Disposing Of Customers Computers. In a shop. After a year.

jamesfreddie · 16 Dec 2011 at 21:19

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone knows about disposing of customers computers. My friend has a computer shop and he has had machines sitting there for about 2 years, all repaired waiting for customers to pick them up. Are we allowed to dispose of machines after a certain time?
All help Appreciated

jamesfreddie · 16 Dec 2011 at 22:49

The customers leave there PCs along with contact info. He contacts the customers after the job is done then tries a few more times.

The customers dont sign any contract but we do have a sign up saying any PCs left for more than 3 Months will be disposed of.

What Do you think?

jamesfreddie · 16 Dec 2011 at 22:51

PianoBasher said:
Did they not leave any contact details?

This is something that happens all the time. He must have about 10 laptops and 10 Computers left where nobody has come to pick them up after about 3 months.

jamesfreddie · 17 Dec 2011 at 00:12

wentalong said:
sell them on mm if you are going to sell them,, but as every ones said, if he's tried contacting the owners with no reply then get shot of them,,

He did dispose of a few machines but then he had a customer call and ask where there PC was.

jamesfreddie · 17 Dec 2011 at 09:04

Mutt said:
I'll bet most of the PC's/laptops that came in for repair were pretty old and knackered and that some or most of the people that didn't collect bought a new system in the meantime.

Some of the machines are not that old. a lot around a year, but they just wont pick them up. Ie. He had one customer who had a machine with a faulty M/B. Then later we found the CPU was faulty so he replaced all the faulty parts for the origional repair cost, Which was £130 (For replacement M/B with Fitting Asus G41 DDR3 775 Board)

I like jpod's idea about sending them a letter at least then he would have real proof of trying to contact them. He dosent even mind if they dont pay as long as he can recope the money spent out on them.

jamesfreddie · 17 Dec 2011 at 09:08

jpod said:
Finally if the average computer repair is £45, or an estimate can be given at the out set, why not ask for a part payment. If for example a system check takes at least 30 minutes and your hourly rate is £50 charge £25 up front. It's a skillful job if your any good at it, do it.

pod

The reason he dosen't ask for part payment is a lot of jobs are diffrent in price. He may say it might be a PSU so that would cost £68 but then he might find out acctually it is a M/B and will be £130. So the customer might not want that so they would come and pick it up. So if he asked for 50% upfront then he would have to give that back when they reeturned to pick it up. and he dosen't like having any more money in the shop then he has to.