Getting Gouged by Geeks

dottyslashdottydot writes "CBC Marketplace recently ran a sting operation and discovered that most home computer repair technicians failed miserably at diagnosing a simple RAM failure. Many techs tried to sell unneccessary software or upgrades. (or even a new computer!) However, the worst offender was one guy who claimed that the hard drive had failed, and that the only remedy was to pay $2,000 to have a special facility with a clean room recover the data."

"Getting Gouged by Geeks"

[QMalcolm]

Sounds like a good porn movie title.

I always provide a detailed bill

[xkr]

... that includes a "Muffler Throw-Out Bearing."

Everyone knows that Microsoft operating systems require this for stable operation.

it's not unnecessary.

[User 956]

Many techs tried to sell unneccessary software or upgrades.

Look, maintaining a proper level of Hard Disk fluid is extremely important in order to keep the tachyon flux of the read/write heads within normal operating parameters.

Re:They're not geeks

[winkydink]

However, they probably know the difference between "there" and "they're".

Re:I always provide a detailed bill

[Anonymous Coward]

Check the wiper oil, too, while you're at it.

Re:"Getting Gouged by Geeks"

[Eponymous Crowbar]

I'm not sure that you and I share the same definition of the word "good".

damn it....

[AresTheImpaler]

I read the title as "Getting Cougars by Geeks." I thought it was a book review written by Geeks...

bah.. I was seriously impressed at first

Re:it's not unnecessary.

[heptapod]

B-b-but how do I replace the smoke? Ever since the smoke was released it doesn't work anymore!

Re:getting gouged by whom?

[Anonymous Coward]

These are the same assholes who'd sell you a re-built carbeurator to fix a low-transmission fluid problem (it's true, I stopped this guy from doing just that to a good friend).

Wow, how old is your friend's car that it even has a carbeurator? Maybe it would have been even better advice to tell him he needed a new car. Unless it's one of those new-fangled carbeurators that sits right next to the blinker fluid reservoir...

Re:damn it....

[Ajehals]

I read "getting gouged by greeks", mental image was of some sort of amphitheatre and gladiators with tridents.

Not sure why.

Re:getting gouged by whom?

[jotok]

That sounded like you could spin it into a lawyer joke.

Q: What's the difference between a lawyer and a catfish?
A: One is a scum-sucking bottom-feeder, and the other is a fish.

Re:Geek Squad anyone?

[garompeta]

lol!
  Customer: "er... sir, I wonder if you can help me, I have some problems starting up the computer..."
  BestBuyGuy: "Uh, oh, yeah, that is typically because the flux-capacitor is getting to the end of its lifetime. Bring your computer so we can fix it, unfortunately it will be quite pricey, you know, there aren't many flux-capacitors available. ..the replacement costs 500 dollars"
  Customer: "flux-capacitor? what is that?"
  BestBuyGuy: "It diverts the time/space continuum fabric in the harddrive delorian sector, you know. It usually goes in the back of the machine."
  Customer(trying to be funny): "damn!, that sounds like quantum 'continuum' physics, huh?, heh, heh...
  BestBuyGuy: "..."
  Customer (scratching his head embarrased): "...*ahem*, as you can see i am completely clueless... so how much was it?"
  BestBuyGuy: "700 dollars."

Re:I always provide a detailed bill

[The Rizz]

Blinker fluid and bumper belts are much more important to check.

Re:I blame windows

[Anonymous Coward]

... and just to rub it into American folk ... that's with $1 CAD ~= $1 USD.

That's right, we have "real" money now. You can finally put those caribou and beaver coins you've accumulated to good use.

Re:getting gouged by whom?

[ozmanjusri]

An australian comedy show, "The Chaser"

Oh, come on!

At least link to their site [chaser.com.au]. It's even got wobbly menus, for god's sake! What more could a geek want?

Re:getting gouged by whom?

[ceoyoyo]

I was shopping with a female friend and she commented on how cheap much cheaper guy's clothes are. I told her it's because we're too cheap to pay more, women aren't. Women also pay more for haircuts, car repairs and probably any number of other things.

Re:Here, Here!

[Anonymous Coward]

this is fucking non-sense. here's a hard dose of reality.

if you're good. i mean really good at home/desktop windows troubleshooting.

you will in no short order have 3 months of "free" as in not being paid, work queued up.

-you'll have to take time off from work, to actually start catching up
-whenever your phone rings, they take 2 seconds to say "hi how are you", then "my xp won't boot"
-they offer a meal, a 6 pack, a chesty hug. sure. how about helping stock my fridge, pay my rent, cover my dogs shots, help my brother with tuition, my dad had a bypass and doesn't have insurance.
-you'll have to cancel paying side jobs, because the abundance of chesty hug paying gigs.

it's all bullshit my friend.

if this isn't happening to you

YOU'RE NOT THAT GOOD.

(therefore you'd be the one 'caught' screwing up a bad dimm problem in a sting)

Re:getting gouged by whom?

[nagora]

Please, it's bad enough that 'podcast' is trying to become a noun.

Podcast, n. A downloadable file tarted up to sound like new-media.

TWW

Re:I always provide a detailed bill

[pz]

... that includes a "Muffler Throw-Out Bearing."

Please, it's a zircon-encrusted muffler throw-out bearing!