1. Demand that they have multiple technicians on staff.
If you rely on a “one-man-band” operation, you might find yourself without any help when they go on vacation, get sick, or when they are simply too busy servicing other customers. Having multiple technicians on staff is not a guarantee of fast, reliable service, but you are far more likely to have someone to talk to when you have a problem.
Another reason you want a shop that has multiple technicians is because no one computer guy – no matter how good – has infinite knowledge about every type of software, hardware, and platform. Multiple technicians mean multiple skill sets and a higher likelihood that your computer problem will get resolved faster.
2. Demand someone who has a long-standing reputation.
Let’s face it; there are a lot of other computer repair technicians out there, but most are new or just getting started. You want to make sure you avoid hiring a fly-by-night technician between jobs that sets up shop one day, and is out of business within a month or a year. Only deal with computer technicians and repair shops that have a proven track record in your area.
3. Demand that they have specific knowledge or expertise on solving your particular problem.
Do NOT let someone practice on your machine. If they have not worked on your problem before, they should TELL you that in advance. There is too much risk involved financially and in your data and equipment.
4. Demand that your technician backs up your system BEFORE working on it.
This is just common sense. Don’t let them touch your machine before your entire system is securely backed up just in case something goes wrong.
5. Demand that your machine comes back with the same settings, look, preferences, and applications that you had on it prior to the work.
There are a lot of second-rate shops with inexperienced technicians who will end up causing you more problems than you bargained for. Very frequently, these inexperienced technicians will recommend that you wipe out your hard drive and re-install Windows to fix a problem. This means you lose all of your settings and preferences, as well as losing all of the software programs you have installed. This should ONLY be done as a last resort.
Need to consult with an IT professional to create a complete technology solution for your business? We’re happy to serve you in any way possible. Call us at +255 758 552 552.