posted
As I write this, I am sitting in front of an unfinished wooden counter, listening to the water from melting snow on the roof as it accumulates in a green-camoflaged plastic bucket ten feet away from me. There are four computers to my left, all in varrying states of deconstruction, having been left to rot by their owners.
Beneath the counter are stacks of papers and envelopes, their purpose long since forgotten by the course of time. CD's, empty CD cases, and ancient phone books are burried beneath invoices that were never recieved, receipts that were never filed, and parts that will never be used again.
Beyond the counter is the area where customers browse through racks of networking cables, CPU fans, computer cases, XBox cases, and used monitors. The bare cinderblock walls are painted with a simple white, which seems to be the only thing clean about the place.There is also a used 19-inch television on display. Its weight has caused the grey plastic shelf on which it sits to warp quite severely, having never felt a lack of weight baring down on it.
In the middle of the room stands a 5 foot tall steel frame with a vinyl sign extolling the services provided by this simple shop, the wind outside is too forceful, and would likely blow it down, even when there is another green bucket filled with sand, which sits less than an inch from the front door, to hold it up.
In the room behind me are more computers, each one gutted for parts. Those desicated shells seem to be the only thing holding up a busted table that is covered in papers, boxes for computer parts, anti-static bags, and the innards of countless PC's. There is one test bay, which is really no more than a table with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse accompanied by another mound of useless papers. I'm suddenly reminded of my home computer desk, stacked high with letters I intended to open but never did, papers I printed out and never did anything with.
I understand how a store could come to this situation the owner has been in this business for nearly a decade. He's old, he's tired, he asked me the other day if I wanted to buy the company from his so he could retire. I politely explained that I had no money at all, that I was living on no more than the 45 dollars a week I am paid for 6 and a half hours of watching the store for him.
In a bigger city, I could probably get a much better job working in a computer shop. I enjoy this type of work, solving problems that are almost never the same from day to day. I enjoy helping customers realize how capable their computers are when properly cared for. I enjoy fixing things. Now, though, as I look around at this store, I realize just how many repair shops look just like this one, and I fear for my trade. I suppose I could keep rambling like this, but I have to close the shop now. It's time for me to go home and study for a career that doesn't involved cramped, disorganized, prison-like storefronts with owners who are only trying their best to scrape up a living fixing things. I wonder if I should move on completely. I wonder still if it could be too late, if I've delayed a switch to a different career too long. I guess only time will tell.
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Yeah, I believe very much in helping small computer stores whenever possible. It's an extremely hard business to survive in, much less prosper in, but it does still happen. We have a local store in Orlando that expanded from one store five years a go, to about four or five today.
Posts: 13123 | Registered: Feb 2002
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quote:Originally posted by human_2.0: Is it just you working there then?
One day a week, yeah. Mostly, this company is going to die off slowly. The owner just doesn't care enough to make it work anymore. The good news is that a new shop is coming into town. I interviewed for a job there on wednesday and that went well. The new shop is owned by a person who has relatively limitless funding, so that should work out well if I get the job (Considering that I'm one of approximately 4 college students here with actual shop experience, I'm pretty hopeful).
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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It's an extremely hard business to survive in, much less prosper in, but it does still happen. We have a local store in Orlando that expanded from one store five years a go, to about four or five today.
