Computer repair shop | how to choose the best company

A considerable number of PC users usually goes to a local computer repair shop when their desktop or laptop computers start to slow down, crash, hang or restart every two minutes and working with them becomes unbearable. We bring our laptop computer to a local repair service, hoping that the problem will be solved quickly. Maybe we don’t have the time to fix our PC ourselves or are incompetent at some level, or maybe we're just afraid to damage something. Well, there could be many reasons, but the outcome usually is the same – the local computer repair shop technician. After all, they are the professionals, right? They know their stuff, and it’s just a matter of time and money, before your digital friend – A.K.A computer – is returned to you safe and sound.

Truth is – there are some things, everyone should know about computer repair shops.
It’s the same with any other type of business, be it a car service, house repairs or whatever service you may think about.

1. You are served by people. Not angels – they are humans, who might as well lie to you about their 10 hour efforts to fix your PC, when the only thing needed was to check if RAM chip was inserted correctly, or cleaning the fan from dust – in case the computer has been continuously rebooting without warning.

There are usually five types of computer repair shops:
1. They know the problem and the way to fix it, but they overcharge you for things they never did or computer parts they never bought. As I myself work in a similar kind of business, there are countless ways how an evil – minded computer geek could profit from any kind of problem, if he has no conscience whatsoever.

2. They do not know the reason of your PC malfunction or are incompetent, so they just wait a few hours and charge you anyway for some vaguely defined “computer malware diagnosis”. Very ugly. When you bring back your PC the same problems occur.

3. They do not know the problem, but after discovering the reason of malfunction, they fix it. (It takes some time). These are the good guys, though not very professional.

4. They are not able to fix your PC and do not charge you for anything. Maybe they don’t have the necessary equipment or experience and do only the minor repair works. Since they did not fix anything, you don’t have to pay them.

5. They immediately identify the reason and fix your PC in short time, telling you what was wrong and what needed to be fixed. They charge you the right amount of money for their service, and their service price list along with their policy statement is displayed either in their repair shop or on their website.

First two types of computer repair shops should be avoided. Besides, they could also browse through your personal mail, documents or any kind of sensitive information; even try to dig out your passwords. The last three types are OK, it just depends upon their experience and employees they have.

2. Ask your local internet service provider about the quality pc laptop or desktop computer repair shop. Internet providers are the one who constantly need fixing computer parts as well as different network components and if they recommend you some computer repair shop – you can try it. Sometimes internet providers do all the pc repairs themselves – in this case try to find out about their service from their customers – forums come in very handy in this case.

3. Ask for their pricelist and their policy statement (any kind of document defining their work policy). Ask them as much as possible, and give them a precise description of your desktop or laptop problems.
Try to find out some exact not abstract information. For instance: how long will it take to reinstall your operational system, how long will it take to recover your hard drive data, how long does it take to replace RAM chip, CD ROM drive, cleaning your fan from dust, replacing the keyboard or just some keys, how much costs particular laptop part, who will be in charge of this work, what is their hourly rate.
Write everything, and in case they start avoiding direct questions or changing their opinion about their rates, you would better find another service.

4. Check if they gave you all your old parts. They do cost some money and you can always try to sell them in Ebay or some other online market place.

5. Ask your friends. Their experience usually is the best referral and the best advertisement (or the opposite) for some computer repair shop. If they have visited a particular service more than once and have been satisfied with results, the chances are that you will get a similar service.

6. I suggest addressing your friend (some PC technician or programmer – who knows more than you do) or just their advice. If you do not have anyone who could do the repairs or just direct you to some good repair shop and you don’t know a good computer repair shop – try to surf the internet, forums or blogs and find out which local repair shop is the best, considering the price and quality, as well as number of complaints.

7. You can always try to learn and do something by yourself – you will be surprised at what you are capable of and how simple it is, let’s say, to replace RAM chips. Do not be afraid of the terra incognita – our fears often hide the best from us. You might make some mistakes, but nobody is perfect. Truth is – we have to study and learn the whole life.