Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a pickle with my laptop repair and could really use some advice. I took my working laptop to a repair shop for a basic cleaning and to replace the thermal paste, which they quoted me $165 CAD for. However, after they completed the work, they told me that there was a "lot of dust" inside and that it needed a "heavy repair" for an additional $250 CAD. I never approved any repairs related to the motherboard or BIOS, and only discovered they had done this after they declared my laptop was "fixed." They did send me some before and after photos of the work, which I've linked. I'm looking for help to understand:
1. Does the cleaning and thermal paste application in the photos look adequate?
2. Is there anything that seems off or damaged?
3. Could they potentially have caused any issues during their extra repairs?
I want to be informed before I decide whether to pay this higher amount. Thanks so much for any insights you can offer!
Photos: https://imgur.com/a/wjSEBa4
3 Answers
Honestly, if they felt the need to do unauthorized motherboard repairs, that seems fishy to me. It could either be a scam or an attempt to cover up their mistakes, possibly due to damage they caused themselves. And yeah, just cleaning dust isn't a serious repair—so definitely investigate further before paying.
It’s hard to assess just from photos, and the quality isn't the best. But from what you've described, cleaning dust isn’t a legitimate reason to charge that much. They shouldn’t be doing motherboard work without your go-ahead. Plus, using the same thermal compound on all components is a little sketchy. It definitely raises questions about their practices.
Thanks for pointing that out! I'll make sure to discuss it with them.
I’d definitely push back on them. If they did work you didn't approve, that’s not acceptable. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small shop or a corporate chain—they should get your consent first. You might want to talk to the owner directly and see if they'll make things right. Remember, it's your laptop, not theirs!
That’s great advice! I hope they can sort it out with the owner.
I agree! Glad to see you're going to get clarity on this.