Can You Trust Your Las Vegas Computer Repair Person?

This was the title of an in-depth report conducted earlier this year by Jim Snyder over at NBC News 3 in Las Vegas. You can find the full report here.

He starts the report out by saying computer repair technicians are “modern day mechanics.” Since most of us do not even know the language they speak, we put our trust in the Las Vegas computer repair and service companies that service our computers. The whole point of the article was to find out if that trust can sometimes be broken.

Gone are the days where computer repair scams were on the fringe of our society. Nowadays, with everyone having broadband internet access at home, several computer stations, and most likely a home network (wired and/or wireless), computer repair companies are now under the microscope for honesty.

The report then shows how they essentially set up a test for some of the leading Las Vegas computer repair and service companies. They used a UNLV computer expert to simply unplug a hard drive – a very simple, easy, cheap fix for any of the companies to solve.

Then they took this computer to several Las Vegas computer service outfits to see how they reacted. The results were a little scary, but not terribly shocking. Computer repairs Las Vegas can be tricky, but as the old saying goes – “it’s not rocket science.”

Almost all the companies in the study misdiagnosed the problem. Several wanted to replace the hard drive. Even a few of the companies said they would need an entirely new computer! Two companies got it right and did the right thing by fixing it on the spot.

What is the lesson to be learned by such a study? The report identifies 10 timely tips to follow before looking for any computer repairs in Las Vegas:

Ask family, friends and your company’s IT department if they have a shop they can recommend.
Call several shops and ask them about their diagnostic and repair fees. Find out how long the average repairs take. Make sure they guarantee their work.
Check with the local Better Business Bureau to make sure the shop is in good standing.
Before you bring in your computer, back up your data and delete any sensitive information.
Take in only the parts the repair shop specifies.
Don’t tell the shop to just fix it. You should authorize only a specific repair or diagnosis.
Get an estimate of what repairs will cost. Also get an estimate on when you can expect to get the computer back. Get all guarantees in writing.
If the costs seem major or expensive, get a second estimate.
When you pick up the repaired computer, make sure you get a receipt or invoice, preferably itemized.
Ask them to give you back the original parts.

Our biggest piece of advice — Don’t judge a company by just one report and one technician who works there. Many companies have several different techs and diagnosis can be different among the techs. If you are unhappy with your service, ask for the manager or the owner to explain why and how they will make it right for you.

Our second biggest piece of advice — Get multiple quotes and don’t put your trust in any one person or company. You have to do your homework. Just like auto repair shops who get a bad reputation around town, Las Vegas computer repair companies can have those as well.

| Can You Trust Your Las Vegas Computer Repair Person?

Can You Trust Your Las Vegas Computer Repair Person?

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