Pine Computer Services

Brought my failed hard drive in hoping they could recover the data. Unfortunately, they couldn’t but it took almost 6 months before I finally got a clear answer, even after spending $ 250. I had to call them all the time for status updates. I don’t believe they ever called once to inform me. It seemed as if my hard drive was just sitting somewhere on a shelf unless I specifically called to urge them along. Would not go back again.

So bad. Never again.
I brought in my computer, the hard drive had failed before and now the new one I had put in as a replacement had failed as well. I just asked them to do some diagnostics to figure out what was causing this to occur, and specifically asked them not to replace the hard drive since the new (now busted) one was under warranty. They said they would get back with me within a week. I called after a week, and again after 2 weeks, they still hadn’t gotten to it. Finally 3 weeks later someone called and said that it was gonna be all set in another week and was gonna cost $ 130. I said great and asked for them to call me if there were any changes. So you can imagine my frustration when I walk in, now having been computer-​less for a month, and the guy says it’s going to be $ 250. I explain it should be $ 130, and they were supposed to call if there were any changes, and the guy says «oh it’s $ 130 + the cost of the hard drive we put in.» I had SPECIFICALLY asked them not to put in a new hard drive since wd would replace the one I had for free. The guy tried to talk me in to taking it anyway and I told him absolutely not, I’ll get the new hard drive and come back with it.
Anyway, after all this time it turns out WD won’t take the old hard drive back, so I begrudgingly go in to pick up my computer only to discover that the case is damaged in several places and one of my wifi antennae is missing. When I call they say no problem, they’ll replace the antenna, but when I go back in to get the antenna replaced, the guy tells me that «it will work just as well with 1 antenna» and sends me on my way. At this point I’m just ready to be done with them and leave.
The computer worked once. After I shut it down after the first use it did the same exact thing it did before I brought it in and refused to boot up again, hard drive is corrupted. After $ 250 and all this stress and frustration I’m exactly back where I started. Worse than where I started, actually, as the case is busted and I’m short a wifi antenna.
So no, I would not recommend pine computers to anybody, ever. Steer clear. I know there aren’t a lot of options in Chittenden county but you can figure something else out, do not trust these people.

This post is not about their technical abilities… they were certainly recommended for that. But their customer service lacks. I needed a high power graphics computer and network set up for a small business. I stopped in the store personally, went over my requirements with their tech person who never got back to me. I called a week later to follow up, and they still never returned my call. I called to ask what to do since nobody was getting back to me, and they suggested emailing the owner with my requirements. So I did, and he never got back to me. I’ve moved on and have been very happy with the service and technical skills of the folks at All Systems Repair in Winooski.

Very different experience with Pine Computers. I have brought a few computers there and I found them to be slow, rude, and the computer job was never really done correct. Twice now I have brought my laptop and desktop to «The Geek Squad» after it was serviced at Pine and they fixed the problem.

So, you could avoid Pine Computers and try another computer repair place in Chittenden County, but this is most likely what you’ll encounter:
Company #1 — I called a number listed on their website and nobody answered. I then emailed the email address listed on their website (a Hotmail account, which should tell you all you need to know about the company) and nobody replied.
Company #2 — I called a number listed on their website and it turned out to be a guy’s home phone. I had apparently woken him up during business hours; or, he was hung over; or, both. He said I could bring the computer in and he’d get to it when he had a day off. I could not drop it off at his apartment because he wouldn’t be home until later that evening.
Company #3 — I called the Nerd Force in the Williston branch of a national company. I wanted to know what kind of repair options they offered. I was transferred from customer service to the actual Nerd Force. I was placed on hold. I got hung up on. I called again, asked to speak to the Nerd Force but only if I was speaking to someone at the actual Williston branch. I was placed on hold. I was transferred. Someone answered, I asked a question, they placed me on hold and transferred me. 10 minutes later, I was speaking to someone out-​of-​state. So I called the Williston branch again and asked to speak to someone in the Nerd Force at the branch and don’t they dare transfer me to a call center again. Turns out Nerd Force doesn’t really do anything at the Williston branch except send your computer out to be serviced elsewhere. Oh.
So there are your options, folks. Shipping your computer in the mail, waiting endlessly for a mystery Hotmail computer technician to reply to your email, or dropping your computer off after-​hours at a guy’s apartment and hoping for the best. Unless, of course, you want to go to Pine Computers. Unless you want a company that promises 24 – 48 hours to finish the job and calls you 22 hours later to tell you they’ve finished the job. Unless you want a local company that’s reliable, and that is open 6 days of the week, with friendly employees to boot. Unless you want Pine Computers.
I have taken my computer to Pine twice (for a virus issue the first time, and an overheating issue the second), my wife has taken hers there once (to add memory and wifi capabilities to her laptop), and we were thrilled with their work all three times. My guess is you’ll find the same result.