Heads up about that computer repair shop on 5th street

Stopped by that place on 5th street near the old post office last Tuesday to grab a used power supply. The guy working there was nice enough but I noticed about 15 open towers sitting on the floor with no anti-static mats under them. Then I saw him slide a motherboard into a case without even using standoffs. He just screwed it right down flat. If you're bringing gear there for repairs, I'd double check everything before you pay. Has anyone else seen shops cutting corners like this?

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2 Comments

davis.keith3mo ago

Standoffs are the cheapest part in the whole build, like a few cents each. Skipping them tells me they either don't care or they're trying to save ten minutes on a repair that should take an hour. I've seen boards fry from that mistake more than once, usually along the back edge where the solder points touch the case. The no anti-static mats thing is bad too, walking on carpet with those open towers is asking for a random static zap. Best case you get intermittent crashes that are a nightmare to diagnose later. Check every screw and every connection before you even plug it in if you've already handed it over.

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rowanjenkins3mo ago

Honestly that standoff thing is a huge red flag. If they can't be bothered to do that basic step, who knows what else they're skipping inside those cases. Tbh I'd be worried about shorts frying everything the first time you plug it in.

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