C: my computer isn’t working, can you fix it?
Me: (looking at the computer like the outside of the case really matters) oh yeah i’m sure we can.
C: yeah, ya know i would do it myself but i’m busy writing a book. This thing is top of the line ya know I built most of it myself. She’s got 32GB of RAM that’s pretty sweet, shes fast ya know.
The computer was a basic dell with an I5 processor and 32GB of ram, no graphics card since it was used to just write word documents. After he quits bragging about his sweet rig i start run diagnostics and find the hard drive is failing.
I call the customer
Me: Hi C I’ve done some initial diagnostics on the computer and its got a bad hard drive, I’ve gone ahead and pulled the data from. We can replace the drive and put your data back on it.
C: ya know I don’t like windows 10 can you put 7 on it, while your at it.
Me: We can but we have to buy a product key and that’s going to add more to the cost to the repair.
C: oh OK well how about you get me the product key and CD and ill just install it myself to save money.
Me: well OK if that’s what you want that’s fine. (orders disc from Big Box Company)
So he comes and gets the computer and his backups and a windows 7 disk and key and thanks me for the help. Then i get a call later.
C: hey this disk isn’t working
Me: I checked it before you left the store with it and gave you the basic instructions. I know its working. But if you bring it in I will burn you a new one and exchange it.
So C comes in and gets the new disk and goes home, I get another call
C: hey this disk isn’t working right.
Me: I tested that one in front of you its a working disk and you should have no problem with it.
C: yeah man i just think somethings wrong here, so um hey how would you do this. I mean I KNOW how to install an operating system but how would you do it? how about you just kinda guide me over the phone while I do all the parts I know.
Me: I’ve already shown you how to do it, if you are having more difficulties then I recommend you ring it back in and let me do the install for you for $X.
C: ok ill try again and bring it back to you if i cant get it.
I never did hear back from him.
SMH to save a few bucks the customer decided to do the repair but wanted me to stay on the phone (unpaid) for the entire process to guide them.
