Keeping your technology in tip-top shape is never an easy task. Whether you’re not that into the how and why of tech, or its parents, grandparents, or just a friend, there’s always that moment where someone needs help.
Best Buy has offered, for years, its Geek Squad Protection Plans. In fact, Best Buy offered software solutions that covered a few computers for yearly fees, as well. That all changed when the company launched “Total Tech Support Powered by Geek Squad.” This new service covers just about everything you might need for one low yearly fee, but is it worth it?
There are numerous areas of Best Buy’s store and products covered under Total Tech Support. The area I’m most interested in? The Connected Car features, but it extends much beyond that.
Let’s start with the connected car. You might want a new radio in your vehicle to give you CarPlay or Android Auto but have been wary of doing so because most places charge insane rates for installation and you’re not comfortable doing that yourself.
Total Tech Support covers car radio install, backup camera install, amp install (for those who want a little more out of their sound system), speaker install, and more. Yes, that is all included in the $200 yearly fee for Total Tech Support.
Now, if that’s all this new plan covered, it’d be worth it. I was quoted $100 in labor alone from a local car audio shop for a backup camera install on my car, and that doesn’t include the install of a head unit that can work with the camera.
But, Total Tech Support covers so much more. This new plan covers virus removal from your computers, data recovery, reinstalling your operating system, and more when it comes to computers. At home, there’s 24/7 support for home network setup and troubleshooting, printer issues, remote virus removal, and more.
There’s also tablet setup, TV mounting at home, PlayStation VR or Oculus VR setup, assembly furniture bought from Best Buy, WiFi setup, smart doorbell install, smart thermostat install, dishwasher install, gash range or dryer install, refrigerator install (including new water lines), and more.
Some of these services aren’t actually free but highly discounted. Take a dishwasher install. Normally, you’d pay $250 for this service, but with Total Tech Support, you pay only $50. Refrigerator install with shut off valves is normally $135, but with Total Tech Support, it’s $50. The list goes on.
Yes, that’s right, all of that is included for just $200 per year. Some services are discounted by 20% instead of free, like high-level data recovery, advanced TV mounting, advanced car audio installs, etc. But, that alone could pay for itself in some cases.
Generally, labor is the most expensive part of something like this (TV mounting or car audio install.) You can always find sales on products (like a CarPlay head unit), but labor is almost never discounted.
Where Best Buy benefits from this? We’ve yet to really find that out besides just getting more customers. If you have anyone in your family who struggles with technology, this is a must-have I think. In fact, even though I do a lot of my own work on car audio and home theater, this service is enticing even to me with what it includes.
You can visit your local Best Buy to learn more about Total Tech Support, or talk with Geek Squad online or over the phone for more info.
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