| Do you have a PDA, Smartphone or other handheld | | | | mentions of your sites and names, and keeping out an |
| device that that has died or become less functional | | | | eye for obscure journals and newsletters that may be |
| due to breakage or wear? Do you suspect it could be | | | | known to only a handful of people in the business. |
| repaired but you don't know how? Afraid it will cost | | | | Refuse to be intimidated by tech terms and acronyms. |
| you an arm and a leg-- and aren't these things more | | | | Walk around all the jargon and look for the |
| expensive to repair than replace? You'd like to take a | | | | recommendations of people who work in the |
| chance on one of those online, mail-in repair centers | | | | profession. Do they give an impression that the |
| but how do you know who really has the expertise, | | | | business lives up to its promises of customer |
| who is trustworthy and what price is right for your | | | | satisfaction? You don't necessarily need to know |
| repair? If it is something simple, will they sell you the | | | | what all the technical terms mean to get a sense of |
| part and give you a little assistance to do it yourself? | | | | what the collective voice is saying. Notice what the site |
| Reputable, professional repair services do exist and | | | | owners and their associates may have achieved in |
| they want your business. They are fast, efficient and | | | | their field. Have they developed new products or |
| able to meet your needs. If you don't know one and | | | | procedures that others are writing about? |
| don't know how to find one, follow these steps to find | | | | Watch to see whether or not they are keeping up |
| help and get your beloved device working for you | | | | with the latest developments in their field, both in the |
| again. | | | | hardware and software areas. The world of hand held |
| First, decide upon some likely search terms and enter | | | | devices and accessories is volatile and new products |
| them into the search engines (e.g. terms like "PDA | | | | and services emerge often. Does their business reflect |
| Repair", "PPC Repair", "Blackberry Repair" and "Do It | | | | this? |
| Yourself PPC Repair." ) Use more than one search | | | | Reputation among peers may be a sign that this online |
| engine because although they appear to have the | | | | business is a labor or love as well as profit. This is |
| same information, each is a little different in its search | | | | what you want. |
| terms and may not have exactly the same business | | | | Third Filter: By this time you will have narrowed down |
| services listed. When you have accumulated a group | | | | your list of prospective repair services and even more |
| of websites that seem like possible candidates to | | | | importantly, you'll be more educated. Begin to make |
| contact, subject each one to a deductive reasoning | | | | email and phone inquiries. Many online businesses like |
| process to "filter" your range of options. Use the | | | | to begin new relationships by email. Either you or the |
| following guidelines to scrutinize the sites. At the end of | | | | site can suggest switching to more personal telephone |
| the process you should have a small group of repair | | | | communication. Have they provided a toll-free |
| service providers you feel good about. | | | | number?) |
| First Filter: Scrutinize the sites you've found to | | | | Don't be embarrassed to show a lack of expertise. |
| determine which ones market their products and | | | | Ask them to pause, if necessary, as you make notes. |
| services directly to your current need. | | | | Creditable repair services and sellers of replacement |
| Do they have expertise with your brand and model? | | | | parts want to take care of you. They are interested in |
| Have a significant inventory of parts? Look for lots of | | | | being good teachers and consultants when their |
| parts for lots of models; the chances of having quick | | | | customers need it. |
| access to what your device needs are greater with a | | | | You may know exactly what you need, for example a |
| repair service that is well stocked and ready to | | | | touch screen to replace a broken one, or a new sync |
| advertise it. | | | | connector. Most people can perform these |
| See how much attention they devote to Do It Yourself | | | | replacements. Do you need some specialized tools? |
| customers rather than other repair businesses. Do | | | | Ask. Even if you have to purchase a new tool along |
| they offer you technical assistance by email or phone, | | | | with a part you may still save significantly. Other |
| or both? You won't need this for certain simple repairs | | | | repairs may be more complicated. Unless you love to |
| and part replacements, but you may want breathing, | | | | find out how things work, you may want to turn this |
| speaking human being for something more | | | | over to an experienced technician. Have your |
| complicated, just in case the pesky tech manual or | | | | questions ready and ask the representative to make |
| leaflet falls short of your expectations. Which online | | | | recommendations, and then ask why. You may |
| parts and repair services are clearly sending you the | | | | discover that the innards are not as complicated as |
| all-important message, "We're here to help"? Steer | | | | you thought, and enjoy the savings of doing it yourself. |
| clear of a business that seems to be a mere | | | | Leave all your options open. |
| parts-supplier. | | | | Realize that they may need to examine the device |
| Some other signs of success and good business | | | | before they can tell you exactly what is wrong and |
| practice are customer lists that include well-known | | | | what needs to be replaced or if it can be (most |
| corporate clients, who increasingly repair and refurbish | | | | problems really can be solved-even if you dropped |
| their PDAs and smart phones rather than replace | | | | your device in water.) Like any good professional, they |
| them, saving them thousands of dollars every year. | | | | will have seen your problem before, and they'll know |
| Personal customer testimonials are less reliable but still | | | | how to ask you the right questions to narrow it down. |
| valuable as part of an overall picture. | | | | Once you have sensed a zone of trust within your |
| Second Filter: Next, go where the pros go to research | | | | communication, you've probably found a service you |
| expertise and professional reputation. Conduct deeper | | | | can rely on. |
| research on each site that you are considering, | | | | Be sure you understand their return policies and |
| seeking reviews, ezine articles, forum posts and blog | | | | shipping policies, warranties and testing procedures. |
| entries that feature the company and its services. Use | | | | You've researched, you've communicated, and you |
| the repair site's name as well as the owner's name or | | | | know that in today's world online repair business is |
| other names mentioned on the site as your search | | | | legitimate and booming. You may find yourself in the |
| terms. (You might find these in the "about" or "contact | | | | enviable position of having your own "tech guy or gal" |
| us" sections of the site.) | | | | to whom you can transfer all or part of the |
| Use more than one search engine and check a few | | | | responsibility of keeping your device going for a long |
| social networking sites as well. Be willing to go deeper | | | | period of worry-free service at a price you can afford, |
| into the search engine pages, looking for older | | | | with the added convenience of online shopping. |