Altex Computers & Electronics — Local services in San Antonio

Worst customer service experience of my life. My son wanted a upgrade for his computer, so I went in to see if they could offer me a better deal than Amazon or Newegg. They have a counter behind the registers to answer questions about products. Which is nice. I was very optimistic about how well the store was laid out. My optimism ended almost immediately. I waited behind the costumer service counter while the clerk was helping another customer. After he was done with that costumer he walked away and started doing something else, like I didn’t even exist. So I stopped a random clerk that was walking by. I asked him if they had the product I was looking for (a 6th gen i7 CPU) he told me no with a tone of voice like he couldn’t believe I was asking for that. Not mad, but annoyed I went to the car and looked for it on Amazon. I found it immediately, with one day shipping so ordered it, but I realized I needed thermal paste to install it. I figured they had it so I went back in. Shire enough they had lots of thermal compound. Grabbed a tube and headed to the register. Lo and behold, nobody at the register. That’s ok, all the clerks are helping customers. After waiting about 5 min. A clerk leads a customer to the register I’m standing behind and starts ringing him up. That’s fine, he was helping him get something. Then another clerk brings a customer to the register next to me, still fine. The clerk at the register next to me finishes with the customer first, then walks away. Ok, guess he is busy. Then the clerk at the register I’m standing behind finishes and immediately starts having a conversation with another clerk about a power adapter. All the while I’m standing there quiet with my 5 dollar tube of thermal compound waiting to pay. After listening to their conversation for over 5 minutes I couldn’t take it anymore and threw the product back on the counter and walked out. Luckily Amazon had the thermal paste with next day shipping so my sons birthday will still be a success. Anyway, I get it Altex, it’s a capitalist economy. You have the right to run your business how you see fit. If customer service isn’t your priority that’s your prerogative. Just like it’s mine to let everyone reading this about my experience. So to wrap up, use Amazon or Newegg. Much better selection of products without dealing with snooty...

I have been an Altex customer since my family and I moved here going on four years ago. I do a lot of miscellaneous system builds, repairs, A/V upgrades, etc. I had an experience recently that I would like to share.

I ordered a system case recently but there were a few issues. I researched what I needed, but I got my signals crossed somehow. When it arrived it was discovered that it was too small for the motherboard and other components I had. Additionally, I ordered it on a Friday, and paid for two day shipping. It got here a week later. I was extremely annoyed at all of this. This had me in a really bad mood. I called the customer service number and they notified me I could return to store.

Upon my visit to the store, I was greeted and notified all systems were down and nothing could be done until they came back up. So this is like absolute "snakebit" territory at this point. I take my case back out to my truck, stew there for a few minutes, then go back inside to see if they maybe have an estimated time of resolution or escalation. Then, a technician exclaims that the sytem had actually come back up and give it a few minutes.

It is at this point that Alex gets involved and asks me to explain my story. So I do, and I suppose he senses my frustration level. So he says let me speak with my manager... Comes back, gives me a very nice discount on the purchase. He had no reason to do so. I didn't ask for any comp, any kind of anything really. He went above and beyond just to try and salvage the situation and keep a customer. Well, that he did!! His efforts didn't go unnoticed and I want the rest of the San Antonio IT community, public, his management and just everyone to know that is appreciated. So often today it seems like "customer service" is just lost. Well at this Altex location (and I'm sure others judging by the reviews) it is NOT!! :-)

Thank you, Alex, thank you Altex! I'll be seeing you tomorrow actually, I need...

What do you do when you wake up and your pc doesnt work? no post. no spinning fans. just blotto? I went to altex. And with the assistance of associates Manny and Bruce, I was able to see my glorious machine post and boot once again. Manny fixed whatever problem was plaguing my system, but Im unsure precisely how. This question has been wracking my mind since the visit and the only logical conclusion is that Manny is really a mythologicial creature, like a griffin, or a wizard. No for real, as I remember, he plugged in my machine, removed 2 sticks of ram total (while attempting to boot between each removal) on the second attempt I see my bios screen on the test monitor. how?? my confusion stems from 2 areas. first, i had attempted resetting the ram myself before visiting (down to a single stick) but saw no results. secondly, after my trip to altex (imagine a sad violin here), when I tested my machine back home, the same symptoms had returned! i dont blame the associates for that at all. they demonstrated a working machine at the store but clearly there is more at work here. So Manny the grifzard. if you catch him, he'll fix your rig with a single touch (maybe two). After fixing my problems, Brice appeared and offered to take a few minutes to blow out my machine. I graciously accepted as Im terrible about machine upkeep. after the cleaning, we talked rigs for a few and Brice assisted me with a replacement fan for one that had seized up, a new fan that I decided would be beneficial, and a few other odds and ends. Additionally, Brice assisted significantly with my atrocious cable management. So I still have a busted rig, but Altex did a brilliant job showing me that my machine is still completely viable to use....