Does Geek Squad Repair Xbox One

Subsidiary of Best Purchase

Geek Squad Inc.

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Services
Founded	June 16, 1994; 27 years ago (1994-06-16)
Founder	Robert Stephens
Headquarters	Richfield, Minnesota , U.South.
Expanse served	Usa Puerto Rico Canada Mexico
Number of employees	20,000
Parent	Best Buy
Website	world wide web.bestbuy.com/site/services/geek-team/pcmcat138100050018.c?id=pcmcat138100050018

Geek Squad Inc. is a subsidiary of American and Canadian multinational consumer electronics corporation Best Buy, headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota, more commonly referred to every bit the Jiffy Lube of Best Buy. The subsidiary was originally an independent company founded by "Master Inspector" Robert Stephens on June 16, 1994, and offers various computer-related services and accessories for residential and commercial clients. In 2002, they merged with Best Buy,^[i] retaining Stephens every bit the primary corporate leadership for the subsidiary. The Geek Team provides services in-shop, on-site, and over the Internet via remote access, and too provides 24-hour telephone and emergency on-site back up. Geek Squad no longer works solely on calculator-related devices. It at present diagnoses issues in and repairs all consumer electronics, also as appliances.^[2]

Locations and partnerships [edit]

Geek Squad precincts exist in most Best Buy stores in the The states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and holland. They offer in-shop, in-habitation, online, and remote/over the phone services.^[iii] ^{[ failed verification ]} ^[4]

Best Buy terminated its partnership with Office Depot in Orlando, Florida, where Geek Squad precincts were located in ten Office Depot locations.^[5] The brand is also located in select FedEx Office locations.

In October 2006, Best Purchase was reported that Geek Squad would be launching in the Great britain in a articulation l-50 venture with Carphone Warehouse, where today information technology exists as both an onsite service and a remote repair service. At its pinnacle, Geek Squad services where available in Greater London, the Home Counties, the Due south Coast and North West areas of England, with phone and remote back up was undertaken from Tulketh Manufacturing plant in Preston (Lancashire) and repairs completed at a site in Wednesbury (Due west Midlands). In Nov 2015 Geek Squad repairs moved to Newark following the merger between Carphone Warehouse and Dixons Retail forming Dixons Carphone (now Currys PLC).

In 2008, All-time Buy partnered with online tech back up provider SupportSpace to offer remote Virtual Agent services to its clients. SupportSpace was founded in 2006 and provided immediate online tech back up services.^{[half dozen]} On July 15, 2013, all Geek Team business organization was transferred away from SupportSpace and moved in-house to Geek Squad agents.

In January 2012, post-obit poor financial results, the Best Buy Europe venture was discontinued with Carphone Warehouse purchasing its 50% of the bargain back. In the following years the Geek Squad operations in France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and Portugal were slowly wound down with the brand finally catastrophe in Europe with Carphone Warehouse adopting the Team Knowhow brand in 2017.

A 2013 agreement with Atomic Learning, Inc. provides all Geek Team tech subscribers with access to over lx,000 on-demand tutorial training videos.^[7]

Total Services [edit]

In 2007, Geek Squad officially added Magnolia Home Theater installation teams as well equally Best Buy Mobile Installers to the Geek Squad brand. The change was titled, "Full Services" and was aimed towards the combination of major Best Buy services into i cohesive unit. Best Buy mobile installers and Magnolia Domicile Theater installers have now switched from their previous greyness and blue uniforms to grey and orange shirts with greyness cargo pants. This modify removed all "Magnolia Domicile Theater Installation" branding and was replaced by "Geek Squad Installation Units" instead. This has now allowed Geek Team to incorporate home theater installation as one of the in home services offered via telephone. Geek Squad is as well now an Apple Authorized Service Provider.^[8]

Staff [edit]

Older traditional Geek Team logo from prior to 2016

Geek Squad employees are known every bit Agents and are assigned titles similar to those used past intelligence agencies – Counter Intelligence Agent (CIA), Deputy of Counter Intelligence (DCI), Double Agent-Covert (DAC), Covert Agent (CA), Special Amanuensis (SA), Deputy Covert Operations (DCO) and Deputy Field Marshal (DFM), to name a few. Different most reckoner repair facilities, Best Buy US does not crave whatsoever industry certifications for its in-shop technicians. However, Best Buy Canada requires at to the lowest degree A+ Certification to work every bit a CIA.^[9] They also require MECP certification for all technical mobile electronics installers.^[10] In-Store positions take long since inverse, now only consisting of Consultation Agent (CA), Avant-garde Repair Agent (ARA), Geek Squad Sr (CIA Sr) and Geek Squad Director (GSM).

Uniforms and vehicles [edit]

Geek Squad Ford E-350 cutaway in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

In-store PC agents, and in-home PC field agents, wear a white, brusque-sleeved, pocketless wearing apparel shirt. Agents are required to wear a black prune-on necktie with the Geek Team logo pivot. Male agents wearable black trousers, white socks and blackness lace-up shoes that used to have the Geek Team logo on the sole. Female person agents may wear either black trousers, white socks, and blackness shoes; or, a black skirt with hose and black shoes. White and black are the but colors immune in Geek Squad uniforms. Agents who have served in an eligible capacity within any branch of Geek Squad for 18 months, or who have held certain positions prior to 2014 including on-site Double Agents, Special Agents, and Deputies of Counter Intelligence comport a metal law-style badge with their Agent Number engraved on it.^[eleven] In October 2019 the Dress Code Policy for Best Buy was updated, with this update an alternate compatible option was introduced for Geek Team Agents allowing them to wear the black Geek Squad polo forth with jeans and sneakers.^[12]

The Minnesota Historical Order added the official compatible to its permanent collection in 2000.^[13]

Geek Squad Autotechs and GSIs (Home Theater Installers) vesture a greyness push-up work shirt or black short sleeved and collared dress shirt with the Geek Squad logo on the front and optional certification patches on the arms. Matching pants or shorts are worn every bit well as a bright orange undershirt. These agents also accept the option of wearing a grey Geek Squad lid and/or black Geeks Team nylon jacket.

Prior to 2016, Double Agents and Special Agents drove blackness-and-white Volkswagen New Beetles (dubbed "Geekmobiles") with an orange-and-blackness company logo on the door. Geekmobiles in California are all-black with white roof and running boards due to a asking past the California Highway Patrol that the vehicles no longer resemble the paint scheme of their law vehicles (a violation of California police force).^[14] In 2016, Geek Team began phasing out the New Beetles and replacing them with Toyota Prius Cs.^[15]

The Double Agent program in the UK ceased in belatedly 2012. All technical support services connected in store or via Mission Control, Tulketh Mill. From here, the Covert or Covert Operations Amanuensis title was established, Agents from Covert Operations are responsible for the technical support of desktop or laptop devices. They provide support for a narrow range of approved issues verbally over the phone, or Agents will connect to clients devices remotely and set whatsoever issues if the estimator is able to connect to the internet.^{[ citation needed ]}

Geek Team City [edit]

Located in Brooks, Kentucky,^[16] ^[17] Geek Squad Metropolis is the largest Geek Squad calculator repair site at 240,000 square feet.^[18]

Controversy [edit]

Geek Squad technicians have been caught on numerous occasions searching and copying pornographic content stored on their clients' computers without permission. When asked nigh the incident, Geek Squad founder Robert Stephens refused to talk over the topic and focused on whether bloggers should exist considered true journalists.^[19]

At least one former Geek Squad employee had come forward with allegations that the exercise of surreptitiously searching for pornography on their clients' computers is not restricted to isolated employees, simply is often shared with management.^[19]

In 2002, during a spate of legal threats and challenges to competitors with "geek" in their names, Geek Squad attempted to block the trademark registration of New England surface area competitor Geek Housecalls claiming that it violated their trademarks. When Geek Housecalls refused to budge, Geek Team filed civil accommodate. After two years of wrangling, Geek Squad and Geek Housecalls arrived at an out-of-court settlement, the details of which cannot be disclosed co-ordinate to the terms of the settlement except to state that Geek Housecalls retained its name.^[xx]

In 2006, Geek Team was sued for allegedly using unauthorized copies of Winternals' Emergency Repair Disk Commander. The lawsuit filed by Austin-based Winternals claims that employees of Geek Squad have connected using the unlicensed versions of the software after the commercial licensing agreement broke off. Best Buy and Geek Squad were accused of copyright infringement, circumvention of copyright infringement systems, and misappropriation of merchandise secrets.^[21] A settlement was eventually reached, and Winternals created a three-twelvemonth agreement in place with All-time Buy, assuasive Geek Team employees to lawfully apply their licensed programs, including the ERD Commander.^[22]

In 2007, All-time Buy was hit with a civil lawsuit by Sarah Vasquez alleging that Geek Squad technician Hao Kuo Chi had secretly taped her showering with a cellular phone camera he hid behind her sink. Vasquez sought bounty from All-time Buy based on claims of negligent misrepresentation and hiring, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional stress. On top of the civil suit, Hao was as well facing criminal charges including two counts of invasion of privacy and one count of child molestation.^[23]

In 2010, Best Buy issued a trademark infringement cease and desist letter against a priest in Wisconsin for painting "God Squad" on his automobile.^[24]

In 2013, Geek Team was sued for invasion of privacy and several other civil infractions for allegedly releasing nude images found on a customer's computer.^[25] The suit is ongoing. In June 2015, the court denied Best Purchase'due south motions for summary judgment on all claims except the claim for "negligence/wantonness."^[26]

On March 7, 2018, NPR reported that "FBI Used Paid Informants On Best Buy'due south Geek Squad To Flag Child Pornography" co-ordinate to a document that was released by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.^[27]

References [edit]

^ Hassan, Ibne (June 4, 2014). Evaluating companies for mergers and acquisitions. Ghauri, Pervez N. (Kickoff ed.). Bingley, England. p. 21. ISBN978-ane-78350-621-7. OCLC 884586043.
^ "Best Buy'south Geek Squad Rolls Out New Geekmobile, Updated Logo". April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
^ "Best Purchase Press Release" (Press release). Archived from the original on June 17, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2007.
^ Nanjil, Natasha (Baronial 26, 2005). "Geek Team (Best Buy) Canada acquires PC Lifeboat in an effort to aggrandize service offering to Quebec" (PDF) (Press release). Retrieved June v, 2012.
^ Tomassi, K. "Best Purchase Drives Geek Team Via Part Depot", Forbes online. Retrieved December ane, 2006. ^{[ dead link ]}
^ "Online Remote Back up". Geek Squad . Retrieved June v, 2012.
^ Schoenrock, Amy (October 9, 2012). "Atomic Learning Teams Up With Geek Squad On Learning Tools For Tech Back up Program Members". Atomic Learning Blogs. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
^ "Apple partners with Best Buy for expanded repair service". Apple tree Newsroom (Press release). Retrieved June 10, 2021.
^ "GEEKSQUAD". Best Buy . Retrieved June five, 2012.
^ "MECP Advanced Certified". Retrieved December 10, 2014.
^ "Geek Squad Agents". Geek Squad . Retrieved June 5, 2012.
^ "Best Buy updates dress lawmaking to include jeans". Geek Squad . Retrieved October 16, 2019.
^ "Geek Squad History". Geek Team.
^ "V C Section 27605 Vehicle Resembling Law Enforcement Vehicle". California Department of Motor Vehicles . Retrieved June 5, 2012.
^ "Geek Team Trades In Volkswagen Beetle For Toyota Prius". John Irwin . Retrieved October 26, 2017.
^ "Geek Squad City". Retrieved January nine, 2013.
^ Terdiman, Daniel (June 19, 2008). "Calculator sprawl at Geek Squad City". CNET . Retrieved Jan ix, 2013.
^ "Geek Squad City". Geek Squad . Retrieved June five, 2012.
^ ^a ^b Blue, Violet (February 21, 2008). "The Geek Squad's Ongoing Porn Problem". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved June 5, 2012.
^ Gavin, Robert. "That Geek Mystique". The Boston World . Retrieved June 5, 2012.
^ "Best Buy's 'Geek Squad' Defendant of Pirating Software". Associated Printing. April 13, 2006. Retrieved June v, 2012.
^ Utter, David. "Winternals, All-time Buy Settle Over Geek Squad". SecurityProNews . Retrieved June 5, 2012.
^ "Lawsuit says Best Buy technician invaded privacy". Retrieved March 16, 2021.
^ Sauer, Abe. "Best Buy Geeks Out Over God Team". Brand Channel . Retrieved June 5, 2012.
^ "Geek Squad Defendant of Stealing Naked Pics". Retrieved June 29, 2015.
^ ""Outrage," Privacy and the Geek Squad". Retrieved June 29, 2015.
^ Wamsley, Laurel (March 7, 2018). "FBI Used Paid Informants On Best Purchase'southward Geek Team To Flag Child Pornography". NPR . Retrieved September 3, 2021.