Stupid question... but what is a Pizza tech exactly?

[Dennis Swanson]

I've been reading the forums for a while now, and every once in a while I see someone referred to as a Pizza Tech/Fly By Night.

Does it mean people who do things like computer repair for a side-job; not knowing exactly what they are getting into?

Or just stupid tech people in general?

[MrUnknown]

I would say in general it is a stupid tech.

but, someone who is doing this business for "pizza" (very low) prices and doing illegal activity, such as installing Windows 7 on someone's computer for $50 or a virus removal for $10. They also usually have no business license for their state, and are basically operating a completely illegal business doing illegal activities. They usually have no real tech skill and can easily return the computer in a worse state. A lot of times they will just reinstall Windows, more than likely an illegal copy (probably a corporate edition of XP) to fix the issue.

This is what I think anyway. Some people have a broader definition.

[Doctor Micro]

Originally Posted by Dennis Swanson

I've been reading the forums for a while now, and every once in a while I see someone referred to as a Pizza Tech/Fly By Night.

Does it mean people who do things like computer repair for a side-job; not knowing exactly what they are getting into?

Or just stupid tech people in general?

Your first guess is the usual definition, though it has sometimes been expanded in these forums to include the second.

[meanderer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DsAwt8vf6Q

Bryce had a definition back in the front page "some kids who wants to make pizza money by doing computer repairs".

It implies incompetence, amateur, and sometimes shady practice.

[MrUnknown]

as mentioned, it is "slang" and has no real positive definition and changes from person to person.

My interpretation is someone who doesn't know what they are doing charging others to work on their computer without attempting to follow the laws. I don't care what they are charging, but people who have no clue generally charge a small amount. However, I have taken clients from other well-established (shop and all) where they charged over $200 and didn't actually fix anything.

They are a great target for this, but GeekSquad is a pizza tech as far as I am concerned. Most of the people working on the computers have absolutely no idea what to do. The ones that do have an idea, have absolutely no authority to use it and must use the procedure given to them. This makes them all equally incompetent when they work on your computer.

They also use Comic Sans *points evil sarcastic finger at Doctor Micro*

[ZenMike]

Originally Posted by meanderer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DsAwt8vf6Q

Bryce had a definition back in the front page "some kids who wants to make pizza money by doing computer repairs".

It implies incompetence, amateur, and sometimes shady practice.

That video is terrific.

I always associated pizza tech with pizza delivery. Low budget and working out of the trunk of an old car with no insurance...

[Bryce W]

I got the term from Onforce.com . The term is pretty loose but I believe its about "people who do computer repair work for pizza money". As others have mentioned, they would be uninsured, unlicensed etc..

[red12049]

Originally Posted by Sloc

Technically it's not illegal to "operate" without a business license, so as long as you're not making a certain amount of money per year (i.e. not banking off it). The IRS, otherwise, doesn't really give a damn..

Not every tech here, I bet, has a "business" license (whatever that means, right?)

Well, you've covered the IRS, (not that I checked), but what about state and local regulations? As far as I know, the IRS doesn't care if you are legal or not, so long as you pay the correct amount of taxes. Licensing is normally the province of state and local authorities.

Rick

[dk99]

Originally Posted by Sloc

Technically it's not illegal to "operate" without a business license, so as long as you're not making a certain amount of money per year (i.e. not banking off it). The IRS, otherwise, doesn't really give a damn..

Not every tech here, I bet, has a "business" license (whatever that means, right?)

It might not be illegal to operate without a business license but chances are they don't have insurance or knowledge so thats scary for the customer. what if the non licensed non insured pizza tech fixes a computer or runs some cable and the next day the customers house burns down what then..

my definition of a pizza tech is someone who has very little experience and will charge someone for there learning and screw stuff up. someone who will nuke and pave everything without knowing what the problem was in the first place ect.....

[Paul Rodgers]

How many people here are insured?

A pizza tech is someone who is willing to work on computers for "hobby money". They will cut corners because of laziness and/or inexperience.