Missoula Computer Repair: A Dying Industry?

I’m having problems with my laptop.

Right now it’s making a ‘whirring’ sound, running slowly, and even shutting itself down when it normally wouldn’t. I know something’s wrong with it, perhaps a bad fan or a lack of memory or just too much dust.

I dunno – I leave this to professionals. And that’s why I sent an email to a few computer repair places earlier this week. Actually, I sent those emails on Monday and it took until Friday to get a reply, and then from just one place. This is what they told me:

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It's possible the fan noise and slowness are related.  IF it's over heating both those symptoms are likely. It would involve first verifying that the noise is indeed the fan and then opening the cases, blowing it out if dirty.

This could be anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours....depends on your laptop.

Once the tech looks at it co. policy is he has to call you and discuss what your options are before proceeding. We know it normally takes 30 – 40 minutes to find out what is wrong on average. 

We charge 88.00 an hour in the shop. I hope this helps.

Wow, $88 for one hour of unscrewing screws and taking apart my computer? I mean, I can get all of that with videos on YouTube and even posts that have screenshots that I can print out and look at.

I’m sorry, but $88 is extortion. I didn’t say that, but I did send this reply:

Thanks, that's way outside my budget, however. Are those standard Missoula rates? I simply can't believe that price. 

I wasn’t really expecting a reply to that, and had pretty much decided that I’ll start saving some money so I can buy a new computer. I mean, it’s going to cost me at least $44 just to figure out the problem. I’m willing to bet I’ll leave this computer repair shop about $150 lighter in the pocket. Hell, for that price I can buy a new computer!

Alright, some of those are a bit more expensive, but you get the idea. I’d rather just buy a new computer and then use it to figure out my current computer’s problem, and fix it.

$88 for an hour of labor, are you kidding me? Well, the guy wasn’t, he did email me back, and this is what he had to say:

I understand. When your about town look at any shop's labor rates....doesn't matter what they do...they are almost identical......right now most are from 85 - 90, some higher......it's not based so much on a profession. It's based on what's left after paying all government agencies from Feds, state, City, the workers comp, unemployment ins. Insurances, taxes (which have tripled over the last 5 years), Paying employees and all over head.......and requiring something be left over for all the trouble and so we can continue to exists. That's to survive. It's a problem in America and I wish the general public knew how much money those agencies take.......it's obscene and there is no end in site. I've started to see some shop labor rates over a hundred dollars. It's scary. 

Our government complains when an oil company makes 4 cents on the gallon........have you read what the feds and state make on a gallon of gas in Montana?   It's the same BS on all aspects of business. It's extortion. And we all pay.

Sorry, I do understand........It's hard to know until in a position to pay all those people. 

My comments up above are serious, I agree with you.  But it is the reality of it. If we can help let me know. I wish you the best. 

Speak loud at your state and federal reps always.......they are profiteers.

Thank you

I like this guy – he’s as pissed off about things as I am! Obviously he’s not happy about the prices they charge either, for while it might appear on the surface that he’s making a hefty profit with that $88 an hour rate, the truth is that it’s probably turning away business, and lowering his overall income levels.

What a drag, huh? Why don’t we analyze some of the things this guy is talking about, and see if we can figure out ways the city or state can help.

• The first thing he mentions is how his rates are “almost identical” to the rates of computer repair shops, though some are actually higher. I don’t really like this, but I can’t blame them – without matching rates, that whole local industry will become unbalanced and other businesses will go out of business. That ‘race to the bottom’ doesn’t really help anyone.
  

• Next he mentions all the taxes that local and non-local governmental agencies are taking in taxes, which means the business has to charge more for its services. He mentions that some of these costs – either taxes or insurance – have tripled over the past five years. I’m sorry, but have incomes done the same? I don’t think so.
  

• After that he talks about the cost of employees and then the fact that the business owner should see some kind of profit. I know, what a concept – a small business owner seeing a profit! Now, what I find interesting is that taxes and insurance costs are considered before employees. That tells me that those burdens are too high. You shouldn’t be dissuaded from going into business because the government or insurance execs make it too difficult. In Missoula, however, that’s exactly what they do.
  

• Then he discusses the gas tax, which is currently $0.27 a gallon – the feds take $0.18 and the state grabs $0.086. Who gets that extra $0.004 is beyond me. The point is, oil companies could pay that, but that might cut into the $71 billion in profits oil companies enjoy, or even the $2.4 billion in tax breaks they receive each year.
  

So this guy is frustrated, and I can’t blame him. The system is broken and the country has been stolen. Maybe it did happen that day in Dallas, but there’s not much that can be done for it now – rich oligarchs control things, they’ve bought our politicians, and their ‘on-the-payroll’ media makes sure you don’t know.

How does that make you feel? Like Howard Beale I hope. You should be going to that window and yelling about how mad as hell you are. I mean, you can’t even get your computer fixed because rates are too high, and the people that you elect to change this are too busy going around to pay-only events so they can get as much campaign cash from the rich enabling class as they can!

It’s a disgrace, an absolute disgrace what this country has become. I honestly hope we have some serious meltdown, like the Great Depression or a major natural disaster. Only then will we snap out of our malaise and begin the process of taking this country back.

Until then, save money. Don’t spend money in the economy. Don’t put it in banks. Just keep it at home, putting enough into the bank at the end of the month to pay your bills. Make purchases in cash.

The point is, do everything you can to stop the flow of income to the rich ruling classes that control us. Stop sending tax dollars to corrupt, bought-and-paid-for governments. Do everything you can to stifle the unjust system.

Stop going to the doctor, stop driving so much, and stop letting those in political power try to convince you that it’s your job to prop up someone else’s exorbitant lifestyle. It’s not – it’s your job to take care of yourself and your family, not some rich asshole’s.

So just stop buying into the corporate nonsense, the greed, and the insanity. Turn off the TV, pick up a book, and start educating yourself while eliminating the propaganda in your life.

Society is broken, and only by turning away from that brokenness will you ever hope to see it repaired.

Good luck…it’s gonna get rough soon.