In 2018, the US electronic equipment repair service market was worth nearly $27 billion.
And it’s not hard to see why. So much of our information is stored digitally these days. If your computer stops working, it can have a serious impact on your personal life or your business.
When it comes to computer repair, you want to be certain that you’re leaving your hardware in the best hands. But how do you find the best option from the wide choice of computer repair services?
Read on as we take a look at 9 things you should always consider when choosing a computer repair shop.
1. How Are Their Reviews?
The first thing you should consider is user reviews.
The best way to find out about the quality of a computer repair shop is to read about the experiences of other users. Try to look at the ratio of good reviews to bad; it is inevitable that even the best repair shops will get some bad reviews.
Remember that online reviews are open to abuse. Be wary of reviews that seem very similar in wording or that don’t contain much information other than a rating.
Also, try asking for recommendations from friends and family. The chances are you will know someone who has used a local computer repair service before.
2. What’s Their Estimate?
A big part of your decision will be how much the repair costs.
Contact the repair shop and ask them to give you an estimate for the work. You can then compare this price with other shops. Find out if they charge by the hour or by the job, and also whether there is a minimum charge for repairs.
Opting for the cheapest estimate will save you money in the short term, but the standard of the repair might not be as high. And bear in mind that the most expensive companies don’t always offer the best service.
3. Do You Need an Appointment?
Find out in advance if you will need an appointment.
There is nothing more frustrating than taking your computer to the repair shop only to find that they won’t accept it. Look online or give them a call and determine whether they can take your job on.
Many computer repair companies will see customers without the need for an appointment. See this page for more information on a no-appointment repair company.
4. What Are Their Policies?
It’s important to know up front what the company policies are.
Do they offer a “no fix, no fee” service? Is there a deposit required, or a minimum charge? Do they offer warranties on parts and labor?
A company that does offer warranties is clearly confident in its ability to offer repairs that will stand the test of time. If a repair shop won’t offer any guarantees then it may be because they don’t have the expertise to back them up.
5. How Long Has the Computer Repair Shop Been in Business?
The longer a repair shop has been in business, the more likely they are to offer a good quality service.
These types of shops live or die by the standard of their repairs. If they’re no good, they’re not going to be able to keep enough customers to survive in the long term.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t opt for a new business. But be wary of those without any proven track record.
6. Who Will Be Working on Your Computer?
Not all computer repair technicians are created equal.
A computer repair shop might have a great reputation, but that’s not much use if they’ve got the intern working on your laptop. You are well within your rights to ask which member of staff will be working on your computer, and what level of experience they have.
If you’re not happy with the response, try asking if you can have the most experienced technician working on your job.
7. How Long Will It Take?
This is an important question for two key reasons.
Firstly, you’ll want to know how likely you’re going to be without your computer. Whether you use it for work or just for browsing, you’ll need to make alternative arrangments until it’s back from the shop.
Secondly, many repair shops will charge by the hour. So make sure you get an upfront estimate of exactly how long they think the repair will take. Not only will this give you an idea of the total cost but also make sure that they don’t take longer than is necessary over your repair.
8. Are There Any Extra Fees?
The only fees you should be expecting to pay are for parts and labor.
Most computer repair shops won’t add on any additional fees. So if the answer is yes, ask for a clear breakdown of exactly what additional fees there are and what they cover. If they seem unreasonable, you are within your rights to question them.
And when asking for an estimate, always ensure that you ask them to give you the total price for the repair inclusive of any fees.
9. Will Your Files Be Backed Up?
Most parts of your computer can be replaced without issue.
But your hard drive is where all your files are kept. If this becomes irreparably damaged, then your files could be lost for good. Make sure that you ask if your files will be backed up before they attempt any repairs. All good computer repair shops should be able to offer this service.
We would always advise keeping backups of your hard drive, whether on backup disks or using cloud backup services.
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