From the Mind of James, RenoGeek's Computer Repair blog...
1:35 PM 12/13/2009: More Snow and ice...
Had to dig my car out this morning and then dig out my shops front door to get in today.
Monday looks like it going to be a wet mushy mess for driving to service calls. ; - (
8:23 AM 12/9/2009: Snow and ice...
Well had to close down on Monday because of the snow and spent most of yesterday playing catch up. A few customers have called to say they are blocked off till they get their streets done by the city. But work is still pretty good and am already booked out for the rest of the week.
Will see what kind of storm the weekend brings...
12:08 PM 12/6/2009: At the shop...
It's Sunday and I am spending "Quality time" with a computer that does not wish to stay fixed. When you repair 1000+ systems a year you get one or two that just don't like you (lol).
But as I was waiting for some scans to finish I looked in on the new Google DNS service and had some thoughts about it.
First lets keep in mind that Google has the market pretty much wrapped up in search and needs to find ways to expand to keep it's shareholders happy. What could be better then having every computer in the world using their DNS servers?
For those that do not know a Domain Name Server (DNS) is a computer that takes the address you type into your browser and turns it into a address your computer can understand. So if you typed www.renogeek.com into your browser the DNS finds my website and tells your computer were to go so you can view it. DNS is used everytime you click or type in a address. Without it you would need to type in a long string of numbers to access websites.
My worry is if you have a company that for the most part controls search and is now trying to control how you access all sites what will happen if they decide at some future point to use all this power?
To provide the bandwidth for everybodys DNS queries has to cost Google a nice sum of money. And as a side it also supplies part of the reason they have been adding so much bandwidth (something allot have wondered about).
Now would a company spend all this money if they did not see some kind of profit in it? So the question comes to mind how would they make money off this?
And a few idea's come to mind....
1. Some people would pay extra for faster web browsing.
If you could get enough people hooked (it's free now) and then start charging for the service you might make a few bucks.
2. Google after a time could start to "Stall" DNS lookups and have a ad popup before going to each webpage or even insert some sort of banner. Some would say no way but if you controlled all DNS lookups what is to stop them as many computer users would not have a clue how to change back to a "local" DNS server)
3. Google could extort, um I mean offer a Premium service so that some websites resolve faster then others or do no have ads appear before going to the website ect...
My main point is in the end this "free" DNS service will be about making money for Google. And it is my view that in some way this will all cost end users something, be it time looking at ads or money to do something they can already do for free.
As DNS could be described as the backbone of the internet it makes me very wary when a company as large as Google starts trying to get it's hands on it.
And besides the profit point of view how less secure will the internet become if only one company can be the major target of a DNS server attack? Or if somebody hacked into google and downloaded all their DNS queries? Or what if they decide to share them all with some other government? Do you want China or some other country to have access to a list of all the website you have visited?
Some may say I am blowing this all up but time will tell....
8:06 AM 12/2/2009: Big start...
Got back to town yesterday and was hit with tons of email and phone calls. Booked up almost 2 weeks ahead at this point and have contracts for the setup of 5 new websites. So a pretty good start to the month after "T" day.
8:20 AM 11/19/2009: Almost booked up for...
Every service call slot before the big "T" day comming up. It's been crazy busy the last few weeks and I am already booked up for most slot all the way till wed of next week.
So I am going to be real busy to make sure I am all caught up so I can go visit the family and friends Thanksgiving weekend.
Back to work....
10:08 AM 11/16/2009: Just got back from a service call...
The customer had just moved to Reno but was having major computer problems back on the east coast where they are from. The "tech" working on their system stalled them for months and when they said they would call the police on this guy he came back with their system the day they were moving. (the customer told the tech they needed it back before they were leaving).
Well they get it here and turn in on and nothing happens, so they call me for a service call. I get there and turn it on and sure enough nothing happens. I then open it up and find that all the parts inside the system were at least 5 or 6 year old. But the computer make and model is less then 2 years old!
Seems "somebody" helped themself to this customers parts as they knew they would not be in town long. Some days I just don't get people...
8:52 AM 11/12/2009: The day after a holiday is always...
Like a busy Monday but I got a phone call that I thought was worth sharing.
Somebody calls speaking so fast that I know I never got the first 10 words they were saying. After asking 3 times if this was a sales call they get to the point. All they want is my customer list with addresses and phone numbers and they will give me a wopping 15 cents per name.
Now I know in the past my name has been sold to other companies as I started getting calls and letters after buying something from a place. And I make it a point never to go back to these businesses as I think for some weird reason that my personal information is "personal", go figure. But I did not know that the people who sell the names give up all your personal info so cheap.
6:53 AM 11/3/2009: For the most part...
I do not build computer systems for the avg customer. The main reason with all the Dell's and HP's there just is little profit in them and then you have to support them for a year out.
But I do build high end custom systems when somebody has some cool specs they wish to use. Just had somebody confirm a order for a small beowulf cluster of 25 computers. A beowulf cluster is a group of computers all linked together to form a poor mans supercomputer.
Should be fun to do another one.
8:22 AM 10/28/2009: On the road again...
Getting ready to head out for a few long service calls.
Just got off the phone with a guy trying to sell me a antivirus product that does not work. And wants me to charge more for it then norton or any of the other major "players" charge for their products.
When I asked why I would wish to sell my customers a junk program his answer was your profit margin will be higher"
One of the few things I hate about business is that you run into people like this all the time. Why is it ok to sell something you know is crap just to make a buck?
3:49 PM 10/25/2009: Back at the shop...
I like to take Sundays and hide in my shop to do any repairs that need special work or just to catch up. People do not expect you to be around and it's about the best time to get stuff done.
Without phone calls or having to run out the door I have gotten all but one system here finished and ready to drop off.
Now that I got a head start on the week I am going to enjoy the rest of my Sunday.
1:21 PM 10/23/2009: How fast is fast?...
As of right now I am booked up till Thursday of next week. So I guess you can say I am on the busy side of things.
But I have always tried to prioritise service calls based not just on first come first served. But on real need. If two people call me at 4pm and one person can't get their work done and the other can wait till the morning then I will try and get to the person that is "down" as soon as I can.
As I said I am already booked up but got a call from a somebody that was "down". I told them I was on my way to my next service call but would try to get to them right after. When asked for a time frame I told this person about 2 hours, but I would call them first.
I was then told that "if a company can drop off a pizza in less then an hour I could have a tech to her house in the same amount of time".
Guess that just hit me the wrong way so I asked how many pizza guys stick around and fix your computer?
I am happy that I can get along with most people pretty well, but some days....
8:58 AM 10/17/2009: Can you say dishonest?...
Just got a call from a "tech" asking if I can help him out.
I asked how and he wanted me to confirm his diagnostic on-site at one of his customers offices. I said sure I could go do a on-site diag and let him know what I find out and then he said...
no, no I'll just tell you what I found and you can confirm it.
Guess I was a bit dumb without my first cup of coffee and I said
"yep, I'll confirm your diag and get back to you."
He then said...
you don't need to confrim anything just go and act like your looking at it and then tell the customer I was right.
Well after that sunk in I told the "tech" that I would not "confirm" something I did not know was true. And then asked him if he was having a problem he could not identify and would like some "REAL" help. He just hung up so I guess that's a no.
8:20 AM 10/15/2009: AT&T went down...
Over a big part of town yesterday and I got so many calls I had to change my voice mail just to let people know about it.
Besides that pretty busy with a shop full of computers and 6 service calls for today so far and am already booked up for friday and the weekend too.
Back to work...
9:13 AM 10/12/2009: Got a computer in...
From a new customer. And they said after they talked with me on the phone they decided to try a online repair service as their price quotes were cheaper then mine. Well it turns out in the end that they were $40 more then their ad stated and that after trying for hours to fix the customers system they were told that the repair could not be done because it was a problem with Microsoft software.
So they got a full refund right? Nope, it was "MicroSoft's problem"
Well it turns out they had a bad power supply (as I guessed in my first phone call with the customer) and no "online" repair service in the world can fix a hardware problem. And Microsoft had nothing to do with it. Just another case of "somebody" online trying to make a quick buck.
In the end the customer paid me less then my first qoute and had their computer back in less time then they spent on the phone with the other "service".
9:47 AM 10/7/2009: Are these guys real?
Ok, ok. I have gone on for years about "techs" that should just not be in business because of lack of skills, service or just were total rip offs.
For some reason I just get hot under the collar when I see some of these "techs" ads. Today on craigslist for example we have...
1. A guy that post everyday that you can get 2 hours of free service, but for today only.
(this ad has been going on well over 100 days, better hurry!)
2. A guy that charges more then $100 over the going rate to repair your computer.
("IF" you'll drive it out to Fernley!)
3. Another guy that starts his ad selling LLC's and then will do website design as well for you.
(jack of all trades, master of none... And I won't get into a website pro that has his website hosted on a free service.)
It's things like the list above that just bring the image down for all computer techs. If you do good work you don't need to have 2 jobs, over charge or have a firesale everyday.
8:34 AM 10/6/2009: Yesterday was crazy...
Ended up making 12 service calls by 9pm last night. I now have 11 computers I am working on here in the shop and have service calls lined up for everyday till tuesday of next week. Sent out a request online for new techs to help around the shop and got over 100 apps in less then 10 hours.
Shame to say most don't even come close to having what's needed to really repair computers as a career.
And I'll give a shout out to the guy who wrote that I only needed to pay him 25% of (ALL my Business off the top, not just what he was working on) for payment. Kind of bold as the ad read about 20 hours a week of work, lol.
12:34 PM 10/3/2009: Zapping Bug's (inside joke) ...
A few times a year new "techs" show up online that wish to place ads in some of the same places that I do. All fair enough as long as everybody plays by the rules. But every now and then you get somebody that has no clue at all.
So 1st this new "tech" takes the source code from one of my ads and uses my work to make his ad look good. Well surprise, surprise I picked up the phone and told the guy what I thought of him. So he goes and changes his ad. But not trusting him I look around and find out he had been using my code for online ads all over the USA.
Well a nasty email to the free service he was using to host his graphics put a end to all that. And most people would have learned their lesson. So end of story. NOT! He went and got his own domain to post ads from and I thought was just going to fly stright.
Well then I start getting nasty email from a yahoo address. The first I ignored but then he started sending more, pretending to be a customer. Well I guess as this guy is just starting out and has had no customers he had no clue what they would write and his emails just felt all wrong.
Some quick checking and all these nasty emails are comming from the same IP address. Well wanted to confirm what I thought (that it was this loser sending the email) and sent a email to him using one of the email links in his ads.
guess what? The fake, nasty email from yahoo and the responding email from this company both came from the exact same IP address. Which proves they are all from the same person.
Backtraced all this to the guys home address then went onto his online chatroom to show him that he had been found out and to just lay off the BS.
Well this guy now claims he was hacked at his cyber cafe he runs? (hmm a cafe that your running from your house that I backtraced you too?) (seems a bit weird).
And I won't get into the irony of a tech claiming to be a virus removal and security expert getting his (home/cafe) hacked.
Anyway I'll play nice this time and not just "out" the guy. But only this time.
Now back to real work.
6:59 AM 9/29/2009: Fun at the state tax office...
Every year around this time of year I drive over to the state tax office and renew my business lic in person. I have always done that so I don't have to wait for the mail and so that I am there if anything gets messed up.
Well I get there yesterday and I am told that the tax office no longer handles my type of business lic. After finding out it is now done by the Secretary of States office I am giving a sheet of paper and told to go "online".
So I go to the link online and it does not work. I call and get "oh yea it won't be up till the first" Then I ask the question "how do I renew on time if you won't take renewals until after I am late?" which after asking a few people I get...
"Well you can print out the form and mail it in and you'll be ok" So I ask the question "So because you guys are switching to a new system there will be no penalty if you guys get this a day or two late as you changed and have no online system in place?" Which gets me the answer...
"Well I am not sure but I think so. But we have not gone to the training yet"
Then I just had to ask the question "So you change to a new system in 3 days but nobody knows the system?" which gets me "Yea"
After all that fun I had a few questions about the new form and got "well we have not trained on it yet so you should just send it in and see what happens."
Well needless to say I did inform her that I wanted to be sure I was doing what I needed to and did not wish to "experiment" with my business lic.
Fast forward a few more hours on the phone and talking to about 5 more people and I got it all done right.
It's days like this I can see why some never bother to get a business lic. As you need to put a metal plate in your head to stop the damage of banging your head into all the walls the state puts up.
7:25 AM 9/28/2009: Got this email...
Taxpayer ID: james-00000174073547US
Tax Type: INCOME TAX
Issue: Unreported/Underreported Income (Fraud Application)
Please review your tax statement on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website (click on the link below):
review tax statement for taxpayer id: james-00000174073547US
Internal Revenue Service
Well besides the dead givaway "(Fraud Application)" (did not know you had to apply to break the law, lol)
There is also the link that when you hover over it points to irs.gov.juhnwi.com
I see a few times a month were people fall for this kind of stuff. If not from the "IRS" it's their bank or credit card.
Please keep in mind that nobody that is legit will send you any information like this over the internet unless you ask first.
And we all know that the IRS can find you in person if they need to talk with you. ; - )
1:00 PM 9/24/2009: Too funny...
Ok this was just too funny. But you need to be a programmer to get it.
7:14 AM 9/23/2009: Hidden Program Installs...
I got a phone call from an old customer asking why the google toolbar was installed into his browser.
After asking the usualy questions (like, did you install it?) we figured out that a game he downloaded added it for him.
I find it funny that things we would never let happen in the "real world", happen all the time in "cyberspace". If you bought a car and it installed a ad ticker going across your TV screen you would freak out. But in computerland you grab a game and for some reason it's ok to change the way you surf the net?
And I am sorry but I do not think that a little checkmark buried on page 15 of the EULA is fair warning that your system is going to be changed.
Nuff said.
4:14 PM 9/21/2009: Pretending to be a customer...
Get this call from 888-873-5382 from some jerk that acts like he is a customer that needs to speak to the owner ASAP. After playing 20 questions he gets to the point that he can make my website listing on google place in the top 10. I then told him he should do some research as my page already was there and in the #1 spot for some of the keywords I target. (and none come in under #5 for any of the websites I do SEO for).
When I asked him "why would I do business with somebody that lies to me just to get the "owner" on the phone" He just hung up. Just class to the end I guess...
7:41 AM 9/18/2009: Review of the D-Link WBR-2310...
Well I almost never post product reviews here or on any of my other sites. But sometimes when a really great product comes along I feel the need to let others know about it.
Well too bad for D-Link this is not one of the times I am going to do that. Instead we are going to review a product that should never have been released to the public. The D-Link WBR-2310 wireless router.
In my shop I have alot of switches, routers ect with miles of cables going all over the place. So I know a bit about networking computers. But I needed just a simple cheap box for home to replace a old Microsoft MN-700 that lasted the better part of a decade.
Nothing to weird going on at home (I save the experiments for the shop), Just one hardwired PC and a few laptops on the wireless.
So I picked up a D-Link WBR-2310 wireless router one day, set it up in about 3 minutes and back to happy computing!
Then a few days later the love of my life says "Honey is the Internet on?" Ok, quick reboot. Problem solved. Except I kept getting error code "Honey is the Internet on?" from the love of my life almost every day for a week.
Well after fixing computers all day I really don't want to fix my own, but sometimes you can't avoid it. So I search the web and find out this box has lots of problems with wireless and that there is a firmware fix for it. Ok, easy enough. Flash new firmware and back in the game.
Well the wireless worked ok except less signal now. Then just weird things started to happen.... Slow page loads, random lockups ect...
Not enough to make you go out and buy a new router but enough to get on your nerves. Then one night I get the error code "Honey is the Internet on?" again.
But this time nothing fixes it. Resets, reflashes ect... It's just a plastic brick. I got a new router (Not D-Link) and all is well again in Internet land.
This router was less the 45 days old when it kicked the bucket for good. Guess what router I am going to suggest you do not buy?
4:12 PM 9/16/2009: Only for Geeks...
While I do read alot about computers everyday to keep up (and because I like the things) I also read alot of Sci/Tech stories also. Came by a CNN story that the first "Rocky", Earth like planet has been found.
While they have found over 400+ Jupiter type planets this is the smallest found to date with a mass of only about 5x the Earth and about twice the circumference.
And all this means a few things, such as....
They are getting better at finding smaller and smaller planets.
It has now been proven that a "Earth Like" planet can exist outside of our own star system (Sol).
And as with the other 400+ Jupiter like planets that have been found it is a pretty sure bet that more earth like planets will be found.
It's kind of cool that in my lifetime I grew up with books that said we "might" one day discover extrasolar planets. And less then 30 years later read about 400+.
Story is here...
7:48 AM 9/15/2009: Got Another Phone call...
This morning from a tech who wants to leave the business and sell me his stock and customer lists. I wonder if everybody that has this "times are hard" mindset are helping to bring themself down.
All repairs businesses do better in harder times if run well. As people have less money and wish to get things fixed (like computers) as it is cheaper then buying new. Then when people learn that they will have to reinstall many of their programs and such, the idea of a repair seems even better to most.
I think one of the traps some of the techs are falling for is "times are hard I have to beat everybody elses price". While having a fair price (I have not raised mine in 5+ years) is good. Trying to bend over backwards to beat everybody is business suicide. The way you beat other business is to be better then them. Fair price, Honest service, making sure you have more knowledge and experience then others around you.
If you do all this then 1st your current customers will sell you. (tell friends and family). 2nd you will sell you better. When you REALLY know that you have the better product or service it just shows. And 3rd you will keep your current customers. Too many businesses do nothing but try to get new people in the door and forget the current customer. They will be the ones to keep everything running along when times are slow. Keep them in mind at all times.
Well time to hit the road fo service calls.
8:09 AM 9/14/2009: Been working...
on a bunch of systems here in-house today as I got back early from a network install that went way faster then I had thought it would.
Also working on a IE toolbar my customers can download as well as designing what might be the start of a computer cluster/farm made out of some of the tons of spare parts I have collected over the years.
Already have 4 On-Site repairs on the board for tomorrow and it's not even 9am yet.
7:00 AM 9/9/2009: Back again...
Well not that it came as any big surprise to me, but I noticed that a repair company that went belly up/or into hiding a few months ago is now back with a new cell number for their primary phone. But running the same ads as before.
As I always say check out the people you have working on your equipment. Ask for a Biz lic that is current and one from a few years back so you know they have been around some time. And ask to see any certification they may claim to have. Look up any phone numbers used to see if they have been around for a few years or do you just get no listing when you search for it?
The point is take a bit of time to choose a tech or you may get somebody that has your moeny and is gone with the blink of an eye.
One dead giveaway is ads offering repairs at too good to be true prices with lots of "freebies" thrown in. If their giving away the store, how are they making money?
7:19 AM 9/8/2009: As always...
After a 3 day weekend I have a ton of Voice mail on my machine. While most are just what you would expect I did get one that was a bit off to say the least.
Sunday 2:34 am (remember besides the late hour it was also in the middle of a holiday weekend).
Hello, my name is "_ _ _ _ _" and I have not done business with you but I had my computer fixed by "_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _" 2 years ago.
They went out of business but I bumped into one of the guys that worked with them before at kmart and he said you were pretty good at fixing systems.
I need to work on my system today and need you to come over by 7am and have it fixed by 8am so I can finish my project.
The man never left a return phone number or any contact information and if he had of listened to my machine he would have known that I was closed for the holiday.
Then there is this message....
you never showed up today! And now my work will not be done on time! I am going to let you know that I am thinking about calling my lawyer after the holiday.
Go figure?!? Now off to help the people that did make real appts.
8:52 AM 9/4/2009: Got a phone call yesterday...
From a computer repair competitor asking if I could look at a computer system that they are having trouble fixing for a customer. As I always do I said fine as long as the customer knows ahead of time that my company will be working on it and I can talk to them as they have a problem that needs input from the person using the system the most. Not 3rd hand information.
The caller seemed a bit put out that I wanted to take the "credit" (his words) for the repair. I tried to tell him that 1st he had a trust with the customer as all their personal and maybe business data could be on the system and that they should know who was working on it.
And 2nd that to do a good job I would need to talk to person having the problem and that there was no shame telling the customer that it was over his head and he was going above and beyound and getting outside help.
Well he did not get it I guess and told the customer the computer could not be fixed. Then guess who just called me? Yep the customer asking if I could fix a problem that had been deemed unfixable.
I just wonder how often this happens. Why can't you just say I don't know how?
I wonder how many new computer sales are started because somebody gave up on a repair and instead of just saying "I just don't know" they claim the compter is toast.
Well time to hit the road...
8:02 AM 9/3/2009: Just got off the ...
Phone with somebody that I have never done business with before that was very, very upset when I told him that I am booked up today. And could not make a service call 60 miles out of Reno. Yet alone be there and have his network all fixed before 9:00 am this morning.
After being told more then once by this person that my company must not be very good if I had no free time today to help him I pointed him to another company that does work in his area.
He then went on that he had called somebody he knew and they told him that I was the guy to fix his problems. I then told him to thank his friend for me and maybe we could try for tommorow when I have a few openings.
I was then told that he was "very important" and I should drop whoever I had lined up today for service and get out to him now. And that if I could not do that I must be a very bad person running a bad business.
When I pointed out to this man that I would not drop service calls that had already been made and that I must not be very bad since his friends were telling him to call me and the fact that I am booked up most days with other people wanting my services he just went off. Saying a few words not fit to print here.
Oh well need to get on the road for the people that do like me!
; - )
4:29 PM 8/30/2009: New in Hacking...
It's been said for years that hackers can be stopped with greater and greater tech. But what some forget is that with every advance somebody figures a new way to get around whatever has been changed. Or they find new ways to use something everybody thinks is safe.
Case in point I bet when Twitter first came out nobody would have thought it could be used to update viruses. Well now it seems that it is. Just check the link...
8:16 AM 8/27/2009: Super busy day...
Yesterday I ended up at the lake and out to Fernely and lots of places in-between. All my diag computers are maxed out with jobs to do and I was working well past 1am.
Except for a weird incident with somebody that did not wish to have his computer repaired after meeting me all is going very well. I guess if you see more then a thousand people a year for repairs not everybody is going to like you. : (
Back to work as I am already booked out for today, Friday and the weekend...
8:44 AM 8/24/2009: 16 Voice mails...
Just walked into the shop and spent the last hour calling people back. Looks like it will be a busy Monday.
Just had Windows 7 crash on all 4 of my test systems. Looks like one of the updates for it is not working out that well.
But that's why it's installed on test systems. So far though if you have a choice stick to XP or Vista for now as it also has a bad habit of hanging for 30 secs at a time when you launch new windows. Just FYI.
8:32 AM 8/18/2009: I was just at a place...
That had an un-secured Wi-Fi router and it seemed that at least 7 other people were logged into it using this customers service for free. Now first of all this is bad for my customer as she would have no idea what was going on over her own network.
But it is also bad for the people who think they are getting something for free. When you jump on to other un-secure networks your always taking a chance that their is somebody on the otherside watching what your doing. Many "hacker types" will set a trap like this (sometimes called a honeypot) to get access to other computers and the information they have stored on them.
If your getting "free" Wi-Fi from somebody you may wish to think again if it's worth it.
11:20 AM 8/16/2009: Where are they comming from?
As the economy keeps taking a nose dive I am seeing more and more self named "techs" pop up. Most have very little "Real World" repair experience, fixing perhaps a handfull of friends and family computers before getting into the business. Many have no business lic or any certifications at all.
Today I am in my shop and I have 6 different machines that these people have worked on and could not get the jobs done right.
Which means the owners had to wait for these guys to "fix" the machines, then find out they did not work, take them back to be worked on again and in many cases have to give up on the "tech" and go out looking for a new company to help them.
This all makes it a pain for the customer and gives all real repair people a bad name as nobody can be sure what they are getting into with a new "tech".
In addition it floors me how some of these guys get customers anyway when you look at some of their ads on the internet. Just this past week I have seen ads stating....
1. "tech" will not give out phone number until he has called you first!
What real business does not want it's phone number to get out?
2. "tech" is not only a computer tech, but can fix your house too!
Jack of all trades, master of none!
3. "tech" states in ad he does not do repairs, just reinstalls windows and charges extra if you want your data saved!
This is like taking your car in and the guy say's sorry I don't fix cars engines, I'll just sell you a new one!
The only reason these guys could get business is they claim to charge dirt cheap fees. If it sounds too good....
1:39 PM 8/15/2009: Another Very Busy Week...
Been making a ton of service calls this past week and my workshop is full of computers to work on this weekend. And the first part of next week is already much booked up.
One of the highlights of this past week was hearing about a store that has a flat rate repair for virus cleanup and then charged a customer extra "because it was hard".
If you quote a flat rate for something does that not mean the price does not change? Go figure...
9:53 AM 8/7/2009: Just got back...
from San Fran (had a blast). Now to sift through the 47 voice mails I got and then 100+ emails.
Guess I know what I am doing the next 2 hours or so, lol...
8:33 AM 8/3/2009: First call of the day...
Just got a call from a company out of state that wants me to do a service call and pretend I am with their company. (need to use their invoices ect...) they sound real honest (Told "Do not at any time mention I am from a different company".) and fair (they will pay me almost 1/5 my going rate while charging the customer 2x my rate). I checked them out online while the guy on the phone was telling me how many millions I was going to make with them.
He seemed a bit put off when I asked why would I help him charge people twice what I do, pretend I am somebody else and help some out of state company get a foothold on a market I have good results in?
Ask, ask and ask again who is going to show up at your door when you call for any kind of service. As this 3rd party contrator "deal" is going on more and more for all types of service. Even big companies like charter and at&t are sending out subs.
Well I got to go drop off a bunch of computers this morning and head up to VC for a service call before I hit the road to San Fran this week.
10:19 AM 8/2/2009: I am in the shop catching up...
Before I head out of town for a few days to join a computer seminar I am going to. Have also been programming a bit again. (The reason I fell in love with computers) way back when.
Monday is already booked up and then off To San Fran!
8:48 AM 7/30/2009: Data recovery day...
Over half of my work benches are running some kind of data recovery on clients systems today.
Going to spend the morning in-shop and then head out for service calls in the afternoon.
10:18 AM 7/29/2009: On the road today...
Looks like a non-stop day for computer repair today.
Also working on some new programs and updates to the website.
8:11 AM 7/27/2009: Crunching numbers...
Just did my end of the week numbers and it seems that RenoGeek has already had the best month in sales since I started it. And there are still a few days left in the month.
The phone is off the hook and the day is already booked out. Time to hit the road!
6:23 PM 7/24/2009: On the laptop here...
I have some work for a client that will take all weekend on-site so won't be in the shop much. It will be a busy weekend and I am sure Monday will be crazy when I am back. Gotta love it.
11:33 AM 7/23/2009: All the benches are full...
And I have been pumping out the repairs today. Busy but not crazy. Just the way I like it.
I just finished up working on a computer that had over 7,000 infected files on it! Looking back in the computer logs this system had been infected for years! And I have been told it had been serviced by another company not to long ago.
How do you miss 7,000 infected files?
I am amazed at how many "techs" don't know the first thing about virus cleaning.
8:12 AM 7/22/2009: Cool tablet PC...
Would like something like this for Service Calls. I am always killing laptops.
12:17 PM 7/19/2009: I will admit...
I am a big geek and love all things tech. So while I am at the shop on a Sunday fixing computers I like to read the gadget blogs and came by this flying car. And yes it works!
6:24 PM 7/17/2009: Big brother is watching you...
Just read this post Here
Where Amazon deleted ebooks stored on their kindel ebook readers that customers had already paid for. This is one of the dangers of thin-clinet or "cloud" computing. What happens when the company that your storing all your data with decides you should not have access to it?
6:48 PM 7/16/2009: If it sounds to good...
It's been a real busy week and I am already booked out till next week.
But one of the "lowlights" of this week was tellling a customer that they got had at the recent computer blowout sale that was all over TV for a few days. I am sure you have seen them. They have the TV ads that scream stupid prices at you over and over... You know Computers $100, Big screen TV's $249, Sneakers $5.00 ect...
They ended up spending $200 plus on a 10 year old laptop that won't run any current game or app made in the last 5 years.
If it sounds too good , THEN IT IS ALWAYS A TRICK, 100% of the time.
I don't know how these guys get licensed to run that show every few months.
2:00 PM 7/12/2009: Your Computer is a lier...
And not a very nice one at that. It's sunday and I am at the shop catching up with computer repairs. I have about 5 systems in here with pretty bad viruses on them. But if people followed just one word of advice here it would be this...
Don't trust popups from websites that say your infected with a virus!
Nowdays it is the number one way I see, that people infect themself with a virus. If you get a popup that says you have a virus or offers a free scan of your system while surfing the web hit "alt" and "F4" to close the window and then shut your browser down.
Just this one tip could save you $100's
Back to work...
8:57 AM 7/8/2009: Goggle O/S...
Google posted on their blog that they are working on the long rumored killer O/S.
It sounds pretty cool if it even does half of what they said it will. While the "instant boot", "Virus free" O/S has been tried a few times before, only a big company like google has the marketing clout to push this to the mainstream.
But from reading their press release it seems that this will not be a full stand alone O/S, but a thin client that would need to be on the net 100% of the time to work.
Will have to wait and see how far they get with it.
11:55 AM 7/7/2009: Just finished my 4th service call today and...
Have 2 more this afternoon. But stopped back at the shop to catch up on some things.
Came by this new ebook reader Here
I think that three things are stopping ebooks from taking off like wild fire.
1. Price.
When these things hit about $150 or so they will fly off the shelfs.
2. Come up with a way for a person to back them up to an external device of some kind.
So that no "service" is required.
3. Don't use DRM.
Most people do not steal, so being treated like you do is a big turn off.
9:05 AM 7/5/2009: In the shop today...
Because I got a few data recovery jobs going on as well as cracking a forgoten password on a system. Monday and Tuesday are already booked to the max amount of calls I can do in a day. So another busy week ahead.
Always good!
8:58 AM 7/2/2009: Will be on the road most of the day today...
Then back to the shop in-between to check on some diagnostics I am running. Then taking a few days off to enjoy the 4th with friends and family.
Happy 4th!
7:23 AM 7/1/2009: Got 10 service calls to make before 2pm Thursday...
and a bunch of systems in the shop to fix. So on the busy side. Also playing around with a new version of Windows server software.
7:36 PM 6/29/2009: just got back...
to the shop after a long day on the road. Pretty good except for one person that had me come out to fix a computer and 5 minutes into the repair I figure out that this guy is a "tech" that could not figure how to repair a "customers" computer.
Now I do from time to time work on systems that other techs or repair shops can not figure out but their up front, professional and honest with me about needing help. So I am ok with that. But I am not big into competitors that try and trick a repair out of me by pretending to be a "customer". I gave the "tech" my card and told him he could refer the real customer to me if he wished.
Why is it so hard for some to be upfront with people nowadays?
9:10 AM 6/29/2009: Voice mail full of people needing repairs...
Went out of town for a few days but it seems this will be a busy week now that I am back.
3:46 PM 6/24/2009: Hardware virus...
Been running into a few of these as of late. What they do is infect the hardware code stored on eprom chips in your bios or video card and reinfect the computer after each reboot. I have one in the shop that has been taken all over town and nobody could figure it out. So the customer has had all their data wiped off this machine more then once and spent $100's to "fix" it with other techs.
Just goes to show how far and how fast you can fall behind the times if you don't keep up with what's going on in the repair world.
You can read more about this type of virus HERE
3:49 PM 6/22/2009: Been on the road all day...
doing service calls. I'll be in the shop a few hours tonight to play catch up with repairs. Just ran across another system fixed by a "Tech" that just ripped off his customers for $300. Seems nobody honors their warranties anymore. When his "repair" did not work he just vanaished on the customer.
Real techs, that fix 100's of systems a year will run into a few un-fixable machines now and again. But it's what you do from there on that shows what kind of person you are.
Refund the customers money?, yes you should. Offer to work with the customer to get their maching repaired another way, yes. Stop answering your phone and hide until the "heat" is off, no way.
8:14 AM 6/15/2009: it's Monday...
Running out the door to start my service calls. Crazy busy on the phone calls.
4:00 PM 6/10/2009: Been running...
All over town today to catch up with customers.
Came back to check my email and had one business asking be to run a ad in the newspaper. What I found funny was they searched the internet to find me.
Most people look for things on the net now days and the phone book and newspapers are a dying media.
Being in this business I have seen a bunch of things taken over by computers and find it a bit odd when people hold on to the old as if their life depended on it.
Years back when I was a Computer tech / service manager for a chain of photo stores I remember getting into big trouble for saying film was dead.
(it was and is).
I just find it odd when people will fight you about what is already a done deal.
I just have always enjoyed finding out what is new and pushing what it can do I guess.
7:05 AM 6/7/2009: In early...
Did a quick meeting yesterday and was away. But I am in the shop today to catch up a bit. Got some systems to fix and then hit the road running on monday.
9:47 PM 6/2/2009: just spotted this ad...
"Learn How to Fix Computers Remotely". Here
First of all if you read my blog you know there are a ton of problems you can not fix by this method. And do you want some first timer trying to fix your computer sitting in their underware at home watching sports center while they dink around with your system?
If you read the ad close it's just a trick to get you to buy a software package that has nothing to do with computer repair anyway. The stuff they come up with!
5:46 PM 6/1/2009: The storms since...
Last week have caused a ton of problems around town and for some ISP's like charter. I am getting call after call about the net being down. I am already booked for most of the week and the shop is full of computers.
Back to computer repair...
5:05 PM 5/26/2009: Like most days after...
a holiday the phone has been off the hook all day.
Some of the highlights were the 2 people asking for "free" copies of windows and the guy that called me saying he had a "revolutionary" idea for a website but would give me no details at all untill I signed away all my rights. (umm not going to happen)
And as with most of these "revolutionary" ideas I get every month I would be working for free and get a cut of something that I would not know about until I finished all my work and turned it over to the "owner".
How about this for a "revolutionary" idea?!?! How about planning to pay a web designer as part of your business plan. lol Back to repairs....
5:49 am 5/20/2009: Shop day...
I am caught up on my service calls but will be in the shop all day today to catch up on repairs I have here. Need coffee ....... , lol
3:49 PM 5/18/2009: Copyright anybody?
Every now and then I find "techs" that have used text from this website and then repost as their own to make it look like they know the business better then they do. Today I ended up sending 5 DMCA take down notices to sites that had my data copied word for word. (why have a site if your just going to copy somebody else)?
In addition I had to send a bunch of information on to a lawyer today about somebody that slandered my company trying to make themself seem legit. Some seem to think that anything you do on the net can't be tracked. Too many movies I guess. Took me less then 10 minutes to find everything about them. Guess they will find out the hard way that is not true.
Well back to fixing computers, the part of the biz I like.
8:25 AM 5/15/2009: Crazy busy week...
Just printed out the paperwork for the 10th service call I'll have to make today. I got most of the benches cleared off of work that I have already repaired and am now getting ready for the influx of new stuff to work on that's on it's way in today.
I spend about 2 hours a day keeping current on whatever is new in tech. But I found this post about what is now old but still around. Funny to say but I have worked on every product shown... Take a look Here
1:15 PM 5/10/2009: Kind of a lazy day...
Been in the shop most of the moring working. Will be here most of the day to catch up on stuff and then already booked up for Monday.
Got sidetracked and started to play around with some of my music programs. You can hear what I made today Here
2:49 PM 5/7/2009: Windows 7...
I have moved Windows 7 over to the computers I use the most day to day. It seems a bit more stable then Vista was/is. Except for seeming a bit less buggy then vista this is not going to be a earth moving landmark O/S. It should have just been offered as a service pack. But that is not how big companies make their money.
Oh well, back to work....
1:47 PM 5/5/2009: Been on the ...
Road most of the last few days doing on-site service calls. Going to spend all day wed in the shop to catch up with all the stuff here. I am also playing around with Windows 7 RC on a bunch of systems here.
Well got another service call ....
8:20 AM 4/29/2009: It's just not right...
Yesterday I had 2 people call asking to setup their computers so that they may steal WiFi from the people that live around them. One guy had the good grace to let the idea go (with me) when I told him I would not help him. But I had a guy call later about his "rights" and that nobody would know ect...
Nobody has the right to take anything from another. Even if they have no clue it's being taken. I don't care if it is a internet connection, a newspaper tossed into your yard by mistake ect... I am sure the 2nd guy would be calling the cops if he found out somebody was taking "HIS" WiFi. It stuns me the amount of people that ask me to do what no moral person would do if they knew others were watching. But somehow hidden behind a computer makes it all ok.
1:25 PM 4/27/2009: Holographic storage....
Seems GE has had some success with holographic storage on a disk. We might all be using this like we do blueray 5 years from now
7:58 AM 4/26/2009: In the shop early to catch up and....
tweaking my network here at the shop. Charter had said I would be able to get 16Mb/s speeds and I was only getting around 9. Some work on the network and now I have this....
Back to work....
12:03 PM 4/24/2009: Looks like another busy weekend....
I am already booked out till tuesday and have a computer on every diag station in the shop. looks like a busy weekend ahead.
4:05 PM 4/22/2009: Macs get attacked too....
First don't get me wrong here. I have been building computers for 30 years now and my very first "company built" computer was a apple mail ordered. But I have said for years the no computer is 100% safe from malware attacks. And as Mac takes more market share attacks will increase on them just as the have on firefox and other "safe" computer platforms once enough people use them. Hacking is a numbers game. Once enough people use any platform/software it will come under attack.
See here....
From CNN Tech
1:40 PM 4/22/2009: I got a email yesterday....
From somebody asking me to "copy" windows vista, office and some adobe programs for them. I wrote back stating that I only deal in legit, legal software. This person then wrote what must have been a 1000+ word essay about his "rights" and how he can only deal with persons that don't judge others.
That's all well and good but what kind of judgement are you making when you assume that somebody want's to break the law? If you ask somebody to do something that many think of as wrong how much of a "right" do you have to bug them after they have said no?
Feel free to stand on your soap box. But please move it away from me. Thank you very much.
1:13 PM 4/20/2009: Need a bigger workplace part 6...
Well it's all pretty much done! Got everything moved, a bunch of new work stations setup and running and in the end can now do about 300% more then I was doing before. So good to go!
Now back to work...
8:07 AM 4/10/2009: Need a bigger workplace part 5...
Got new work stations all setup and they are all full of repairs already. Going to setup some more this weekend then got to finish moving more equipmet out of storage and cleaning up the old shop to turn in the keys. But first going to spend most of today on service calls. Off I go....
6:01 PM 4/4/2009: Need a bigger workplace part 4...
Well the move is on going but I got all my old diag stations setup and am now building more. So I am back up to full speed and should be ramping up with more stations ready to do even more work soon from this week on.
7:39 AM 3/31/2009: Need a bigger workplace part 3...
Been busy moving the shop over to the new place. Got Charter out today to hook up all my internet connections (lots) And should start doing some repairs from the new place today.
9:24 AM 3/24/2009: Need a bigger workplace part 2...
Found an even bigger workshop to work in. I should now be able to at least double the amount of systems I can fix at the same time. Just got to plan a move of a few tons of computer equipment and diag stations. Then make some new diag stations to increase the work output. The move should start in less then a week and I'll have much more room to work in.
9:06 AM 3/20/2009: Need a bigger workplace...
Got lots of computers I am working on right now. I will need to start setting up a bigger workspace soon.
6:44 PM 3/16/2009: Spent all day on the...
Road. Now I am in-shop to fix more systems here. Booked already till the end of the week for the most part.
2:27 PM 3/13/2009: One of the creepiest CL ads...
I have ever seen.
I got no idea what that skull is supposed to mean for computer repair.
10:08 AM 3/13/2009: Well after thinking...
I had not posted a blog entry in a bit then somebody called me and gave me something to write about.
In business you do have to call around and find out what others are charging for the services you offer. I call around a few times a year and tell whoever picks up the phone my name and that I am from RenoGeek Computer Repair and I would like to ask them what they charge. Pretty simple and in most cases when your honest nobody cares about doing it.
I just had a guy call trying to act like a customer asking about my rates. He then just hung up right after I told him. I got the feeling he was not a real customer, but a competitor. Quick trace of his phone number and I had his name home address and copies of all his ads he has put online.
I called him back and said that it is customary to ID yourself if your calling from another company asking about rates.
He just did not get it. Seems basic manners are in as short supply as good Technicians.
3:09 PM 3/9/2009: a friend sent this...
After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion, that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.
Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, a California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story in the LA Times read: 'California archaeologists, finding traces of 200 year old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers.'
One week later, The Pioneer Press, a local newspaper in Minnesota, reported the following: After digging as deep as 30 feet in his pasture near Embarrass, Minnesota, Ole Olson, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Ole has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Minnesota had already gone wireless.
11:30 AM 3/8/2009: Phone is been going off the hook...
from 6am. I already have much of the week booked out. Well I got stuff to fix....
10:45 AM 3/6/2009: Attackers exploit unpatched Excel vulnerability..
Well if you go...
Here You can read about it.
What gets to me is that it is taking Microsoft weeks and even months to get a handle on new threats to it's products.
In a age where script kiddie's (wannabe hackers) can download source code, recompile and then release a new virus in a matter of minutes this long turn around time means millions of computer could be infected in just a few days, if not hours.
If the "Big Players" spent as much on security as they do on TV ads most computers would be much more secure.
7:41 AM 3/5/2009: The week is flying by...
Been going non-stop most of the week. I got some repair parts in and will be working in-shop most of the day to catch up.
One of the orders I made to a company got dropped off but the box was empty. After a email asking why they sent me an empty box I got this back...
To return your order please make sure you include a copy of your invoice and repack the item as it was sent to you.
So I guess they want me to send a empty box back to them?
Seems the bigger a company gets the less sense they have to make.
4:50 AM 3/3/2009: Can't imagine after my last rant about sub-contacting....
The same company calls me back today at 5am and says they have read my site and still wants me to be a sub?!?!?
5:28 PM 3/1/2009: I get 5 or 6 calls a month ...
from national and sometimes even international companies that want to sub contract me out for computer repair in Reno. I just don't get why some go ahead and sign up to be a tech middleman. (I also don't get why they still call me after reading my site and how I hate subs in this businesss).
All your doing is helping some big chain get their foot in the door in a local market and also cause the price of any repair to go up. (Two companies need to make a profit now).
With all the local companies that have been pushed out of the biz world by mega chains I don't get why anybody local would help a chain. With the downturn we have all seen what can happen when you let nothing but big companies take control of a market segment. Buy local and support your local businesses and the people that make their living from them.
6:55 AM 2/28/2009: What they try to pass off for "real"...
In the shop early to work on a bunch of computers I have here and to place some parts orders before I spend the rest of the day on the road with service calls.
I picked up a computer from a new customer last night that said they were getting "Virus Popups" on a used computer they just bought from a new shop that has opened up in the area. They were told it had a legal copy of Windows and 30 days to bring it back if they did not like it. Well the customer said they tried to take it back after just 3 days and were told "no returns". So after getting the run around with them they asked if I could fix it so at least they would have something to use. (Great customer service guys).
Well after doing a simple check I did find it had got infected but I also found a CD in the drive bay. This CD must have been their "legal" copy of Windows that came with their computer. But for some reason Bill Gates stopped using holographic lables and instead just writes "XP PRO" with a sharpie on Windows CD's nowdays.
Just for fun I put the "legal" copy into a computer and did a quick virus scan of the CD and only found 14 different viruses on it. Oh and for some strange reason the customers computer has 14 viruses on it. Wow what are the odds, lol.
9:13 AM 2/22/2009: Walked into the shop and had this email waiting...
Hi James,
I noticed your website and it's high placement in google search. I am going to be coming into reno to do computer repair also and wanted to ask if it's ok if I make a copy of your site. I am just starting out so I have no money to pay you with but I have been playing around with computers for about 6 years.....
Umm? you want to make a copy of my website so you can compete with me?
Don't think so. So sorry.
Then he goes on...
And I don't have anyplace to work so maybe I can rent a bench from you in your place for like maybe 10% of my profits...
Umm? So you want to compete with me in my own shop?
Still don't think so.
Then to end it with....
And I think it would be better if we work together as you would not want me as a competitor and I would make sure that you always could keep some of the customers....
Wow! You'll let me keep "some" of the customers you get by using my workspace and materials, how very kind!
For some strange reason I don't think I will be able to accept this offer, lol.
Seems weird persons stay up late Sat nights to write email. lol
2:00 PM 2/19/2009: Crazy busy...
Just tons of service calls and things in the shop I am working on right now.
I got service calls setup going into next month already, going to head out again....
11:20 PM 2/15/2009: Shop Day part 2...
Well been working since 7:30 this morn. Time to call it a day as I am already booked up till Wed of this week. But I got a bunch done. And only a few pending things going on.
10:20 AM 2/14/2009: Shop Day...
I got a bunch of computers here at the shop and it looks like today and Sunday I'll be here most of the day after my service calls.
I just got back from picking up a system where some "tech" lost all the customers data and still had the nerve to charge them after installing a bootleg copy of windows. I hate to say it but when you go with a super cheap ("tech") your going to get super cheap. As all they do is stick in a disk and walk away to screw the next customer instead of fixing anything.
9:06 AM 2/10/2009: You just gota ask questions...
I just got off the phone with a company that wanted to subcontract me out to a repair. They did not ask if had any certifications, a business lic or even what my rates were.
As this guy was talking I was typing their name into google and guess what? They have a bad rep with both customers (for not sending good techs out to fix computers) and with Techs (for not paying them).
After telling the guy what I found and that I don't do sub work he bitched me out and said I will never make it in the biz. (Time will tell, after all I have only been at it for 26 years).
My main point is to ask questions. Find out that the company you call is really sending you one of their techs and not some guy they have never even seen in person. Ask if their local now before you find out latter.
7:46 AM 2/9/2009: Ya right! ...
Seems all the crazy people wanted to call me yesterday and early this morning. Everbody from a guy claiming to be opening a computer store paying Techs 75k.
(I think he was fishing to get an idea how much his store should be making).
To the guy who left a voice mail at 3am asking how to bootleg Windows Software and then the first call today from a guy wanting to sell me his computer store but did not want to tell his name, it's name or where it was located for the bargin basement price of 375k. I am going to head out for service calls now...
(I'll be checking for the full moon).
7:57 AM 2/6/2009: I was on the road...
till 10pm last night and today looks to be even more busy. Gota go again...
8:41 AM 2/5/2009: Got a full...
Day ahead and bookings already out till next week. Gota go...
11:23 AM 2/4/2009: I just got my 3rd email...
in as many days that an honest tech was going to have to leave the business because of the economy slowdown. I have never minded honest business competition (it makes all of us better) and just hate it when one of the "good" guys takes a hit. This combined with the rise of bad techs that are just out to make a quick buck hurts all the legit techs as well as the customers. It's just sad.
2:14 PM 2/2/2009: Been all over town this morning...
Doing service calls. In just 6 hours I have made 6 service calls and 2 free pickups of equipment for more work. And on top of that I got 6 computers already on the benchs here. Looks like another busy week for RenoGeek.
10:37 AM 1/31/2009: Just uploaded a new website for a customer...
And I am working on a few laptops and a desktop while I wait for a parts order to get here. Then I got a few service calls for later this afternoon...
8:17 AM 1/30/2009: Got off the phone with UPS...
About a parts order that is taking them forever to get to me. For some strange reason a drop off that should have taken less then 7 days to get here is at around the 15 day mark. After being on the phone the last 45 mins all I got was the same thing the website says. (it's late and slow). What can brown do for you? not much it seems.
Well I got 3 service calls this morning and then back to the shop to work on a bunch of systems.
11:10 AM 1/29/2009: Just worked on a system...
That somebody got tricked into a "Refresher Repair" with. This type of "Repair" is where somebody says they will re-install windows for much less then it cost to buy new. And in most cases they will also offer to toss in a bunch of other "Free (aka stolen/hacked)" software.
Well as the story always goes the system has not been running well, the guy can't be found and the customer is mad as hell when he found out he had been taken for a ride. And now he has to pay big bucks to get legal software back on his system. When all he really needed in the first place was virus removal and a system cleaning.
As they say if it sounds to good to be true....
3:03 PM 1/28/2009: Been on the road all day...
Just stopped to grab some more invoices and check how some of the computers on the Diag benchs are doing. Well off to more service calls....
12:56 PM 1/26/2009: Pretty busy day...
I hit the road early to drop off a bunch of repairs this morning and pickup some new ones. Just running in to hookup some more computers to the diag machines and back out the door for more service calls.
1:30 PM 1/25/2009: Just finished working on 5 computers...
Here in the shop and now I got to hit the road for more service calls and then back here to finish a website and convert a old Visual Basic program for a client to run for his customers Vista systems and I already have most of this next week booked out to Thursday or so.
8:37 AM 1/23/2009: Just got my 10th phone call this week...
From a tech that worked at one of the big super "tech" stores. And it kind of surprises me when they are asked about their qualifications the first thing they talk about is reaching sales goals and not about their technical expertise in any computer field.
I have the feeling if these "Big Box" companies had taught their people how to fix and upkeep what they sold they might still be around. You make good money if you give great service. Well I guess that's why they say don't put the cart in front of the horse.
8:38 AM 1/22/2009: Another rip off tech...
I just picked up a computer from a new customer that said they had dropped it off before for virus removal from a competitor of mine. When they got it home they had the same popups and after calling the "tech" back they were told that they must have re-infected the computer and would have to pay to remove the "new" old virus.
My point is talk to whoever your thinking of using to fix your computer and make sure all warranties are in writing.
9:04 AM 1/17/2009: CompUSA, Circuit City...
With 2 of the 3 major "Tech" chain stores gone I have seen a influx of customers that just want to deal with a "local guy".
It's too bad that many of the local guys and small shops were pushed out of business when the "big boys" showed up. It is my hope that people will start to see the vaule of buying local and give a chance for local stores to come back into play.
Well I need to hit the road as I have a bunch of service calls today...
9:11 PM 1/15/2009: 15 hour day...
Pretty busy day. I have been on-site at one place or another since about 6:00am. Just got on the net for the first time today to check my email. Looks like Friday and Saturday will be just as busy.
8:02 AM 1/14/2009: Few hours in the Shop...
I am going to start the day off in the shop to catch up on some repairs and parts orders here and then out the door for a bunch of calls this afternoon. Besides just a few openings I also got new work coming in for most of the next week and I just won a contract for another website.
7:30 PM 1/9/2009: Busy Week
Well the first business week of the year has been very busy. I am off to go do 5 service calls this morning and then back here to fix some more system I have in the shop. As well as program a few more websites. And I have lots of service calls for Sat / Sun / Mon.
12:27 PM 1/5/2009: Phone is ringing off the hook
Very busy 1st business day of the year. I just finished my 5th service call and am already booked well into next week. Just stopped by the shop to check on some computer I am working on and will be hitting the raod again in a few minutes.
8:32 AM 1/2/2009: Happy New Year!
I have been out of town a few days for the holidays. But looking at my email and voice messages I know that I will be pretty busy the next few weeks. Off to work I go...
7:59 AM 12/18/2008: Put 300 miles on the car yesterday
Well in the last few days I have been everywhere from Incline Village to Reno and Sparks to Stagecoach, NV. and lots of places in between. With all the snow and ice seems lots of people stayed home and wanted to get their computers fixed.
Got a bunch of systems in the shop I am working on and I am hanging out waiting for my parts order this morning before heading out on service calls. Seems it's going to be busy right up till Christmas.
8:03 AM 12/12/2008: Can I see your client list, Please?
Just walked in the door at the shop and got my first phone call of the day. It goes something like this...
"Hi, I lost my job but thought I could make some side money fixing computers until I get something (GOOD). Do you have any overflow you don't want? Or would you be willing to sell me your customer list so I can mail them a flyer?"
Well I am sure you can guess what I said pretty much. As always check out who you do business with or you may end up with some guy killing time until something (GOOD) comes up.
Just got my parts order, time to fix some computers!
8:21 AM 12/1/2008: Back from turkey day
Well looks like it's going to be a busy day after a holiday weekend. A ton of voice messages and over 100 customer emails. And away we go.....
8:57 AM 11/22/2008: So you want to start a computer repair business?
The economy is going into the tank and as I go on-site for service calls I meet people that have lost their jobs or have had their hours cut. In addition to this I have seen the number of new computer repair startups sky rocket the last few months.
And in that time I have also seen a number of them open big, die hard and then leave their customers wondering what happened. I am now getting phone calls almost everyday asking if I have "extra" work I want to give to a total stranger, and how "easy" is it to open a shop ect...
While I am all for somebody that has hit hard times picking themself up and starting something new I would have to warn the general public to check out who they are doing business with. As you do not want to get caught up with a business that has to close down when the money does not come in right away and they can't keep their startup running.
Any business needs to be planned out well in advanced and trying to start something where people are going to be counting on you to keep important data safe is not something you start as a whim or for some side money until everything gets better.
I have had 3 phone calls in as many days asking "How much money can I make right away if I start now?" and when I ask "How much do you know? And what kind of service are you going to offer your client base?" I get no real answer because they never thought about it. I even had one guy get mad and say "well, I bet I know more then you do!" Great! so why call me for advice then?
Anyway, my point is ask, ask, ask lots of questions before just handing your computer over to just anybody to fix or you may just get caught up in somebody else's problems.
Well I have a bunch of systems to fix now and some service calls....
7:58 AM 11/15/2008: How it all started...
I came by this old Popular Electronics Cover from 1975 that was online. This is the edition that turned me on to computers in the first place. After reading about the Altair 8800 I saved for months to buy the Kit and the rest is history, lol.
12:32 PM 10/24/2008: Why I hate untrained sub contractors part 6,345,498...
Ok, it seems like I am always going on about making sure that anybody working in your home should be qualified.
Well here is another example...
I was walking around the outside of a home to checkout where the cable came in to advise a customer about the best placement of some computer equipment they want to get soon.
As I was following wires along the outside of the home I came to the place where their satellite TV came into the house. After a double take I noticed that the contractor that had setup their dish had grounded it to the Gas line!
Well I am sure most can think of what could happen with a setup like that.
After confirming with the city of Reno and a quick look at the NEC codebook (NEC Code 250.52(B)...
(Can't use a underground metal gas pipe as a electrode.)
I advised the customer to call her provider and have somebody else come back and redo her setup.
My only guess as to why it was done like this is the gasline was easy to get to and the guy did not want to crawl anywhere to bond his ground right.
I see stupid everyday in this business but this was just criminal.
8:50 AM 10/23/2008: With the markets going down the tubes...
And people getting laid off or hours cut I have seen the amount of new "techs" go up over the last few months. And I have also had to clean up after a few of them after they meltdown not being able to do what they claim.
(I just had to go to a "techs" apartment to pickup a PC that a customer could not get returned to them)
Just on Craigslist today I counted 6 new people that have never posted there before. Now while I love it when legit people get into the business (they help give us all a better rep). I can't stand it when these "format and leave" techs flood the local boards. As they give all us in the business for the long term a bad name.
Want to make sure your safe when you hire a tech? Ask for a biz lic from this year and a few years back. That way you will know that they have been around more then 2 or 3 months.
Well I got service calls setup all the way until the end of next week. Time to hit the road!
3:12 PM 10/8/2008: Still busy, lol...
Well it's been way over 2 months since I had a few extra minutes to post here. Business has been great and right now I am sitting here with 10 systems hooked up to my diagnostic computers doing different things. Looks like I am going to need a bigger place to work out of soon (again) lol.
I just posted some new specials and worked on some new ads as well as brining back an old contest I used to run here. Well, back to work!
4:02 PM 8/21/2008: Been real busy...
But I have had a service call I went to yesterday on my mind.
Well it goes like this...
Customer is having problems getting on-line and wants me to check out what the problem is.
After a few minutes I find out that the customer had switched their internet service and that the new service had sent out a guy that admits he has only been installing for 6 months.
Well looking around I find that nothing was installed right and it seems for some reason the old tech took the cable modem the customer owned. Besides not having anything work right this guy knocked holes in their walls.
So once again I'll say here that no matter what company you call make sure that they are sending a
"Real Tech" out to you.
Not just some guy they got off the street!
2:43 PM 8/17/2008: It's Sunday...
I am at the shop today working on data recovery for 3 different computers. Besides that I am also working on a few laptops with other problems.
Sundays are pretty slow most of the time as far as phone calls but I just got a pretty stupid one.
This guy calls me up and says "hey, I need a copy of Office. Can you make me one?
I say... no, but you can download openoffice and get almost the same thing for free.
He then says... Well, if you don't make me a copy I'll report you!
I then say ... Well buddy, you might want to turn off your caller ID before you try and use the phone to commit a crime.
Then for some reason the phone went dead.
lol.
8:32 AM 8/12/2008: Evil Techs...
I don't use the word "Evil" very often but over the last few weeks I have come across the work of some people that I can not describe any other way.
Now for legal reasons I can not "out" these "Techs". It use to be you could tell the truth about somebody that did wrong and they would ask for forgiveness or at least run away and hide. Now they hire a lawyer.
Anyway, The first one is a so called systems administrator that for the life of me I have no idea what they were doing for the last five years. This person quit without any notice and I was asked to come and see how "easy" it would be to take over the network and keep things humming along. Well you can't keep a train humming along after it's derailed is about all I can say. No documentation, no backups worth anything and no maintenance on any of the hardware.
It also seems this person was using this place as a base of operation to host other businesses they had. And because this place helps kids all I can say is shame on this person. It's a special kind of evil that puts your needs above the needs of kids you were hired to help.
Now the 2nd one is a "tech" that sells things on craigslist from time to time. I had somebody ask me to do a data transfer from their "old" system to the "new" system they got off this guy. Well I get there and the "new" computer sold to them was a 8+ years old "thin client", a system that was never ment to be used as a home computer system. I just don't get how you can look somebody that is trusting you in the eye and say something like that was "new" yet alone useful.
Well KARMA does have a way of getting back around to everybody. One day when these 2 need to trust somebody for help they may end up asking "why me"?
Well I got 4 service calls this morning and a shop full of systems to fix. So off I go...
8:39 AM 7/18/2008: Just got off the phone with...
Another "national" computer repair company asking me to do a service call for them. All they wanted to know was how fast I could get to their client and how much I would charge. Not one word asking about backround checks or even that really weird question are you qualified to fix computers? As I always say ask, ask, ask before you let somebody into your home or office or you may get sent some "guy" the company is testing out on you.
Well I got a shop full of computers to fix....
11:24 AM 7/10/2008: Been going steady...
Since I have been back from the 4th weekend. So I had no time to post here. Got 3 websites I am working on, 5 machines in the shop and booked for service calls from now till the middle of next week. Break over back to work.
8:14 AM 7/3/2008: Well it's been months...
Since I have taken any real time off. Got the last customer system fixed and dropped off. Heading out for the 4th! See you all on Monday!
8:27 AM 7/2/2008: Lame Company...
I have to order replacement parts from all around the world. But just came by a pretty lame company. I ordered a replacement laptop power jack and my biz card got charged the next day so I assumed it was on it's way. Well after 3 phone calls and a bunch of emails I find out it was back ordered and now they don't know when it will be in. Pretty lame to charge for stuff you don't have yet.
12:05 AM 6/30/2008: and still, Still here...
It's been a looooooonger day and I am just getting ready to call it a night. Had allot of people needing rush service today and I took in a system with a nasty rootkit installed on it.
Looking through some CL ads and found this...
"Initial position is for simple hardware repair. Duties included are swapping bad hardware for replacement hardware onsite at homes and businesses. Printer part replacement is part of the duties, but if applicant is capable of computer hardware repair the printer work is very simple to learn. Applicant must have a vehicle and the ability to transport Computer/Printer Hardware on/in it. As quality service is performed with initial duties, applicant will be offered the opportunity to work with a different customer base for greatly increased pay. Initial duties will only be needed 20-30 hours/week, however applicant will be offered other tasks in order to obtain a full 40 hours.
Location: Reno, NV
Compensation: $8-10/hr"
So the deal here is they pay somebody that has just 6 months working on computers less then they could make at burger king to go out on-site to customers that may be paying $100 or more an hour thinking they are getting a "real tech". And I love the part where they will be learning printer repair on customers machines.
Always ask if your getting a "Real Tech" from the comapny you called and not some unknown sub contractor that may or may not know his stuff.
10:39 PM 6/28/2008: Still here...
It's been a looooooong day and I am just getting ready to call it a night. Right now I have 3 computers running that customer installed copies of Norton anti-virus say are clean. But all have viruses on them anyway. Think the last good things norton made were DOS defrag and the first versions of ghost. Oh well I got calls for tommorow too so I better get out of the office and get some sleep.
9:45 AM 6/23/2008: Monday Morning Stats...
Well checked my email and have answered 23 questions from current customers...
Answered questions from 3 "might be" customers.
And choose not to respond (with regret) to the wifes of ambassadors from Namlbla, South Africa and Angola. I am sorry ladies but I have already cut a deal with the foreign minister of Nigiera to handle their banking needs.
Besides that I have 3 laptops opened up right now as well as a tower I am working on.
9:12 AM 6/12/2008: Is this fair?
I just talked to a friend last night that knows somebody that used a local company (I'll be nice and not post their name). This company came out to her business to fix 3 computers. When they were done only one of the computers was fixed and the company network was down and they did not charge her the rate she was quoted because they added "trip", "business" and "networking" charges to her bill.
It's hard for me to understand when you did not do 2/3's of the job you were hired for and on top of that broke the business network how you could have the balls to invoice this customer at all. Yet alone trying to pad the bill with a bunch of extra charges.
This is one of the reasons honest repair people always have to fight to gain a new clients trust.
6:03 PM 6/9/2008: It's Monday now
Well it's a Monday. Lots of service calls and running around.
I have talked on here before about not using a company based out of the state as you never know what you will end up with. Well as my listings show up pretty high on google searches I get a few of these companies call me every week asking if I want to take their service calls for them.
In other words do I want to be a 3rd party contractor or middle man. I turn these offers down as I don't think the customer is served well by this type of deal and then you got to deal with issues of who pays who when. who covers the work ect...
Well I got such a call once again today from a guy claiming to service Rite-Aide stores and after telling the man I did not do such contracts he went off saying he was muliti-billion (yes billion) company and I did not know a thing about business and then hung up.
Well I tracked the phone number back to some post on a fourm and found out that not only has this billion dollar company changed it's name a bunch of times but that some other techs were still waiting for their payment. At about this same time he calls back asking to speak to the owner and I told him I was and I had just looked him up and I did not want to do business with him.
Once again this just proves the point I keep making check out who you hire. As you may get some company like this hiring a tech they know nothing about to work for a company that has to keep changing it's name.
8:54 AM 6/6/2008: It's Friday?
Well the week went by pretty fast. On-voice mail got somebody demanding a free copy of Vista from me because he lost his and as I am a MS partner I have to give it to him. ah, no.
Also on Voice mail some guy wanting to know why geek squad never showed up for it's appt. Don't know, wrong Geek, lol.
And to top it off got a phone call from a scammer asking for my credit card number so they can ship my $2,000 order.
They seemed a bit miffed that they would have to give me proof that I placed an order. Then they tried the old scam "well, give us your SSN, FAX and Banking Numbers so we can confirm you did not place an order". yea, right.
Well if this is friday then Monday should be a hoot.
4:17 PM 6/2/2008: Where did May go?
Wow, one of the most busy months for me in a long time. May just flew buy and June looks like it is going to be going by fast as well. A bunch of computers here in the shop to fix, 5 websites to program and the week is almost full for service calls. Guess you could say business is good.
4:19 PM 4/25/2008: Programming.
Did a few repairs here and made some service calls this morning. The security program idea I have has been moving along pretty fast. Think it might suprise a few people once its done and ready to post.
6:46 PM 4/23/2008: All over the place
Been on the road all day from 5am without so much as a chance to check my email or grab a bite to eat.
Put the utility software I have been working on hold in favor of a cool security app that came to mind which will use some ideas never done before. But will be free as 99% of my software always has been.
I just looked up some of the info in my logs and it seems PowerShell just passed the 3 million downloads mark. Kinda of cool. But would never happen without the websites that highlighted it in the past like lockernome and shell city.
11:36 AM 4/14/2008: It's Monday...
Just got back from my 2nd service call and got another one in a few hours and am already booked for 4 calls on Tuesday.
One of the places I was just at had a run in with one of the "cheap techs" I talk about. The guy has great rates only problem was he never could get things together long enough to make any appointments for this customer and then when he did set a time he was a no-call / no-show. Guess customer service does not matter if your just going after the money.
Besides all that I am working on 3 websites and programming some utility software I have an idea for.
Busy, busy, busy....
2:21 PM 4/6/2008: It's Sunday...
Got up around 6 am today (That's sleeping in for me).
Worked on a couple of customer websites as well as a laptop I have in the shop here.
Came by this cool gadget...
FindMeSpot.com
12:17 PM 4/3/2008: Got a bit backlogged...
So I have not had time to play on here.
By Tuesday I was running out of space for repairs.
Today, I just dropped off my last repair that I had here and am just waiting on some parts while I code a few websites before my next service call.
7:03 AM 3/31/2008: Blog Links...
I use bloglines to check for the newest tech posts. But it seems now days some bloggers are getting pretty lazy. I just clicked on a link for a story that had a link to the story...that had a link to the story... that had a link to the story.....
First I think bloggers should come up with some of their own stuff and 2nd do you really need to link to everybody that linked to the first link?
Just so you can see what I mean here is the link....(just kidding)
Got service calls to do and a shop full of PC's to fix.
Happy Monday!
9:29 AM 3/28/2008: Bloated Junk...
In the past few weeks I have worked on a bunch of computers that have Norton 360 anti virus/spyware suite installed.
What a load of junk! It slows the systems I have seen it on 25%-50%, tells you every few minutes what its doing and in the systems I have seen it run in, miss simple to get rid of infections! And it has one of the sloooooooowest system scans I have seen yet! Did I say junk?
Well, off to save the world (or at least a few computers).
11:04 AM 3/25/2008: Checking in...
I went out to my Sister-in-law's house for Easter and had a great time.
And Monday was a normal day after a holiday with everybody needing everything done yesterday.
With my visit and service calls I have put 1,000 miles on the car in just a few days.
Today has also been busy just got back from my 2nd service call and am heading out to my 3rd.
Then I got to do updates on 3 different websites and back to the bench to work on the systems I have here already.
12:48 PM 3/20/2008: Found this ad for techs
I found a ad for techs in the Reno area. The part that got me was this...
Min Tech Req: reliable transportation and a valid driver's license, a cell phone, and a computer with internet access.
So who needs anything like experience or certifications??? lol.
As I always say watch who you hire to work on your stuff or you may get one of these guys.
9:44 AM 3/19/2008: Get on Google's 1st page?
Well I get this call from some wanna be SEO company a few times a month.
Hey your not on Google's 1st page, we can change that for you!
ME: (your wrong, I am listed more then once on their 1st page).
See here
Oh, well your only #2 and for just $150 a month we can get you that #1 spot you want!
ME: (Soooo, you Guarantee I'll be #1)?
Oh well, no
ME: (bye)...
And then from a email this morning...
I notice your trying to get into website design... Well I need a small site done.... And it would make a great site to demo for your future customers..... and it would only be 40 or so pages... I can't host, but I am sure you can host it on your server...
Now as I am sure you know this is all code for give me a free website.
I just find it funny that people like what you do enough to ask for it but then turn around and think it has no vaule.
Well, off to the car to make some service calls...
7:43 AM 3/17/2008: Got a ton of calls...
Doubt if I'll get a chance to post the next few days.
Happy Wear Green Day!!!
12:43 PM 3/16/2008: Guy is doing a video about how great MACs are...
Gotta see the end...
Video is here
9:43 AM 3/16/2008: From a email I got this morning...
Hey,
I need copies of vista, office 2007 and photoshop C3. I can pick it up from you today. I need it before 3:00 and I will give $40.00 but you have to have the keys to. I am really busy so call me at...
Well I'll be nice and not post the guy's phone number on here. But I am pretty sure you can buy all this at the store. It might be a few $$$ more then $40, lol. FYI geek does not = thief or hacker. Thank you.
10:06 AM 3/15/2008: Geek Squad Hand Book
Well about 2 or 3 times a month somebody will send me a link to one of the 50,000 copies of Geek Squads (has nothing to do with my company) service manual that you can find online.
Now as I have had to come in and clean up after them dozens of times I have never really cared how they train their techs as I know its not well enough.
But for some reason I clicked and read this time, then re-read as I wanted to be sure it was not a joke. Nope, not a joke. Too bad I wish it were. Not to give away their trade tricks (you can look it up online anyway) it seems most of the "manual" is geared to getting customer to upgrade their systems with more RAM and bigger hard drives.
When a real fix is called for do they tell their techs to pull out the company CD with lots of custom made geek squad apps? Nope they tell their techs to use a list of free software that anybody can get. Including spybot, adaware and a old dos version of mcafee antivirus. Are you kidding me?
And one of the lines I like the best is...
"Each computer is granted a five minute consultation.
Wow is that 5 whole minutes the customer gets to talk to the tech before they give their cash over? How kind! Just another example of how untrained people can ruin the rep of thousands of good techs.
Well got a few service calls this morning and then back to the shop to clear the rest of the repairs off the benches.
7:39 PM 3/14/2008: Get your pre-installed Virus?
Just one more reason to make sure yourself that your equipment is always protected. See this story
1:46 PM 3/14/2008: What happened to your blog?
Well its been a few months since I took the time to write anything down and as I was uploading the new files to the site I got another email from like the 8th person in two weeks that asked me "whatever happened to that blog?"
So since I was redoing the whole site I put all the old posts on another page (see link at bottom) and started typing...
This morning I got the old "I hate almost everything on the site bug" and what you now see is the result of 6 hours of typing code. It looks a bit cleaner and fresher to me. It turns out that everybody wants their computers fixed after 3 today so... Now I am off to fix more computers... I'll try to keep this updated...
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