Tekserve

I've done business with Tekserve for six years now, and my bank has all its Macs fixed here. I've dealt with Apple directly, and with a large commercial tech services firm that my bank uses for the PCs. \r \r Nothing compares to the quality of the work and the knowledgeability of the staff at Tekserve. These people live and breath Mac, and it shows. They saved me over $1,800 in quoted repairs from another source and had my MacBook back to me in 24 hours last month. They explained the problem in detail, took their time, and knew what they were talking about.\r \r Every place as big and busy as this is going to have some sad (and bad) stories to tell, and I think they should pay attention to the stories and improve any problems, but if you look around the Internet you'll quickly find that this place is THE PLACE when it comes to Macintosh service. They're the best, in my experience, and been that way for a couple of decades i think. \r \r People with problems post more than people who had great experiences. I hope this helps provide a realistic balance to some of the (understandable) complaints up here. Pros: Amazingly good service and deep Mac knowledge Cons: Some of the most painful looking tattoos and piercings I've ever seen. more

Brought my Mac in for service. Told them it was overheating and crashing. They replaced the fans and after $220 told me I was good to go. Less than a month later the computer started crashing again. Turns out the hard drive died. Two different people at Tekserve(one in person/one on the phone/I had names) told me told me I would be credited $220 towards a new computer if I chose not to have the repair done. Also, provided I ""abandon"" my old computer, which I agreed to. So I went in looking to buy a new computer. First thing I was told was that they did not offer the 10% student discount that the Mac store offers. So I said ""ok, well I have a credit to use and these two people told me I could use it towards a new machine"". After consulting with a manager and the people involved this was not the case. They did not ""recollect"" telling me that. However, now the salesperson was ready to offer me the student discount that they did not offer to start with. As a matter of principal I refused. This is easily the worst customer service I've ever experienced and I will never go back to Tekserve again. Not only are they liars, but they have no business sense what-so-ever. The customers they will lose from my word of mouth and board postings will easily cost them over the $220. more

Brought my Mac in for service. Told them it was overheating and crashing. They replaced the fans and after $220 told me I was good to go. Less than a month later the computer started crashing again. Turns out the hard drive died. Two different people at Tekserve(one in person/one on the phone/I had names) told me told me I would be credited $220 towards a new computer if I chose not to have the repair done. Also, provided I "abandon" my old computer, which I agreed to. So I went in looking to buy a new computer. First thing I was told was that they did not offer the 10% student discount that the Mac store offers. So I said "ok, well I have a credit to use and these two people told me I could use it towards a new machine". After consulting with a manager and the people involved this was not the case. They did not "recollect" telling me that. However, now the salesperson was ready to offer me the student discount that they did not offer to start with. As a matter of principal I refused. This is easily the worst customer service I've ever experienced and I will never go back to Tekserve again. Not only are they liars, but they have no business sense what-so-ever. The customers they will lose from my word of mouth and board postings will easily cost them over the $220. more

As a MASSIVE computer geek, I know many people who love Tekserve and many who don't. I'm on the former side, and after reading the one-star reviews on this site, I have some stuff to say. 1. They're expensive, huh? Well, I know plenty of people who have tried Apple first and have told me that Tekserve charges hundreds less for various services. i've had my computer serviced for free with Applecare--had the bad charger swapped out--so they certainly do warranty repairs as easily as Apple. Otherwise, if you DROP your machine that cost you thousands of bucks, are you really shocked that the repair could cost hundreds? Be careful, or the person you should be mad at is YOU. 2. So, yeah, the wait is long for service. You may be there for an hour. Bring a freaking book. I used to go to the Apple Store to talk to the Geniuses. Do you think the wait there is going to be 15 minutes? I've waited 90 minutes at the Apple Store, just to be told to go to Tekserve. Never again. 3. The staff is rude? Well, OK, it's admittedly not great all the time, but I think that should be expected at a company with that many staff members. Also, if you've gone, have you noticed some of the people being helped around you? I would flip out handling some of those nutjobs all day. If anything, I commend the employees for being so level-headed, and I wish you luck with who you get. Alright, cathartic rambling complete. I'm just saying, I've done customer service for years, and any place that deals with problems all day is going to get a bad rap from some people. People like my friend who expected her warranty to cover her cracked screen. People who've caught an employee on a bad shift. I've had great experiences and merely OK experiences. It's convenient, it's probably your only choice for a lot of problems, and the anti-corporate vibe is refreshing. Pros: flexibility, vibe, location Cons: crowded, more

As a MASSIVE computer geek, I know many people who love Tekserve and many who don't. I'm on the former side, and after reading the one-star reviews on this site, I have some stuff to say.\r \r 1. They're expensive, huh? Well, I know plenty of people who have tried Apple first and have told me that Tekserve charges hundreds less for various services. i've had my computer serviced for free with Applecare--had the bad charger swapped out--so they certainly do warranty repairs as easily as Apple. Otherwise, if you DROP your machine that cost you thousands of bucks, are you really shocked that the repair could cost hundreds? Be careful, or the person you should be mad at is YOU.\r \r 2. So, yeah, the wait is long for service. You may be there for an hour. Bring a freaking book. I used to go to the Apple Store to talk to the Geniuses. Do you think the wait there is going to be 15 minutes? I've waited 90 minutes at the Apple Store, just to be told to go to Tekserve. Never again.\r \r 3. The staff is rude? Well, OK, it's admittedly not great all the time, but I think that should be expected at a company with that many staff members. Also, if you've gone, have you noticed some of the people being helped around you? I would flip out handling some of those nutjobs all day. If anything, I commend the employees for being so level-headed, and I wish you luck with who you get.\r \r Alright, cathartic rambling complete. I'm just saying, I've done customer service for years, and any place that deals with problems all day is going to get a bad rap from some people. People like my friend who expected her warranty to cover her cracked screen. People who've caught an employee on a bad shift. I've had great experiences and merely OK experiences. It's convenient, it's probably your only choice for a lot of problems, and the anti-corporate vibe is refreshing. Pros: flexibility, vibe, location Cons: crowded, more

I have been thoroughly unimpressed with the level of service at this place. I took my mac in over 10 days ago for a minor problem. I have heard nothing back. I feel as if my computer has been hijacked! No one is EVER there to answer the phone on the service support line. All I'd like is a freakin' update. \r \r One might think that they could automate this process. Perhaps have something available online where the technician takes notes, and you can get an estimate. But no...all they have is a freaking answering machine which they don't, apparently, answer. \r \r If you can avoid it at all, don't take your computer to this place. Go to Apple...or get a new computer! Pros: Location Cons: Service, Turnaround more

I have been thoroughly unimpressed with the level of service at this place. I took my mac in over 10 days ago for a minor problem. I have heard nothing back. I feel as if my computer has been hijacked! No one is EVER there to answer the phone on the service support line. All I'd like is a freakin' update. One might think that they could automate this process. Perhaps have something available online where the technician takes notes, and you can get an estimate. But no...all they have is a freaking answering machine which they don't, apparently, answer. If you can avoid it at all, don't take your computer to this place. Go to Apple...or get a new computer! Pros: Location Cons: Service, Turnaround more

I took my ibook g4 to tekserve because I had dropped it a very small distance and the backlight didnt look like i t was working. When I first went in, it was 4pm on Tuesday. I got my ticket and sat for around 20 mnutes to be served. I then went up and got to explain to the very nice 'tekki' what was wrong. Unlike th apple store who are just in a hurry for you to be in, pay and leave again- you dont get the chance to explain - at tekserve you u get the time to talk to the person! On Friday morning, i called to see what was going on with my computer (the estimated date was monday - i'm impatient) and he moved me to the top of his list and called me back within the hour. unfortunately it was my logic board which had gone and was going to cost too much money to fix. My estimate was $40 for an invertor and $195 for an hour and a half diagnostic. When I went to pick it up Friday at 5pm I waited 5 minutes they refunded me the $40 for the part they thought it was and also for an hours worth of diagnostic. Everyone was soo nice and I couldnt recommend them highly enough! Pros: really nice people Cons: none more

I took my ibook g4 to tekserve because I had dropped it a very small distance and the backlight didnt look like i t was working. When I first went in, it was 4pm on Tuesday. I got my ticket and sat for around 20 mnutes to be served. I then went up and got to explain to the very nice 'tekki' what was wrong. Unlike th apple store who are just in a hurry for you to be in, pay and leave again- you dont get the chance to explain - at tekserve you u get the time to talk to the person! On Friday morning, i called to see what was going on with my computer (the estimated date was monday - i'm impatient) and he moved me to the top of his list and called me back within the hour. unfortunately it was my logic board which had gone and was going to cost too much money to fix. My estimate was $40 for an invertor and $195 for an hour and a half diagnostic. When I went to pick it up Friday at 5pm I waited 5 minutes they refunded me the $40 for the part they thought it was and also for an hours worth of diagnostic. Everyone was soo nice and I couldnt recommend them highly enough! Pros: really nice people more

Plan on waiting FOREVER to drop off your computer for repair and then AGAIN when you pick it up. It is way easier and much less frustrating to deal with Apple for your repairs, especially if you have a laptop. Apple will send you a box overnight which you return to them overnight and your computer will show up repaired a couple days later. No standing in line at Tekserve. \r \r This past repair (and last at Tekserve), they gave me an estimated completion date of 1 week. I showed up on that day and they said it was not ready, that they would call me when it was done. After another week I called and was told that they were waiting for a part that was scheduled to arrive in another 2 weeks! I couldn't wait that long so I decided to pick the machine up and deal with Apple.\r \r And worse, when I went back the person at the door gave me a number for the wrong line. When I realized it I made the mistake of going back to him, he then gave me a ticket for the correct line but now I was several people behind where I should have been had he not made a mistake. This is typical of my experience at Tekserve. \r \r One bad customer experience after another. more

Plan on waiting FOREVER to drop off your computer for repair and then AGAIN when you pick it up. It is way easier and much less frustrating to deal with Apple for your repairs, especially if you have a laptop. Apple will send you a box overnight which you return to them overnight and your computer will show up repaired a couple days later. No standing in line at Tekserve. This past repair (and last at Tekserve), they gave me an estimated completion date of 1 week. I showed up on that day and they said it was not ready, that they would call me when it was done. After another week I called and was told that they were waiting for a part that was scheduled to arrive in another 2 weeks! I couldn't wait that long so I decided to pick the machine up and deal with Apple. And worse, when I went back the person at the door gave me a number for the wrong line. When I realized it I made the mistake of going back to him, he then gave me a ticket for the correct line but now I was several people behind where I should have been had he not made a mistake. This is typical of my experience at Tekserve. One bad customer experience after another. more

This place rocks! The apple store is full of tourists and posers. This place is for hard-core mac lovers from way back. I personally love the ticket process. It was much more efficient than other big businesses, including the apple store where you roam aimlessly and hope to catch someone's attention. I was able to check my email and sit down while waiting for my number to be called. I didnt even need to make a reservation or wait in a timeless line. Honestly, people on here have been way too harsh. anyone with an ounce of self-esteem and an appreciation for art would not be intimidated by these hipster geeks. They rescued my project and even expedited me because i was leaving the area within a few days of my crash. Now THAT is good customer service! Pros: ambience, staff, 10 cent cokes, close to transportation Cons: i was very satisfied. more

This place rocks! The apple store is full of tourists and posers. This place is for hard-core mac lovers from way back.\r \r I personally love the ticket process. It was much more efficient than other big businesses, including the apple store where you roam aimlessly and hope to catch someone's attention. I was able to check my email and sit down while waiting for my number to be called. I didnt even need to make a reservation or wait in a timeless line.\r \r Honestly, people on here have been way too harsh. anyone with an ounce of self-esteem and an appreciation for art would not be intimidated by these hipster geeks. They rescued my project and even expedited me because i was leaving the area within a few days of my crash. Now THAT is good customer service!\r \r Pros: ambience, staff, 10 cent cokes, close to transportation Cons: i was very satisfied. more

I was first drawn to the store by the anti-Big Brother feel of its plant and the charming unkemptness of its staff. In the past year, I've spent over two-thousand dollars at their site and never had a complaint. But once they were tested with an accident, the store's penny-pinching ways and inhuman understanding became clear. \r \r I had just picked up my iBook laptop after they replaced my faulty hard drive with a new one. I took it and booted up in the store, just in case I ran into any problems. I didn't. The machine seemed to be running as good as new and that felt nice. Then, just before shutting the laptop down, a toddler who had been running around the store for twenty minutes with a soda cup in hand ran into his lazily supervising dad. The dad tried to yank the soda from the kid's hand, but it ended up splashing all over the keyboard and screen of my laptop - not ten minutes after I'd picked it up. The dad said he'd help me out and get somebody, but he just took his family and left. I continued sopping up the Sprite with my jacket and brought the iBook to a tech and explained the freak situation. Although he didn't see the actual accident, he noticed the rambuctious behavior of the kids and sympathized with my predicament. \r \r Five minutes later, he returned to tell me that the computer would need a spill clean-up and that it would cost $250.00. First disarmed that I was actually being quoted a price, I fired back that there was no, no way that I'd be paying for an accident that took place on their site through no fault of my own. He left to speak with a ""supervisor."" The same guy returned to say that since it was an accident, they'd knock off half the price. Further exasperated at this hemorrhage in logic, I demanded to speak with a manager. \r \r Three ""managers"" and stubborn refusals later, they acquiesced to reason and swallowed the cost. They called the next day and said it had been cleaned. But if I wanted, I could replace the keyboard for 53 bucks. Pros: Free internet on 23rd Street Cons: Heartless service from a smug staff more

I was first drawn to the store by the anti-Big Brother feel of its plant and the charming unkemptness of its staff. In the past year, I've spent over two-thousand dollars at their site and never had a complaint. But once they were tested with an accident, the store's penny-pinching ways and inhuman understanding became clear. I had just picked up my iBook laptop after they replaced my faulty hard drive with a new one. I took it and booted up in the store, just in case I ran into any problems. I didn't. The machine seemed to be running as good as new and that felt nice. Then, just before shutting the laptop down, a toddler who had been running around the store for twenty minutes with a soda cup in hand ran into his lazily supervising dad. The dad tried to yank the soda from the kid's hand, but it ended up splashing all over the keyboard and screen of my laptop - not ten minutes after I'd picked it up. The dad said he'd help me out and get somebody, but he just took his family and left. I continued sopping up the Sprite with my jacket and brought the iBook to a tech and explained the freak situation. Although he didn't see the actual accident, he noticed the rambuctious behavior of the kids and sympathized with my predicament. Five minutes later, he returned to tell me that the computer would need a spill clean-up and that it would cost $250.00. First disarmed that I was actually being quoted a price, I fired back that there was no, no way that I'd be paying for an accident that took place on their site through no fault of my own. He left to speak with a "supervisor." The same guy returned to say that since it was an accident, they'd knock off half the price. Further exasperated at this hemorrhage in logic, I demanded to speak with a manager. Three "managers" and stubborn refusals later, they acquiesced to reason and swallowed the cost. They called the next day and said it had been cleaned. But if I wanted, I could replace the keyboard for 53 bucks. Pros: Free internet on 23rd Street Cons: Heartless service from a smug staff more

- so yeah... the place is dirty, avoid it, they'll be dead soon... my previous opinion has been changed by bad service, bad treatment, disrespect, and general unhappiness.... would really love to root for the underdog, but they just can't deliver. seems they'd rather fall on their sword than actually compete. Pros: the real mac "gurus" in nyc Cons: not as pretty as the apple stores more

- so yeah... the place is dirty, avoid it, they'll be dead soon... my previous opinion has been changed by bad service, bad treatment, disrespect, and general unhappiness.... would really love to root for the underdog, but they just can't deliver. seems they'd rather fall on their sword than actually compete. Pros: the real mac ""gurus"" in nyc Cons: not as pretty as the apple stores more

My company spends dollars in the thousands at this overated and overpriced dirty dump. They have the nerve to put this on the front of thier website ( which you would think would be better with all of the tatooed geniuses in that den of pseudo hipsterism that is destroying all that used truly bohemian on some small level in my beloved city ) : ""The staff's made up of hipster nerds, all refreshingly free of help desk arrogance.""- New York Magazine\r NY Magazine- only the profound arrogance over there would think that the creeps who infest and r employed here are cute. All of it's employess should get on a bus and go back home to Mommy in Ohio. I have had enough of this shallow generation and the fact that this store promotes this is shameful. They are rude n act as if you have walked in there to b graced by there existence. \r HEY TEKSERVE! Whatever happened to good ole American friendly customer service? If I spend $1000's of dollars in your store can you keep all those tatooed petty egos from saying anything besides- ""sure how may i help you sir, thank you, please come again"" These spoiled disenfranchised creeps should be able to say to me and other hard working human beings that go there 2 solve problems. To spend hard earned money with out some quintiple pierced wannabe shoving thier petty ego all over my new outfit from Banana Republic. Where all of your employees could learn a great deal about customer service. If i am in ""Williamsburg"" or oooh the ""East Village Man"" n i am buying a $4coffee and a $2 cookie i could live with this inverted pop cultural cookie cutter vermin that is ramapant around here these days. Not at some joint I spend thousands of dollars on computer equipment at!\r I am done. You will find my hard earned $ at the Apple Store or B&H. I gave you guys a chance- i let you know how i think first- you did nothing- NOW THE WORLD WILL SEE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT DUMP! I hope all of them get drafted into the Marine Corps n learn some manners! Pros: tatooed know it all miserable morons, close to subway Cons: all of the pseudo wannabe hipster trash that are employed there! more

My company spends dollars in the thousands at this overated and overpriced dirty dump. They have the nerve to put this on the front of thier website ( which you would think would be better with all of the tatooed geniuses in that den of pseudo hipsterism that is destroying all that used truly bohemian on some small level in my beloved city ) : "The staff's made up of hipster nerds, all refreshingly free of help desk arrogance."- New York Magazine NY Magazine- only the profound arrogance over there would think that the creeps who infest and r employed here are cute. All of it's employess should get on a bus and go back home to Mommy in Ohio. I have had enough of this shallow generation and the fact that this store promotes this is shameful. They are rude n act as if you have walked in there to b graced by there existence. HEY TEKSERVE! Whatever happened to good ole American friendly customer service? If I spend $1000's of dollars in your store can you keep all those tatooed petty egos from saying anything besides- "sure how may i help you sir, thank you, please come again" These spoiled disenfranchised creeps should be able to say to me and other hard working human beings that go there 2 solve problems. To spend hard earned money with out some quintiple pierced wannabe shoving thier petty ego all over my new outfit from Banana Republic. Where all of your employees could learn a great deal about customer service. If i am in "Williamsburg" or oooh the "East Village Man" n i am buying a $4coffee and a $2 cookie i could live with this inverted pop cultural cookie cutter vermin that is ramapant around here these days. Not at some joint I spend thousands of dollars on computer equipment at! I am done. You will find my hard earned $ at the Apple Store or B&H. I gave you guys a chance- i let you know how i think first- you did nothing- NOW THE WORLD WILL SEE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT DUMP! I hope all of them get drafted into the Marine Corps n learn some manners! Pros: tatooed know it all miserable morons, close to subway Cons: all of the pseudo wannabe hipster trash that are employed there! more

I must confess my extreme disappointment with Tekserve. I've been there in the past to buy products and once for minor service to my laptop. The service was alright. However, this recent experience has completely altered my impression of the place. I brought in my laptop because it was making strange noises. After examining I was told something with was wrong with the fan inside and it should be replaced. I was told it would take about 4 business days. Fine. I paid $60 dollars for the fan and $100 for service and was told that when my computer was ready they would give me a call. A week goes by. I get a phone call, but instead of telling me that it's fixed, they say they need my password because they are confused about what's wrong with it. After giving them my password several more days go by. I finally call the tech (he had had to leave his extension on my machine) Yes it turns out two fans are broken and they don't have one in stock so they are waiting for apple to ship it to them. And I have to pay another $40 dollars for the other fan. Joy. I call a week later, no apple hasn't even shipped the item. Two weeks go by, no word. Finally I stop by the shop in person. I tell them it's been ONE MONTH since I dropped off my computer. They check with apple for the part. It turns out apple somehow thought they shipped it but they didn't. So no, my computer is still not ready. What angers me is that if I hadn't come in person, no one would have checked to see if the part was on its way. My computer would just be lost among the many repair orders. It has been more than a month and I still haven't gotten my computer back. Trying to get someone on the phone there is impossible, you have to leave a message and they do not call you back. This used to be a really good place. I don't know what's happened. It has a really slick exterior but it is just superficial. Go to an Apple Store or Digital Society instead Pros: Fun looking shop to buy from Cons: Horrible repair service, Ambience to customer's needs more