Clear, straightforward pricing
We know that one of the first questions people have when a laptop or computer develops a fault is, “How much is it going to cost?” The honest answer is that it depends on what has gone wrong, which is why we do not guess at a repair price before we have properly assessed the device.Diagnostic & Assessment — £30
Our standard diagnostic and assessment charge is £30. This covers the time and expertise required to properly investigate your computer, including testing, fault-finding and, where necessary, dismantling the machine to identify the problem. If you decide to proceed with the repair, the £30 diagnostic charge is deducted from the repair cost. If you decide not to proceed, the £30 covers the diagnostic work already carried out.When is the diagnostic charge needed?
The £30 diagnostic and assessment charge applies when proper investigation is needed to identify the cause of a problem. This includes faults such as computers that will not switch on, no display where the cause is unclear, charging problems, intermittent faults, crashing or freezing, slow performance that needs investigation, software problems, data recovery, malware or virus problems, motherboard faults and other unusual or unclear faults. For straightforward, known jobs where the required work is already clear — such as a known screen replacement or an agreed upgrade — we can quote for the job without a diagnostic charge.Why we diagnose the problem first
A computer that will not switch on, is running slowly, overheating or refusing to charge can have several possible causes. Sometimes the fault is straightforward; sometimes more investigation is needed. A proper diagnosis helps us avoid replacing parts unnecessarily and means we can give you useful advice based on the actual problem. Most repairs require the device to be left with us. You are welcome to briefly explain what you have noticed when you drop it off, but we do not normally carry out repairs while you wait. This gives us the time and workspace needed to diagnose and repair the computer properly without rushing or interrupting other repairs.What can affect the repair price?
The final repair cost can depend on the type of fault, the work required, the parts needed and whether a repair involves specialist or component-level work. Parts availability can also affect both price and timescale. We will explain what we have found, what is involved and the cost before carrying out chargeable repair work.Repair or replace?
Sometimes repairing an older computer is not the most sensible option. If we think the cost of repair is unlikely to represent good value, we will tell you honestly. Equally, if a repair could give your existing machine more useful life, we will explain that option rather than automatically suggesting a replacement.No pressure to go ahead
Once we have assessed your device, you can decide what you would like to do. We will give you straightforward information about the fault, the repair and the likely costs, without putting you under pressure to proceed.Need a price for your repair?
Bring your device into our Bolton shop during our normal opening hours and briefly explain what you have noticed. You do not need to know exactly what is wrong — we will diagnose it properly in our workshop and let you know what needs to be done.Apple Mac repairs
Our diagnostic and repair service also applies to Apple Macs. Where proper investigation is needed, the £30 diagnostic and assessment charge applies; if you go ahead with the repair, the £30 is deducted from the repair cost. Straightforward known jobs can be quoted without a diagnostic charge.