Geek Squad / Easy Tech questions

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RegEdit

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I see that both Geek Squad and Easy Tech charge an extra $99 to migrate just 9 GB of data to a new installation of Windows. Does that mean that they charge $1,000 to migrate 100 GB of customer data?
I am amazed that these places have customers.
 
That's insane. Do they supply the external hard drive, that this cost surely includes??

$99 would cover my time to migrate however much data any client wants migrated from one desktop PC to another. You set it going, then walk away and do some other chargeable time for someone else...
 
They charge 99 for 2 dvds worth of data, 159 for unlimited (but they usually attach an external drive to the cost at the point).

I love pointing out to clients how much Best Buy gauges the prices...
 
When I was at Staples I just ignored that stupid limit (it was usually 10/20/30GB anyway). My only thing was if a backup was more than a couple DVDs worth they needed to bring/buy an external hard drive. I'd be surprised if even the most by the book employee would even bother telling a customer $1000.
 
They charge 99 for 2 dvds worth of data, 159 for unlimited (but they usually attach an external drive to the cost at the point).
I love pointing out to clients how much Best Buy gauges the prices...
Click to expand...
OK. Still at $99.00 for a DVD or two they really "get ya" if you didn't back up your data.

By "attach a drive" I assume that you mean they charge you extra for that.

If they are reinstalling Windows will they migrate your "old" data to the new machine with the same folder structure? My documents, Music, My Videos, My Videos, etc.
 
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Memtest has been running for over 4 hours and no errors so far...I will try grabbing drivers from manufacturer's website now...Thought i did this before from Intel and ATI, but will try again...any chance its mobo?
 
RegEdit said:
OK. Still at $99.00 for a DVD or two they really "get ya" if you didn't back up your data.

By "attach a drive" I assume that you mean they charge you extra for that.

If they are reinstalling Windows will they migrate your "old" data to the new machine with the same folder structure? My documents, Music, My Videos, My Videos, etc.
Click to expand...

I charge $130 for migrating data but i put it all where it is suppose to go.
 
I have itemized pricing -- not by the job. As part of full repairs ($100), I charge nothing extra to back up the first 100 GB of used drive space as long as the drive is healthy. I don't charge anything to drop everything into just one folder on their "new" desktop. I provide instructions for them on where the default locations are for various files (example: iTunes default store location) as well as instructions on how to use the search command in case they are confused at finding their stuff. If they want ME to put everything back into the new user account I charge an extra $20. This keeps my basic computer repair price lower so that they are more likely to hire me from the get go.

My backup method of choice is the command prompt's xcopy command with the /cevwh and /g switches. I back up everything in doc's and settings, plus I hand pick anything else that might contain personal data inside the C drive directory, especially in the programs folder. This saves me the hassle of extracting data from an image. Any thought on this?
 
Geeksquad does not migrate the users data, they just leave it all in a folder on the desktop named "Backup". Very confusing for my clients, because they don't even bother telling them about how to migrate themselves (which, let's face it, can be confusing for a beginner who isn't accustomed to lots of file manipulation). They also don't migrate things back into programs, like PST files, favorites, etc.

I hated this about working there. Makes me glad I don't anymore.

When I said attach, I did mean add-on to the sale... their brainwashing has broken though on that one. "Attach, Attach, Attach!"
 
RegEdit said:
I have itemized pricing -- not by the job. As part of full repairs ($100), I charge nothing extra to back up the first 100 GB of used drive space as long as the drive is healthy. I don't charge anything to drop everything into just one folder on their "new" desktop. I provide instructions for them on where the default locations are for various files (example: iTunes default store location) as well as instructions on how to use the search command in case they are confused at finding their stuff. If they want ME to put everything back into the new user account I charge an extra $20. This keeps my basic computer repair price lower so that they are more likely to hire me from the get go.

My backup method of choice is the command prompt's xcopy command with the /cevwh and /g switches. I back up everything in doc's and settings, plus I hand pick anything else that might contain personal data inside the C drive directory, especially in the programs folder. This saves me the hassle of extracting data from an image. Any thought on this?
Click to expand...

You asked if anyone had comments....

Why not use one of the available tools (Fabs, Windows Easy Transfer, etc.) and just finish the job? That way, their data is back where they are used to finding it, and their computer looks similar to what they had before. Doesn't really take any more time.

My rule of thumb is to put myself in my customer's place. If I wouldn't like getting something back and having to finish the job after I paid for it, my customer probably won't either.

Rick
 
99 for 2 dvds they do half the work with there mri cd for that price id migrate everything for them bookmarks data outlook files and maybe for 30 extra i might install all there programs and settings

i could do most of that with a usb transfer cable such a rip off 99 dollers and you dont even get a qualified tech i could pay my nephew to do that and hed probably have more qualifications than them
 
Idk about all staples, but in my store we just usually do all data for $99. BTW new pricing that started last month is now $70.
 
vdub12 said:
I charge $130 for migrating data but i put it all where it is suppose to go.
Click to expand...

Wow ... I charge $130 for an install+configuration+updates etc ... and if there's data to be transferred, I'll do that without cost. Unless the transfer is the only reason for the visit, then it's $69/20gb.
 
reesk92 said:
i could do most of that with a usb transfer cable such a rip off 99 dollers and you dont even get a qualified tech i could pay my nephew to do that and hed probably have more qualifications than them
Click to expand...

Not all rhombuses are squares. I worked for BBY for 3 years, and learned a lot from them. I don't agree with a lot of their practices, and that is why I run my own company now. Sure, some of the techs don't care, but don't paint all their techs as uniformed and inexperienced... it isn't fair to the rest that are more than qualified...
 
Fabs works on slaved drives
Click to expand...
I'm not sure that it can do what you can't do manually anyway. Can it migrate Windows settings (desktop background, mouse speed, etc) from a slave drive? And does it actually do the final "import" process for emails and email account settings?

I can manually restore Thunderbird, Outlook, and Outlook Express emails, as well as Firefox and Internet Explorer data from an unbootable drive (slaved). You can't pull NTFS protected secure data off of there unless they previously backed up their keys or certificates. So Internet Explorer passwords and encrypted folders cannot otherwise transfer via the slave drive method.
 
rhinetech said:
Not all rhombuses are squares. I worked for BBY for 3 years, and learned a lot from them. I don't agree with a lot of their practices, and that is why I run my own company now. Sure, some of the techs don't care, but don't paint all their techs as uniformed and inexperienced... it isn't fair to the rest that are more than qualified...
Click to expand...

fair play but theres that many rookies in there that the read techs dont have chance to shine through amongst all the riff raff
 
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