Is PC repair a dead business?

[bytebuster]

I haven't had much success as a PC repairman, and I was talking over what I should do next with people on an unrelated forum, and they suggested that PC repair is a mature and soon to be declining business. PCs are so cheap now that when they get infected people just toss them and buy new. I've seen a desktop PC for $239 new. If we're charging $99/hr to remove a bad BSOD virus, where does that leave us? I got this $10,000 education that I hoped would be a big moneymaker for nothing.

The vocational schools around here largely dropped technical education after I graduated, apparently there simply isn't the demand for PC repairmen and MCSE's that there once was. The school I went to put their tech teachers out to pasture about a year or two after I left. It's now a cosmetology (hair stylist) school.

I did some googling and apparently the local congressperson got a three year grant from the Obama Administration for the local community college to teach clean energy technologies. I may get certified as a solar panel installer. I've got to face reality, and reality seems to be that this is a dying business. I've read other posts on here from people whose businesses are failing too. It's not gonna change, and we probably need to look for other employment eventually.

 

[NYJimbo]

My repair business is doing better now than it did last year. I am even getting weird stuff. A guy walked into the shop today with some kind of electronic whatchamacallit and asked me if I could solder on 4 wires that were torn off. I told him I could do it for $20 and he was overjoyed. It took me 5 minute and 10 cents worth of stuff. Another guy came in and asked me to recover images off his damaged digital camera.

I get virus loaded machines every day, laptops with broken parts or ones needing new DC jacks. Its really steady and improving daily. I don't think the PC repair business is dying.

 

[JosephLeo]

If "The Cloud" succeeds then the PC business probably is most likely dead. Technologies like AMD's Fusion and Operating Systems like Google Chrome OS and Cloud OS are the forerunners for the cloud and give you an idea of what the future holds.

However, my personal feelings tell me that while the Personal Computer business might die the Computing industry as a whole will get a whole lot better with everyone wanting to move to the cloud. It's simply a paradigm shift and we're either forced to change with it or go out of business. I don't think we're in trouble any time soon though. Say that all PC sales suddenly stop right this moment, we still have about 5 years of good business in the Home PC market and then we still have the entire office market which will most likely NEVER use the cloud due to things like proprietary information, security concern amongst other things.

Short answer: Yes we're doomed in the Home PC market within the next 10 to 15 years, but we still have the Office market and not to mention someone has to maintain the cloud as well.

 

[Dave]

There will always be a need for a PC tech. In the future nearly everything will run on a computer. Someone has to sort out the problems and make sure they are working at peak performance. It's not just about desktops and laptops though. What about Servers, and other gadgets.

 

[JosephLeo]

There will always be a need for a PC tech.

I hear the radio repair business is BOOMING. The PC will die out and become ubiquitous then deprecated and finally dead just like every other gadget before it.

From Telegraph to Telephone to Cell Phone.
From Analog Radio to Digital Radio
From Black & White to Color TV to HDTV
From Vacuum Tubes to Integrated Circuit to Microprocessor to Home Computer...to Cloud.

 

[Dave]

I hear the radio repair business is BOOMING. The PC will die out and become ubiquitous then deprecated and finally dead just like every other gadget before it.

From Telegraph to Telephone to Cell Phone.
From Analog Radio to Digital Radio
From Black & White to Color TV to HDTV
From Vacuum Tubes to Integrated Circuit to Microprocessor to Home Computer...to Cloud.

Technology advances. But so do your skills. Some things can be applied to other electronics. Such as soldering, I can't think of any others. But I understand what you are saying though. But the Cloud is going have to run on something. If I had the option I would prefer a desktop over a Cloud to store my information. I'd rather not have everything easily accessible by the government. Not to mention prying eyes.

 

[mekon]

I hear the radio repair business is BOOMING. The PC will die out and become ubiquitous then deprecated and finally dead just like every other gadget before it.

From Telegraph to Telephone to Cell Phone.
From Analog Radio to Digital Radio
From Black & White to Color TV to HDTV
From Vacuum Tubes to Integrated Circuit to Microprocessor to Home Computer...to Cloud.

Gordon Bennett. Die out and then become ubiquitous. Now that is something I would pay to see!

 

[anonymous Mac Tech]

I'm not getting rich but I can't see things slowing down any time soon, at least from my perspective. But to survive in the next few years you are gonna have to know a lot more than how to plug in your usb drive and do scans to clean up malware. If I didn't do laptops I might as well cut my revenue in half. On top of that if I only did Windows machines I'd be competing with everybody and their brother that "knows how to fix computers". But whatever happens, happens. If I have to sell out, close up shop I'll still have my BS degree that I can maybe finally get some use out of.

 

[andrewrost3241981]

In my opinion, I think that the computer repair field will eventually die out (mostly). I believe that computers have become so inexpensive that the consumer will eventually opt to buy a new computer rather than have their computer fixed.

 

[JosephLeo]

Technology advances. But so do your skills. Some things can be applied to other electronics. Such as soldering, I can't think of any others. But I understand what you are saying though. But the Cloud is going have to run on something. If I had the option I would prefer a desktop over a Cloud to store my information. I'd rather not have everything easily accessible by the government. Not to mention prying eyes.

Not really. all the cloud needs is a screen with some sort of connection to it. (4G, WiFi, Ethernet, etc.) and for people who don't want their stuff stored on the cloud an optional hard drive.

Memory, CPU, and everything else can be on the level of a modern day budget smart phone since everything is processed and rendered off site then streamed directly to your device. As proof, AMD Fusion/OTOY can run Crysis (THE CRYSIS) on an iPhone.

 

[NickCat11]

In my opinion, I think that the computer repair field will eventually die out (mostly). I believe that computers have become so inexpensive that the consumer will eventually opt to buy a new computer rather than have their computer fixed.

How will they transfer all of their data from the broken computer to the new one

 

[NYJimbo]

In my opinion, I think that the computer repair field will eventually die out (mostly). I believe that computers have become so inexpensive that the consumer will eventually opt to buy a new computer rather than have their computer fixed.

I think we are seeing a bottoming of prices on laptops, at least for the near term. The netbook looked like it was going to be the new choice for Joe Six Pack to check email and watch porn, but many people who got a netbook really dont like them for all day use. The low end 15" laptop is really what most people are comfortable with.

For now I think the $500-$750 15" laptop is going to be the base unit for most people shopping for a basic laptop. It doesn't make sense to throw these out every 2 years. I see so many of these when they are just out of warranty and the client doesnt want to spend $200 on fixes but also realizes that its crazy to spend another $500 to $700 for a new one just 13 months after they did it on their existing one.

So we do alot of repairs on 1-3 year old low-end laptops because its still cheaper than buying another one. I think that will be true for at least a few more years.

 

[andrewrost3241981]

How will they transfer all of their data from the broken computer to the new one

You are right about that one. I think that data recovery will be one of the few mainstays in this business. For me, I am just afraid of all of the "new" hardware and other things that are going to come out in the future and having to keep up with that. I started my business in March and I still have no experience with laptop hardware. I DESPARATELY need to find an old piece of **** laptop that I can practice and learn on (DC jacks, etc).

My brother was going to buy a new computer around Christmas time, and he was asking me if I could build him one cheaper than one he could get custom built online. I did some research and really I couldn't build him one cheaper than the one he could buy online from Costco (at least one that wasn't a total piece of junk).

This November has been my most profitable month, but I also do other non-repair related services such as tutoring and things like that. I have no idea what I will be doing years from now (that is one of the main reasons I have decided at 28 to go back to get my bachelor's degree in computer science). If I could do computer repair as my career, I think I would love it. However, if it doesn't work out to be profitable enough, I just think I need something else to fall back on.

 

[mekon]

Somebody please tell me where the mileage is in this thread? One of the prerequisites of working for yourself is optimism.
The comments that the OP made about computers and computer repair could equally be applied to just about any product or trade on the planet.
Products evolve and so do the technicians that repair them; our industry is no different to any other.
The OP has been unable to make a go of his business, so what? I could point you towards plenty of techs who started within the same time frame in the USA and here in the UK who are doing very nicely indeed.
I thought the whole point of this forum was to exchange knowledge about how to make our lives as techs easier and our businesses successful and profitable; not to indulge in self flagellation.
Building a business takes get up and go and a certain amount of self sacrifice; you cannot succeed if your answer to every knock back is to look for an escape route.

 

[NYJimbo]

I thought the whole point of this forum was to exchange knowledge about how to make our lives as techs easier and our businesses successful and profitable; not to indulge in self flagellation.

Actually this is the "general chat" section. He could talk about anything he wants.

 

[mekon]

Actually this is the "general chat" section. He could talk about anything he wants.

Absolutely, but I still don't see the mileage in the doom and gloom.

 

[MobileTechie]

It might put off potential new competitors?!

 

[PcTek9]

Let me say that i read an article by bestbuy saying that GeekSquad was making tons of money for them. In fact, even though their appliance sales busines is down 30%, Geeksquad has made up for so much of that loss, that the execs said they were 'happy with it'.
Now they are going to open GeekSquad testing/drop off points in office depot stores.
I would say that businesses will still need help... B/c if you are just marketing to home users you are messing up. See, big businesses can afford to keep an IT guy on premises all the time as a full time job, but many smaller businesses can't.
What I'd advise you to remember, is that most pc repair businesses start out repairing home pc's, and then move to repairing businesses as they grow. See businesses need their data, yes pc's are cheap, but a businesses data is it's blood, and that is expensive.
I would also tell you don't bite off more than you can chew, but at the same time explore every opportunity for growth. In other words, don't say you can build a super computer to run a nuclear reactor.
I came up with the idea of cleaning off all the computers that were sold to pawn shops. To make them porn free, and like new, creating an account called 'owner'. So that when a new person bought them, they weren't exposed to all the previous owners 'stuff'. I did it for $50 a pc. They piled up so quick I had tons of work.
I installed home networking, and was asked if I could do business networking... ABSOLUTELY! Then I spent the next 2 days reading a couple of intense books about windows server. That same week I billed out $5,000 for a pc network to a multimillion dollar company.
I got that client by just mailing everybody a post card (batches of 100 at a time). Every 100 cards got me one really big business...
Someone asked if I could install a video camera in their store, and after looking at the old video camera system they had, I saw it was just a pc with a card in it that recorded to hard disk, all the camera lines carried 12 volt power on them straight to the camera.
That got me into another whole area of business, I installed many complete digital security camera systems using bluetechcctv.com as my part provider (they answered any question i had and supplied every part I needed...) I set up several of these systems, putting in a 16 camera system, with 1 pc to record realtime video @ 32 frames per second per camera that could allow you trace an item that was stolen and maintain records for a few months to years. I'd charge 8 grand, spend 3 on parts, and pocket 5, and have the whole thing installed in 3 days of 36 hours, with a few simple hand tools.
At night after I finished the bookkeeping I would drive home and sit in an easy chair watching tv, and designing websites for companies.
I even wrote software to help run small businesses on special request. For example I had a client that owned a restaurant and I wrote very sophisticated software to help manage their cost analysis, got their food cost down to 21% with it. (which if you know about restaurants that is a really big deal)
Anyway, the opportunity is endless, go stand at best buy looking at tv's all day, and out of the corner of your eye watch the geeksquad guys, people are dropping off computers like there is no tommorrow.
Good luck.

 

[ITTech]

Let me say that i read an article by bestbuy saying that GeekSquad was making tons of money for them. In fact, even though their appliance sales busines is down 30%, Geeksquad has made up for so much of that loss, that the execs said they were 'happy with it'.
Now they are going to open GeekSquad testing/drop off points in office depot stores.
I would also tell you don't bite off more than you can chew, but at the same time explore every opportunity for growth. In other words, don't say you can build a super computer to run a nuclear reactor.
I came up with the idea of cleaning off all the computers that were sold to pawn shops. To make them porn free, and like new, creating an account called 'owner'. So that when a new person bought them, they weren't exposed to all the previous owners 'stuff'. I did it for $50 a pc. They piled up so quick I had tons of work.
I installed home networking, and was asked if I could do business networking... ABSOLUTELY! Then I spent the next 2 days reading a couple of intense books about windows server. That same week I billed out $5,000 for a pc network to a multimillion dollar company.
I got that client by just mailing everybody a post card (batches of 100 at a time). Every 100 cards got me one really big business...
Someone asked if I could install a video camera in their store, and after looking at the old video camera system they had, I saw it was just a pc with a card in it that recorded to hard disk, all the camera lines carried 12 volt power on them straight to the camera.
That got me into another whole area of business, I installed many complete digital security camera systems using bluetechcctv.com as my part provider (they answered any question i had and supplied every part I needed...) I set up several of these systems, putting in a 16 camera system, with 1 pc to record realtime video @ 32 frames per second per camera that could allow you trace an item that was stolen and maintain records for a few months to years. I'd charge 8 grand, spend 3 on parts, and pocket 5, and have the whole thing installed in 3 days of 36 hours, with a few simple hand tools.
At night after I finished the bookkeeping I would drive home and sit in an easy chair watching tv, and designing websites for companies.
I even wrote software to help run small businesses on special request. For example I had a client that owned a restaurant and I wrote very sophisticated software to help manage their cost analysis, got their food cost down to 21% with it. (which if you know about restaurants that is a really big deal)
Anyway, the opportunity is endless, go stand at best buy looking at tv's all day, and out of the corner of your eye watch the geeksquad guys, people are dropping off computers like there is no tommorrow.
Good luck.

I love what you are doing as a small business. The ability to adapt and offer new services will ensure you will last as a business. I always advice never to put all your eggs in one basket. One thing us techs can do is learn more espeically the networking field and pick up small business clients. To them the computer is not worth nearly as much as their data and the uptime. They lose money every hour when a computer is down. The $500 computer is worth a lot less than the salary they may be paying just one of their employees for one day's labor.

I like your pawn shop idea not bad

we should talk more to exchange ideas

 

[joydivision]

The cost of computers has actually gone up quite a bit and people are more aware now. Even if people just buy new computers there is a big market in setting them up. Cloud computing will cause other problems and we can get work there too.

If all you can do is hardware then you're doomed, there is no money in installing video cards or memory.

To survive this modern world you're going to have to know TCP/IP inside out. By the end of the year I expect I shall be doing a lot of cloud stuff.