As CompUSA steps away from the Puget Sound, one local computer store steps up expert service and product availability for area businesses and residents.

As the big box retailer shuts 126 of its stores amid nationwide restructuring, only the Portland, OR and Spokane, WA stores will be left open to service the Pacific Northwest. But the big box retailer's existing local customers won't necessarily need to drive to the next state or seek purchasing, technical guidance, and emergency support via tedious phone menus or cryptic, online FAQ files.

One local retailer, Computer Sonics, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner with store locations in Tukwila and Lynnwood, is ready to step up both expert service and product availability for area businesses and consumers. Besides offering Puget Sound residents and businesses a complete selection of computer hardware, software, and accessories seven days a week, they also provide expert consulting, service, maintenance, and troubleshooting as needed, or on a routine on-site basis.

"Where CompUSA saw a need to close stores, we see a need to service customers," says Nasir Ali, Computer Sonics' feisty owner-operator. "Big box retailers come and go, but we're part of the community and here to stay. We pride ourselves on friendly face-to-face help around your schedule, including drop off, pick up, or on-site visits."

In an age of big box retailing "Goliaths," Ali is a modern-day "David" slinging stones at corporate orthodoxy which he feels shortchanges the customer. To ensure that business customers speak with a knowledgeable advocate each time there's an issue and not a series of uniformed parties, Ali assigns each a dedicated account manager. Similarly, he quickly replaced a phone menu system with live phone operators when customer response dictated a need for it.

According to Ali, many computer problems are the result of hardware/software conflicts or compatibility errors, which should be resolved at the point of purchase or expertly troubleshot.

"Too often, people buy the 'latest and greatest' without thought or they google a product based only on price," says Ali. "When it doesn't work or it crashes the system, they realize it wasn't money well spent.” Working with the customer, this local retailer uses a “measure twice, cut once” philosophy. “We try to determine what they truly need, whether their current hardware and software supports it, and what the best, most cost effective alternatives may be."

Even when Ali's "measure twice, cut once" philosophy isn't followed, this local business is there to pick up the pieces. When a local mortgage broker's customer database crashed, for instance, the broker's regular freelance technology consultant was on vacation. Emergency shipping the downed computer server to the original equipment manufacturer for repair would've taken a minimum of several days, during which time the company would've been essentially non-operational without critical data.

When this Seattle computer store was called to action, they loaned the mortgage broker a temporary server and restored data to get the company operational within three hours. Within 24 hours, they'd built the mortgage broker a replacement server so the company would be fully operational.

"Most people and small businesses are neglecting to adequately back up critical data, whether it's irreplaceable family photos, email, customer data, or costly music files," cautions Ali. "Eventually the system crashes and their precious data or memories are gone, unless properly backed up."

For maximum convenience and reliability today, Ali recommends an automatic backup system such as the secure, online backup service his company provides on a systematic basis, as determined by the needs of the customer. Because the local computer store deals with all major hardware and software makers, it can expedite system set up, installation, and maintenance, including the resolution of hardware/software issues and software licensing.

Computer Sonics
Nasir Ali
nasir@computersonics.com
http://www.computersonics.com
Phone: (866) 575-8281