Buying Local

[Fritz]

If it was viable I would.

Last week I had to get a couple of surveying instruments serviced.(One actually needed some accident damage repaired).

I know there isn,t a local company who can carry out this work, (and to be fair, there isn,t enough work to support one. Unless someone wants to set up on their own and do it part time).
Anyway.
I called ,"Garner Survey Equipment", in Yeovil, (Been using them for years), and explained what I wanted.
I told them the make and model numbers of the equipment I needed repaired/serviced and was immediately quoted a fixed price for the job.
Within 2hrs a TNT van arrived on site to pick up the equipment.
5 days later the instruments were delivered back to me serviced and repaired.

Well done.

Compare that service to what I went through today trying to get a laptop repaired locally.

I called several local companies advertising themselves as computer repair and service experts.
I knew what needed doing, and only wanted a quote for what it might cost and how long it would take if they didn,t have the parts in stock.
"You,ll have to bring it in so we can see what,s wrong with it". Was the general expert opinion.

I explained to each and every one of the LOCAL experts what was wrong, (LCD cable needs replaced.)
I told them the make, model number, and even offered to email them the factory maintenance and service manuals for the machine,(which none of them seemed to have available. ::)even though they are freely available on-line ), in order that they could give me a,"Worse case scenario", estimate for the job.

"You,ll have to bring it in", was all the LOCAL expert firms could come up with.

With all the computers in use in Jersey, you would think that companies advertising themselves as ,"Service and Repair Experts", in the field, would at least be able to go on-line and check out the factory manuals of any machine, cost the parts and estimate the time it will take to carry out a repair.

I,m going to check out the UK for proper experts. Its worth paying the postage to get a proper job done.

[man in the street]

the I  t  department are a law on to themselves,if ever you need access to a coms room( to survey)
 book well in advance , it takes a while for them to open the door .
  in my eye  one lcd cable is much the same as another, so if you do this work , day in day out , you must in your head , work out a guesstimate.
 some one asked me , how long it took to do something the other day, my reply was , some times it takes 4 hours , some times 8 hours.
 good luck with your quest for computer repair in the uk, sadly i donot know anyone who does.
 if you look at who is sell laptop screens on ebay, some offer a repair service (could check their feedback)

[Calimachon]

Why don't you replace your own lcd cable?

Cali

[Fritz]

When you know your car needs a new gearbox would you replace it yourself?

I,m not a computer technician. I.ve simply done enough research to find out what the problem is.

[Fritz]

I have found a company online who can do the job.
www.laptopsupport.co.uk

Just waiting for them to give me a quote.

[danrok]

You'd think they'd have a idea as to cost - it's a common enough problem with laptops.

You may have to pay VAT, if the work is done in the UK.

[Calimachon]

When you know your car needs a new gearbox would you replace it yourself?

I,m not a computer technician. I.ve simply done enough research to find out what the problem is.

If I have the time I have a go.  I learnt about two stroke engines and repairing garden equipment.  I have gone into the back end of my desktops, using extreme caution; advice from appropriate message forums and the use of several good books  but I agree maybe going into the back end of a laptop may be a little step too far.  I think my limit regarding my laptop is changing to a higher memory which is not too difficult.  I must have spent approx £200 on computer maintenance and assistance in the whole of the 15 years I have been online and using computers and most of that was on installing a router and going wireless.

Cali

[Fritz]

Like I,ve said Cali. I have done the research and found that the actual job of stripping down the machine and replacing the cable involves a bit more time and equipment than I have readily available.
I don,t mind doing a ,"Two spanner, maybe three, (Haynes Manual difficulty levels on cars)", job on my comps.
Stripping down the lappy to replace the cable takes time and resources that I do not have.
Local,"Expert"? service providers should be able to quote a fixed price for any job they are asked to quote for.

"Simples".

[Chevalier Blanc]

Over here the hospital computer shop charge £59 just to look at it before any repairs. Not refundable if the computer is knacked.
I have a neighbour who fitting an extra memory into his laptop but the way he said he did it made double up. He said once i managed to get the back open using a hammer and screwdriver i found the job a piece of cake after that.
I am a mech/elec tec but laptops mean nothing to me. I know if i was to take the time to see how they are put together etc i believe i would be able to do most repairs myself. Just cannot be bothered to get that much evolved. Anything for an easy life.

[Fritz]

Replacing/increasing memory etc are simple jobs. The compartments are clearly marked on the underside of the lappy, and it is just like opening the bonnet of your car and replacing a spark-plug.
Replacing the LCD cable is a bit like , "Auto electrics", in comparison.
You are not just opening a specific, easily accessible,"Bonnet". You literally have to strip the whole unit down to run the cable from one section,(motherboard), to another,(screen), via route through hinges etc.
Still just a basic job for anyone with the right tools and time.

[danrok]

Replacing/increasing memory etc are simple jobs.

You'd be surprised how many people can make a dogs dinner of that apparently easy task, causing permanent damage.

I used to repair computers many years ago, the biggest problem at that time was getting hold of spares, there was a major shortage.  Many parts were on back order for months.

Same problem exists now, with some Japanese parts, due to that tsunami.

At the time, few people had laptops, thankfully.  They're not at all easy to work on.

[Fritz]

Set of mini-screwdrivers/appropriate tools.
Replacing an LCD cable, for any company advertising themselves as ,"Service/repair experts", should be a simple exercise.

I,ll take my chances with the UK based experts for the simple reason that they have to be competitive and honest to stay in business.

[David Rotherham]

I take Which? magazine, and they did a comparison test on big name UK computer repair shop chains earlier this year. Despite the computers being deliberately nobbled by expert engineers with easily traceable and fixable faults,, most of the so-called repairers missed the real problems, and either could not fix them at all or charged through the nose for unnecessary work. So mainland competition is not the magic cure it is cracked up to be in this instance, if any.

[boatyboy]

I can believe that with computers. In the UK garages that issue MOT's have also found to be corrupt as hell. In theory it is a good idea with motorway speeds averaging seventy but closer to eighty MPH is the norm.

The reality is any garage that keeps to the rules suffers a loss of less well off customers with older cars and vans.

The outcome is some very smokey vehicles that if the police where to check up on the garage that issued the MOT , the excuse is,   it passed the test when booked in, however the injectors, engine etc must have suffered a fault  since the MOT. Therefore no come back.

With such low speeds in Jersey,  buy a  local MOT is a complete waste of time. Stand on any corner and notice the quality and condition of the cars / vans is far superior than most places in the UK.

BB

[Chevalier Blanc]

Tell me , a litre of milk can only be sold at the price the dairy puts on it. So at the moment it costs £1.09 no tax has been added on as far as i know but one  shop i know is charging £1.15 is this correct?