Are you concerned you will pick a computer repair company that will do a bad job?
Have you ever worried about wasting your hard-earned money on untested technicians and needless parts and equipment purchases?
Did you ever have a tech come out to repair your system just to tell you that you needed to buy a new computer without even really trying to repair yours?
The importance of obtaining a responsible and trustworthy computer repair tech or company is the optimal way to ensure that you are having your repairs done fast and at a fair price.
The sad fact is, that all too often, a person goes through a few bad experiences before they find a good technician or company.
But, once they do, they discover that the optimal computer support has come from a company or an individual that has been vetted for offering quality computer service.
Hello, my name is Bill Arnoldi. I am the proprietor of FireBall Tech in Aliso Viejo, California, a tech support company, and a former CTO of 16 years for a multi-million dollar tech company.
In the next several paragraphs I will share with you some very helpful information and why it is important to know.
Early on in my tech career, in my 16 years as C.T.O. of a multi-million dollar tech company and as an proprietor and co-owner of various I.T. companies, I found that when I hired new employees, I would always get the best employees from those candidates that had a resume of long-term hands-on experience in the tech skill for which I was recruiting. All too frequently, and nearly without fail, after hiring prospects that were fresh or recently out of school with all their certificates and academic degrees, the employees would come either to myself or one of the senior I.T. managers to solve even the most elementary of troubles.
There was always one major factor that caused this to occur. The employees’ lacked knowledge of the main processes and relationships active in computer technology that enable a person to draw informed decisions to solve problems. Put simply, they did not understand how things work. And how could they? They had plenty of book and lab knowledge, plenty of theory, but no real-world practical knowledge. This knowledge can only come from years of experience.
It should be noted that this was not the rule, but was the case in the majority of circumstances. There were definitely the special gems that persevered so hard to figure out a problem, never giving up, researching, making repetitive efforts, and finally solving the trouble whilst gleaming that knowledge they required on the way. But in general, the optimal solutions we ever measured came from those with a lot of hands-on and subject experience.
You might be saying: “Sure, Bill, that’s all great, but how does that help me choose a good computer support company or technician for my needs?”
Well, in effect, when you, the consumer, pick out a company to furnish you with computer support help, you are employing them just as you would an employee for yourself. And with that in mind, you want to make sure you hire someone with experience to get the job done proper and economically.
Something that I have experienced over the many years I have been in the technology industry is the vendor or supplier, and sometimes the employee that routinely races to the determination that the only solution to the technical trouble is to upgrade or buy new equipment. That’s a red flag to me. Not only does that lead me to believe that this person has little or no competency in their technical field, but likewise that they have an agenda, and that is to get me to purchase stuff from them, to part with my hard-earned money, and what is more, that they do not have my best interest in mind… financially speaking. Sure, sometimes it does make sense to invest in new equipment, but doing so should be beneficial both technically and financially. To speedily form such a conclusion that cannot generally be arrived at without first putting forth an effort to properly diagnose and troubleshoot the problem is unreliable. When that attempt is not evident to me, I am highly questionable of a recommendation to expend money on new equipment, as should any prudent individual.
This correlates to experiences I have been told of by many of my own clients wherein the technician seems to speed to propose the purchase of new computers and equipment. All too frequently, it turned out, the technician was likewise being compensated either by commissions or other incentives from their company, that incite them to sell, sell, sell… oftentimes when not necessary.
Try to find a service provider that believes in frugality and works to avoid needless costs and waste. Often all an individual can afford is only what they require to get by on. The technician you choose should work with you and your economical requirements.
Personality is really crucial as well. After all, in my company, we desire our clients to have a good experience with our service. Most of our business comes from word of mouth testimonial, and we desire that to continue. A company’s technicians should be very personable and sincere and exhibit professional and trustworthy demeanor. If you have ever had an encounter with some companies, particularly the big chain ones, then you may have been exposed to a tech that made you feel ignorant or unknowledgeable, or was intimidating to you. Thats unfortunate. Techs are there to supply you with great service, not to bolster their own self-worth by manifesting some sort of superiority complex about their technical expertise. Look for experienced and knowledgeable technicians doing their best to help you out and explain things in common words to help you understand what’s going on. Stuff happens to computers, its simply a fact of life. It even occurs to the best technicians in the business and even to me personally. So don’t feel bad when it does, and avoid those self-important ego-driven tech people.
Beware of guarantees that in effect say, “If we can’t fix it, you don’t pay.” Here is why. From the consumer’s stand point, this sounds like a great way to feel secure that they won’t risk paying money for a failed tech call, and for the company, it is a great marketing instrument, but truth be stated, if it were executed at face value, it could mean economic self-destruction for the company. Why do companies make such guarantees if it is going to cost them money? First of all, I suggest you read the small print. You will have to sign a service agreement and there may be something in there that spells out precisely how that “guarantee” applies. In common practice, these guarantees expect the client to accept any resolution that the technician provides to solve the problem, even up to and including requiring them to purchase totally new equipment. And therein lies their “fix”, as in the phrase, “If we can’t fix it… Get it? Then, if the client refuses the fix, the guarantee does not apply. The guarantee looks great on the surface, but it is an unrealistic expectation for the client and of the technician. Let’s get real here. The company cannot afford to run the risk of lost revenues, especially in a market where competition is high and earnings are minimum. If a tech comes out on-site or supplies any sort of service at all, expect to pay something, no matter what the outcome. It just shouldn’t be an excessive amount.
Not all technical issues are repaired as easily as we anticipate. After all, a tech never really knows how bad the problem is or what the cause is until he can actually get his hands on the equipment and diagnose it. Once he figures out the problem, it may not be worth the expense to fix it. And, it will usually cost to have a tech arrive at that determination. A diagnostic and/or troubleshooting fee is common in these situations.. After all, you were still rendered with service to ascertain what is needed to be completed to remedy the problem. When picking out a company, make certain to know their fee schedule when this happens. Some support companies will even credit a percentage or all of the diagnostic fees towards succeeding business or the purchase of new equipment from them if so determined by the client. If they do not offer any sort of fee credit, then the fee should be nominal, usually an amount of money sufficient to address the PC repair company’s expense of sending a tech out to the client.
Mileage charges are common for on-site computer support..To put it bluntly, time is money and the company needs to collect for not only fuel and vehicle wear and tear, but for the time that the technician is sitting around in traffic. Whether they are being productive or not, in common a company still has to pay their techs based on time. Thus, there are travel or mileage fees. Look for the best deal you can find when added to the on-site hourly or flat rate.
Finally, I wish to express to you, that you should choose a computer support company or technician that will empower you with the ability to help keep the problem from occurring once more. If the reason can be determined, the technician should explain what steps, if any, that can be taken to possibly prevent recurrence. Sure, they could take your money for another on-site visit for the same trouble at a later date when it repeats, and do that over and over, but that would be unethical and downright reprobate in my judgment. Search for a company or technician happy to help you with an ounce of prevention through some hints so you can save the pound of cure in expense afterwards.
The bottom line is this. When selecting a computer repair company or technician, do a little research. Ask them questions, how long have they been around? What is their background? Google them on the Internet. Look up the names of the principles of the company. Get recommendations from acquaintances or associates. However you do it, just do it before deciding on whom to hire.
In conclusion, I hope you found this information useful in assisting you to choose a dependable computer repair company or technician. You can also find other associated useable computer technology tips at our website at FireBallTech.com. Thanks for reading, Bill Arnoldi