How to Choose a Good Computer Repair Service
When your computer fails, you can research online and try to figure out the problem yourself, or you can call tech support and follow step by step instructions. The smarter option might be to call in an expert to analyze the problem and fix it right then and there. If you want peace of mind and you don’t have to wait to get back online, this third option clearly is the best. Then again, with the many computer repair services you are likely to find around, how do you which one is best for you? Surely, they’re not all the same, so you have to know to make the right choice so you end up with the right results.
Here are tips to keep in mind as you decide which computer repair service to trust:
Web Reviews
Nowadays, learning about a computer repair service (or any type of service for that matter) can be as simple as reading online reviews. However, make sure you choose your choices because many reviews out there are plain manufactured or biased and therefore unreliable. Choose well-known consumer-oriented websites like Yelp, Angie’s List or the Better Business Bureau’s website itself. Of course, you can also ask your family and friends for tips on any good computer repair guys they may have hired before.
On Site Repair
It is often more convenient to let a technician do the work in your home or office instead of you lugging your machine to theirs. This saves you the trouble of packing your hardware and hooking everything back up when issue is fixed. While on-call technicians will probably charge a little extra for on-site repair, it will be much easier for you, especially if you have a busy schedule to begin with.
Affordable Cost
Make sure to compare different repair shops and their rates before choosing which one to hire. After creating a shortlist of options, call each of your top three or four choices and ask them to give you an estimate of your costs. You should also ask them how they want to be paid. If they ask money up front or charge hourly, look for other technicians. Most reputable computer repair services now charge per type of job with fixed rates. If there is a need to order certain components, this should be reflected in estimate as well.
Work Guarantee
A lot of good repair services have a “no repair, no pay” policy, which is perfectly reasonable. That means that if they can’t get your computer to work the way it’s supposed to, you pay them nothing. A good technician will be honestly tell you if repairing your computer will be more expensive than buying a new one. In any case, before any technician touches your machine, ask them if they offer warranties on both parts and labor. If not, take your business elsewhere.
Credentials
Lastly, while your mom’s best friend’s son may be good with computers, it doesn’t automatically mean he should be fixing yours. What if he ends up frying your hard disk, albeit accidentally? He will probably be uninsured, and in such a scenario, you will likely end up footing the bill when you finally bring your computer to a pro. To be safe, rely only on a certified computer technician at a licensed and insured PC repair company.