Is the shop listed on Yelp, Citysearch, or another online directory?
If so, read customer reviews to get a sense of the shop’s repair quality and customer service. Will they back up your hard drive before making repairs? Some shops do this without your asking. Or they may perform a backup for an additional cost. But to be safe, back up your important files (if possible) before taking the laptop to the shop. How secure is the shop? Small computer repair shops are sometimes targeted by thieves. One day after my partner, Nick, took his laptop to a local repair shop, the store was broken into. His was one of several computers stolen. This raises another question. What happens if my laptop is stolen or damaged? This may be a question only the manager or owner can answer. Even so, you may not get a complete answer. But it’s worth asking. It took Nick six months to extract an insurance settlement for his stolen laptop. The repair shop owner kept giving him vague promises and half-answers. Finally, Nick said he wouldn’t leave the shop until the owner called her
