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Broken Computer? How to Choose the Right Computer Repair Places

published 2/24/2020

If you’re like most people, your computer is the second most important thing in your life. Of course, it's second to your phone. You could be one of the throngs of freelancers who rely on your computer for work.

When something happens to your computer, like you get a blue screen of death or download a virus, you can be in pretty big trouble. That's time and money out the window.

Instead of getting a new computer, you just might need to get it repaired. That means you have to wade through the various computer repair places to find the best one in the area.

Read on to find out the top ways you can make sure you choose the right computer repair place for your precious computer.

1. Understand the Problem You Have

When you don't understand what's going on with your computer, it's hard for anyone to help you. It also makes you an easy target for scams.

If your computer isn't working, or if you're getting an error code, make a quick note of what's going on. Then grab your phone and look up the error code or problem you're having. You may find that there are important steps that you need to take immediately.

For example, if you have a ransomware attack or a malware attack. Your first step is to pull the infected device from your network before other devices are infected.

When you know what you're dealing with, it makes it much easier for you to understand the problem and explain that to the computer repair pro.

2. Start with a Referral

Now that you know what's going on, you can ask around for referrals. Explain the issue you're having and then ask around. Someone may have had a similar issue and they took their computer somewhere to get resolved.

You're likely to get a referral to someone's niece or nephew that's great with computers. Although you may be tempted, understand that going this route will often turn into a headache. Do they have a process to make sure your data (photos, videos, accounting data, etc) are backed up and stay intact? What kind of experience do they have? What kind of timeframe will they be able to get things done in (a job, school, etc can all get in the way)? Usually, it's best to leave the job to a professional.

3. Business Experience

After you get the names of a few computer repair places, you'll want to do your own research. Check to see how long they've been in business.

New businesses aren't necessarily bad or fly-by-night companies. When you're dealing with a company that's been around for years, they've probably seen and repaired your particular problem hundreds of times.

They'll have a long list of happy customers, which gives you the confidence to know that you're going to be taken care of.

4. Read Reviews

One other way to make sure you get a reputable computer repair place is to check out what customers have said about them.

They may have a list of testimonials on their website. They are likely to have reviews on Google and Facebook as well.

You want to check not just what people are saying but how the company responds to bad reviews if they have them. You don’t want to deal with a company that blames the customer for anything wrong. You should see that they make an effort to keep the customer relationship.

5. Know the Scams

Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams in the computer repair world. The more you know about these scams, you’ll be able to identify them and avoid getting ripped off.

Some of the common scams offer services only if you pay them with gift cards. These aren’t traceable and they’re likely to run with your money and maybe your device.

Another scam is when you get a random call from someone claiming to be from a computer repair service. It’s likely someone looking for a way to rip you off.

6. Check Certification of Person Working on Your Computer

Do you know who’s working on your computer? You want to make sure that the person handling your important device knows what they’re doing.

Some computer repair places handoff repairs to outside contractors or inexperienced repair people. Ask the shop about the person that will handle your repair and how much experience they have. If they have computer repair certifications, that’s a really good sign.

7. Warranty or Guarantee of Service

As much as you want to control computers, you just can’t do it. Neither can the repair shop. However, they will make sure that you’re a satisfied customer.

They’ll have some way to guarantee their work, such as having a warranty on parts.

8. Range of Services and Support

A top computer repair place has a broad range of services that they offer. They may offer data recovery and business services on top of computer repair.

Their computer repair services are broad as well. They can help with failed hard drives, recover your data, virus and malware removal, and provide remote resistance. They can also help you set up a home network to make sure it’s efficient and secure.

You’ll want to check out the support for yourself. Many computer repair places have a retail store where they sell new or refurbished equipment. Check out the store and get a feel of the level of service and the space before you present your problem.

It’s a way to make sure that you found a good place before you hire someone to work on your computer.

Finding the Best Computer Repair Places

When you have a computer issue, you need to fix it as soon as possible. It could mean lost business and dollars down the drain.

You need to find a reputable repair shop, which isn’t easy because there are a number of computer repair scams out there.

The best computer repair places have years of experience, will warranty their work, and offer a broad range of services. You’ll be able to trust that they’ll get the job done right.

Not sure what you need? Start by checking out these free resources and ask us a tech support question.