Canada Computers & Electronics — Local services in Barrie

I went to Canada Computers and I have nothing but regrets... let me tell you a story.

The Meat and Potato's

The first night I arrived at the Barrie location at 4:30 in the afternoon. They couldn't give me enough attention in the next 2.5 hours before store close, to collect the 3600$ worth of components and cash me out - I get it, they were busy that day. The second evening I finish the cash out and inquire about getting everything built there (big mistake)- wow 80$ great deal for a 3-5 day turn around?! They even suggest that it could be ready the next day because there is no one in the que in front of me. I was so excited. Day 3 I call in, they say they will call back, they never call back. Day 4 I call in, they say they will call back, they never call back. Day 5 I call in no updates, I don't expect a call back at this point - I get it they are busy. Day 7 I got into the store, my computer is finished, they never called me when it was done, and I take it home to install windows. I was so excited. All I need to do is install windows and I am good to go! Week 2, I get home and spend 4 hours trying to install windows. It wont install... The next day I return the build and pay another 70$ for them to install windows and do the updates... I give them my purchased windows key. They quote me 3-5 days, I don't want to give it to them... I call them from day 3-5 again like I did before, same story with them not calling me back or picking up the phone at all. Day 5 go into the store, they tell me my CPU is bad, and they will need to put in a new CPU. I give them my part box and they do a ring back. 1 week later (week 3) I get my computer back. I wasn't excited at this point, but rather was numb to this whole process and proud of myself for keeping my composure and understanding. I get my computer home and plug it in - no I don't, they didn't give me my power cord back. The next day I go in and get my(?) power cord back. Almost a full 3.5ish weeks from when I bought everything, I get home and start up the computer! Everything is great, I cant wait to customize all my settings! Except I cant customize anything - they completely burned my windows key doing their testing with the CPU swaps to diagnose the bad CPU. They aren't getting the computer back, I'll buy another key before I ever let them touch it again - not that they even bothered to provide me a new one.

The Dessert

Because I am a glutton for punishment, I go back to buy a 600$ computer chair. I get it home to put it together. I am so excited. Putting it together - gas spring is broken. Go to the store the next day - nothing they can do, I have to call the manufacturer to get a replacement spring- fine ill return it all. "Oh but wait now we can help you, here take this one out of this other box" Anything but make more work for them. Are they selling amazon returns or something?? That's 2/2 for defective purchases.

The Chefs Kiss

Today they offer up Starfield, one of the games I built this computer for, as a free gift with the CPU I bought. I am within the 15 day window for their price matching policy, and their price has gone down! Ask if there is anything they can do given the above - ring back and get a free game, ring back at all? It would go a long way to repairing the relationship. Nope.

So I write this. If I could give zero stars I would. I feel so defeated and ripped off. I will never...

If I could rate this no stars I would

I want to start off by saying I hate to put business down or speak ill if I don't need to. However my experience with Canada computer barrie was absolutely terrible and it was the perfect example of how NOT to treat a client.

Firstly I purchased my laptop from them less than two years ago and they were quick to sell me the extended warranty on top of the purchase price. AT first I wasn't sure but they guaranteed me the warranty covered a replacement computer if something were to happen to mine. Being a student as well needing my laptop for work I figured it was worth it. I was wrong.

three weeks ago my laptop began to have issues and would no longer turn on. I had two exams that week so I quickly called them in barrie and told them my situation. They were extremely dismissive and told me they had no computer to give me in the meantime and it would be weeks minimum before mine could be fixed... Eventually I had to speak with a manager. He offered me a refurbished one in the meantime however he REQUIRED me to give them a $350 dollar deposit despite their standard deposit being $150. He explained it was because it was refurbished and not a loner this is why it was more costly to me.

Despite this not being what I agreed to when I purchased the extended warranty I accepted as I had no other options. I left my laptop there and took home the refurbished one. Two weeks of it intermittently working ( randomly turning off, screen flashing in and out) it stopped working.

I called them and they mentioned my other laptop was fixed. I told them about the refurbished laptop and they asked that I bring it in, I agreed.

Seeing how we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic I figured the logical & ethical thing to do would be to wipe down the touch points with disinfectant wipe (outside only).

Once I arrived the employee at the front immediately told me that it was my fault that it broke and that it was due to "serious water damage" this laptop had been nowhere near water and wasn't working long before I wiped the outside down. i informed him of this and he told me there was " no way i'd ever be getting my $350 deposit back"

Knowing I didn't cause the damage made me feel as though they were taking advantage of me and I was never going to see that deposit regardless.

The employee furthermore argued with me accusing me repeatedly. I asked to speak with the manager as I felt this was extremely unfair. He was even less helpful then his extremely impolite employee was. I left in tears and out the $350 I should have had to NEVER spend. I felt completely taken advantage of and I could not believe that a company, especially right now would openly steal money from a student trying to get by.

I would STRONGLY urge any of you buying computers or electronics this holiday season to make THIS STORE your very last choice for your business. I hope this reaches someone higher up in the company and hopefully they will address this with whomever is in charge of the barrie location because this is wrong. I didn't even ask for my full amount back I just asked for that extra 150 dollars I spent just to get a laptop to use ( which I should of not had to ) I am just overall super upset I am a student !!!! Horrible experience I will be spreading the word for no one to...

Purchased online for store pickup with stock available on Dec 30th. Paid $1500 up front for a new monitor. The order was still processing on Jan 2nd so I called the store. He said yes, they have visibility but "they weren't processing online orders the last few days and they would need to special order this in" ....?! My intent was to pick the product up when I would be there that weekend. I asked to switch the store to somewhere closer (North York). He said sure he did it, please call that store to talk about ordering it in. I called them, they had no idea about the order change (nothing on the system). I called back, he told me it would take a few hours for the system to refresh. Friday evening I log in online and I still see it says "In store pickup, Barrie, processing".

I entered online chat and told them I want to cancel the order. This was updated immediately on the website. However, the order is still saying "processing". I followed up Jan 8 asking why the order hasn't been cancelled and refunded yet. They said it takes 7-10 business days before they could expedite a request to cancel. Again, how crazy is that? They have my $1500.. I have nothing.. and I have to wait half a month before I can request to speed them up.

I said it's pretty crazy to charge up front and tell me that they need to special order something in after the fact, then tell me it's 10 business days to refund the money. I shopped with Amazon, Newegg, Mike's Computer Shop and also Bestbuy over the holidays. All products I received were delivered within the week and no one charged me until the product was shipped out.

I'm fully expecting this shady company to try to charge me a restocking fee for a product I've never even seen, touched or been in the same room with. My next step is to send them a formal letter and report them to Consumer Protection Ontario.

I'm sure anyone who has dealt with them has experienced similar bs. Well I'm not taking this bs lying down. There's no excuse in this day and age for a refund on a product I never got to take so long. They've basically stolen from me. They deserve to face a large fine and possibility of jail time to the full...