Tuesday, 22 March, early morning: a power surge causes the motherboard on my computer to fry, making it nonfunctional.

Tuesday afternoon: I discover the problem and call the Best Buy tech support hotline and speak to a helpful, knowledgeable lady who diagnoses the problem. She puts in a service call request (my in-home parts/labor warranty covers everything) and advises me to take my computer somewhere to do a data backup before the new motherboard is installed. She tells me that once the new motherboard arrives, a technician will call me to set up the service appointment. She estimates the part will arrive on Tuesday, 29 March.

Friday morning: I take the day off work and go to Best Buy on Clark, about 10 blocks away, to get data backup. This is not covered by my warranty. Cost: $85.00. The member of the Geek Squad seems to be an agreeable fellow and tells me that as there are no other machines before mine, it should be ready for pickup “by dinnertime.” He tells me that he will give me a call when it’s ready.

Friday afternoon: a technician calls me, saying the new motherboard has arrived. He asks if Monday at 10.30 am is good for me. I hesitate (knowing that Andy will have to deal with things then since I’ll be at work) but then say that that would be fine.

Friday evening: still no call from Best Buy concerning the data backup.

Saturday afternoon: I call Best Buy to check up on things and am told that a member of the Geek Squad will call me back in a few minutes to let me know where things stand. The call never comes.

Sunday, noon: I trudge over to Best Buy to see if I can just pick up my computer. When I get there the store is closed up: no signs saying “Closed For Easter,” no nothing. And there were no notices posted earlier in the week either. I fume.

Sunday afternoon: I leave a detailed message with the technician telling him that my computer is still at Best Buy for the data backup, and perhaps he can do the installation directly at the store. I give him my home number, my work number, and tell him to please call me.

Monday, 10.15 am: Despite having been appraised of the situation, Andy is in the shower and so does not hear either the door buzzer nor the message the technician leaves on the answering machine: “I’m 3 blocks away and we had an appointment for your computer. Please call.”

11.30 am: Andy calls me and tells me about the message on the answering machine. He gives me the tech’s cell number. I call both the tech’s office number and the cell number and leave messages with my work number.

3.45 PM: I get home from work. No messages from the tech guy, but there IS a message from Best Buy saying that the data backup is complete and my computer is ready for pickup. I call the store and they inform me that the motherboard installation can only be done in-home since I have an in-home warranty; they don’t have appropriate parts/technicians to do it. I call both numbers for the tech guy and leave fresh messages.

Monday evening: I pick up my computer and bring it home. No messages.

Tuesday morning: I call both numbers for the tech guy and leave fresh messages.

Tuesday afternoon: After I come home from work, I try both numbers for the tech guy. Nothing. No messages. I call Best Buy tech support again and give them the rundown, saying I can’t get ahold of anyone. They open a “fresh” case and tell me to call back in about 2 hours to get an updated status. When I call later on they tell me there is no new info and I should try back in the morning.

This morning: I call both numbers for the tech guy and leave fresh messages. I will try the Best Buy Tech hotline a bit later. Meanwhile: still no computer at home.