Laptop repairs increase across TT

At the start of the new school term in which students across TT will be learning remotely, owners of electronic repair companies have reported an increase in requests for device repairs over the last week.

Business owners said many of the people who are opting to repair laptops are families who cannot afford to purchase new laptops or families in which more than one child have class at the same time.

Anand Pope, manager of Laptop Nation Ltd at Cacandee Road, Felicity, told Newsday his company had over one hundred repair jobs since September 2.

He said and everyone wanted their laptop before the start of the new school term but that was impossible in the short time frame.

“I think citizens are desperate to get these devices for their children for the new online system. There has been a rush.”

Pope said his company's prices have always been low for repair work so that was also one of the main reasons customers chose to bring their laptops and computers to it for repair.

The company has also begun outsourcing other technicians to assist them with their work, he said.

Izie Computer Repairs owner Isaiah Thomas also reported an increased workload at his company. He said many of the people who brought in laptops had lost their jobs.

“Many of them were laid off and they can’t afford buying a new laptop. So, it is a strain on many families as a laptop is now required for classes. We have always maintained a reasonable price for repair work.”

Thomas said the majority of the repairs needed were related to the hard drives of computers or the screens of laptops. He added that the increased load caused him to extend his working hours.

“It is really a lot of work now.”

Owner of All Computer Things are Possible, Kris Lalchan, said his team had been working long hours to meet customers’ needs because of the great demand.

He said laptop, tablet, and computer repairs for students made up 95 per cent of the company's current workload. He said some of the laptops had not worked for almost a year. Instead of discarding them, however, people are now opting to repair them.

He also said that some of the devices being brought in are beyond repair owing to years of deterioration.