This has to be the most rediculous thing i ever heard

[Hacka]

I own a computer repair shop in my town... My business brings in almost 105,000 a year (estimated) and i have only been open 1 year. So you would think i know what im talkng about right?
I had this lady call me and start yelling at me saying that i put a timer on her XP installation that would make it shut off after 60 days. I checked her receipts and it shut off 2 times exactly 60 days apart.
At this point i am VERY confused and shes threatening to send me to the better business bureau. I eventually lost my cool and told her to put a baby bottle in her mouth and cry more. LOL then she said "no thanks hunny i already had something bigger in my mouth earlier" :-o and hung up LOL. I called her back and told her we guarantee our work so bring it back and i will look at it. I couldn't get it to boot or repair.. just format. So after i formatted and reinstalled the OS... i called her and told her to come pick it up and said we will wait till dec29th and see what happens.
This is where im getting confused... shes saying her daughter bought a laptop from best buy and hers is gonna shut off in 60 days because XP doesnt come with laptops anymore and she has to pay $10 a month for xp after 60 days... i wanted to tell that lady to go fuck off but i didnt... shes so annoying.

Can anyone verify that im not going crazy? She even told me that 2 other computer places and 2 family members told her these things.

 

[Arkaign]

I own a PC shop as well, so I can tell you one thing : there are a lot of nutty people out there!

As far as XP having a timer, nope. As long as it's activated, it will work indefinitely. Sounds like she might have gotten some spyware or virii that were giving bogus notices, or perhaps she installed a trial of Office (that expires in X days).

 

[trmiv]

This is why despite the fact that you can make a decent living off of it, I would never own a PC repair shop. I seriously considered it and then I remembered I hate my current desktop support job, but at least I don't have to worry about crap once 5pm comes every day.

And I don't think you're going crazy, there is no timer as long as it's activated. She, on the other hand, sounds a bit batty. LOL at her "I already had something bigger in my mouth" comment.

 

[Hacka]

Yeah i really hate some people. This guy brought his pc in 30 minutes before close and was waiting for me in the morning when i opened at 10am. THEN HE CAME BACK AT 12, 1:30 and 4 other times before 6pm. He doesnt get the fkin point. With 10+ computers a day... its at least a 24 hour waiting period.

 

[Hacka]

these forums are quite boring

 

[pallejr]

"the customer is always right" i guess that is not your motto?

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: pallejr
"the customer is always right" i guess that is not your motto?

Paying customers are always right. Some people are just trolls who look for free tech support once they do stupid things.

 

[wwswimming]

got to admire your patience with that particular
customer.

i think you have done your job.

no matter what you do*, you're probably not
going to be able to make her happy.

i would send her a certified letter stating that
the 60 day warning is a reflection of spyware,
not your own negligence.

if she sues, assuming you have presented all
the facts, it may well be a case of malicious
prosecution. which puts her in a weak case,
legally.

basically, just saying - cover your bases legally,
then move on to more sympatico customers.

* well, i can imagine one thing. though i wouldn't
want her teeth anywhere near my body.

 

[Markbnj]

Retail is retail. It always sucks. You can be really successful at it if you're the kind of person who can let anything wash off and not be bothered. A guy like me would end up in prison.

 

[Brazen]

I kinda sounds like it may be virus activity. Maybe she has some program, maybe a shady freeware or a warezed MS Office that she keeps putting back on her computer and on her daughters computer that does some maliciousness every 60 days.

 

[techgamer]

This reminds me of a virus my dad or someone had a couple years ago. It displays some crazy warning like that and then after 30 or 60 days will reboot your computer constantly or something. I remember it being weird. definitely virus related

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Originally posted by: Hacka
these forums are quite boring

I take it you haven't ventured into OT in a while?

 

[randym431]

I'd never run a pc shop either just because of people issues.
I stopped working on family and friends pc's after they screwed them up, then blamed the pc or windows os or took off the virus protection cause "it slowed it down too much".
And they NEVER believed in backing up important files, yet cried after they were lost.
And expected me to be mr magic and get them all back.

I once got a neighbors pc running again after her kids totally deleted and trashed the pc both hardware and software wise. Their mouse buttons were held on with scotch tape. I got it back to normal and even fixed the mouse buttons that just needed snapped in. For all that, she offered me $10 and a container of her soup she was making for dinner. People just don?t realize or appreciate pc repair. I gave up on them all...

 

[rogue1979]

I own a computer repair shop that has been going strong for 5 years.

"Water off a duck's back" is my motto. As long as the customer pays and I know that I did the job right, I don't let all their crap that is mostly based on operator error bother me.

It did take me a couple of years to reach that mindset...

I offer hardware repairs and mostly reinstalling Windows. If they have a crapped up version
of Windows that is trashed pretty bad, I tell them they need a reinstall. I refuse to touch it and suggest that they go down to Best Buy and let them screw it up and charge 4X times the money. I rarely loose a customer that way.

It doesn't matter how many repairs I get, one day service unless I have to special order some unusual part, a busy day is 15 repairs.

The key is 5 minutes in and out the door when a customer drops off a computer, don't let them waste all your time talking for hours about small details.

Like I said, if their windows is crusty they are getting a reload!

I have posted "No Technical Support" and "No Free Lessons" everywhere and stick to it.

When they fill out a sign in sheet their signature says that they agree to my terms.

1. Customers must have a basic knowledge of how to use their PC.
2. No warranty on software, it is their responsibility to test their computer before they leave
on the provided stations in the lobby.
3. I cannot answer any question on how to "use" their computer even after a complete
reinstall of Windows.
4. If I recover data it is the customers responsibility to know how to use it and have the
programs to reinstall to be able to read it.

If in the unusual case of I make a mistake, I will correct it for no additional charge.
I will not work on any buggy proprietary software. The solution for that is a fresh reinstall
of Windows and then a reinstall of the program that wasn't working right. It solves the problem correctly every time!

The kicker is I do all this for $29 a pop. Including a small profit on parts and an extra charge for data recovery ($25 per CD, $29 per DVD) and my average door ticket is $50-$55 (profit).

I can handle 10 repairs a day easily and get all repairs done between business hours of 9-6. I wash my hands at the end of the day and am completely done, no hassles. Absolutely no tech support on the phone, they bring it in and pay $29 and I will fix it.

The picky, fussy and cranky customers that want me to do everything go elsewhere and pay big bucks. The customers I do get are the kind that I want, in and out real quick, time is money! I suspect that for the $29 price most of the picky, fussy and cranky customers learn to deal with simple problems and pay my fee instead of going to Best Buy and paying $150 for the same thing and talking to a dork that can't answer their dumb questions anyway.

I love my job, it doesn't get any easier.

They key is I charge people to fix their computer, not how to run their software or use it. You just have to get that point across to your customers and you will avoid all the hassles and frustrations.

This philosophy must be working, I keep getting more business as time goes by. Most of my competitors are out of business, new ones start in their place and just keep failing.
They charge too much, take to long, and try to do everything for the customer which is pretty much impossible.

I am making plans to open a second shop.

Good luck!

 

[JWade]

did you ask her what anti-virus software she is running? if she says "huh?" then yeah i would say spyware/virus problem

 

[wwswimming]

When they fill out a sign in sheet their signature says that they agree to my terms.

very good idea. i archived that one.

i had a "difficult customer" once when i was doing computer
consulting (anybody remember the 286-25 ?)

i think there's some merit to the idea of adding an "asshole
surcharge" for difficult customers. the trick is how to word
that, on the invoice.

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: wwswimming

When they fill out a sign in sheet their signature says that they agree to my terms.

very good idea. i archived that one.

i had a "difficult customer" once when i was doing computer
consulting (anybody remember the 286-25 ?)

i think there's some merit to the idea of adding an "asshole
surcharge" for difficult customers. the trick is how to word
that, on the invoice.

Word it as ID10T repairs or error. Or list it as interference between seat and keyboard.

 

[Hacka]

well guys.. i have to say that she is right!!!!

wtf is going on. i fixed it and EXACTLY 60 days later it stopped working.

 

[mechBgon]

http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.co...y-phone-extortion.html

Interesting, huh?

 

[Hacka]

thats not the case though

she has nothin on the pc and only uses it for email and basic internet. It shuts off exactly 60 days after the fresh format & install wtf?

 

[Davegod]

tried using a Ultimate Boot CD to have a poke around and see if she's got something weird in there?

ps. tried loading windows using one of your cd's? (using her key of course) and see what else she installs on day 1.

 

[Hacka]

tried it

im completely confused

 

[Hacka]

Originally posted by: rogue1979
I own a computer repair shop that has been going strong for 5 years.

"Water off a duck's back" is my motto. As long as the customer pays and I know that I did the job right, I don't let all their crap that is mostly based on operator error bother me.

It did take me a couple of years to reach that mindset...

I offer hardware repairs and mostly reinstalling Windows. If they have a crapped up version
of Windows that is trashed pretty bad, I tell them they need a reinstall. I refuse to touch it and suggest that they go down to Best Buy and let them screw it up and charge 4X times the money. I rarely loose a customer that way.

It doesn't matter how many repairs I get, one day service unless I have to special order some unusual part, a busy day is 15 repairs.

The key is 5 minutes in and out the door when a customer drops off a computer, don't let them waste all your time talking for hours about small details.

Like I said, if their windows is crusty they are getting a reload!

I have posted "No Technical Support" and "No Free Lessons" everywhere and stick to it.

When they fill out a sign in sheet their signature says that they agree to my terms.

1. Customers must have a basic knowledge of how to use their PC.
2. No warranty on software, it is their responsibility to test their computer before they leave
on the provided stations in the lobby.
3. I cannot answer any question on how to "use" their computer even after a complete
reinstall of Windows.
4. If I recover data it is the customers responsibility to know how to use it and have the
programs to reinstall to be able to read it.

If in the unusual case of I make a mistake, I will correct it for no additional charge.
I will not work on any buggy proprietary software. The solution for that is a fresh reinstall
of Windows and then a reinstall of the program that wasn't working right. It solves the problem correctly every time!

The kicker is I do all this for $29 a pop. Including a small profit on parts and an extra charge for data recovery ($25 per CD, $29 per DVD) and my average door ticket is $50-$55 (profit).

I can handle 10 repairs a day easily and get all repairs done between business hours of 9-6. I wash my hands at the end of the day and am completely done, no hassles. Absolutely no tech support on the phone, they bring it in and pay $29 and I will fix it.

The picky, fussy and cranky customers that want me to do everything go elsewhere and pay big bucks. The customers I do get are the kind that I want, in and out real quick, time is money! I suspect that for the $29 price most of the picky, fussy and cranky customers learn to deal with simple problems and pay my fee instead of going to Best Buy and paying $150 for the same thing and talking to a dork that can't answer their dumb questions anyway.

I love my job, it doesn't get any easier.

They key is I charge people to fix their computer, not how to run their software or use it. You just have to get that point across to your customers and you will avoid all the hassles and frustrations.

This philosophy must be working, I keep getting more business as time goes by. Most of my competitors are out of business, new ones start in their place and just keep failing.
They charge too much, take to long, and try to do everything for the customer which is pretty much impossible.

I am making plans to open a second shop.

Good luck!

you are too cheap

we do cleanups and xp installations for $60 and data backup is 20-60 depending on how much stuff they have.

best buy charges $199 for os install or basic cleanups. Data recovery is $59 or $159 i think.... thats wayy too much. I actually started advertising "up to 70% off best buy prices" lol.. my attorney said its legal as long as its true

 

[MrChad]

What do you mean "shut off"? Does it boot to the desktop? What screens does she see? We need more details to help diagnose the problem.

EDIT: Is this an activation issue? Is her copy of Windows activated?

 

[Hacka]

yes its activated

it shuts off and makes me reinstall windows. constant reboot.. repair wont work

her sticker did get ripped off the side and she has a serial number written on some paper she got from hp. that couldnt be the reason though could it?