Computers for Les

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I work from home using some highly specialized software on my laptop, so when the pin inside the power jack broke, I was pretty desperate for an immediate repair. I had already ordered a new power jack during the weekend, but I still went in search of a quicker fix. I called Computers for Less (CFL), and the conversation (in summary) went like this:

Me: My power jack is broken.

CFL: I have the part in stock. It'll cost $100, and I'll have it done by lunch tomorrow.

Me: Can I buy the part from you and install it myself?

CFL: I don't sell the part separately. The installation is very technical, and there's the risk of damaging the motherboard.

Me: Okay, I'll be over within the hour.



I grabbed my laptop, which I had just moved some files off of and shut down, and headed out the door. I was there in about 20 minutes.



CFL didn't inspect my laptop other than a quick visual of the broken jack - didn't try turning it on, and didn't check for other physical damage - before accepting it into his care. He was a very polite and seemed quite knowledgeable, so I didn't have any worries.



I called the next day just before noon, and he told me he had just finished installing the jack, was about to test it out, and he'd call back soon. He did call back soon, but it was to inform me the motherboard was damaged. He asked me to come to the shop.



When I got to the shop, he demonstrated the lack of voltage at certain points on the motherboard. He also described some things that occurred during the repair. The ones that stuck out to me were: 1) He inserted my power cord into the new jack with the old broken pin still lodged inside. 2) There were sparks. 3) The broken pin got pushed in too far, and he had to cut the tip of my power cord to extract it. 4) He attempted using my now damaged power cord.



(I never authorized him to perform any work on my power cord, and it turns out he didn't need my cord anyway, because he has his own universal power cord. "It needed to be replaced anyway," he said. Well that was never in any conversation that I was a part of before he damaged it further.)



His story is that I must have shorted out my motherboard while trying to use the power cord with the broken pin lodged inside. It's clear that he damaged my motherboard, but he refuses to take responsibility. I even tried to have the guy hear my brother's professional opinion (he has 28 years of experience working with computers and is currently a computer programmer), but he wouldn't let me or my brother get a word in.



I have not filed a lawsuit YET. I sent my laptop to Asus to be repaired and am waiting to see what the financial damage is. To be continued...



Do NOT do business with Computers for Less.