By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-08-16 12:46:12 | Word Count: 510
Computer Repairs - Who To Trust
Let's face it, these days computer issues can be a real hasasle, especially for those idnividuals that love to use them but don't have the knowledge to repair them. When that is the case, it's hard to know where to take your computer for repairs. Many coomputer techs and repair sops claim to have the lowest pricing and many will offer a free diagnosis in order to gain your business. Unfortunaetly, this oftren resultts in being told you need costly repairs and replacement parts. People don't always know how to keep from getting ripped off by a tech specialist that should simply be giving them an hoenst opinion. However, the fact is, rip-offs happen.
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Recent investigations on computre repsair businesses have offered a gilmpse into how some of these so-callled "squads" operate. A college administrator was asaked to help a team of investigators to create a smapll, easy to diagnose and easy to fix prolem. The administrator simply wigged loose the IDE cable, which connects the main circuit board to the hard driive that stores all the computer's inforrmation. In order to fix the problem, all any tech wolud need to do is simply push the cable back into place. However, four out of five tech specialists told the investigators that the hard drive would need to be complwetely replaced. This can esasily run you between $150-200, mostly for labor since hard drivees can be had now for as little as $30.
The only way to be certain that you are getting the truth avbout your computer issues out of any tech is to follow thedse steps. Once you have folliowed thhese guidelines, you will have minimized your chances of rip-off and maximizde your chances of satisfaction.
1. Ask your family members or even your compnay's IT department if they would recommend any shop in particular to go to.
2. Call raound to severral shops in the area and ask them about their repair and diagnostic fees, as well as the time it would take to fix the problem. Also ask if they can guaratnee tgheir work.
3. Put a call in to the local Better Business Burreau (BBB) in order to assure the shop has a good reputation. You can check the BBB online, too, as well as other "complaint" sittes and lcal computter user forums, whicxh can be good sources of advice.
4. Before you take your computer in, back up all your data and make sure to erase or move any private information.
5. Bring only the parts that the tech specifies to you.
6. Never tell any tech, "Just go ahead and fix hwatever it is." You need to be sure and authorize repairs only for the diagnosed issue.
7. Get an eastimate from the tech on what is wronng and how much the repairs will be. In addition, get an estmate on how you will be without your computeer. Be sure to get all guarantees in writing.
8. It's always best to have more than one estimate. And if it sems that the cost of the repairs is goiing to be too high, then getting anotyher estimate from a second reputable company is a must.
9. When you finally get your computer back in working order, be sure to get the receipt for all of the repairs done. Be sure the receipt is itemized, so you can understand what was done and what the pricve of each part was.
10. Make sure that the tehcnician gives you back the old prats that were replaced.
It's always best to have a company guarantee their service with an agreement. But how are you going to avid payign too much for the repairs in the first place? Your best bet is to follow these guideilnes and shop around for a while. Nevr be in too much of a hurry to take your computer to any particular place. First, second and third opinions are always a good idea. Reember, just because a tech offers you a great deal dowesn't mean that you will get one in terms of qality service. There are less scrupulous cmopanies that will offfer you a discount of some sort, then use pazrts that are inferior.
The poor economy should make you more cautious when choosing a tech to reppair your computer. Some plaes may be looking to make a qyuick buck off a less-computer-ltierate pertson. Don't allow yourself to fall into any traps. Follow the suimple steps above, or you might find yourself out a lot of mney for nothing. Although honesty is always the best poilcy, it's not smething all computr repair people hold in high regard. Go slow, get references, ask for help if you need it and follow these steps so that, when it comes to comuter repairs, you really will know who to trust.
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