Absolute Computers — Local services in Apex

Here's the problem. Most of these reviews are old. This is an experience from Oct 2022.

I was going to go to Interex to build a computer, a tower. Cost wasn't an issue, I just wanted it to be newer, faster and better than what I had which was a decade old. At the last moment, the owner, Phil, told me that his guy, Josh, would configure and even build the machine if I wanted. Time was $75/hr. They would charge me a half hour to configure and 1 to 1.5 hours to build. I said okay.

I brought my old tower to show them what I had and Josh told me that they would build a new machine and use my old graphics card which supported the two monitors I currently used. I agreed.

A week later the parts came in and I called. Phil, the owner, was cold, but told me Josh would be in on Tuesday and to bring it all over. I did. I got there at 3, via appointment. Josh still had clients coming in and phones to answer even though Phil was sort of begrudgingly helping out. In between customers, Josh built the machine. By 5:30, they were closing and I needed to leave as well.

Finally they told me we were done and the quote for 1-1.5 hours was now 2. I paid and brought the machine home.

When I hooked it up, I had no internet. They had forgotten to put in the drivers so that I could continue the setup. And, I only had the means to hook up one of my two monitors. My graphics card was "incompatible" with the board that they had selected even though I had not limited then to the selection and money was not an issue. Secondly, this new board did not accommodate two monitors without a special DP cable.

The next day I went back to have them put in the drivers, give me the cable and finish the job that they started. They finally did, with no apology, in fact, more annoyed that I was back again. But they still charged me an additional $81.

So in all, I spent almost $283 to have a computer configured and built INCORRECTLY. This is after spending nearly $1000 in parts.

I was told that the shop is a pet project for the owner so his investment in customers is completely subjective. I was fooled. Don't be like me. In case something goes wrong, you have no recourse. I don't think the owner even really cares about bad reviews. Let the buyer beware. I just wanted everybody to know.

Subsequent to posting my first review I was contacted by the owner who apologized for being oblivious to the situation as it was occurring and offered to refund me completely for anything I thought he did incorrectly.

Several phone calls and emails later where the subject often broached was whether or not I would remove the review, I asked the Attorney General's office in North Carolina whether the proper protocol in this case would be to remove the first review or amend it with the subsequent facts. I was instructed that the proper protocol would be to amend it and let the people of North Carolina make their own decision with all of the facts. That seems reasonable.

Since the reason reviews exist is to praise businesses that go above and beyond and to hold people accountable when their actions demand that they should be, the first review is still up.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions....

Very disappointed. A few years ago, I had a couple good experiences with Absolute Computers, which is why I took a laptop in recently to get it fixed. Was told they were backed up so could be up to 5 days before they could even assess it to provide a quote. Instead, it took them 7 days and I had to call twice to find out. Then they quoted a price (seemed kind of high, but acceptable since had already been a full week waiting for the assessment & quote) but then after another week or so of not hearing back, I called yet again to check in and they said, oh, they couldn't locate the right part -- even tho they seem to pride themselves on being able to get any part needed, and this was for a well-known, popular brand laptop.

So I said okay..any other options? The guy said they could glue the piece in, but would need to be very careful with it and they couldn't provide any warranty. Price (with no parts, just labor) still seemed rather high, but I thought about it and decided to go with it since didn't seem to be any other option. Then, another week passes and no call.. so I call again to check in -- was told that the guy who could do the glue-job was out of town (but just got back) and should be in within next couple days to take care of it and they would prioritize it since it had been several weeks already. Along the way, they said they tried to contact me once and left a message (which I never got -- because they called the wrong number, apparently?) so I made sure they had the correct number -- same one I had been calling from, but I guess they don't have caller ID.

Then Another 4~5 days passes and no word from them!? So I call yet again and am told the guy who would know was out, but would call me when he got in the next morning.. no call the next day or the day after, so I call yet again..and this time I'm told they don't have any notes (beyond that they tried to call me once & left a message -- to the wrong number), and that they can't fix the laptop, sorry. At this point it had been a full Month -- only to be told, oh..they couldn't fix it because they couldn't guarantee it!?

I also tried emailing them 3 times over more than a week. Each time, I sent to 3 different emails they had listed.. 2 on their website and the email on the biz card the guy gave me at the beginning -- and I triple-checked each one to make sure they were correct addresses (no email bounce-backs, so had to be correct). Never got any email response from them. First time I mentioned it, a guy said, oh..sorry..he would check on it and see why no response.. A few days later, I was told, oh, they don't check their emails. Really? A computer repair shop that doesn't check emails? Emails listed on their own website and on their business cards?

Abysmal lack of concern or service.

I took the laptop somewhere else and the guy had it fixed the very next morning for a small fraction of what I had been quoted by Absolute. It's working great now. Can't believe I wasted a Month of time & effort going in circles with Absolute -- all...

Total Fail

My "experience" took place over nearly a three (3) week fiasco when I brought my three (3) year Dell laptop into the shop due to display issues. When I walked into the store my gut told me to turn around based on what I saw, but I figured with all the great reviews perhaps I'm missing something.(?) The entire place was filthy and in a state of COMPLETE chaos! Every inch of counter space was littered with disassembled computers, stacks upon stacks of laptops and a few dust covered computers for sale. Open parts packages hanging on the wall. Which of the young guys there were actually employees I never did quite figure out. Despite my gut, I left the unit and was promised a call in four (4) days regarding what repair was needed. Near the end of business on the fourth (4th) day-no call. I call them "Oh yeah, I forgot. You need a new screen". No one had any idea how long it would take to get a new screen, so since the display was not that bad, I told them I would come to get the unit and wait for the new screen. Get to the shop, the screen is removed and once again I get the "Oh, I forgot". The screen is hurriedly put back in the unit. (First (1st) of two (2) times the screen is removed from the laptop) I get a call not quite a week later "your screen is in". BACK I go to the store to drop the computer off. The new screen has NOT been unboxed -no check for damage-no check for right part number. I get a call next day "it's the wrong screen". Back I go to pick up the computer to use while a correct screen is located. Once AGAIN the screen is out of the unit when I got when I specifically asked them to put it back together PRIOR to my arrival. Day or two (2) latter I get a call "we can't find a replacement screen". Funny since I call Dell in the meantime and they told me "no problem". (?) As I had prepaid for the screen I told them I was coming over to get a refund. Here's where REALLY gets good! When I arrive at the shop a gentleman I took to be the owner was frantically taking the screen out of disassembled laptop. "I had this screen and it's ALMOST new". (No mention of price adjustment). He gets the screen out and THEN asks me: "yours is not a touch screen is it?". FIRST (1st) time in nearly three (3) weeks anyone asked me! So then the owner starts asking: "who took it apart in the first place?" Total silence "Who wrote down the part number on the screen?" Total silence. "Who wrote down the "service tag number" or "express service code number"? (First thing Dell asked me) Again total silence. So the owner in kind of an "oh well " attitude tells me "I guess we failed". He has NO cash for a refund, but offers a PERSONNEL check! After a few tries, my refund is put on my credit card. Do you really want to deal with a...