WHAT A BLESSING! After finding a 58" Panasonic plasma TV priced online, I called the Chicago store where they had only an open box item which they sold to me at substantial discount. I spent less than 10 minutes in the store from my arrival to the time I drove away after several individuals helped me load my bulky purchase. I saved over $2,000 over C#@#$%t C**&y and B@$& B#Y!

This review was modified by its author, Roofer, on 6/25/08 5:38 PM.

The MicroCenter online is a really bad online company. I purchased two items (OEM CPU and fan) on 4/25/2008. However, CPU was cancelled and fan was still in stock. I called customer service less than 30 min after I received the cancellation email. One rep promised me that he would help me cancel the other item and call me back. Two hour later, I received another email stating the fan was shipped (In fact, only its electronic shipping information was entered in the Fedex system). I called the customer service again and the same rep answered and promised me again that he would do something to stop dropping off. However, I did not receive anything from him and instead found the item was dropped off at Fedex. I got a charge of $5.48 in my credit card. I had no choice but contact Fedex to return the item to Microcenter. What was worse was that Microcenter only refunded me partially ($4.51) one month after transaction (5/17/2008). I contacted microcenter three times for the issue and got three promises with no refund during the past 3 weeks. Finally, I had to contact my credit card to get the $0.97 back to my account today (6/4/2008). I can see that, with this type of terrible services, Microcenter will become super micro and disappeared in the market very soon. Please be gone, Microcenter!

This review was modified by its author, netshopper1111, on 6/4/08 1:10 PM.

So, I purchased an order of processors to upgrade our work computers and micro center had a deal on the Q9450's. I checked their status and it seemed like they were on their way to me its now 10 days later and still nothing. I am very disappointed and never will do business with them again. Their loss, as I spend like $5000 a week on pc parts for my company. I will also be letting others never to do business with them.

I have been trying to fix my ibook since Feb 08. And I still do not have my ibook back. I can not believe how long it take to fix a laptop. I bought my iMac from Apple. When my iMac had a problem, it only took less than 3 days to fix the computer (even replace the mother board). I am very disappointed with microcenter service. People at the service desk are not very knowledgable.

On Saturday, May 3, I made an online purchase of a laptop for in-store pickup.  
 
I called your customer service number to verify that the order would be available for pick-up later in the day. I was informed that it would be.  
 
I purchased the laptop using my debit card.  
 
Since I had a golf tournament I placed the laptop under my wife's name so she could pick it up. She is also on the debit card account in question.  
 
This laptop was a gift for her brother. He had driven up to the Twin Cities from Southern Minnesota (over a 2 hour drive) specifically to pick up the laptop.  
 
My wife was unable to pick up the laptop during the day so, after golf, I drove down to pick it up myself.  
 
Much to my surprise, your company had cancelled the transaction claiming that the name on the card did not match the name of the bill to I gave.  
 
I understand that you are faced with retail theft via credit card and that your intention is to protect your own assets. However, everything was on the level.  
 
I gave the manager my ID and credit card and he attempted to rerun the transaction.  
 
Of course Micro Center had a hold on the funds in my account - typically not returned to the account for several business days.  
 
Your manager (who was initially very helpful) explained that the issue is with Visa not returning the funds immediately.  
 
You can understand my dismay. As far as I am concerned (still since the funds have not been released back to my account) I was essentially robbed of $405.26 from your store.  
 
In fact, I was further embarrassed because I had to ask a friend to lend me the $405.26 to purchase the laptop since my brother-in-law had driven all that distance.  
 
After speaking with Visa and my bank they both informed me that these funds can be released immediately back to the cardholder depending on the merchant practices.  
 
As I said, initially, your manager was very helpful and understanding but that soon changed once I explained to him that as far as I could see Micro Center had stolen my money.  
 
At one point an assistant manager threatened to call the police on us because we were "disrupting other customers", which I am sure we were since many of them kept asking us what was going on.  
 
I am surprised that your company would treat long-time customers this way. As I said, I was put in a terrible position that required me to borrow money (even though your manager verified with my bank that my account was drained of the funds), I was embarrassed by your company when the assistant manager said he would call the police (I wonder if you remember a similar situation at Best Buy which resulted in some very bad press for them?).  
 
The only reason I can think that this happened is that your company does not care about the "small purchaser", $405.26 is not important to you. This has made me consider posting this issue with www.consumerist.com.  
 
I hope this is not the case and that you will do something to remedy this situation.

Product received better than ordered. I ordered an OEM c2d Quad 9450 from Micro Center online for 299.99 but ordered TWO by accident. I used the live help feature off of their webside about 5 minutes after my order, and the corrected my order and had it delivered exactly as I had intended to order it. Great work and great customer service.  

Bought an HD3870 since they had a rebate going on for it. No problems with my order. This was my first time ordering from them online since I usually just go to their B&M store when I'm around UCI. No problems there either.

This review was modified by its author, boyRacer, on 9/10/08 4:01 PM.

I had not purchased from Micro center before and I am not likely to in the future. Their web site does not say whether a part is in stock so I did and on-line chat and the rep said they had the part I wanted. Their web site would not accept my (correct) billing address on my credit card so I had to place the order by phone. The rep that took the order said yes they had the part. Next day, no conformation so I called. The rep said they had it in stock and it should ship soon. Two days later, I called and the the rep said they did not have it in stock and when when I told him 3 other people said it was in stock when I ordered it, he said they don't keep a real time inventory and they didn't find out that it was not in stock when I ordered it until two days later. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP. First impressions guys, first impressions.

We purchased an Intel Q6600 (G0 stepping) at Micro Center via their $199 + tax deal, the absolute best deal we'd seen on these processors at the time. Transaction went smoothly, and the only complaint I could offer is that the deal is in-store only. Thanks MC!

This occurred in their Cambridge, MA brick and mortar store.  
 
I went to pay at the merchandise pick up counter staffed by Ashley R. At no time during the transaction did she make eye contact with me, acknowledge me in any way or say thank you. Instead she had a conversation with another employee about ten feet away.  
 
She plopped the CC slip onto the counter without a word, never looked at the signature on my card. After I signed the CC slip I asked her if she thought she could have paid a little attention to me, the customer during the transaction and perhaps say "thank you."  
 
Her response:  
She shrugged and twisted her face as if in disgust and said " I don't think so" with a tone of utter contempt.  
 
I brought this to the attention of the customer service supervisor who's response was luke-warm at best saying "I'll tend to this". Never did he offer an apology.  
 
I'm 55 years old and have NEVER been so insulted and offended by store clerk as I was by Ashley R.  
 
Update: Tues,3/12 I called corporate "customer relations" only to end up in voice mail. Left message expressing how offended I was. No call back all day. Finally called again around 4:30PM and talked with operations manager. At least he apologized.  
 
Update 03-22-08  
Received an email and phone message from store operations mgr, followed by phone message from GM of store - both apologetic. They said Ashley R. will go through additional training. I don't hold out much hope that she is trainable. You don't easily turn around that kind of attitude.  
Personally, I would have thought her offense should have resulted in dismissal.  
 
Store sent me a $25 gift card.  

This review was modified by its author, bostechie, on 3/22/08 7:42 AM.

Ordered a Vista Ultimate DVD from them on a Sunday. I got a confirmation email promptly and an item shipped email on Monday. Item received in perfect condition on Tuesday at around 2pm. Sticker on OS was for $220 but only paid $170 including shipping and state sales tax. Great prices and prompt delivery equals a return customer!

Store advertised a $20 rebate on a Buffalo Hard Drive. Seny everything in as instructed. Get a letter back stating I did not include the UPC (a lie). Never buy anything from Micro Center which has a rebate. You will not get it.

i recently ordered the CM 690 case which was on sale for $ 19.99 after MIR plus shipping. The item wasshipped promptly and I am very happy. now I just need to gettherebate.

Original Review:  
 
As the ratings indicate, this is one craphole of a company. I ordered a printer and digital camera online. The printer had a rebate that said the printer had to be purchased with the digital camera. Long story short, MicroCenter canceled the printer and shipped out the camera without my permission. I sent the camera back. It took over a month to get the refund and they didn't refund the shipping. I called them up and the guy said he would go ahead and credit me the shipping. Of course he didn't.  
 
Stay away from this sham of a company if buying online. They will screw you whatever way they can.  
 
Updates:  
 
I did end up receiving the shipping credit as the MicroCenter rep said. I just missed it when reviewing my CC statement. While I do appreciate the credit I should not have had to call to get it.  
 
The core problem of this whole purchase experience is that MicroCenter ships partial orders out when they know they are going to backorder or even cancel the rest of the order. When offering a rebate on a combo purchase, MicroCenter should check with the customer if they still want half their order if the other half is canceled/backordered.  
 
Also, MicroCenter needs to have live inventory tracking on their website like any reputable online store.

This review was modified by its author, wbynum, on 2/8/08 8:43 PM.

Microcenter (MC) is doing a horrible job with the product launch of this new Intel E8400 CPU! Here's my experience and info:  
 
Sat. Jan. 19 - I got the initial "eNews Update" email from MC stating, "In Stock - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 - Best Price Available - Get it Today at Micro Center". It said it was available in store only, at $189.99, and that it was originally $239.99. While I was happy to receive this notice, usually, MC has higher prices than found online. Also, as the CPU just came out, and MC had not yet opened for business that day, and thus had not yet sold the CPU at a higher price, the "original" price seemed like marketing BS. Perhaps I should have went straight to the store and grabbed on. But I didn't because:  
 
A. There is no local MC in my town, only in KC, 100 miles roundtrip.  
B. The weather was around 0 degrees most of that day, and as I had just recently fixed a no-start prob w/ my car, I didn't want to risk it.  
C. I've had poor prior experiences with MC, where I've called to check on availability, they said it was in stock, then I've driven to the store and they had none (just as they've done to other customers).  
D. As this 45nm CPU is new, I needed to read up about its overclocking potential and overall value.  
 
Sun. Jan. 20 - After some late night research, it seemed like MC did in fact have about the lowest price of anyone for this IN STOCK CPU. Also, early reports about the E8400 CPU were favorable.  
 
Mon. Jan. 21 - I checked prices on other older, slower CPU's, but they haven't fell in price (as you would think they should upon the faster E8400 release). So, I called MC to make sure it was in stock. My local MC said they had 3, took my name and phone # and put 1 on hold. 2 min. later, MC called back, stating they were wrong and those 3 were taken. No estimate of when more may come in stock.  
 
Tues. Jan. 22 - 4-ish AM - Received another "eNews Update" email from MC stating, "Back in Stock - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 - Best Price Available - Get it Today at Micro Center". I called MC within 30 minutes after they opened, on hold for 15 minutes, then was told (again) that, contrary to the latest email, they do not have any in stock! MC said next truck may have some Thurs. Jan. 24, and it was a priority. Online, MC was still accepting online orders for the CPU that they didn't have, (then cancelling them, some apparently with a confusing, credit or stock issue). Again, this is despite the fact that they were (and are apparently) suppossed to be in-store only!  
 
So, I then decided to call MC corporate to express my frustration with their repeated misinformation and problems with website, at 1-800-634-3478. I spoke to 3 MC employees as I was routed from 1 dept. to another, eventually told to call MC at 1-614-850-3000, who said I needed to call their Customer Relations Dept. at 1-614-850-3036, 8:30-5PM EST. I did, and got (another) recording, and left a message for them (no employee name given for that Dept.) to call me back.  
 
Wed. Jan. 23 - (As of this date) Micro Center Customer Relations did not return my call. I decided to call my local (Overland Park, KS) MC store again, to check on stock. Even though MC told me in their previous call that their next truck would be on Thurs., the same employee that had taken my name and # on Mon. told me today (Jan. 23 08) that they now had 47 (forty seven) Intel E8400 CPU's in stock, still at $189.99. I had them put my name on 1, to be held at the Service Desk.  
 
However, I am seriously considering taking my business elsewhere (maybe Newegg and pay a little more, or wait and see if the price comes down). Micro Center should realize that customers don't only expect reasonable prices / the lowest price, but also reasonable (competent) product information and prompt customer service. I am also thinking about waiting for the new quad 45nm CPU, expected in Feb. or March.  
 
PLEASE CALL MICRO CENTER'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. at 1-614-850-3036 AND VOICE YOUR CONCERNS, if you've experienced the same poor service. Thanks everyone.  
 
Feb. 12, 2008 UPDATE: The incomplete and late response from Microcenter (MC) below is too little, too late. I complained to both the store, and to Customer Relations (I did reach them after my original post but before MC's reply below, but only by calling them again). Checked today, and despite my thorough feedback, MC has a price problem with the E8400 CPU - show's $199.99 in their new online catalog, but still $189.99 via a keyword search for the item online. Furthermore, the CPU doesn't even show up in their online CPU "Check Pricing" link, as many of their Intel CPU's don't show! Finally, MC's post below doesn't address the legitimacy of their higher $239.99 "original price" for this CPU, when the first price they offered it at $189.99 on 1-28-08 is lower, making it APPEAR to be on sale. I'm concerned this may violate my state's Truth In Advertising laws, so, absent an explanation from MC, I may have to file a legal complaint with the KS Attorney General's office. Thank you fellow readers.  

This review was modified by its author, pentiuman, on 2/12/08 4:36 PM.