Best Buy — Local services in Goleta

I have been a regular customer for years, but the first time I needed support, service was trash. (I'm composing this review immediately after having left the store so that my recall is accurate.)

I bought a mobile hotspot device (8800L) because my new home's local wired internet service is poor. I l ordered it through Best Buy's online store for in-store picked today, August 16th, and grabbed it after work. Not knowing Best Buy sold me a defective device, I drove 25 miles home. Upon attempting to activate it, I learned that it couldn't find the Verizon network. I know the network is available, because my phone and tablet are on the Verizon network.

I started with a call to Verizon. Although they remained helpful for 45 minutes, at the end of that time, they identified the sim card as the problem. Not having a free Verizon sim card, my only option was to return to Best Buy.

I called first to verify I'd be able to get help. Most options rang without anyone picking up - I was treated to 9 minutes of pestering IVR messages telling me to go to the website for product inventory information. I finay had to just hang up and call Geek Squad. I knew it wasn't their department, but at least they picked up the phone.

Unfortunately, they gave me bad information, because they said I could bring the hotspot back for a quick sim card exchange. This turned out to be completely false.

Because of my distance, and the amount of time I had already spent troubleshooting, I arrived 8:40. Customer service waved me over to the mobile department. The mobile department just looked up my account info, sharing amongst the two of them that they didn't understand what was going on.

I told them multiple times that Verizon had already identified the problem being a defective sim card. Despite that, all they did was give me a sheet of paper with Best Buy's activation assistance telephone number.

They didn't give me the number until 9 PM Pacific, the exact time this supposed support line shuts down for the night.

They didn't even bother physically inspecting the sim card until I insisted for a third time. They just looked, and refused to try substituting the card to test what Verizon said the solution should be.

It no time was a manager contacted. In fact, after I'd already told them about the distance I had to travel from, the technician told me they "recommended showing up by 8 so they have time help," obviously having entirely ignored what I'd told them already.

I want to be clear that no one was exactly rude, but my experience can only lead a reasonable person to conclude that Best Buy's staff is both uninterested in and incompetent at customer service.

The result? I'm stuck with an expensive broken brick, unable to do my work for days, and out hundreds of dollars. Maybe they'll deign to waive the restocking fee if I return it - of course, they wasted the 20 minutes I had in the store being confused, so the registers were already shut down by the time I had fully realized how much they were incapable or unwilling to provide help.

If you want something electronic, don't buy it here. At least with Amazon, you can return a defective product without a ton of...

My family and I will never return to this store to purchase anything after the unreal experience I went through today. I went to return an unopened item to Best Buy, which was a gift because I had recieved another apple watch from another family member. The person whom was helping me opened it a little and was then having a conversation with her co worker regarding a recent policy that had happened in December, the watch was purchased on November 26th. The guy had asked her to enter it as an opened item that there would be no difference. But she was telling him it was unopened and that she had opened it by mistake. The guy then informed me that due to a December policy for Christmas that because the item was expensive that I could not return it . That the system wouldn’t allow for me to return it whether it was entered as unopened or opened . I told him it did not make sense because it was unopened and it was a gift and that even if they could return the money to the card or as a Best Buy gift card that I would be okay with that . He said they couldn’t and their was no way to overwrite it on the system. I asked if their was any other solution and asked if I could speak to the manager, as the manager was passing by he spoke in a high tone saying I’m the manager and I explained I was confused because I was simply returning an item that was unopened which was a gift to me and I had recieved the same item from the same store from another family member. He went on to say that due to a policy in December because the item was expensive that I couldn’t return the item. The girl then mentioned that the item was unopened but she accidentally opened it . He then said what is he going to get with the money which is completely rude and non of his business, so I asked it it could either be put back to the card it was bought from or a Best Buy gift card if it made it easier. He then went on and told the girl to give me store credit so I can spend the money there at Best Buy. I had never experienced such a unprofessional customer service from best buy it was literally the worst attitude and help anyone could ever give especially during the holidays . The girl finished off as if she was printing my receipt and Best Buy gift card by telling the manager “thanks [Johnny]!” . I immediately called my family member whom gifted me the item and they also said they would never purchase anything from Best Buy ever again . Costco is right across the parking lot for anyone that needs any type of electronics and would not want to risk dealing with the same experience I went through today at the Goleta Best Buy Location....

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Life-Changing Service — Best Buy and Geek Squad Saved the Day!

After countless failed visits to Apple trying to set up live translation between two iPhones — one for me and one for my Spanish-speaking patients — I was beyond frustrated. Every attempt at Apple only made things worse.

Then I went to Best Buy, and everything changed.

Abby took the time to really listen and helped me find the perfect setup — two phones, mirrored glass protectors, strong cases, and all the right accessories. She even walked me through plan options and credit details so I could get exactly what I needed.

Kenneth from Geek Squad was an absolute lifesaver. He fixed every single problem that Apple couldn’t solve — and did it with calm, confident expertise. He even installed the mirrored glass and protectors on both of my phones, which made a world of difference, and it all comes with unlimited screen-crack protection.

Then Kenneth and Johanna together went above and beyond — they managed to connect my old pair of headphones, my new translating AirPods 3, and all three of my phones, plus my PC. Not even Apple could scratch their heads to think about that kind of integration!

Johanna also set me up with an incredible external microphone that lets me dictate into my laptop effortlessly — honestly as accurate as professional medical dictation software like Dragon.

Their night staff also deserve huge credit — Taulin and Johnny were so kind and accommodating whenever I came in late. They still let me make my purchases, even when it was a little past closing time, showing true dedication and going above and beyond for their customers.

Now my workflow is smoother than ever; this whole setup is as transformative as driving a Tesla on full self-driving mode.

If I’m ever feeling down, I’m just going to march myself right back to this Best Buy, hang out with this amazing team, solve more tech problems, and buy more gadgets that make my life so much better — and help me succeed in my new role covering all of California for home health care.

I’m truly so grateful. From now on, Best Buy and Geek Squad will be my go-to for all tech needs — they turned frustration into freedom and made my work (and life) so much...