So I walked into computer store the other day...

[steveo]

Looking to a either buy a pc or get one built for me. Eventually I decided to pick out my own hardware and have the tech build it for me. The "allledged A+ tech" told me he wasn't sure he could build it. When I asked him to make sure the jumpers were set correctly on the mobo, again he told me he wasn't sure if he could do it. Eventually the head tech assembled the pc but there were problems. The 1.2 duron cpu would only display 700 mhz. I told him to toss the cpu and try another one. Instead they tried to sell my another mobo. I said no, try another cpu. They discovered the cpu, on a new mobo, only read 700 mhz. Two hours later I'm still waiting. So they tried to sell me a different cpu. I told them how to solve the problem 2 hours earlier to no avail. Eventually they tried a different 1.2 duron on the original mobo and it worked like I told them it would.

Not going on about sour grapes but his was the same shop that laid me off and the guy who replaced me was the tech I was dealing with. I guess the grass isn't always greener on the the other side of the fence.

At the end of the day I ended up with the pc I wanted, stacked with gobs ram and other goodies, and paid little for it. Maybe they shouldn't have laid me off in the first place.

Side note: the head tech botched up the master/slave relationship of the hhd/cdrom and cdrw and of course nothing would work when I booted the pc at home.

Maybe it was a godsend they laid me off...



[This message has been edited by steveo (edited 04-18-2002).]

[Donna]

Sounds like you don't need your name associated with them. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

[saphalline]

They sound pretty pathetic to me! How on earth can anyone earn A+ certification without knowing those things?? Of course, I once screwed up a master/slave jumper... once!

Sour grapes it may have been for you, but considering the end result (aside from the headaches) did you perhaps go back to him/them with the intent of getting cheaper hardware? Just something to think about... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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Windows 95: A 32-bit extension of a 16-bit overlay for an 8-bit OS that was originally designed for a 4-bit processor by a 2-bit company that can't produce 1 bit of good software!

[sea69]

hehe steveo- start you own shop.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/index.html)

[iisbob]

I once screwed up a master/slave jumper... once!

Only once?!-sheesh, after 20+ years i still put the floppy cable on backwards when i build a system! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

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iisbob

Computer-Show me the Enterprise; no bloody A, no bloody B, and no bloody C-just the original...Mr Scott { from a STNG episode }

[steveo]

Yes I admit I buy most of my hardware there because I've been friends with the owner for years and they tend to give me a break on pricing because I buy lot's of stuff. In turn I've tossed a lot of business their way.

As far as botching things up, I have my moments to.

But while I'm at it, I'm looking for a scanner so I called every shop in my area checking for prices. At least 75% of the shops didn't carry them but assured me they could order one in. Hmmm, ever heard of the internet where anybody can order anything?

Thinking I could use a laugh I decided to call Wal-Mart. The switchboard transfered me to the lovely sounding girl in the photo department. She told me she wasn't sure what a scanner was but they did have something that attached to a computer and it was 100 bucks. Good 'ol Wal-Mart, never lets me down.

Thinking I would push the envelope I decided to call Staples. At Staples the concept of actually talking to humans outside of the store must be either ignored or a lost artform. After a few rings, a recording told me that while all the Staples Employees were busy (doing what I wonder) someone would answer the phone. Couple more minutes later the soothing muzak was interupted by another voice, this time male, telling me the Staples employees were "really" busy but I could leave my name and number and someone would call me back within the next 24 hours because, "my business is important to them". Excatly what that business is I haven't figured out yet.

Out



[This message has been edited by steveo (edited 04-19-2002).]

[pentachris]

I just got a scanner at Sam's for $80 (I passed up a parallel port floor model at Sears for $30-$40). And my father-in-law-to-be found 17" monitors at Sam's for something like $129 a few months ago. You're right, Steveo, don't forget about Wal-Mart and Sam's for peripherals! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

[sea69]

and thank god for bubbleheads- {{male and female}}

lol

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif




[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 04-19-2002).]

[steveo]

Unfortunately I don't know what Sam's is, that is to say we don't have 'em here. The scanner I need to find should do slides and 35mm negatives as well so that limits my choices. I am curious as to what kind of warrenty a 17" monitor for 129 bucks is. I'm paying 239 and get a 3 year shop warrenty (basically the shop just replaces them, no questions asked).

On a totally unrelated note, the NHL playoffs have started and last about 2 months. No calling Canada until the end of June, we're to busy watching tv and drinking beer, eh.

Go Habs Go

[Hardtek1976]

quoted by steveo:
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On a totally unrelated note, the NHL playoffs have started and last about 2 months. No calling Canada until the end of June, we're to busy watching tv and drinking beer, eh.

Go Habs Go
---------------------------------------------------

I'll have to agree with you except on one note GO Leafs GO http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Ron

[Nooyawkah]

I'm curious why you didn't just build one yourself.

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They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.
---Edgar Allan Poe

[Nooyawkah]

I'm curious why you didn't just build one yourself.

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They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.
---Edgar Allan Poe

[Arctic Silver]

Was this Con, er... CompUSA by chance?

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Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

[saphalline]

Only once?!-sheesh, after 20+ years i still put the floppy cable on backwards when i build a system! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Well, this particular time it ended up wrecking the (really old) CD-ROM drive when put with a hard drive. Still not sure what happened but it was a proprietary model pulled from a previous system. Not a huge loss but the idea of wrecking drives with just a jumper has made me a little... jumpy about the whole affair. I always triple check those master/slave jumpers now, even if they weren't changed http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Fear is powerful, paranoia is even more so!

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Windows 95: A 32-bit extension of a 16-bit overlay for an 8-bit OS that was originally designed for a 4-bit processor by a 2-bit company that can't produce 1 bit of good software!

[integral]

I'll second the question. Why in the world would you let someone else build your computer? I buy the parts, I build it, I maintain it. simple. I don't even want a store "tech" sticking their hands inside my case.