Computer repair - what would you do here?
 

My son's computer stopped recognizing the hard drive (Apple, gave the folder icon w/ the question mark). We took it to a shop last year that replaced the hard drive, so we took it back to him again. He had the computer for a week, diagnosed the hard drive ok, then thought it was a cable, replaced it w/ no luck, then thought it was the motherboard. He called today to say he had fixed it, it was the cable, the first one that he tried was bad.

When I asked how much I owed him, he said nothing, since he had it so long and since he repaired it a year ago.

I don't feel right not giving him some compensation, especially considering we thought we were looking at a new computer. What would you do?

This is the same guy that I took an iphone to that I had replaced the screen on myself, that I couldn't get the screen to work - he fixed that in about 10 minutes and didn't want to charge me for that either (I think I gave him $25 for that)...

So...let me know what you would do - thanks.

Pay him 30 minutes at his usual rate.

Beer is usually accepted, unless he doesn't drink; then a nice cash tip.

I would pay him what you think it's worth. Your conscience is worth more than whatever that is anyway.

No one ever does work for me for free, not unless it's a friend, and even then I pay them back some how.

I bet he wouldnt turn down a $20 when you pick it up. Not much time spent and a very cheap part.


More importantly, grab some of his cards and refer him to everyone you know!

you might have saved me some money! My daughter just had this happen to her macbook.