1-800-geek Squad???

[Leaper]

I just saw this phone number advertised as the contact for the eponymous company.

Isn't that sorta... impossible? Or at the very least, confusing for the majority?

[Q.E.D.]

Lots of companies use toll-free numbers that they pad out with superfluous letters in order to make them more easily memorized. The extra digits don't cause any dialling problems, even if you DO dial them. The phone system automatically connects as soon as you dial the 10th digit and the rest are ignored.

[Leaper]

My point is, the "superfluous letter" is in the MIDDLE of the number (the Q, which does not exist on the majority of dials that I've seen). THAT is why I think it's confusing.

Even worse, what if they mean it to be 7, which Q is on some phones? Won't that cause a massive number of misdialings? Or will they have both numbers covered?

[Q.E.D.]

Oh, I see. Well, according to their website (http://www.geeksquad.com/), the intended number is 1-800-433-5778. Can't say I ever really noticed every phone I ever used, but the phones I have now all have Q on the 7 button.

[CynicalGabe]

Lots of companies use toll-free numbers that they pad out with superfluous letters in order to make them more easily memorized. The extra digits don't cause any dialling problems, even if you DO dial them. The phone system automatically connects as soon as you dial the 10th digit and the rest are ignored.

So THATS how it works. :eek:


I swear, this question has nibbled at my mind for several years now.

[TJdude825]

Oh, I see. Well, according to their website (http://www.geeksquad.com/), the intended number is 1-800-433-5778. Can't say I ever really noticed every phone I ever used, but the phones I have now all have Q on the 7 button. It used to be that the Z and the Q were missing, so that there would be 3 letters per key, I guess. That way you could put out fake numbers like 1-800-CONQUEST and no one would ever call it. Then came cell phones, and text messaging, and all the letters were necessary.

[Q.E.D.]

It used to be that the Z and the Q were missing, so that there would be 3 letters per key, I guess.
Well, yes, I know this. What I meant is that I never noticed the Q being on any key other than 7, which apparently Leaper has seen, unless I'm misunderstaning him. Sorry if I was unclear.

[BwanaBob]

Our local "Best Buy" stores advertise soemthing call the Geek Squad. They come to your house and install LANs, set up your computers or A/V centers.

Maybe its them?

[Honey]

Lots of companies use toll-free numbers that they pad out with superfluous letters in order to make them more easily memorized. The extra digits don't cause any dialling problems, even if you DO dial them. The phone system automatically connects as soon as you dial the 10th digit and the rest are ignored.

Isn't it the 11th digit?

[butler1850]

Our local "Best Buy" stores advertise soemthing call the Geek Squad. They come to your house and install LANs, set up your computers or A/V centers.

Maybe its them?

Same guys... BB markets the Geek Squad services.

They drive little VW Bugs painted in a "Black & White" police style paint job, with a red "Geek Squad" logo on the door.

I'd bet there is pretty good money in home visits, but I'd never be able to handle the idiots that I'd be servicing... I have enough trouble at work with professional idiots. :D

[Q.E.D.]

Isn't it the 11th digit?
Depends on where you are. Not all areas require dialling the 1 first--it depends on area code and exchange assignments. Cell phones don't normally require you to dial the 1 first, either. And when you're dialling a local call, you can usually leave off the area code as well as the 1. So I guess you should replace "dial the 10th digit" with "dial a valid telephone number."

[CynicalGabe]

I'd bet there is pretty good money in home visits

Its only a matter of time before the first "Geek Squad" porn comes out.

Poor tech support guy came to install a printer. Little did he know the printer was owned by a trio of lesbian supermodels. Turns out he had to install more hardware than he expected!

Geek Squad: Giving "service call" a whole new meaning.

[Q.E.D.]

IPoor tech support guy came to install a printer. Little did he know the printer was owned by a trio of lesbian supermodels. Turns out he had to install more hardware than he expected!

*cue music*

Booowwwm...chicka chicka bum...bowm bowm...

"Is that a logic probe in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

"Oh, it's a probe alright, ma'am! Ha ha!" *snort*

"Ooooh, Eugene!"

[Mr. Slant]

Same guys... BB markets the Geek Squad services.

They drive little VW Bugs painted in a "Black & White" police style paint job, with a red "Geek Squad" logo on the door.

I'd bet there is pretty good money in home visits, but I'd never be able to handle the idiots that I'd be servicing... I have enough trouble at work with professional idiots. :D

Saturday I visited a client and cleaned up a home office mess that Geek Squad created. They were apparently there for two hours.
Before they left, she wound up with an invoice for $679.
Yes, there's good money in servicing home PCs. Some of the $679 was software sold to my client, but not all.
She still needed 3.5 hours of my labor getting her new machine networked, her files copied over and her software and device drivers installed.
Based on third parties, I've learned she just had Geek Squad over again on Wednesday.
Yes, there's money in home visits.

[Philster]

Are you trying to say there is money in home visits> :D