Why choose an Independent PC Service Provider, as opposed to a Superstore, or Franchised service provider (FSP)?
We realize you have a choice. There
are many good service providers who are competent and have good
technical expertise. However Superstores and FSP's usually
come at a higher price. An independent PC Service provider
can fix your PC or network issues for lower cost. Geeks
on Call charges their technicians a $25,000 franchise fee,
for the right to use their name. To recoup this investment,
high hourly rates must be maintained. Friendly
Computers franchise fee costs $14,900, with a total
investment between $59,000 to $219,000. Best Buy Geek Squad
charges $129 (initially) for a house call. Well, you're
paying for the Best Buy
name, and are supporting a brick and mortar shop.
PC House Call in Richardson, too, has a brick and mortar setup. Like any brick and mortar shop, you pay their building's cost per square foot, employee's benefits, and a nice, signed VW Beetle. Web portals service providers, such as Plumchoice.com, go2support.com, or Tech24 connect to your PC and do not visit on site. While this is convenient for the customer, not all problems can be resolved via remote control. This is because removal of viruses and spyware, in particular, will require the Windows PC to be running in Safe mode, or detached from the Internet. If the PC is detached from the Internet, the Service Provider cannot connect to your PC to affect repairs. If the occasion arises where your PC must be physically opened to inspect, say for a bad cooling fan, or simply to blow the dust out of the PC insides, a remote control service solution won't work. Dial-up users should not consider On Line repair solutions.
There may be times it is appropriate to work with the Computer Store where your PC was purchased, especially if the PC is under warranty. If you purchased an extended warranty (or service contract) you should take your PC back to your place of purchase, or at the very least, call your PC manufacturer and get options. If you have a Dell, consider calling Dell Support. Certain Dell Optiplex and Latitude PC's carry 3 year warranties. You may qualify for free, on site repairs. Read the experiences from Feb 2005 PC World Magazine, PC Support on Call, from some national service providers. View Computer Repair Fraud, which aired Dec 2006, from KCAL in California here (you will be redirected to youtube.com).
A franchised repair firm Comptech.com compares itself with Best Buy Geek Squad. Spot1. Spot2. If you're seriously considering Geek Squad you should watch these videos (you will be redirected to youtube.com), even if you have no interest in using PCNS. Here's an interesting Best Buy Geek Squad horror story with Ashley's HP Pavilion PC, an extended warranty, and Best Buy Geek Squad. You will be redirected to google.com video's.
Do you really want Geek Squad to repair your PC? Click
Re-Releasing the Virus (120KB)
To hear a quote (you need to turn on your speakers for this 15 second clip) from a Best Buy internal marketing video (you need Quicktime installed on your PC).
PC House Call in Richardson, too, has a brick and mortar setup. Like any brick and mortar shop, you pay their building's cost per square foot, employee's benefits, and a nice, signed VW Beetle. Web portals service providers, such as Plumchoice.com, go2support.com, or Tech24 connect to your PC and do not visit on site. While this is convenient for the customer, not all problems can be resolved via remote control. This is because removal of viruses and spyware, in particular, will require the Windows PC to be running in Safe mode, or detached from the Internet. If the PC is detached from the Internet, the Service Provider cannot connect to your PC to affect repairs. If the occasion arises where your PC must be physically opened to inspect, say for a bad cooling fan, or simply to blow the dust out of the PC insides, a remote control service solution won't work. Dial-up users should not consider On Line repair solutions.
There may be times it is appropriate to work with the Computer Store where your PC was purchased, especially if the PC is under warranty. If you purchased an extended warranty (or service contract) you should take your PC back to your place of purchase, or at the very least, call your PC manufacturer and get options. If you have a Dell, consider calling Dell Support. Certain Dell Optiplex and Latitude PC's carry 3 year warranties. You may qualify for free, on site repairs. Read the experiences from Feb 2005 PC World Magazine, PC Support on Call, from some national service providers. View Computer Repair Fraud, which aired Dec 2006, from KCAL in California here (you will be redirected to youtube.com).
A franchised repair firm Comptech.com compares itself with Best Buy Geek Squad. Spot1. Spot2. If you're seriously considering Geek Squad you should watch these videos (you will be redirected to youtube.com), even if you have no interest in using PCNS. Here's an interesting Best Buy Geek Squad horror story with Ashley's HP Pavilion PC, an extended warranty, and Best Buy Geek Squad. You will be redirected to google.com video's.
Do you really want Geek Squad to repair your PC? Click
Re-Releasing the Virus (120KB)
To hear a quote (you need to turn on your speakers for this 15 second clip) from a Best Buy internal marketing video (you need Quicktime installed on your PC).