Our approach to service and repairs is something that radically sets us apart from the average computer shop. First of all, you don’t pay for us to figure out what the problem is or how to fix it, because unlike every other shop in the world, we have no hourly rate.
That’s right. We have NO set hourly rate whatsoever, and on top of that, we have NO bench fee at all.
Want to know what the biggest scam in the computer repair world is?
Bench Fees.
A bench fee is a charge just for bringing your computer in. That’s right, most computer shops want to charge you a nontrivial hunk of cash just to poke their head inside your computer and tell you what they think the problem might be. Some shops charge over $50 to do this. Sounds like a scam, don’t you think?
Check it out for yourself. Call around to a couple computer shops in town. Tell them you have a problem with your computer and you’d like someone to take a look at it and tell you what’s wrong. See what they want to charge you just to look at it. Now understand, this isn’t for them to come pick it up, or actually fix it. This is you taking the time to bring it to them, and for them to just set it on a desk, look inside it, poke around a bit, and make a (hopefully) educated guess.
AI’s technicians will analyze your computer problems for free. On top of that, if it’s something trivial that we can fix in a minute (like a loose connection, etc) we’ll be happy to fix it at no charge to you. If you want to give us $20 for the job we’re happy to accept, but it’s no big deal.
Yes, that’s right. We, being people who actually have souls and don’t work for some big box corporate store; actually believe that if you are going to take the time to bring us your computer and offer us your business that we owe it to you to actually look at your computer.
What a concept, humanity.
We believe that we should not just poke inside, but actually plug it in and hook it up (most shops don’t do this, they just set it on the bench and open the case). We also think that if it’s something that doesn’t take and time or cost any money for us to fix, that we should do it for free, because that’s the nice thing to do. It’s more important for us that you should leave with confidence in us and a smile than that we should try and get every dime out of you that we can. Long term relationships with a customer are far better than the short-term profit.
Pricing for our services varies according to the job. It’s usually the cost of the parts, plus a few bucks for us to keep the lights on. Each job is unique, and we take the time with each client to go over what their options are, what the risk/reward is, and what the costs are. We believe that sharing information with a client actually helps the customer understand the entire process better- we’re not here to keep secrets, we’re here to make people happy with their computers.
We will gladly answer any questions you may have. We’ll show you the prices WE pay on the parts (that’s a big taboo in most computer shops). You know we make a profit on them, we know you know this. Think of it this way. Let’s say you need a cable. Now most shops think you’re stupid and can’t handle knowing that they only paid a dollar for that cable. This is because they charged you $20 for that cable and if you knew the truth you’d strangle them with it.
We charge you $5 for that cable, we still made money, you know the truth, and that’s a big part of why we’re so much cheaper then the other guys.
Spyware/Viruses
Spyware and viruses can slow down your computer, overrun you with popups, clog up your system, steal your personal information, destroy your files, and just ruin your whole day in general. The minute you connect to the internet, you’re instantly vulnerable to thousands of malicious programs.
Before you give up on your computer, give us a call. We’ll cure your computer of its ills and immunize it against further attempts by villainous black-hat hackers. You’d be amazed how many people think they need to buy a new computer when all they actually need is their current system overhauled.
Hardware Upgrades/Replacement
Unlike fine wine, computers don’t age well. While some of us may have a fondness for that old Pentium II under the desk, it’s not going to be able handle the newest operating systems, computer applications, and games. Sure, it may run Microsoft Word (barely), but if you find yourself leaving your computer to do laundry or make a sandwich because your system is running too slowly, it’s time to upgrade.
We can upgrade your hard drive, memory, video card, or any other computer components. If you need to back up your data, we can hook you up with a new CD or DVD burner. Tell us what you want and we’ll make it happen.
Data Recovery
So, you accidentally deleted some important files, and you need them back. Or your hard drive just made a grinding noise, and suddenly, you can’t access it. Or your roommate just poured liquor on your computer and set it on fire.
When you finally crawl out of the fetal position and stop crying, contact us. We’ll help you recover your beloved data- your pictures, files, and music are still hiding somewhere on your hard drive.
As a great example of just how far we will go for a client. Read Our “Epic Tale Of Data Recovery“