Bait and switch in computer sales

Bait and switch.  You hear the term frequently but do you realize that bait and switch goes on every day, right under our noses?

You see the advertisements with vendors offering computers at ridiculously low, seemingly impossible pricing.  Sometimes they even try to cover up the tactic by claiming “limited quantities” or “limited to quantity in store”.   They keep far less than the anticipated demand (10 per store, for example) and when you get there they’re all gone.  They may even offer you a rain check, but tell you “we have no idea when we’ll see more”.

Enter the sales pitch.  “They’re all gone, BUT we have this model over here”.  Perhaps it’s an inferior model for the same price, or it’s a better model with more widgets and a higher price tag.  This is the infamous “bait and switch” at work and it’s illegal.

Another example is a vendor advertising a computer for a “too good to be true” price.  You get there and they down play it, tell you it’s not really all that good.  They criticize it’s warranty, components, etc.  They may even refuse to demonstrate it to you, or show you all the reasons you shouldn’t buy it, and then move you on to the next model..  “But this model over here… It has these features and this warranty for only X dollars more”.

This is also bait and switch and is also illegal in Canada.  Many vendors do it.  The idea is to lure you into the store, to get you into the “box” and then upsell to something more profitable.  Some consumers will just walk away.  Many, however, figure they’re already there so they might as well look at the turbo model.  Before you know it, the $499 computer becomes $2000 and you have no idea what just happened.

The favorite tactic after they’ve moved in for the kill is “extended warranties” or “service plans”.  Some will denegrate the manufacturer’s warranty, convincing you that the only saviour is this expensive “warranty”.  You’re told that the warranty will cover every possible scenario (which is fine until you go to use it and are told “Oh that.  That’s not covered”.)

Other vendors will advertise a price on a computer and when you get there tell you there are extra mandatory charges, such as “service plans” or “service agreements”.  Since you’re already there, prepared to buy, this seemingly minimal amount is an easy close.

If you are prepared, you can combat these deceptive practices.  Bring a family member with you.  Bring some printouts from other vendors, or their online shop if they have one.   Be informed to protect yourself.  An informed consumer is a good customer.

When you carry quality products you can proudly promote them all, knowing that whatever your client purchases will bring them great service.  That’s what computer sales should be all about.  Making sure your client is happy.  When they’re happy, they’ll tell a few.  When they’re unhappy, they’ll tell many.

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We fix your computer or it’s free! But what does that mean?

It’s important that we define what our guarantee means.  We work hard to repair your computer and to give you good value for your money.  We want you to be happy so that you’ll refer us to others.

With that said there are certain boundaries.  Our clients value our service, the time we spend and appreciate the quality of the products and workmanship we provide.  If you’re not serious about having us repair your computer, please don’t bring it to us.

You’re frustated with your computer, you don’t know what’s wrong with it but you know you want us to repair it for you.  We will work diligently to make sure that your computer is repaired quickly, properly and cost effectively.  If we discover that we can’t repair your computer, or that the repair would be too expensive to be cost effective, we will make recommendations to you.  We won’t charge you because we didn’t repair your computer.

If the repair fee is at least 20% less than the retail cost of an equivalent model and you simply choose not to have it done, there will be a diagnostic charge of $40 plus tax.  The same applies if you come in and simply ask us to tell you what’s wrong with your computer.  That charge will be credited to your next invoice if you decide to have us repair the computer within 30 days.

Please note that our guarantee does not apply to data recovery, which is done on a best effort basis.  If we send data recovery work to be done by one of our partners, that recovery is subject to their terms and conditions.

Our goal is to ensure that you get back up and running quickly, efficiently and cost effectively.  No other computer repair depot in Barrie provides the level of service and dedication that we do.  Our clients value that.

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The importance of backups

This week a very unfortunate incident highlights the importance of maintaining backups.  Hackers destroyed a flight sim site, apparently in a pointless exercise of self-amusement.  The data was backed up between two servers, but the hackers destroyed both.

This senseless act demonstrates to us all the volatility of data.  In a day and age where all our memories, indeed much of our lives, is stored digitally it’s important to remember to always back up your data.   Data can be destroyed in senseless acts, or it can be destroyed by mechanical failure.  The hard drive that your information is stored on is a mechanical device with a finite lifespan.

One free option available is online backups.  Microsoft’s Live Skydrive is a great example, giving you plenty of space.  Don’t simply depend on an online solution though.  Ensure that you burn your data to DVD or CD.   Costs have dropped sharply, making optical storage mediums practical and cost effective.

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How to disable “most visited thumbnails” tab in the Google toolbar

Some people love this feature in the new Google toolbar, some people really don’t want most visited thumbnails enabled.  To disable the most visited thumbnails tab in the Google toolbar, follow these instructions:

Firefox:

1. Click tools.
2. Click Add-ons.
3. Look for the “Google toolbar for Firefox” add-on and click on it’s options
4. Under the search tab uncheck ‘enable google new tab page’
5. Click Save

Internet Explorer:

1. Click tools.
2. Click Manage Add-ons.
3. Click Enable or Disable Add-ons.
4. Click ‘Google New Tab Page’
5. Click Disable at the bottom
6. Click OK.

That’s it.  Now those thumbnails will disappear.

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What is the best antivirus?

One of the tasks of a good computer repair technician is to constantly evaluate the latest security products available on the market and to make fair, unbiased recommendations to their clients.  It’s not enough to say “such and such is the best because we’ve got it on THOUSANDS of machines” or “This one is best because it’s free”.  Security products should only be recommended based on empirical evidence…quantifiable data.

Once you have the data, you then look at other factors, such as performance or issues caused.  Usability problems generated by the software.

In the past, we’ve heavily advocated against Symantec (Norton Antivirus).  The reasons were long and distinguished:

• The lowest detection rate of known, and unknown, malware
• Computers protected with Norton were coming in riddled with viruses and malware
• Once Norton was installed, the computer suffered severe performance issues
• Norton is known to corrupt email boxes
• It blocks Windows updates from registering, preventing access to the internet.
• Norton is known to block or interfere significantly with file and printer sharing
• Norton can damage network connections, preventing the computer from connecting to the internet
• It’s expensive considering all the trouble it causes.
• It doesn’t uninstall clean, leaving traces of itself riddled throughout the computer.
• Norton 2009 can cause issues with networks, creating errors such as “server storage memory is not sufficient to process the command” and preventing access to network resources
• Upgrades/renewals to your Norton product have been known to completely damage a Windows install, preventing you from loading into Windows
• Having Norton installed can prevent you from opening attachments in emails, either in Outlook or in web based providers such as Yahoo.
• Errors, such as “Attempted Intrusion “HTTP Macromedia Long Filename BO” from your machine” and no technical support.

In short, it was absolutely terrible.  Yet vendors continued to push it, even bashing those that spoke against it, without real reason for doing so.  Independent antivirus review sites, such as AV-Comparatives.org, were hammering it, yet people, including technical support help desks and even Rogers, were pushing it on the unsuspecting public.  Just a few days ago we had a laptop come in with Norton Antivirus 2008 on it that the company help desk insisted they use.  It was so riddled with infection that the laptop wouldn’t even load Windows.

It’s quite obvious that doesn’t make for a good antivirus program.  Which leads back to the topic of this blog.  What is the best antivirus?

It’s getting to be a tougher choice.  This year, many vendors have picked up their game.  Norton and McAfee, for instance, have been busy reworking their products, perhaps finally realizing that a name alone isn’t going to save them.  Free contenders, such as AVG, Avira and Avast have been upping the ante.

Well, AV-Comparatives.org has released their 2009 results, and they may surprise you.  Norton and McAfee are both making very strong showings, coming up in the top with detection rates and low false positives.  While they are still known to create serious problems with Windows, they’re doing a much better job at detecting problems.

AVG, our big favorite last year, has fallen behind.  While it’s easy on your computer, doesn’t cause issues and is quite worry-free, it’s lagging behind in detection rates, offering up more false positives and slower scan speeds.

Avira, on the other hand, has now overtaken AVG, also being light on computer resources, hassle free and a free download.  It also offers antispam, antivirus, firewall, etc.  It’s a complete package, with the very attractive price of FREE!

Click here to download Avira Antivirus for free.

Eset (NOD32) is still our favorite paid antivirus.  While not rated as high with known infections, it is vastly superior in the detection and removal of unknown infections (using what is called “heuristics”).  It is also much easier on the computer, doesn’t cause any significant problems with the functionality of the computer and is actually cheaper to buy than Norton.

Norton and McAfee are now much safer bets for security than they used to be.  If you can deal with the problems they create, if they create any for you personally that is, and you have at least 1GB of RAM in XP or 3GB of RAM in Vista, then they are fine.  Letting some infections slide is typical of any antivirus software, including AVG, so a few here and there is no cause for major alarm.

If you’re looking for a free alternative with decent protection, Avira is this years recommendation from me.

If you’re looking for a healthy balance of functionality, ease of use, performance and protection, Eset NOD32 still reigns supreme as the best paid antivirus protection for your computer.

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What to do (and not do) when you spill liquid on your laptop

We’ve seen a large number of laptop repairs come in lately due to spills.  Here are some tips to increase your laptop’s survival chances.

1. Turn the laptop off imediately.  Liquid in a running laptop can cause permanent damage to the main board in the laptop, which can be expensive to repair.
2. Turn the laptop upside down to drain out as much liquid as possible.  There usually is residue that remains, but that will make it easier to clean out.
3. Take the battery out of it.  Even powered off, a battery left in the laptop will still provide power to some parts of the laptop.
4. Do NOT use a blow dryer or any other forced air.  Blow dryers will cause the liquid to spread, creeping into places that could cause serious problems, such as under protective tape, etc.
5. Do not attempt to turn it on again until it’s professionally cleaned.
6. Have it cleaned by a professional immediately.  Even tiny bits of liquid can cause corrosion if left unchecked.

Pop, coffee and liquor can create a sticky mess.  Even though you wash it off the keys, the next time the laptop starts running hot the resulting syrup will cause keys to stick and other parts to malfunction.  Soapy water will not resolve the issue.  I’ve figured that out from personal experience, killing keyboards with pop.

Accidents happen.  Following the above steps will increase the likelihood that your laptop can be repaired with minimal expense

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