Geek’s Blog

Who Ya Gonna Call? What to Look for in a NZ Laptop Repair Service Provider


 

That feeling when your laptop stops working: ultimate panic. We’ve all been there and it isn’t pretty. Luckily, there are plenty of laptop repair services providers in New Zealand – but the tricky part is knowing who to go to. Local or national? Ma and pa store or a chain? Of course, if you’re tech savvy you can try a little DIY, but if you’ve come to the conclusion that something is seriously wrong and you can’t fix it yourself, it’s time to turn to the pros. Well, as long as you follow our advice, you’ll make the right decision on laptop repair service.

Word of Mouth

 

You’re a Kiwi so you know how small New Zealand is! This means you’re bound to know someone who has had a great experience with a laptop computer technician. It’s up to you to get the details from all your friends who may have had to use this kind of service before. Chances are you know more than one. Whether you are after a computer repair technician in Auckland, Christchurch or anywhere in New Zealand, word of mouth is often the best way to find the right person for the job, as it asserts that people have positive experiences, meaning you’re likely to, too.

If your friends have been fortunate enough to never have computer problems, then you’ll going to have to look beyond personal referrals. Put your fingers to the keys and start searching online for a local laptop repair service, particularly one that has reviews on their page. Just because a laptop repair service provider has flashy ads, this doesn’t mean you’ll get the best bang for your buck

Forgive, But Don’t Forget

 

As you’re well aware, laptops have become an inseparable part of our modern work and personal lives. We use them at work, at home, on the train, in bed, and who knows where else! We shudder to think. Our digital devices are precious as they hold a lot of our valuable data – so when something goes wrong, even a small problem can feel like the end of the world. It’s not unusual for you to have already experienced laptop problems. You may even have a repair technician you go to already. Did they do an exceptional job? Did the problems return?

It may seem obvious, but if you’ve had a bad experience with laptop repairs in the past, don’t go back! If a computer repair service proves themselves to be a little bit dodgy, and untrustworthy, grab that laptop and run! You’ve got options – so don’t waste your time and money on laptop repair technicians who are notorious for their shoddy jobs.

Research Laptop Providers

 

The internet – it’s the best way to research. No, really, research laptop providers to your heart’s content, we’re not judging you – we do it ourselves! Before handing over your precious computer to just anyone, you’re got to do your research. Visiting a company’s website will help you determine the kind of service a company can offer and if they are a good fit with what you are after. Take it further by going into their shop – there are a few laptop repair service providers with store fronts, so take the opportunity to walk in and have a look around at how they run their operations.

Pay attention to who’s coming in and dropping off their laptops. Have a good look at the computer repair technicians and find out if they’re knowledgeable and helpful. Are they certified? If they don’t seem like the kinds of people you want to entrust your laptop to, walk away.

Think it Through

 

Depending on your previous personal experiences with laptop repair service providers, you may be entering the fray with some assumptions, especially if you’ve been stung in the past. Ask yourself what’s more important to you –supporting a national chain or supporting a local business. Sometimes national chains have heartfelt origin stories. They’re not the faceless conglomerates we’re led to believe. It’s not wise to rely on these assumptions as they can be quite limiting. Through your research, you’ll find the best computer repair service out there, no matter what size they are.

Be sure to consider the following before making a decision:

  1. How long has the company been in business?
  2. How many bad reviews did they get to every good one?
  3. What are customers saying? Can you read between the lines?
  4. Who exactly will be fixing your computer? Are the staff qualified?
  5. Is the company accessible? Can they come to you if need be?

Ask Me Anything

 

Before you start calling around for a laptop repair service, you’ve got to know the right questions to ask. Being prepared in advance will only help you find the right technicians who will do a good job. Of course, most of them are money related!

How much do you charge per hour?

 

This might seem like a no-brainer, but when you’re stressed out about your laptop, it’s easy to forget to ask the important q’s. You don’t want to get traumatized by an astronomical hourly rate after the fact, so be sure to ask up front.

What is the charge for travel time?

 

Some companies providing in-home computer support begin charging for your appointment at the time they leave their office, meaning that you have to pay for their travel time. Double check when you are booking that there are no additional costs added for this.

Should I expect any charges besides the hourly rate?

 

You’d be surprised at how many hidden fees there can be when you get any kind of service repair, from washing machines to laptops. Be sure to enquire, as transparency indicates that a laptop repair service is professional.

Do you offer in-home/business service? Is this more expensive?

 

Some laptop repair service providers charge different rates for in-home/business services. Just be aware of these differences before getting that laptop repaired.

When can I pick up my laptop?

 

Money questions are important, but you really want to know when you’ll be getting your laptop back, right? If you are dropping your laptop off at a computer make sure that they give you an idea of how long it is going to take to get it fixed.

You might have the flashiest laptop on the market, but there’s going to come a time when you’ll need it repaired, trust us. If you’re not as computer savvy as you’d like to be, it can be hard to gauge which laptop repair service providers are the best value for money.

We live our lives on our laptops, and we’re time poor too, so if our devices aren’t working up to speed, performance goes down all round. And then there’s the problem of losing data! Erased files! Forgotten back-ups! The potential problems are ample, and you don’t want to take your chances with your valuable files.

Time is of the essence and in order to get your laptop fixed ASAP, you’ve got to go to the laptop experts. Geeks on Wheels are both fast and efficient, and we’re both expert Apple and PC techs. No matter where you are in New Zealand, we can help. We offer a mobile service where we come to you, as well as our Geek Hotline service where we provide technology help over the phone. We’ve told you to do your research, so look us up. You’ll see from the plethora of testimonials that you won’t be able to find better laptop service technicians in New Zealand. The clock is ticking and if your laptop needs fixing, get in touch with us today. We know everything there is to know about laptop repairs, and we’re the best value for money. Get in touch today! Our expert technicians are on stand-by!

 

Additional Reading:

 

http://www.alphr.com/features/367345/confessions-of-a-computer-repairman

https://www.technibble.com/computer-technician-stories/

https://consumerist.com/2008/03/01/staples-tries-to-charge-senior-citizen-390-for-basic-computer-repair/

http://gizmodo.com/your-worst-customer-service-horror-stories-1486478923