Can Big-Box Merchants Fix Your Computer?
Back in the old days–say, 2006–when we needed a computer repaired, we turned to the shop down the street. These were tech-minded guys who seemed to have too much time on their hands, but who could still never fix our busted laptop soon enough.
Now, the local shops face big competition. In 2008, Office Depot Inc. (ODP) rolled out its Tech Depot service at its stores nationwide. “Let our techs get your PC to operate at peak performance,” the company touts, saying that it can handle everything from basic software installations to major repairs and upgrades. Staples Inc., (SPLS) the office-supply retail chain, expanded its EasyTech computer services to all of its stores in 2007.
And electronics retail giant Best Buy Co. (BBY) is seeing its seven-year-old joint operating agreement with the Geek Squad, a technology-service provider that focuses especially on computers, continue to flourish. Its national service center, Geek Squad City near Louisville, Ky., receives about 1,500 repair and other orders daily.
