Breaking news: 70% of computer repair companies are clueless

[timosyy]

I can't get the video to load, but 7 out of 10 companies doesn't mean 70% of computer repair companies are clueless.

And I don't even like them (being a nerd who fixes all his computer related stuff himself and laughs at some of the prices of repair places), but c'mon.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: AdamK47
The problem with computer repair is that the people who would be able to quickly and accurately identify a problem have moved on to much better careers. That leaves people who are less knowledgeable in charge of taking the customers PC apart in an attempt to fix it.

This is mostly true. As a poster above said, they're getting the service they're paying for. And they aren't paying very much.

Oh and the system files one, again I didn't watch it. But when you're charging some one $60 an hour its usually more cost effective to just back shit up, then wipe a hosed windows install then to play hunt the spyware for 3 hours and probably end up wiping the install anyway.

 

[Scarpozzi]

It's not about the companies. Every company out there hires idiots....they can't help it. Honestly, if you have to pay for computer service or car repair you'll always get a YMMV so it pays to know your service folks and interview them before trusting them with your belongings.

 

[coolred]

Anybody know what percentage of computer problems are likely caused by spyware or viruses?

 

[Agentbolt]

do any of you honestly think mechanics, plumbers, electricians etc only charge a 10% to 20% margin on stuff they sell their customers?

Most places do, successful ones anyway. Most people makes their money on LABOR, charging a big premium on simple parts that anyone can get anywhere is retarded. Might want to think twice before spouting off in a rant like that.

edit: This is plumbers, mechanics, whoever. Computer repair places do indeed charge a fortune on parts, but that's because the type of people who can't figure out how to do simple repairs to their own computer are naturally the stupid type who'll pay out the ass for parts.

 

[sandorski]

The "Clean room" guy was really the worst part of it, but I gotta agree that narrowing things down in a few minutes like the piece seemed to assume is expecting too much. So many things could cause that kind of problem and rattling a long list of potential broken bits is just par for the course. If one is into PC Repair, they need to follow certain procedures when dealing with such an issue:

1) Don't be the dude that must Know what's wrong. It's better to admit you don't know then to declare you do then find out you were wrong later.
2) Spare Parts, have them with you. You can't have them all, but have some so you can switch in/out some things to at least narrow things down.

Do the usual stuff.---ya, started the list then lost interest

 

[Mark R]

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Bad memory is tough to diagnose unless you have a memory tester or a spare DIMM. Plus, no way anyone charges just $25 for a repair.

True. However, if you can't diagnose such a basic fault, then you're not going to do a very good job at on-site repair. Having spare DIMMs immediately to hand in a suitable range of capacities/types is essential if you want to do this sort of on-site diagnosis/repair. Not bringing such parts to a job is just the same as turning up without a screwdriver.

That said, it really annoyed me that they went on and on about inflated prices. You can't compare pricing from an online vendor to an on-site technician. The costs of keeping items in stock are higher, depreciation is higher as parts aren't sold as often, and there is the greater convenience. You've got the part immediately to hand in your home. No S&H charges and no waiting for delivery. Indeed, I think a mark-up of 50% for PC parts would be reasonable, because depreciation is so fast - this is a very different scenario to a plumber marking up the prices of his parts.

On site repair for $25, who are they kidding! Bottom feeder journalism in every possible way.

I'm also a bit wary the corrupted windows install. Yes, it's an easy fix and a common problem. The problem is what was the root cause. At the bare minimum, if you're reinstalling a hosed windows install, you ought to try and look for an obvious cause (e.g. virus/spyware scan, and RAM test). I suppose it's OK to just tell the customer what to do, but I'd be pissed if I needed the PC fixed in a hurry, and was told to do something, only to find it didn't work and I'd wasted an hour.

 

[RichUK]

NO WAI!! SRSLY??

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Agentbolt

do any of you honestly think mechanics, plumbers, electricians etc only charge a 10% to 20% margin on stuff they sell their customers?

Most places do, successful ones anyway. Most people makes their money on LABOR, charging a big premium on simple parts that anyone can get anywhere is retarded. Might want to think twice before spouting off in a rant like that.

edit: This is plumbers, mechanics, whoever. Computer repair places do indeed charge a fortune on parts, but that's because the type of people who can't figure out how to do simple repairs to their own computer are naturally the stupid type who'll pay out the ass for parts.

not true, places like pep boys charge double, but they have to, they stock the stuff, they have to pay for storage etc etc.

ya, sure mechanics that just order the parts locally and then install them when they get it charge 10% to 20% but you cannot compare that to a guy that is going onsite, has to stock the stuff and then installs it for you onsite.

next time, mb you should get the facts straight before going on a counter rant. :roll:

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
I can't believe they slammed the guy who diagnosed it correctly and padded the RAM. No one is in the business to sell at cost, they wouldn't be in business.

Not to mention we have no idea what type of ram he had. I go through memory here, when I'm down to only performance ram on hand and I have to give it to someone, I'm not selling it for value ram prices. The ram in the video very well could have been purchased for $80-$100 before trying to sell it for $120. The memory looked up online was value ram.

 

[slpaulson]

While a lot of techs are clueless, there are problems with the video.

1. Unless you have memory on you or they were running a system with two dimms installed, that diagnosis of broken memory is very hard to make. In that situation, I would have guessed either power supply or motherboard. I can't say that I've ever seen memory just die. The hard drive diagnosis was way off base though.

2. If I found a corrupted system file, I would be worried about their hard drive. I would honestly have recommended either getting an external hard drive or a dvd burner and do regular back ups, but I'm sure the show would have blasted me for talking somebody into buying extra parts when their hard drive was fine. I would have also made sure they had a decent virus scan.

3. Of course there's going to be a mark up on hardware. Companies take a risk by purchasing extra memory, hard drives, etc. Plus the fact that they can have the part right away has to be worth something.

 

[Agentbolt]

not true, places like pep boys charge double, but they have to, they stock the stuff, they have to pay for storage etc etc.

Do they now? Tell you what, post a single respectable link that proves that little theory of yours, and I'll bow out of the thread right now. Since you completely pulled that figure out of your ass, however, I invite you to STFU and allow the intelligent people to keep talking. Thanks!

 

[Agentbolt]

Still waiting Platinum

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Agentbolt
Still waiting Platinum

http://seekingalpha.com/articl...finally-a-happy-ending

here you go.

it's an interesting article, and yes, i was wrong, partially.

pep boys does mark up, 100% of cost (or 50% of final price).

but some of the comparisons in the article are a bit skewed. they say for example pep boys has to charge the same as as NAPA or other parts only stores and so aren't marking up as much as local mom and pop stores or as much as Monro muffler, but i still don't see that premise.

pep boys has to be buying parts at the same price as NAPA or other parts only stores and so should be getting the same markup as those guys (100% as it is pretty standard in retail to markup everything to twice what you paid for it).

the mom and pop stores usually buy from someone local so they have to mark up price on what they paid. hence total price is higher than at pep boys but i not at a higher margin.

 

[AMCRambler]

Originally posted by: slpaulson
While a lot of techs are clueless, there are problems with the video.

1. Unless you have memory on you or they were running a system with two dimms installed, that diagnosis of broken memory is very hard to make. In that situation, I would have guessed either power supply or motherboard. I can't say that I've ever seen memory just die. The hard drive diagnosis was way off base though.

2. If I found a corrupted system file, I would be worried about their hard drive. I would honestly have recommended either getting an external hard drive or a dvd burner and do regular back ups, but I'm sure the show would have blasted me for talking somebody into buying extra parts when their hard drive was fine. I would have also made sure they had a decent virus scan.

3. Of course there's going to be a mark up on hardware. Companies take a risk by purchasing extra memory, hard drives, etc. Plus the fact that they can have the part right away has to be worth something.

1. Absolutely correct. Unless the machine posts and you can run Memtest or another bootable memory testing software, you would be stuck swapping parts in and out.

2. First you should check their hard disk for problems if possible. Good old surface scan or perhaps the manufacturers test utility.

3. Yup. They gotta sell the part for more than they pay for them. However I've seen independent tech shops selling used parts for the price of a brand new one. To me that's just wrong. Especially if the customer doesn't realize they're getting a used part.