Staples Easytech prices

Those prices are low. I am glad we don't have a staples around here. I hope "System Restore with Antivirus Install" doesn't include the price of the AV software.

I would think I would see these prices on craigslist before staples website.
 
I think those are old prices. I'm not sure if you google'd them or something, but if you go to the site and actually browse through the stuff, you get this page:
http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/tech_09/repair.html

Also, take note of the fine print. They charge $70 for a diagnostic in shop, but then there are additional fees to actually do the repair. I think something along the lines of $30 to install a stick of ram that's bad...$50 to replace a power supply, or whatever it is. The charges likely stack, so if you need two parts replaced, you're paying a good amount.
Maybe an EasyTech can confirm this, if we have an EasyTech member?
 
I have a Staples and a Best Buy opening up in my town this month. Grrrrrr......... Im not really worried about Geek Squad because of their prices. But those Staples prices are pretty low. Only thing that I can do is keep doing the best work that I can and have superior customer service and keep keepin on.
 
Smells like Geek Squad warmed over to me. Front page prices are "carry in"; things get a bit more interesting if you click on the "Technical Repair in Your Home or Office"

$60 bench fee isn't bad, but I'm curious about the System Restore with Antivirus Install (package price when both are purchased together) for $70. Sounds like a N&P job. Note also the "Data Transfer or Data Backup (up to 10GB)" for $90. So, if I understand it correctly, if I take my PC in for a System Restore and Antivirus install and I want my files saved and restored, it's going to cost me $160. This of course, assumes that the reason I needed a System Restore in the first place wasn't due to any hardware fault... in which case, I'm sure significant additional charges would apply.

The sad bit is that the average Joe, whose PC is screwing up, will see these prices, take his PC in, thinking he's going to pay maybe $160 to get his PC back the way it was. Imagine his surprise when he discovers that all his backed up data is either on a DVD or in a folder on his (new) desktop, and there's an additional charge for a new hard drive plus installation, and iTunes, Microsoft Office, Picasa, Kodak Easy Share, email and email accounts, Printer Drivers all the programs he'd once downloaded and installed are gone.

The PC Tune up for $30 intrigues me. What the heck can they do to tune up my PC for only $30? Run CCleaner and Defrag... end of story?

Onsite prices are interesting.
"Tune up your computer with a thorough diagnostic, cleaning, disk defragmentation and disk cleanup. Does not include virus removal" $130.
"Data Transfer/Backup (4.7GB) A pro will transfer data from one computer to the other. Additional data transfer during same session is subject to additional upgrade pricing." $160. Note the 4.7GB maximum (1 DVD).
"Virus/Spyware/Adware Removal. A pro will arrive on site with useful infection removal tools and backup device/media. Operating system is Windows XP (home/pro) or Windows 2000" $170. What? No Vista? Or will that be extra?

Note that the same tune up that they will do as a carry-in for $30 will set you back $130 for onsite service.

My prices are very competitive (except for the $30 tune up teaser special) and I know my services are going to be vastly superior and more thorough. I'm not worried.
 
I'm sure it will be the same tune-up Geek Squad offers, insert cd and click here to start, so as not to perplex the help... I'd worry not, but if you have to lower prices temporarily to win over new customers, so be it.
 
I dont worrry about those guys. You really can't do much if a person goes there. You can sell your self but the client can still choose to go where they want.

One of my clients decided to go to Geek Squad for an issues I told him that I would need to take the laptop with me to do better troubleshooting. Well he ended up taking it to them and they were not able to fix the issue. They charge him a lot more than I did. I said I am sorry they were but able to fix the issue but now I least I know "They" are not better than me. He had this look like someone had ripped him off :)

I should have been nicer to him but he did not want to listen to me.
 
Thought I saw one of my old customers in our town's store the other day. As usual, she stood there waiting for someone to help her forever. I don't worry too much about them; I guarantee you she'll be calling me back, sooner rather than later.
 
I haven't heard anything good about Staples so I wouldn't worry about them too much. It doesn't take anyone long to figure out that the person behind the counter is a moron.
 
And yet again.

Yup, everytime I go into a Staples around here I cringe when I see their teaser prices. And later that day I will get a call from an old client or a new referral for repair with my own special brand of personalized service.

It has been said many times here and it is always true that there is a sweet-spot for pricing in each of our markets. Too high and you price yourself out of the market but TOO LOW and the customer will think that you either provide an inferior service or that you are trying to bait-and-switch them. Find your sweet spot.

(as an example, I used to stack prices including the diagnostic but now I bundle and only charge for the diagnostic if they choose to not have the service performed.)
 
Lol...when I used to work part-time at a computer store we had an ex-Geek Squader as an employee. Lordy, could I tell some horror stories about him.
 
That's pretty much what I charge in my shop. 99.95 for a tuneup/virus cleanup combo. 49.95 for diagnosis 50 bucks for minor data recovery. 200 for major.

JRDtechnet said:
Wow that's cheap. http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/easytech/fix_st.html and I just had a Staples open up.

Think I will write a press release to combat this. Sometime like "Do you want the kid who was pumping gas a week earlier working on your computer or an experience and honest technician?"
Click to expand...
 
Sevdog said:
I have a Staples and a Best Buy opening up in my town this month. Grrrrrr......... Im not really worried about Geek Squad because of their prices. But those Staples prices are pretty low. Only thing that I can do is keep doing the best work that I can and have superior customer service and keep keepin on.
Click to expand...

Sage advice here fellas. I work in a location with both a Best Buy, Office Depot, and Staples. We used to have a Circuit City as well before it went down.

As noted elsewhere in this thread, do not kill yourself chasing customers who choose to go to a shop like this. BB will rape them in fees, if they can even fix the system. I somewhat befriened a BB employee on the floor one day and he was telling me how BB only has 1 tech to make offsite service calls and that said tech has a wait list that can be days/weeks deep. Think he will be thorough with that kind of time/performance pressure?

Staples and Office Depot are of no real technical threat. See for yourself one day by stopping by and asking them how they do their work and what will they do. Setup or troubleshoot a RAID array - heck no. Make your system dual-boot OSes - "you mean you can do that?" Deal with OSes other than Windows? Not a chance (maybe OSX, but that is a strong maybe). Truly diagnose what is wrong vs. just pushing you to more RAM and a bigger HDD? Are you kidding - they have inventory they have to move!

Seriously, when I asked them what the PC Tune Up was, the tech told me they just install Norton or McAffe and run a scan. I asked what they did if the system has other AV apps on it and they said they just uninstall them as they do not work as well as Norton. I asked also if they backup the user data before doing any work? The tech replied that I must be joking - they are not equipped to do that.

Without going on and on, do you see what I am getting at here? The do not have the technical knowledge or skill base to do anything beyond the most basic work so I would be very leary taking a system them. The customer that goes in for the $29.99 tuneup is the same customer who would call you to their house, nickle-and-dime you for the work there, then ask if you make their TiVo work (for free) since you were there.

I should really post my BB story from a few months back - that is effing rich!
 
Last edited:
Wow, I cannot believe these places offer computer "support" really makes me ill and wish that this industry was regulated better.
 
TechGirl86 said:
Wow, I cannot believe these places offer computer "support" really makes me ill and wish that this industry was regulated better.
Click to expand...

Agreed - It is amazing to me that two super stores, Office Depot and Staples, that made their name selling what else - office supplies - suddenly think that qualifies them to offer IT and Technical support. BestBuy is at least a bit more believable, but seriously, they sell components and appliances and that is how they made their name. It is not like they fix the washer and dryer you bought - they contract that out to a licensed and certified repair technician!

I know, I know, I am preaching to the choir here....
 
TechGirl86 said:
Wow, I cannot believe these places offer computer "support" really makes me ill and wish that this industry was regulated better.
Click to expand...

You ain't kidding! That's been debated on these forums for months. Probably all the big boxes are setting all these cowboys loose. They work there a couple months, learn how to insert a couple CDs, steal as many tools as they can without being caught, then leave there thinking "I can open my own repair business and do this without working for them and charge people less and keep all the profit.":D
 
I am sure $29.99 sounds cheap for a PC Tune up but all they do for that price is clean the temporary internet folder. The Staples tech that said they install Norton or McAffee and scan for their Tune Up he was blowing smoke. They do not even do that.
 
Last edited:
We charge the following in detail:

49.95 Diagnosis goes toward final repair price
174.95 to 249.95 for screen replacement
Same as above for motherboard replacement

99.95 for any windows boot error
99.95 for virus/malware removal
49.95 for data backup to dvd's
199.95 for major data recovery

74.95 for most hard drives 80gb and under plus 99.95 labor if reinstall necessary. 49.95 to 74.95 if imaged.

Standard Universal AC adapters are 39.99
High power Universals are 79.95
Typical memory upgrade is 99.95 for say 2 gigs total. 149.95 for 3 etc

DC jack repairs 99.95

Basically I never charge more than 249.95 total as that is half the cost of a new 500 dollar mainstream toshiba laptop. The only exceptions are in very odd high end systems with expensive or hard to get boards.
 
usacvlr said:
We charge the following in detail:

49.95 Diagnosis goes toward final repair price
174.95 to 249.95 for screen replacement
Same as above for motherboard replacement

99.95 for any windows boot error
99.95 for virus/malware removal
49.95 for data backup to dvd's
199.95 for major data recovery

74.95 for most hard drives 80gb and under plus 99.95 labor if reinstall necessary. 49.95 to 74.95 if imaged.

Standard Universal AC adapters are 39.99
High power Universals are 79.95
Typical memory upgrade is 99.95 for say 2 gigs total. 149.95 for 3 etc

DC jack repairs 99.95

Basically I never charge more than 249.95 total as that is half the cost of a new 500 dollar mainstream toshiba laptop. The only exceptions are in very odd high end systems with expensive or hard to get boards.
Click to expand...

This sounds more than reasonable to me. Very similar to my prices.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

HCHTech
Today's reason to hate Amazon
Replies
12
Views
2K
Porthos
Porthos
Kitten Kong
You'll like this one..
Replies
11
Views
1K
thecomputerguy
thecomputerguy
ynotech
[REQUEST] Looking for Advice as I start
Replies
11
Views
2K
NJW
NJW
Appletax
★ Collection of What Companies Charge for Their Services ★
Replies
0
Views
2K
Appletax
Appletax
S
Staples TV Spot - Free Data Xfer w/ Windows 8 Device
Replies
1
Views
959
kwest
kwest
Back
Top