. . "There is no direct phone line for reaching the store. The 216 contact number listed online only leads you to an AUTOMATED SYSTEM of DOOM. No joke: I called it 4 times and followed every combination of prompts. Each one only delivers unhelpful recordings. Many recordings just name websites to visit! \n\nThere is literally no way to reach a human being at Microsoft without hauling out and waiting on line at the mall - even over the smallest issue. This, from a company which proclaims having the magical ability to enhance long-distance communication all over the planet. Way to go, Microsoft :-(\n\nMy laptop screen broke within 6 months of ownership. Luckily, I had bought the protective insurance. When I brought it in I was told: Good news! Your coverage entitles you to ... BUY a NEW device! You have the \"privilege\" of deducting the cost of your initial purchase from a pricier model! \n\nWTF?! These up-sell tactics disgust me. My own laptop is still wearing some of the protective film it came in. \n\nWhat about the free REPAIR I'm guaranteed? Oh, that will require 6 - 8 weeks, minimum. Seriously? 2 months is arguably 10% of the lifetime of this laptop before obsolescence sets in. We all know that Microsoft could ensure a quicker turn-around time for repairs if they wanted to. The unreasonably long wait is a blatant disincentive for pursuing a repair which thereby creates an added pressure to buy anew. \n\nI agreed to send it out for repair and requested a loaner for the interim. Twice. First time, guy visits the backroom: Looks like we don't have any for loan. Second time, a few minutes later, same guy: Looks like we have a device for loan. Ugghhh. No shame and no game. \n\nThey promised that just like my own laptop, the loaner has MS Office. Pretty basic, right? So basic that I didn't think it necessary to test their word right in front of them by powering-up the device to check! Well, I was wrong. The loaner only has OneNote. No Office suite...but OneNote?! Talk about random insult to injury. \n\nAngry sigh. When I replaced my computer this year I had switched from Apple to Microsoft specifically in order to avoid this very same manipulative BS. But as a consumer you just can't win. Profit is profit. \n\nSo far as I can tell, the only guaranteed solution for avoiding this crap is to be stinking rich. Then you can solve your problems by throwing gobs of inconsequential cash in the direction of every devious scheme they create. \n\nYeah, and for the rest of us...?"^^ . "0"^^ . "1"^^ . "2016-12-16T00:00:00"^^ . "0"^^ . . "0"^^ .