Local Industry
Overview
The standard computer warranty lasts one year and covers hardware repair.
The majority of personal computers are purchased from large manufacturers,
direct or through a local electronics store. If the computer does not
operate properly the owner begins the repair process. Anyone who has had a
personal computer problem that they could not solve alone knows that the
repair process can become a repair quest, with all the adventure and
disappointment and often without the fairy tale ending.
Details
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One important thing to know about computer purchases and repairs is the
warranty length and depth. It is always in the customer's best interest to
have hardware repair and replacement done through the manufacturer for the
duration of the computer's warranty period. The worst case scenario requires
the computer owner to pay for shipping costs.
When a computer requires software attention or the computer is out of the
warranty period, the local industry comes dashing to the rescue. Many
out-of-warranty repairs required can be done locally for less than the cost
of shipping a unit to the manufacturer. FunTech is of the opinion that all
software repair be done locally regardless of warranty. The large
manufacturers build and sell a massive amount of computers and distribute
them on a global scale. All software repairs are minor from their
perspective and relatively inconsequential. In fact, most custom-builders
would argue that these manufacturers' bulk software installation procedures
actually reduce overall system performance prior to the machine leaving the
warehouse. The bottom line: proper software configuration has as much,
if not more to do with performance, than a myriad of excessive hardware
combinations.
At the local level there are still choices to be made. At first, there
may seem to be relatively few repair centers. A quick search on the internet
or in the phone book should produce a substantial result; now the quest
begins. If you could solve the problem yourself, you probably would, so the
first and most obvious thing to look for is courtesy and professionalism. If
the repair center is not answering all of your questions politely and
in-depth, they are either unprofessional or unqualified.
As with all matters that involve money, a majority of consumers base
their purchases on price. The local computer industry, as well as the
national computer industry, is familiar with the assumption that price is
relative to quality. Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not. Beware of the
bottom-dollar computer repair, beware of the top-dollar computer repair,
look for a price that is subtle and fair. Also, avoid large corporations
that sell many different electronic and office products. A local repair is
always better than and usually costs less than one performed by a massive
warehouse that sells staplers and furniture.
Make sure that the repair gets to the root of the issue. A common
approach to repairs is to treat the symptoms without looking for a cure. If
the repair is being done for an amount significantly lower than average,
chances are that you will have the same problem again. $100.00 once can
prevent $50.00 twice plus the $100.00 you end up paying to have the
core-problem solved. Expect a reputable repair firm to charge for
diagnostics; they take time to do properly and proper work is rarely free.
