6 replies to this topic

[Nvyseal]

images/news/hardware.jpgSting Op Of 10 Different Computer Repair Companies Finds 70% Don't Know What They're Doing

CBC Marketplace did a kickass hidden camera investigation into computer repair companies and found only 30% were able to correctly diagnose their problem.

One guy tells them they need to send their computer to a special dust-free room to retrieve the data, which would cost about $2,000. He even copies pictures from the customer's hard drive to his computer, promising he'll delete them later. Geek Squad makes an appearance and they don't do a very good job either, although the Geek's hair is admirably coiffed.

Watch the video over at Consumerist

(WMP needed)

[KelpFries]

You mean I really dont have to replace my hard drive, video card, DVD drive, motherboard, memory and power supply when Windows gives me a dialog that says "There are unused icons on your desktop?" DAMN! DAMN! DAMN! I knew that wasn't right!!!!!

[WFO]

Wow! I gotta get in the computer repair business. That could be profitable!!!!

[Tweak]

Hehe, I wonder if they visited the shops around here....lol. On a side note I may soon have some good news on my position in the pc repair industry, I will know more soon, it is looking good and hopefully I will have something good to share on that soon!

[stormrosson]

no s**t , who woulda guessed

[Roadrunner]

Pretty good investigation.
I think we here already knew that this was going on.
When my son worked for Micro Center the hardware problems were no sweat.
But he was told not to even try to solve software problems but to do a re-format and re-install.
If a customer wanted to save his data then he was to try to sell a portable hard drive to transfer the old data to.
It seems that software problems were just not profitable enough to even mess with.

So, while I would never approve of it, I can certainly see where a company or even an individual that is out to make a living would want to maximize its profits. Sending a person out to a site is very expensive, and to lose money by there being nothing wrong or having a simple repair would not be good business. The temptation to screw the customer is enormous- no rules or regulations for such a new industry, and the general public will believe anything you tell them.

[m.oreilly]

yep, solving peeps (total strangers) software probs are not profitable. the time and effort spent tracking down stuff, and keeping their aol, online gambling, pr0n and warez stuff intact is A BIATCH. i keep several OEM copies of xp around just for these occations.