The Used Computer Store

Great store. Very thorough. I got a used macbook from my friend which had a lot of problems. They cleaned the computer, exchanged the hard drive and software; when it still wouldn’t work after a few hours, they changed the chord connecting to hard drive, free of charge. Also, they let me borrow a laptop while mine was getting fixed because it was finals week – super considerate. Some of the comments say the owner is ‘rude’. I don’t think he’s rude – he’s a sweetheart, he just seems a little socially uncomfortable/​awkward. Just because he’s not smiling and beaming at you when you enter the store doesn’t make him a mean person. He’s incredibly thorough and nice. Love this place.

I really needed a charger for my macbook. I contacted Apple, who told me they had one in stock for $ 100. I got one at the Used Computer Store for $ 50. They are very helpful!

Simply the best place to go in the east bay for used computers and great repairs. Save my bacon in computer emergencies, dead drives and smashed thumb drives several times. Thanks guys

Horrible service. I really wished I would have Unilocaled this place before dropping off my hp laptop to be checked out ($ 40 nonrefundable diagnostic fee). They said I’d have my laptop within a week but I received no phone call for several days. When I finally called them five days later, they said they didn’t have an answer yet and would call me later that day (which they did not). I went to the store the next day to get a firmer answer but again they told me the same thing and told me they’d call me back the same day once they run more tests. It’s been a week and all they’ve found out is that my computer has a virus.
This place is seriously sketch and I’m just hoping that they didn’t plant a virus (or something worse) on my laptop. Can’t believe I wasted $ 40 on incredibly lazy, unprofessional service. I am never coming back here again. Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere more professional.

Definitely knowledgable and helpful. I come to them with some pretty silly questions about my laptop, and they are always spot-​on with the answers.
Service can be a little bit slow at times, but it’s worth it.

Bill was knowledgeable and gave me the laptop adapter I need. Made sure I tested it out to see if it worked first too.

Worst service ever. They promised to contact me within one day, I waited for 6 days, they never did so. I went to the store, they didn’t do anything to repair my device, and did not even apologize for not keeping their words. AVOID this place.

When someone goes the extra mile like this store did, how can they earn anything less than 5 stars? If there were a high rating, Bill, the owner would have deserved that too.
My laptop, out of extended Apple warranty needed a new screen. Apple and it’s dealer would charge $ 400 and $ 650 for fixing it, and were downright condescending, from interacting in the store to requiring a long wait time for an appointment to scope the problem.
By contrast, Bill, the owner of the Used Computer Store was instantly refreshing. He diagnosed the problem and gave me an estimate range for the repair work and time when it would be ready. The cost was 25−50% less than Apple and its dealer. He then took the computer to his workshop and reaffirmed that the estimate was good. Bill was immediately credible. He has owned the shop for 22 years, and for 9 years in this location. He is a thorough professional. Confident about his work and deliberate about setting the right expectation.
Now comes the part about going the extra mile. I needed to travel to another state and still needed the computer access as soon as it was ready. Bill fixed the computer on time, had one of my friends inspect it, and readied it for shipment by FedEx. The cost was below what he has estimated. He arranged for a laptop shipping box and packaging at no added charge, and when FedEx was unsure of pickup for the fastest way to ship it, he volunteered to go the extra mile. Rather than having FedEx pick up the package the next day, his shop delivered the package to the FedEx-​Kinkos shop. This expedited delivery, and it also saved me on shipping cost.
I travel all around the world to transact business. This service was exceptional. When an owner is running the business, the business reflects his/​her values. In this case, I could ask for no more. Bill went the extra mile in every way, even before I needed to ask for anything. Bill is the reason I would return to this shop.
I will do business with Used Computer Store again, because of Bill. He is honest, sets the expectation carefully, and meets the estimate he has provided. Then he exceeds all expectations of quality, schedule, and service.

I came in here hoping to buy a used LCD monitor as my old one had gotten pretty banged up and was starting to die.
The dude behind the counter ignored me for 10 minutes after I walked in.
No hello, no greeting, just a glance up, after which he glanced back down onto something behind the counter.
After walking around awhile and finally getting some help — the only LCD monitors they had was 3 busted, dirty, dusty old ones just sitting in a pile under the counter — and a fourth one that had speckles of dried paint all over the back of it.
Now — I know they’re «used» — but, do they need to be pieces of junk ?
I asked him how much the cheapest one was — he said fifty dollars ($ 50) — for the one with the paint all over it.
As I was desperate, and I made the trek on BART over to Berkeley (just to patronize them) — I seriously considered it.
I asked him how much for one of the other 3 under the table, at which point counter dude walked away from me — in order to help this other prissy — looking broad (with a British accent) — that just walked in.
As I stood there for 15 minutes – (waiting for him to get done with her) — I felt like walking out. But again, I was desperate — so I waited for him.
And I waited — after the two gang-​banger type dudes walked in and asked about laptops, (which he helped).
And I waited — after this suburban soccer — mom type complained about her modem repair job, (which he also helped).
Finally, he staggers over to me (as I was just standing there) — and he mumbles «Oh, yeah — fifty dollars for that one too».
I asked him if he would go lower on the price – (for the one with the paint on it) — but he refused.
I said «Okay, thanks anyway», and walked out — took BART all the way back to The City — and bought a monitor on Craigslist for fifteen dollars – ($ 15) the following afternoon.

My previous review was removed for being «not recommended.» I’m posting it again, because there are better alternatives, and I think the people of Berkeley should take that into consideration. But anyway, here it goes:
On 5÷20÷2012, I came here to get the CCFL backlight bulb on my HP laptop’s screen replaced, and it took them a week to fix it. The receipt said they only worked on the laptop for 3 hours. How does that take a week? Furthermore, the man at the counter said he would call me Monday (the next day), and it’d be fixed by Wednesday or Thursday. They didn’t call until the next Saturday.
When I finally got my computer back, the screen, upon starting up, still flickered. (Flickering is a sign you need a new inverter or CCFL bulb in the first place.) Not only that, but the web cam stopped working. From the HP website, I found that this was a hardware problem, not an issue of downloading new drivers. This means that UCS broke my web cam. Great. Best part? No refunds.
So basically:
a) they didn’t fix it completely and
b) they broke more things than they fixed.
When I called them to notify them that the webcam didn’t work anymore and the screen still had issues, they said they had to charge me extra for that. When I tried to explain that it was completely fine until they worked on it, they said it wasn’t their problem. What.
TL;DR? Don’t go here. I do not recommend it. Go to the place across the street. Yeah, that’s right – go to the movie theater. They’d probably do a better job.
P. S. I just found out that the price they charged me for fixing the computer was only thirty dollars cheaper than buying a brand new one of the same model.

Had a freelance repair guy diagnose my laptop’s grave display problem and referred me to UC (I just noticed the triple pun in the initials). Their price was reasonable, communication was good during the estimated week-​wait for parts, the people I spoke with used plain English. Don’t be put off by the no-​inch-​is-​wasted décor of the store-​and-​shop. This is a nerdy place in the best sense of the term and they are refreshingly agnostic about apple vs PC…

The used computer store follks are honest and stand up though. It’s pretty typical for a used computer store, only worse than most. All of the used computer equipment is really crappy and ridiculously marked up. I feel terrible for the old people who actually buy things here and get their computers serviced here.

Can’t you give half a star? The phone rings for twenty minutes and when they answer you are placed on hold for another minutes… so you I want to give you my computer? I have been in your shop there is no one in there where you can’t answer the bloody phone! The staff members when I was there are smug, with a bit of a mocking attitude as if they are repulsed by your presence. I really wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and my business that’s not possible if you can’t even answer your phone. Your smug so that must mean you have a lot of money in your business is doing well I wish you the best success. Good luck!

All the haters have to remember; if a techie knew his stuff he wouldnt be working at a used computer store would he? The prices are high here but No one says you have to spend your money. I have gotten things here in a pinch which was helpful. If it wasnt I wouldnt have gone here. Yes everything here is obtainable from the net or at Goodwill.
As far as customer service goes I prefer it when Im not bothered til I ask. Yes this
place is dumpy and expensive but Im glad theyre there. Its a USED computer store grow up people!

This place saved my butt. Cat peed on and ruined my $ 1200 laptop; I had serious work to complete that same day: they had a perfect laptop used for a great deal that I bought, pulled my info off my hard drive so I could finish my work in it the same day!!! And for an extremely reasonable price. I live this place. LOVE IT

Admist the have it repaired yesterday crowd of customers, this store and folks in there may not be the best people to talk with. The Used Computer Store follks are honest and stand up though. When one wants to be told most anything about just how long it will take to find and fix complex computer problems and you have to have your computer fixed yesterday, please reread the first sentance above.
When you want quality gear and repair from good people, check this place out.
This review is from a very satisfied return customer that was not in some emergency fix it yesterday mode though.
James

I had an issue with a computer that I wanted to trouble shoot by buying a replacement power cord. (In case the problem was the cord, not the computer.) The gentleman here advised that I could feel for warmth in the cord block to test whether the cord was functional, rather than replacing it. The issue was probably the computer itself rather than the cord. He advised not buying the cord, but just bringing in my computer to test it.
I really appreciated his frank advice. He didn’t need to close a sale. He just wanted to help.

GOT SCREWED BIG TIME!
I took my 1 yr old laptop to have them fix the audio jack. I paid $ 40 diagnostics and $ 30 rush fee (since I use my computer for work). After the diagnostics was complete they quoted me $ 195 for everything.
I went to pick it up and they plugged in some headphones for me to test, audio worked! Took it home, and found out now the audio ONLY works with headphones.
Took it back, they kept it and called me later that day to tell me it’s finally fixed. They played the audio, seemed fine. Took it home and plugged in my speakers and now theres a low hum that wont go away! Now it ONLY works without headphones or speakers.
When I took it back the manager told me I’d have to pay EVEN MORE to fix it. WTF?
After MUCH discussion he finally gave me a $ 30 refund, after I had just blown $ 195 and a week of non-​audio.
THESE PEOPLE ARE THIEVES. RUN

My pet rats chewed up the wire that was connected to our keyboard for the computer, so we had to get a new keyboard.
Came here, and looked around. The people working at the store didn’t even bother to come up to us to ask if we needed any help. We were there for maybe 15 minutes.
They just stood behind the counter doing nothing.
Anyway, we bought a keyboard, but costumer serice could be better.

For those techies in the know, this store has been in the area for a long, long time. It’s a great resource for parts and accessories that are no longer sold in new computer stores. This location offers parts and accessory sales on the first floor and an internet café on the second floor. The sales people are pretty knowledgeable too. A couple of problems I have is one, the store is pretty disorganized so you have to know what you’re looking for and be able to find out of a pile. Two, the prices of everything is the same as if it was new. Not cool, but if you’re in need of a part that is obsolete, you’ll probably find it here, hence the price.
Street parking is tough here.