on their site depicted a desktop motherboard. The wording used on the site further added to the confusion, as it referred to "computer" rather than specifically mentioning laptops. Based on this evidence, it seemed clear to me that Microcenter intended to include desktop motherboards as well.

Fortunately, the manager eventually agreed not to charge me $200 and instead followed the pricing guidelines stated on the Microcenter website. This was a fortunate turn of events, as I managed to avoid being overcharged. I also entrusted them with replacing my 1000W power supply unit (PSU) with a 700W one, as I needed the 1000W PSU for the rebuild of another PC. However, after accepting the task, they informed me that the 700W PSU was not compatible due to the power draw of my RTX graphics card and 13th Gen CPU exceeding its capacity. To my surprise, they returned my computer with the 700W PSU still inside, insisting that if I wanted my old 1000W PSU back, I would need to pay an additional $59 for the PSU replacement service.

These incidents have led me to conclude that the store is engaging in unethical practices. Nevertheless, since it was a Friday and I required my computer over the weekend, I chose not to pursue the matter further. I understand that they provide a service to the community and appreciate their efforts in that regard. However, I was unable to wait any longer and decided to resolve the issue myself, which took me only 20 minutes. I am now happy to report that my computer is functioning properly once again.

Furthermore, I encountered another disconcerting issue when I inquired about the reattachment of my PSU. To my surprise, one of the workers asserted that both PSUs were not functioning properly, using it as a justification for their failure to reattach the PSU. This statement left me puzzled since I knew with certainty that my 1000W PSU was in perfect working order. It is uncommon for PSUs to malfunction after just a year of use, as they are widely recognized as one of the most reliable components in a PC build. Perplexed by this discrepancy, I confronted the worker about their claim, urging them to reevaluate the situation. With some reluctance, they finally agreed to reassess the PSU, and to their astonishment, they discovered that my old 1000W PSU was indeed functioning correctly. This revelation was deeply troubling, as it meant that I could have needlessly discarded $300 if I hadn't questioned their assertion.

To summarize the sequence of events, my experience with the store was riddled with frustration and disappointment. It began with their misleading pricing on motherboard replacements and their subsequent attempt to overcharge me. Moreover, their refusal to reattach my PSU under false pretenses only added to my dissatisfaction. Despite recognizing the store's role in providing a valuable service to the community, I felt compelled to address their...