For a $20 flat rate they definitely have to rush repairs. I'm fussy about my work. Not saying they're necessarily sloppy, but you can't throw in any "extras" at that rate. I do all the Windows updates to make sure that if there's a problem, it happens to me, not the customer. I do the manufacturer's updates if any, especially BIOS. I check for malware. Yeah, if a computer came in with a virus I could likely identify that virus and kill it within 5 minutes. Hell, back in the day when most viruses exhibited similar behavior I wrote a program which could find and kill almost any virus out at the time in under 30 seconds. Job done, pay me. I could make money at that. BUT, I wouldn't be able to check for OTHER issues as well. I wouldn't be able to track down HOW or WHEN they got the virus. I wouldn't be able to plug security holes and remove browser hijacks. One issue, one fix, one charge.
I would bet that the deal, while technically what is claimed, is not exactly "honest". Not illegally dishonest or anything, just that this deal gets you in the door and, yes, if it's what you really want, you can get it. BUT, wouldn't you be happier with this better computer? And while you're here, look at all the cool stuff you could buy!
And why do I think that? Because I know customers. They want it all for nothing. There is absolutely no way that they don't have customers who say, "Bad hard drive, you say? Here's a hard drive and here's $20. Thank you!" And they DEFINITELY have customers who say, "Here's a pile of junk and here's $20. Make something. I'll pick it up tomorrow. Than you!" There are some customers who will try to take advantage of anything and everything. I just give away used parts because my store is a drop off point for recycling. I get something cool now and then, one customer gets to get rid of junk they don't want and another customer gets a free part. I get stuff out of being in the middle of two happy customers, a business person's dream! But now I only give away parts IF you pay me to install them. And my answering machine no longer has my cell phone number on it. Those two policies changed the day a customer called my cell phone on a Sunday wanting me to open my store for him to see if I had some free memory to give him. So they MUST have some policy which says that this rate doesn't apply in certain circumstances. I would bet a large percentage of customers don't get out the door having spent only $20. Some absolutely do, obviously. I'm not saying it's dishonest in the sense that they are lying, just in the sense that the purpose for advertised price is a draw, not for the service they're advertising, but for some upsell or there are some "conditions" on getting that price, if nothing else then just to prevent abuse of the service.
I would bet that the deal, while technically what is claimed, is not exactly "honest". Not illegally dishonest or anything, just that this deal gets you in the door and, yes, if it's what you really want, you can get it. BUT, wouldn't you be happier with this better computer? And while you're here, look at all the cool stuff you could buy!
And why do I think that? Because I know customers. They want it all for nothing. There is absolutely no way that they don't have customers who say, "Bad hard drive, you say? Here's a hard drive and here's $20. Thank you!" And they DEFINITELY have customers who say, "Here's a pile of junk and here's $20. Make something. I'll pick it up tomorrow. Than you!" There are some customers who will try to take advantage of anything and everything. I just give away used parts because my store is a drop off point for recycling. I get something cool now and then, one customer gets to get rid of junk they don't want and another customer gets a free part. I get stuff out of being in the middle of two happy customers, a business person's dream! But now I only give away parts IF you pay me to install them. And my answering machine no longer has my cell phone number on it. Those two policies changed the day a customer called my cell phone on a Sunday wanting me to open my store for him to see if I had some free memory to give him. So they MUST have some policy which says that this rate doesn't apply in certain circumstances. I would bet a large percentage of customers don't get out the door having spent only $20. Some absolutely do, obviously. I'm not saying it's dishonest in the sense that they are lying, just in the sense that the purpose for advertised price is a draw, not for the service they're advertising, but for some upsell or there are some "conditions" on getting that price, if nothing else then just to prevent abuse of the service.
