Listening to the Voices in My Head

aka My Review of “My Computer Mate” computer repair service.

I'm not a spiteful person, but when someone claims to provide a service, then does a piss poor job of it, and has the gall to say if you want it done right way, pay up again.

The Monitor on my Acer All in one Z5761 was intermittently failing. Called around and did some research, and was told that the 'inverter board' was failing and needed to be replaced. Off I went in search of part, and located it, bought it.

Then shopped around for a repair tech. Called a few of them before Wing found My Computer Mate, and suggested to call.

I did, and spoke at length with David, who appears to be the sole proprietor of the place. He said he was well versed in All in Ones, and swapping out the inverter board would take about an hour. He sounded so knowledgeable, a time was arranged for him to come and swap out the part.

I set up a work area, and when he arrived, I asked him repeatedly if there was anything he needed (you know, keyboard, mouse, speakers, or other computer items). He kept assuring me that no,nothing needed, and he proceeded to dismantle the computer. After an hour, he couldn't locate where the inverter board should go. So, he took a few more things apart, still no joy.

What set my spidey sense a-tingling was when I saw him looking at an online parts list for my computer right there and then. I thought he knew about them, and what went into them. Turns out, there is no inverter board for my computer. That the seller of the part had juxtaposed two digits in the model number. If David was so well versed in All in Ones, why didn't he know this ahead of time? Or why didn't he at least look this up prior to the attempt to fix mine?

I admit, he worked for three hours and only charged me for two. That isn't the issue.

The issue is this: he put my computer back together incorrectly. The monitor no longer had touch screen abilities (which it did even if the monitor was off), the webcam is now angled up and has a great view of the ac vent, and the audio for my blu-ray drive wasn't working.

When I informed him of these things, he told me he asked if I was satisfied with his reassembling of my computer and that I said I was satisfied.

I called the ACCC and gave them the whole story. According to them, someone who provides a service must do so with due care and skill. Seeing as I went from having an intermittently working screen, to having it, the webcam and the audio from the bluray not working, he didn't not do so with "due care and skill".

So yes, he said he will give me a full refund, but will NOT fix his f***ups unless I am willing to pay him more.

Sorry, but I never give a dog a 2nd chance to bite.

Turns out the seller of the Inverter Board listed wrong model compatibility. In home tech spent hours taking my computer down to its parts and there is no, I repeat, no inverter or inverter board located anywhere in the machine.

I have informed the seller of inverter board of this, and the out of pocket cost for having a tech work in my home ($110 ph labor. Luckily for me he didn't charge me for all 4 hours, just 2. )

The goodish news is it. Everything is set up again as it was, using two external monitors. Also, whoever designed this computer had oatmeal for brains. There is an hdmi out cable that goes no where. So, after bank account recovers from this expense, since the computer itself is in great condition, I am going to get an HDMI out compatible monitor, and an HDMI extension and just rock two monitors.

Problems solved!

Mega kudos to Alan for helping me get everything set up again. Worth his weight in gold, he is.

Good news, my Vaio has been booked to be picked up by a courier tomorrow. YAY!

"Will someone be there sometime between 9 and 3?"

What is so difficult about planning a couriers schedule?  Look at the route, distance, directions, plan shortest from point to point.

A: Mr Smith, 8am
B: Mr Jones 8:20am
C: Mrs Cooper 8:45

Have some wiggle room, yes but this 6 hour window?  Can you imagine if you told your boss "Yeah, I'll be in... sometime between 9 and 3."

What's the hardship saying "Courier will be there near or at 9:45. Will someone be home?"  *sigh* At least it will get the new hard drive. Then it's just fussing with restoring the Windows 7 system image merry-go-round again. Easy peasy.

Just got my Vista Print business card. I think the card stock used this time around is actually better than the first batch. I had to do some editing, as the association I was part of folded due to the founders' ill health. So glad that degree in graphic arts I got a few decades ago still comes in handy.

Got the 100-400 lens back, and have scanned both the repair order and repair receipt and sent it to the original owner of the lens, as he did say he would help defray the cost of the repairs. He didn't know that the jumping aperture numbers, and jumpy auto focus wasn't 'normal', and it wasn't his fault really. but still he did sell a faulty item. Just wish I had tested the lens more thoroughly before giving positive feedback on it.

I have a feeling that they might not like my customer response.

I'm a bit disappointed, that after purchasing over $25k worth of Canon kit, all three of my 'big' purchases have been faulty. 5DMkiii, short in the battery terminals, 70-200 IS, the auto focus stopped working. Now, a 4 yr old 100-400 Auto focus won't lock. I was told this is a known issue, but not wide spread enough to send out a recall, and is now going to cost me $640 to have fixed. Not happy about this.

You read that right. This "Jumping focus/Aperture 00" is a known issue, well documented, but not wide spread enough for Canon to issue a recall or fix gratis. If I wasn't so heavily invested in Canon, I might be tempted to jump ship.