I brought my laptop into them for a diagnostic check and indicated to them that I thought the motherboard might be going bad (am I no computer expert). After waiting a month with no contact from Computer Pros I decided to call and was told that a digital diagnostic came up with a bad motherboard (as I had originally suspected) and that it had been ready to pick up for 3 1/2 weeks, and yet for some reason I had never been called. When I came to pick up the laptop (with my 18 month child in my hands) I was told that they had not opened up the laptop, rather they had only ran a diagnostic test that showed that the motherboard was refusing to post. Since I knew they hadn't invested a lot of time to open up the laptop to access the motherboard, rather just ran a USB or other remote diagnostic, then set it aside without contacting me for the next month, I asked if I could get a reduced rate on the diagnostic. I asked if I could get the diagnostic for $20, rather than the $35. I said that since I was not able to apply the diagnostic to the repair and that I would have if I could have (they advised me not to replace the motherboard, since it would be probably cheaper to just buy another laptop), and that since they didn't put a lot of time into it, it might seem feasable. It was at this point where things got ugly - beyond any reasonable inkling of professionalism. Some fellow came over and told me that I was trying to steal from him and put him out of business, and then he said in a very disgruntled tone ""I'll tell you what, how about I waive the whole fee, if you never set foot in my doors again!"". I was dumbfounded and didn't know what to say. For one, I wasn't trying to get it for free, just at a reduced rate, which it would seem to me if I was a business owner would be a small price to pay to keep a customer happy and returning, and possibly even get referral service out of the deal. In my stunned silence, this fellow went on an emotional tirade saying how ""You should go over to ***ing Best Buy and see how much they charge you for a ***ing diagnostic!"". And as this fellow continued (and continued and continued) to curse me out (with my 18 month child in my hands mind you), I started to feel guilty for asking for a lowered fee, paid the diagnostic and left.
I should have taken this fellow at his offer because I certainly didn't plan on ever returning anyway after being treated like that. I had been in there a couple times before and actually liked the place so I had suggested it to a few of my friends and family who were having computer problems. As soon as I got home I called and emailed every one of them telling them not to take their service to them, and rather go elsewhere.
Then the very next week, in my weekly coupon circular, I saw that Computer Pro's has a WEEKLY COUPON for a FREE $35 diagnostic!! Unbelievable! This guy was cursing me out in front of my 18 month old son and 2 other customers for something that he knows there is a weekly coupon for! And I didn't even want the diagnostic for free! That made me suspicious that my laptop had been discarded as soon as I walked in. And that because I said I suspected the motherboard, they did nothing and told me exactly what I wanted to hear to get a free $35 out of me. So....I took it somewhere else. And as soon as this other place opened the laptop they saw that the video card had gotten too hot and desoldered. They resoldered the video card, tested it and the motherboard and now it runs fine. It seems to me this would be something they (as computer experts) should have seen, had they truly opened it up and done an actual diagnostic.
And no, when I walked in there to pick up my laptop, it was not my intent to ""put them out of business"", but now - should some lucky sole read my post and wanting to avoid getting treated like me, and go somewhere else, and that is exactly what happens, I guess I would say that they would have deserved it.
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