How much does computer repair cost in Brisbane?

"How much will it cost?" is the first question nearly everyone asks, and it's a fair one. Computer repair pricing is confusing because every shop does it differently: some charge a fixed fee, some charge by the hour, and some add fees you only see on the final bill. Here's how to make sense of it.

The three ways repairs are priced

• Fixed price per job. You're quoted a set amount for something like a screen replacement or a virus clean. Good for predictable work, but the price often has some padding built in.
• Hourly rate. You pay for the time the job takes. It's the fairest model when the problem isn't known yet, as long as the rate is clear before you start.
• Diagnostic fee plus repair. You pay to find out what's wrong, then pay again to fix it. Check whether the diagnostic fee is taken off the repair if you go ahead.

We charge a single flat hourly rate with no call-out, travel or booking fee, and the current rate is on our pricing page. If a job looks like it will take longer than expected, you hear from us before that first hour is up, so there are no surprises.

What actually drives the cost

1. How long the job takes. Removing a virus from a lightly affected computer is quick. A computer that has been neglected for years, or where several problems are tangled together, takes longer.
2. Parts. Screens, batteries, hard drives and charging ports are parts you pay for on top of labour. A new solid-state drive, for example, often makes an old computer feel new again for far less than the cost of replacing it.
3. Data recovery. Getting files off a failing drive is specialist work and takes longer. The sooner you stop using a failing drive, the better the odds. See our data recovery service.
4. Where the work is done. Taking a computer to a shop and waiting days is common. A technician who comes to your home or office saves you the trip and the wait.

Fees to look out for

• Call-out or travel fees, charged before any work starts.
• Minimum charges, such as paying for a full hour or more even for a ten-minute fix.
• "Diagnostic" fees that you still pay if you decide not to proceed.
• Surprise extras, like a "security package" or "optimisation" added to the bill without being asked.

Will it be worth repairing?

A repair that costs more than half the price of a comparable replacement is usually worth a second thought. We've written an honest guide to help you decide: Is your old computer worth repairing?

Questions to ask any repairer

• Is there a call-out, travel or diagnostic fee?
• What is the hourly rate, and what's the maximum before you check with me?
• What happens if you can't fix it?
• Is there a warranty on the work?

On that last point: our work comes with No Fix No Fee, so if we can't solve the problem you don't pay for the time. You can read the details on our warranty page.

Call 1800 851 816 for a straight answer on your computer, or book a visit. We cover Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

Related guides

• Is your old computer worth repairing? An honest way to decide
• Why is my computer so slow? The six causes we see most often