Geek squad in the UK!?

[Dameize]

I seriously never realised untill now when looking at IT jobs and geeksquad is hiring here in the UK about 20mins from me!. Seriously? in the UK? when did this happen? I thought they were just an infestation of the USA not the UK as well.

Another big crusty old senile tech giant. Theres already 'know how' from pc world and they have a really bad name for being noobs and ripping peoples eyes out.

How much of a competition are they over in the USA? I mean they have the funds to blast google adwords on every town and leaflet drop if they want and tv ads etc.

http://www.geeksquad.co.uk/

Here is what they highlight in their job description made me have a good chuckle after reading about them on here before.

Forget what you think you know about IT support and the people who work in it. With advanced technology now available to so many of us, helping everyone get the very most out of the kit and content they have or are looking for, is more important than ever. If you have a love of technology and a passion for demonstrating it, the Geek Squad is where you belong. We’re coaches in computing.

 

[scottjess]

When I worked for a computer store we were always fixing computer equipment previously 'fixed' by the Geek squad.
After talking to a couple of ex Geek Squad techs; I found out the reason we got so many geek squad 'repairs' at our store.
Best Buy hires sales people and and trains them to be techs, not usually the other way round.
The emphasis is always on up selling not fixing the actual problem at hand.
When it comes to fixing the problem they have a 'fix all' cd they just put in the computer; press a few buttons and charge a couple hundred bucks.

I seriously never realised untill now when looking at IT jobs and geeksquad is hiring here in the UK about 20mins from me!. Seriously? in the UK? when did this happen? I thought they were just an infestation of the USA not the UK as well.

Another big crusty old senile tech giant. Theres already 'know how' from pc world and they have a really bad name for being noobs and ripping peoples eyes out.

How much of a competition are they over in the USA? I mean they have the funds to blast google adwords on every town and leaflet drop if they want and tv ads etc.

http://www.geeksquad.co.uk/

Here is what they highlight in their job description made me have a good chuckle after reading about them on here before.

Forget what you think you know about IT support and the people who work in it. With advanced technology now available to so many of us, helping everyone get the very most out of the kit and content they have or are looking for, is more important than ever. If you have a love of technology and a passion for demonstrating it, the Geek Squad is where you belong. We’re coaches in computing.

 

[Dameize]

sounds about right haha. I was just shocked at seing the job advert and when I looked knowing what I know about them I couldnt help but laugh at them.

Sadly though as my granda pointed out (ex tv tech but has some pc knowledge) most people his age would not think to call a tech out and would just go to pc world. His sisters are prime examples they got the windows backup reminder and instead of just asking me about it they went to pc world and you know what happens next.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

If only we had some kind of trade association where everyone paid a subscription. Then the association could pay for adverts on TV and in the press to make people aware that their local computer repair business is a better bet than the big box stores who only want to flog you something.

 

[PCSupportGlasgow]

If only we had some kind of trade association where everyone paid a subscription. Then the association could pay for adverts on TV and in the press to make people aware that their local computer repair business is a better bet than the big box stores who only want to flog you something.

Does that also include the kebab shops, newsagents, etc who claim they do PC Repairs and webdesign? but in reality are the ones giving the business a bad name with the N&P as the main repair.... it these people who driving clients to the big brand stores.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

Yep, even the kebab techs!

Seriously though, maybe have a website on the adverts with links to the association members.

 

[PCSupportGlasgow]

Yep, even the kebab techs!

hehehe always makes me wonder where they do the actual repairs. or in a more serious note how unclean they actually are as inside most PCs not exactly sportless so wouldnt want to eat food from somewhere also fixingf PCs

Seriously though, maybe have a website on the adverts with links to the association members.

be open to abuse like every other trade association and noone going to do it unless was a nice cash gravy train for them (wanna start one? joking)

Now UK only website which is selective on who is allowed a listing wouldnt be too hard

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

Now UK only website which is selective on who is allowed a listing wouldnt be too hard

Yep, let's do it. We've got Scotland and England covered, so that just leaves Wales & NI

 

[Dameize]

haha sounds good. I have a few domains suitable if interested and can help seo wise.

 

[sassenach]

There's always the BCS (British Computer Society) http://www.bcs.org/ a trade body with a good reputation

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

There's always the BCS (British Computer Society) http://www.bcs.org/ a trade body with a good reputation

Very true, I remember an ex-gf from about 20 years ago had to go through a whole load of hoops to get into it.

 

[PCSupportGlasgow]

the bcs more geared towards developers, system analysts, large corporate managers and those from acedemic establishments.


was a member for years when was a developer which reason i never even considered it for the support tech enviroment.

If you a member long enough and have a few varied jobs you can end up with lots of letters after your name look at any IT lecturer as an example

 

[Frank]

They're also in Canada, China, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Maybe some other countries now, too.

 

[joydivision]

The BCS is quite difficult to join though.

The kakab shops and newsagents are a bit of a problem near me but none of them last five minutes Most people near me are clever enough to know that a Newsagent probably isn't the best place to get a PC repaired.

 

[puzz1ed1]

If only we had some kind of trade association where everyone paid a subscription. Then the association could pay for adverts on TV and in the press to make people aware that their local computer repair business is a better bet than the big box stores who only want to flog you something.

ACRBO and BCS

GeekSquad less of a concern in UK now that CPW gave up on BesyBuy

 

[joydivision]

I am a member of ARCBO but I wish there some some sort of UK scheme you have to pay for and maybe pass entrance exams to join it. A scheme which is also designed purely for techs. Maybe there could be a domestic and commercial membership.

Anything that makes it difficult for the "Spicy Chicken - We also fix PCs" places to join.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

Apart from raising awareness and having another badge we can put on our marketing material, I'm not sure of what the advantages would be.

 

[puzz1ed1]

Absolutely, though the same could be said of ACRBO, BCS, CompTIA, MSCE, etc etc

What does any of it mean to the average person who needs something doing on their computer?! The fact that PCWorld and the like still have a constant stream of repairs and upgrades is probably evidence enough that customers will go anywhere.

Acronyms and badges are pretty worthless without a major awareness campaign. Many people still want the assurance of a "Corgi registered" gas installer - although it's been defunct for a while folk know it mattered, though probably knew nothing as to what it really meant.

It's the same with the utilities market - BT and British Gas will always retain a large user-base purely cos the names are assumed to be the most trusted, particularly among the older generation.

I know I can arrange gas, electric, phone, broadband and mobiles for much less than the big names, but many people prefer to stick to the names they know, mistaking it to equate to trustworthiness and excellence ;-)

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

The badges and symbol aren't totally worthless as some people will be impressed/swayed by them.

If you've got two ads that look exactly the same and one's got an "XXX Association of YYY" on it and the other one hasn't, then which are people more likely to choose?

 

[joydivision]

My point is the trade budy would be for IT techs and nothing else. And the membership fees could be put towards placing bit adds to raise awareness of why you're local newsagents might not be the best place to have your PC repaired.