The Death of the Computer Repairman...?

dead-end business,

i change new laptop every year, just as they collapsing, from bout 300 pounds, or you can get a new laptop for free now just with mobile broadband subscription, like mobile phone - same

OK, so cheap computers are a dime a dozen, but Wal Mart doesn't have any of these babies. Forget viruses, watch for termites.

Way cool.
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/93f6eea90229.jpg[/atsimg]

www.virtual-hideout.net...

At what point does old stuff become vintage? I have an old car worth more than a new one.

Sometimes older is better. Take the recent Toyota ECU debacle. When the accelerator on my old car sticks, I spray the cable with WD-40.

Regards...kk

I can't agree with the demise of local computer shops, I can agree which a change in business.

When we first started this business it was to show the new users how to set up margins in Word or how to print, then it went to networking and now wireless networking, the field is always changing and these shops will always be around to help the common user setup/learn/repair their new toys, whatever they are.

If I'm not repairing computers in the future, I'll be setting up home automation or something like that.

Originally posted by K J Gunderson

Originally posted by network dude
reply to post by Anti-Evil

 

if you are still trying to build PC's I am surprised you are still in business. I stopped trying to compete with Dell 5 years ago. I sell dell's to my customers. Buy them on ebay and resell. Thanks to viruses, I still have a job. you will not beat them at computer sales. don't forget, they can't run cable or set up a server. Adapt to the environment or be eliminated.

There are plenty of good cheap places online to get parts. A Perhaps you have had a different experience to me but anything named Dell has only generated more calls for me to come over and make Dell computers work like normals computers. Maybe it is just around here but Dell has been better for me than anything in the world. Yay DELL! Keep churning out crappy, cheap computers riddled with proprietary parts and software! It keeps me very busy.

When you can get a system with OS for less than 400 bucks, it's pretty hard to compete. I know a system built with a 650 watt PS and a quality motherboard is much better, but the consumer just doesn't care. They are cheap. I will sell them a dell, and get paid to transfer data, clean malware, change fans, and then rinse and repeat. I have a car dealer I set up with Dell 2400's about 6 years ago, and they are still running over 80% of them. Shouldn't be, but business isn't so good for GM folks, so band-aids is my business. If you make money from dells, look for Gateways, they are a Godsend for people like us. Show me a Gateway running Vista, and norton, and I am going to make some money soon.

reply to post by kinda kurious


Sorry to be a bit off topic, but after that I couldn't resist. This is a bit dated now, but its still hilarious if you've ever done tech support.

Internet Helpdesk

Sounds like getting into the gadget recycling business is the thing to do.

So much waste. Think of all the plastic and lead and hazordous materials that get dumped in a pit so some foul mouthed kid can play the latest game at a slightly higher framerate.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

I spent 8 months at Plextor teaching morons how to hook up SCSI Cd Burners back in the day... and well SCSI and USERS is well - you got to be good.... and since 1999 my picture is still there at the top of the heap... I did 75 customers with 5stars each in a single 7 hour work day... thats over 10 an hour... I think I know my stuff and I think I might know Beths Daddy... ha ha ha...

AE thanks for the laugh this morning.

S&F guys great information on this thread, I am looking for a new computer in the near future and was wondering whether to purchase online or at the bigger companies, I will be looking to spend approx £1000.00. With everything included i would want to run the system on XP as i find it a doddle to use, And it needs to be compatible with my Sony hvr-1000e camcorder (with night vision), for sky panning in the wee dark hours..
So i might just be tempted to go "local" for the personal care, any thoughts Gentlemen

ive been running my own shop for 15 years now...

i can compete with futureshop and bestbuy...no problem...

first...when you buy a 300$ laptop you get a 300$ laptop or desktop

i specialise on extreme performance system

when i build a system i combine the best part on the market to get the best performance i can

when a big company build a system they put the cheap stuff toguether to provide the best price possible

if you check the spec of the component and compare them with highend part you will see the difference

i use to work for Compaq befor they got highjack by hp...lol...i know how they build system..

so there is no conspiracy...

just cheap people...lol

reply to post by hornyana_jones

So Hornyana If i go to my local dealer and say i have a £1000.00 to play with what is the actual price of the computer i will end up with ? And i want it with extra USB connections and on XP system.. Thanks for any info, Love to pick a business owners brain..

reply to post by foxhoundone


I would ask around for a knowledgeable guy and tell him how much you want to put into one. then tell him what you want to do with it. since you aren't afraid to go above the 300$ mark, you will be able to get a custom system just right for your needs. Find out what the service rates are for future reference. Use AVG for Virus protection (IMHO) and stay off of bad sites. Use a junk PC for those. Get a KVM so you can switch back a forth. Then you won't need to worry about the good system all that much.

reply to post by hornyana_jones


can you compete with Best Buy' service rates?

That was a joke. I have met people who spent 3-4 hundred dollars at those big box stores for repairs. They didn't even think to look on the shelf for a new PC. When I tell them it will be 65 bucks to fix their viruses, they start with the stories. Geek Squad is the worst around here for milking the charges. No integrity. Sad.

Good Morning

To Begin, Please forgive my extremely harsh words. I have been in computers for 28 years. I own a reasonably successful company, we don't fix computers anymore, we don't sell computers anymore. To claim to be able to fix a computer in 2.5-5.hrs with today's systems is extremely harsh.

The average system 1.8Ghz box with a sata drive can be re-imaged in about 15 min. Backing up data another 30. Selling new computers, because you say they are better, faster, stronger etc is also fallacy, in the long run you cannot compete with the huge companies. Not one of the previous posters have mentioned warranty. That in itself is the largest headache with new computer sales, besides trying to compete for margins.

The other aspect that was only briefly touched on is computer training. Fully half of the people buying computers these days have no idea how to actually use that computer. There is currently a HUGE market for training baby boomers in even the most simplest of tasks. Checking email, web searching and even instant messaging with their kids/grand kids. The added bonus is that you will get some additional time with some computer repairs.

The reality is that every day more an more "computer experts" are coming out of school with their eyes filled with hope on their own computer business. For those companies that have paved the way through years of hard work will either adapt, or die. Training the users in the day to day use of the computer, is generally beneath those up and comers and thus a reasonable market niche.

For the guy installing VNC Click Here for a list of VNC exploits. As far as virus's and other hacks go, well if your client isn't behind a router or your using software based firewalls you really need to stop fixing computers. You are not doing anyone a service by allowing more internet zombies to spew attacks and email.

..Ex

edit for clarity

[edit on 2/19/2010 by v3_exceed]

reply to post by network dude


uh boi ... no doubt.

Dropped of lunch for my wife a week or so back, she works at Staples (think EasyTechs). there was a guy bringing in his laptop to be checke out .... boot issues.

Anyway... I waited outside and gave him a business card as he left the store.

A week later they called him to let him know the dealio.

After a $69.95 "diagnostic fee" they informed him it needed a new hard drive, and that if he went with the larger 320Gb he would need mOar memory. ??

He brought it to me after picking it up and paying for the "diagnostic"

The hard drive was perfectly fine. It just needed a chkdsk with the repair switch, to fix some corrupt files, data cluster and bad sectors .... along with a basic overall "house cleaning and tune-up".

An hour and a half tech time and a 512Mb memory module later, he was good to go - satisfied customer. ($100) Same day service.

Staples had quoted him anywhere from an additional $150 - $200 to replace the hard drive and add more memory, reinstall the OS ... On Top Of The "diagnostic fee". ($220 - $270 total)

He left with about a dozen business cards for family, friends, relatives and co-workers, etc.

've already had calls from two friends he gave cards to.

Word of mouth. Can't beat it.


[edit on 19-2-2010 by 12m8keall2c]

reply to post by 12m8keall2c


you are so right. Nothing better than word of mouth. I get 90% or more of my new customers that way. Your Staples sounds actually reasonable for the big city (Raleigh). We here in the sticks don't charge like that. 65 in store and 85 on site. Sadly, we have lost three small shops in my area and the business for the rest of us has not increased much. These are some strange times.

Ah, theres a shame. I recently compleated a I.T. Course that gave me the skills to build a p.c. And install softwear and get rid of basic bugs.
And now this industrys going down hill!?

D'OH!
Oh well, its still a good skill to have i think. If anything id like to get into programing or something. Those jobs are hard, but pay well!
And what i found out from the course is that you can only really future proof your hardware for like 3 months till new stuff gets put on the shelf. And with the custom built P.c.s, there mainly aimed towards Internet gaming, and with the likes of Playstation and Xbox being able to more or less offer the same thing, then the market will get harder. Oh well..

Oh yeah, before the course i didnt know nothing about computers (was previously in the construction industry) so now at least i have a basic understanding and shall be starting another course next month ..hopefully!

[edit on 20/2/10 by Esrom Escutcheon Esquire]

Originally posted by Esrom Escutcheon Esquire
Ah, theres a shame. I recently compleated a I.T. Course that gave me the skills to build a p.c. And install softwear and get rid of basic bugs.
And now this industrys going down hill!?

D'OH!
Oh well, its still a good skill to have i think. If anything id like to get into programing or something. Those jobs are hard, but pay well!
And what i found out from the course is that you can only really future proof your hardware for like 3 months till new stuff gets put on the shelf. And with the custom built P.c.s, there mainly aimed towards Internet gaming, and with the likes of Playstation and Xbox being able to more or less offer the same thing, then the market will get harder. Oh well..

Oh yeah, before the course i didnt know nothing about computers (was previously in the construction industry) so now at least i have a basic understanding and shall be starting another course next month ..hopefully!

[edit on 20/2/10 by Esrom Escutcheon Esquire]

The industry is always changing. You have to have a personal desire to stay aware in order to keep up with it. In the next 10 years PC repair won't be the same as it is today. It's the people who actually have a passion for technology that will adapt and change with the field and continue to profit from it

My experience is that you folks charge too much to do your job, so i have learned to do it myself. For example my Dell Inspiron laptop has always worked fine but has a recurring problem with the ac/dc adapter breaking loose. After paying $125 3 different times to have it fixed i decided to do it myself. Takes two hours max and a $10 part. This using a very weak soldering iron. I would guess someone that really knows what they are doing with good equipment could this in a hour and make a good living charging $50-60, especially if they are paying someone $15 and hour to do it. Alas i can find no one in my area that comes close to that price or I would hire them a few times a year. So in my view you guys destroyed yourselves by not pricing your services properly.

reply to post by sligtlyskeptical


in a real business environment, you have to price yourself competitively. I base my price around what others charge for the same services. If I lived in the big city, I could charge twice what I charge now. The fact that you can fix your own PC is great. That is how I started in this business back in 1990. But if we charged 50 bucks to do 4 hours work, then we will price ourselves right out of business. I know that guy and I have a few of his old customers.