Computer
Repair! How to choose?
By
Computer Doctor Boise
These days
there is no shortage of businesses and private individuals competing for your
business. Usually competition drives down the prices to the consumer and this
service is no different. Most people are only interested in computer repair
when their computer has a problem. It’s like finding a locksmith, who thinks
about them until they find their car keys locked inside their car! In days not
so distant a person would pick up the phone book and look in the yellow pages.
Today customers can drive on down to a big box store like Best Buy, Staples,
some local small repair shop or they do an Internet search.
Any Internet
search will pull up the paid ads on the first page. These businesses pay to be
on the first page. These ads are not cheap and someone needs to pay for them.
That would be you! This does not make them a bad choice but it will usually
cost you more for the repair. Other people will go to a classified web site
like Craigslist. If you look under computer services you will find everything
from best Buy Geeks to the guy who just does repair as a kind of hobby. Most of
them in one way or the other say that they can fix anything sometimes at a
price so low that you can’t believe it. If the price is too low chances are you
are dealing with a less than professional computer tech.
So how can
the average person know where to go? First you need to call on your common
sense. If Best Buy wants $195 dollars and the kid on Craigslist wants $30
dollars there probably is a good chance that $30 dollars is not enough to make
it possible to stay in business. Not all computer repair techs on Craigslist
are kids. Some of them have credentials that far exceed the 19 year old
computer tech working at a big box store. So this information may make your
choice even more difficult.
The type of
person you are and your financial situation can play a big part in your choice.
If money is no object Best buy or Staples might be an easy choice. Remember
though that just because they are a big company does not guarantee quality
work. The techs working on your computer at best buy are probably making a
little over minimum wage. Have you ever tried to have a problem solved at these
huge stores? It’s not likely that you will be able to talk with the actual tech
that worked on your computer. It seems that when you come in with a problem it’s
their day off.
What about having
someone remotely work on your computer while you watch? Again it’s all about
who you are working with. We’ve all been there you are talking with someone
with such a strong accent that you can’t understand every other word. You know
this guy is in India, China or some other country but their names are always
Bob, Bill, Kevin or some all American name. Chances are good that if Bob
crashes your computer or over charges you the remedy is a world away. Many
local companies offer remote support and they are either in the good old USA or
even your home town.
The next
time you need your computer worked on call a few friends and try to get
referred to someone they have used. Chances are good that if they were treated
well you will be also. Having spent many years in the computer repair business
I would suggest that for most repairs a rate between $45 and $60 for the job is
a fair price for both parties. I wouldn’t pay too much more for remote repair.
I think most companies are charging too much because it seems to make it easier. In addition
there are some repairs that cannot be done without having physical access to
the computer. You can always simplify things by calling the Computer Doctor
Boise! Sorry but I had to include the plug!! www.computerdoctorboise.com
