Categories: TECH

How to Choose the Right Computer Repair Tech the First Time

Have you ever wondered how you could know you’re picking the right computer support company?

Are you worried about spending more money on computer support services than necessary?

Have you ever had a technician come out to fix your system only to advise you to buy a new one without even attempting to improve yours?

You already know how crucial it is to pick your computer support provider carefully and have a knowledgeable technician assist you so your computer can be fixed quickly, correctly, and affordably.

The sad fact is that a person often goes through a few harrowing experiences before they get a good technician or company.

Commonly, after a person goes through a few bad experiences, they understand that the one they eventually were comfortable with is the supplier with the most computer repair service experience.

In the following paragraphs, I will share some beneficial information I have acquired from my 16 years as an executive in the I.T. industry and why it is essential to know.

Early in my tech career, I found that when I hired new employees, I would always get better employees from prospects that had a resume of long-term hands-on experience in the tech skill I was recruiting for. The employees would come to either one of the ranking IT managers all too regularly and almost without fail or me after recruiting people who were brand new or recently out of school with all their credentials and academic degrees to address even the most fundamental problems.

The reason this occurred? The staff lacked understanding of computer technology’s fundamental relationships and processes, which allow one to arrive at informed solutions to problems. They did not comprehend how things functioned. And how could they? They had plenty of book and lab expertise, enough of theory, but no real-world working knowledge. This knowledge can only come from years of experience.

In general, this happened, but it was not always the case. There were undoubtedly unique gems who persevered in trying to solve a problem, never giving up, exploring, trying again, and finally solving the issue while learning the required information. Yet, in general, the best outcomes we have assessed came from those with a lot of hands-on and topic experience.

You might say: “Sure, that’s all great, but how does that help me choose a good computer support company or technician for my needs?”

In effect, when you, the consumer, select a company to supply you with computer support service, you are hiring them just as you would an employee for yourself. And with that in mind, you want to hire an experienced individual to complete the task correctly and at a reasonable cost.

One of the most irritating things I have experienced over my many years in the industry is when the supplier, employee, or vendor quickly determines that the single solution to my problem is buying new equipment. That immediately causes me to be concerned when this occurs. I started questioning their ability to provide me with quality service and wondered if they had a hidden agenda. Sometimes I doubt if their purpose is to encourage me to buy new goods from them without necessarily considering my best financial interests. Occasionally it does make sense to invest in new equipment, but I want to know that doing so is necessary and advantageous to me in some way. To fast form such a conclusion that cannot, by and large, be arrived at without first attempting to diagnose and troubleshoot the situation correctly is unreliable. When I don’t see that effort, I highly doubt recommendations to spend money on new equipment, as any prudent person would.

This is comparable to several incidents that my clients have reported to me when they, too, have had a service provider scramble to urge that they acquire new or improved equipment. It was occasionally discovered—and far too frequently—that the service provider was interested in promoting the new products or services via a commission or revenue-sharing arrangement. In practice, this encouraged the service provider to sell equipment rather than repair it frequently when it was not required.

Look for a thrifty business that tries to minimize waste and unnecessary expenses. Sometimes, all someone can afford is what they need to survive. The professional you hire should work with you and your budget.

The personality of the technician you hire is crucial as well. A company’s technicians should be amiable, honest, and responsible. If you have ever dealt with certain firms, particularly the big chain ones, you may have experienced a tech that made you feel uneducated, uninformed, or frustrated. Thats’s regrettable. Techs are not there to boost their ego by bragging about their accomplished expertise; they are there to provide excellent service. Look for seasoned and educated technicians doing their best to help you explain things in everyday words to help you understand what’s going on. Computers experience problems; it’s a simple fact of life. So, don’t feel awful when it happens, and stay away from those egotistical, self-important techies.

Beware of guarantees that, in effect, say, “If we can’t fix it, you don’t pay.” Here is why. From the customer’s perspective, this seems like an excellent way to feel assured that they won’t have to risk paying for a failed tech call. For the business, it is a great selling tool, but the truth is, if it were implemented at face value, it could mean economic self-destruction for the company. Why are those assurances even made available? First of all, I advise you to read the small print. You will have to sign a service agreement, and something in there may spell out precisely how that “guarantee” applies. Generally speaking, these warranties presuppose the client will accept any fix the specialist offers to address the issue, even if it means purchasing entirely new equipment. And in that lies their “fix,” as in the phrase, “If we can’t fix it… Get it? Then, if the client declines the patch, the guarantee does not apply. These guarantees appear fantastic initially, but expecting them is not even reasonable. A business won’t gamble and run the danger of losing money. Regardless of the outcome, a person should realistically expect to pay when a tech comes out or when they bring a computer in for repair. It just should not cost an arm and a leg.

Not all issues can be resolved as anticipated. Until the technician can access the equipment and investigate the case, they can never truly know the severity of the problem. Sometimes the repair cost can be more than it is worth to the client. And making that choice might be expensive at times. A diagnostic and troubleshooting fee is customary in these instances. After all, you were still provided with service to determine what must be done to repair the trouble. Consider the cost structure in these cases when picking a company or professional. Numerous support companies will even credit a share or all of the diagnostic fees towards succeeding patronage or the purchase of new equipment from them if so decided by the client. The price should be as low as possible, usually just enough to cover the cost of sending a technician to the client if they do not offer any fee credit.

There are almost invariably mileage or travel fees for on-site servicing. Understandably this is because time is money, and the corporation has to pay expenditures of the technician by the hour, irrespective of whether they are being productive on-site or merely idling in traffic. In addition to the hourly or fixed rate charged on-site, search for the best offer.

Finally, I wish to convey to you that you should select a company or technician that will empower you with the ability to help keep the problem from happening again. If the reason can be found, the technician should explain possible measures, if any, that can be taken to prevent a recurrence. Sure, they could take your money for another on-site visit for the identical trouble at a subsequent date when it repeats and do that repeatedly. However, that would be unethical and downright dishonest in my judgment. Search for a company or technician willing to help you with an ounce of prevention through some suggestions so you can save the pound of cure in expense later.

The bottom line is this. Do some research before choosing a computer repair company or technician. Ask them questions, how long have they been around? What is their history? Google them on the Internet. Check the names of the principles of the company. Get testimonials from acquaintances or associates. Just make sure to complete it before choosing someone to hire.

I hope you found this information helpful in helping you to select a dependable computer repair company or technician. Good luck!

Bill Arnoldi is the C.T.O. of IDT Media Group and owner of Fireball Tech and Core Business Strategies. He is an IT executive with over 18 years of experience in system design, networking, and Internet marketing, including SEO, SEM, and WSO.

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