Coral Bay Computers
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:43 am
Coral Bay Computers - Cocolobo Plaza, Coral Bay
(Computer Repair)
Recently, my laptop needed a manual reset - a fairly simply job that involved opening the case and pushing a small recessed button on the motherboard. No big deal. However, seeing as how I did not have the proper screwdriver for the job - I decided to give these guys the business.
I brought my laptop in, explained the problem to them, and was quoted $60 for the 1-hour they said it would take to do the job. A little steep IMHO (considering that with the right tool, I could have done it in 15-20 minutes), but still, fairly reasonable. I like supporting local businesses and was willing to pay for the convenience of getting it done that-day instead of waiting until I could get over to St Thomas for the right screwdriver. Especially considering the fact that I was knee-deep in a web-design project and needed my machine back ASAP.
Something told me to be wary, so I negotiated with them that I leave the laptop, pay them $30 up-front (half) and then pay them the other-half ($30) upon confirmation that the job had been done correctly (which required me taking the laptop home and putting it through it's paces). In other words, I made it quite clear that if the job was not done right, I was not going to come back and pay the additional $30. They said they were fine with that.
Later, upon getting the machine home and testing it, I found that - in addition to them not properly resetting it (the whole purpose of my visit) - my laptop's wireless switch had been physically broken-off. Rather than apologize and offer to refund my initial $30-down, they had the nerve to demand the other $30! Their argument being that an hour's worth of labor is an hour's worth of labor. Fruitless or otherwise. Good thing I already had the machine back in my custody.
To add insult to injury, (when I protested) they then offered to solder-in an after-market WiFi switch (as-in: to modify the actual motherboard) for an additional $60!!! No way! I wasn't about to let them take a soldering-iron to my machine at that point ... Much less pay them more for repairing damage that they themselves had done.
I walked out.
About a week later, I received word via the coconut-telegraph / grapevine that they had posted a sign in their window, containing a list of names of local patrons that they claimed owed them money - along with the amounts they supposedly owed and a notice stating that there would be a $2 a-day charge for every day that the debt went unpaid...
AND (get this) next to my name was listed the amount: $60 !!!
Charging me $90 total to break my laptop?!?
I was so completely beyond furious at this point, that all I could do was laugh about it!
(it is kind-of funny in a sick way, when you think about it)
Suffice it to say, aside from the initial $30 they got from me (which I still think they should refund). I never paid them the rest and never will.
I heard later that the signs were eventually removed. Apparently, there was a strong community opposition to the whole sign-posting-thing. Some of the other names that were listed on the signs later approached me and told me stories similar to my own about their dealings with CBC. Wow!
What an easily-avoidable kerfuffle it all was!
Other than writing this single forum entry (which I am mirroring on my <a href="http://coralbaydigital.com/blog" target="_blank">blog</a>), I am through with Coral Bay Computer for good.
I just wonder how long it will take them to alienate their way out of business.
(Computer Repair)
Recently, my laptop needed a manual reset - a fairly simply job that involved opening the case and pushing a small recessed button on the motherboard. No big deal. However, seeing as how I did not have the proper screwdriver for the job - I decided to give these guys the business.
I brought my laptop in, explained the problem to them, and was quoted $60 for the 1-hour they said it would take to do the job. A little steep IMHO (considering that with the right tool, I could have done it in 15-20 minutes), but still, fairly reasonable. I like supporting local businesses and was willing to pay for the convenience of getting it done that-day instead of waiting until I could get over to St Thomas for the right screwdriver. Especially considering the fact that I was knee-deep in a web-design project and needed my machine back ASAP.
Something told me to be wary, so I negotiated with them that I leave the laptop, pay them $30 up-front (half) and then pay them the other-half ($30) upon confirmation that the job had been done correctly (which required me taking the laptop home and putting it through it's paces). In other words, I made it quite clear that if the job was not done right, I was not going to come back and pay the additional $30. They said they were fine with that.
Later, upon getting the machine home and testing it, I found that - in addition to them not properly resetting it (the whole purpose of my visit) - my laptop's wireless switch had been physically broken-off. Rather than apologize and offer to refund my initial $30-down, they had the nerve to demand the other $30! Their argument being that an hour's worth of labor is an hour's worth of labor. Fruitless or otherwise. Good thing I already had the machine back in my custody.
To add insult to injury, (when I protested) they then offered to solder-in an after-market WiFi switch (as-in: to modify the actual motherboard) for an additional $60!!! No way! I wasn't about to let them take a soldering-iron to my machine at that point ... Much less pay them more for repairing damage that they themselves had done.
I walked out.
About a week later, I received word via the coconut-telegraph / grapevine that they had posted a sign in their window, containing a list of names of local patrons that they claimed owed them money - along with the amounts they supposedly owed and a notice stating that there would be a $2 a-day charge for every day that the debt went unpaid...
AND (get this) next to my name was listed the amount: $60 !!!
Charging me $90 total to break my laptop?!?
I was so completely beyond furious at this point, that all I could do was laugh about it!
(it is kind-of funny in a sick way, when you think about it)
Suffice it to say, aside from the initial $30 they got from me (which I still think they should refund). I never paid them the rest and never will.
I heard later that the signs were eventually removed. Apparently, there was a strong community opposition to the whole sign-posting-thing. Some of the other names that were listed on the signs later approached me and told me stories similar to my own about their dealings with CBC. Wow!
What an easily-avoidable kerfuffle it all was!
Other than writing this single forum entry (which I am mirroring on my <a href="http://coralbaydigital.com/blog" target="_blank">blog</a>), I am through with Coral Bay Computer for good.
I just wonder how long it will take them to alienate their way out of business.
