There are a lot of places out there that can fix your broken computer. How do you know who to take it to? Well, if you’re in the Columbus area, we’d like you to bring it to us! But in any case, here are some important questions to ask before you check something in for repair:
How much is this going to cost?
This one’s a given, but the important follow up is “What is included in that price?“ Too many places lure you in with seemingly low prices or offers like “free diagnosis if you proceed with a repair” only to nickel and dime you afterwards. Do they charge extra labor for certain repairs? Is a data backup included? Are there limits on the amount of data they will back up unless you pay extra? How about removing viruses or reinstalling Windows? These are all services that come up all the time over the course of standard repairs and could have hidden fees attached to them.
How much experience do you have with my type of system? and Are you certified?
This is especially true if you have a Mac, because there are a lot of shops out there that don’t specialize in them. This will also help you weed out the guys that you find on Craigslist that seem to be impossibly cheap but have very little experience (or accountability).
How long will it take?
Again, this one’s a given. Things that can affect this are the length of time “to the bench,” which basically means the amount of time before they even start working on it, and whether or not they do the repairs in-shop. If the shop is outsourcing your repair to someone else, this can increase the time it will take to get it back, not to mention the time it takes to correct any problems that require you to bring the system back in for a rework.
Besides these questions, you can also prepare yourself by doing your homework. Research the cost of parts online and in the stores. Go into a larger retail store sometime and compare their computer parts prices to the Internet and you’ll see that you probably won’t get a good deal if you have their “geeks” replace a part for you. Also, check up on the shop by seeing what others are saying about them. There are several places around the Web where people can leave reviews of a shop. Check them out on Google, Yahoo Local, Yelp, Angie’s List, and anywhere else you can think of. No matter what you may have heard about a company, the people who know best are the ones who have been their customers.
Happy hunting!