Don't believe what technician is saying. I have a laptop with broke keyboard. (only keyboard) I asked to him how much it cost to repair. Then he said it is the problem of motherboard and should be replaced the all motherboard, so it would be cost 600-700$. He suggested me to buy a smaller laptop. I left. After that, I realized the keyboard of my laptop can be replaced separately, not the all motherboard system, and Amazon sells the part in 9$, delivery fee 5$, total 14$. Only I need is tiny screw driver and basic assembly skill. I was so disappointed that why the technician lied to me with such a dull sense. I highly suggest you http://newegg.com and http://amazon.com read more

Yesterday, my PC failed - displaying a "blue screen of death" upon boot up. I brought it in and got immediate attention for no extra charge. A $29 deposit was all it took to get them started. The final repair bill including parts (a new 512mb nVidia video card), tax and labor came in for under $90. I was pleased, relieved that the bill was so low. In a town with very few large computers stores, after the bankruptcy of CompUSA and Circuit City, those few that remain become even more important. BestBuy has exploited these market conditions by charging manufacturers list price on way too many items and often has so few floor sales staff, it can be frustrating to get help. When you do find someone, they are rarely very knowledgeable about their products. Given this dire situation, I found Central Computers to be a welcome relief. Compared to BestBuy, their sales and tech staff is more mature, more experienced, more knowledgeable and friendlier. They are also more available. Price wise, they also offer better values on most items. While I prefer to patronize local small businesses versus mega corporate big box stores, I appreciate that I am able to do so and also save money. Usually, it is a trade off. Not here. I am impressed with everything about Central Computer, recommend them highly and without reservation. read more

There are many times when I need a computer part or cable. You know, like fancy, internal cables (SATA, power connectors, etc.) My three options were: 1) Go to Best Buy and get raped* on price. 2) Drive to Fry's in Palo Alto (at $4/gallon this is looking like a worse and worse deal). 3) Get a good price online but wait a week. *in the butt Then I found CCS. The cool thing about this place is that it's more of a "parts" store than a retail store. Meaning that their hard drives / ram / cables come in plain packaging with a sticker on them. No fancy boxes here. OEM for the nerds out there. And it really shows on the prices. The ethernet cable I bought here for $10 was $44 at best buy. And they have OEM everything (windows / office / etc). I didn't really need any help, but there was plenty of staff on hand to answer my questions too. read more

Central Computer a strange place. Odds are, you will have either a fantastic experience there - or one of the very worst. I spend a few hundred dollars there almost every month - mainly for work, but sometimes for personal stuff. And I'm moving that business elsewhere. I've always been frustrated that the staff insist on checking anything I have with me in one of their lockers. My laptop - check - I might be using it to steal from them. Ream of paper - check - I might slip something in-between sheets. Etc etc. I dislike companies that assume I am a thief just because I shop at their stores. Especially if I have done enough repeat business with them so as to demonstrate I'm not in it for the crime potential. And - because it's important to me at my work that my customers be thrilled if not just satisfied - I really dislike places that treat customers as so very poorly as Central Computer does. They exist in San Francisco because they are the only alternative to Best Buy - and _only_ for that reason. Any other market would reward their crappy attitude with very little business. If you can wait for NewEgg, or get to a Fry's - as one other person suggested - you'll get more selection, about the same or a lower price - and ambivalence instead of rudeness. read more

I'd known Central to be the best computer shop in SF and often the best prices as well. This visit I was a on a mission: go forth and purchase a wireless router. Time was of essence, as there were not any parking spots around. Armed with router details from my techie hubby, I ventured in as my friend rounded the block. Now I'm techie enough to know what section the routers would be in, but that's where my knowledge ended. My eyes glazed over at the options behind the glass. I thought I spotted the Linksys that I was looking for, but just then the clerk asked me if I needed help looking for anything. He confirmed the router I wanted, got it out of the case, and rung me up in a matter of minutes, and I was on my way. Gloriously simple, fast and wonderful service. I wish all tech purchases were this easy (and the subsequent Microsoft downloads, but that's another story). Router installed without incident and everyone lived wirelessly ever after. read more

I always go here (along with a number of different stores) to price check different things I need to buy for my computer. My dad and I have been going here for a really long time to look for computer things. The customer service here is weird. They don't come up to you. Sometimes they do, but that doesn't happen too often. You have to go find them. Sometimes the staff won't help you at all. Sometimes the staff gets too technical and tells you more than you want to know. And sometimes they're just right. Funny thing though, when I come here by myself, without my computer teacher dad, sometimes the people in the store look at me funny for looking around. They don't think I know what I'm doing, when I know exactly what I came in for. They have a lot of things to choose from and the prices vary depending on what you are looking for. They have stuff for PCs and Macs. There is more PC stuff, but anything you need for your Mac is there also. I bought RAM for my Mac not too long ago from here. They're pretty organized, but there is lots of stuff everywhere. read more

Yes! Why didnt I KNOW about this place? I took 4 steps in, was immediately greeted by computer boy who asked what he could help me with...I showed him pictures on my phone of what I needed to connect with what, and he brought me stuff. Meanwhile, a few other customers came in that were slightly unsavory and they were greeted just as kindly and just as promptly ( one was even a return! No problem. Have you ever tried to return something at Fry's, Best Buy, or Office Awful?) I spent $12 and was given several options. Sweet. I could easily have spent twice that at those other places. Yay! The entire transaction took less than ten minutes. I'm a huge fan!!!!!!!! read more

On august 1st I dropped off my new laptop to have the hard drive upgraded. I supplied 2 drives, one 2.5" and one m.2, to replace the m.2 OEM drive that came with the machine. After a week the told me they needed me to bring in a smaller battery and a motherboard cable for the 2.5" drive because they don't have these things. (at a computer parts store?) I bought them online, brought them in, and checked back a week later. The had not touched the parts I brought in. 4 days later they finally called to tell me it was ready so I walked over. I go to the service desk and the man hands me back the computer and the m.2 drive I brought him. He says, "I didn't' install the drive because i don't think you'll notice the difference." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 3 weeks you had my computer and the drive I hired you to install, and you did not install it because you don't think I'll notice the difference? Did I pay you for your commentary? I hired you to do a job and instead of asking me, you just sat on my computer for 3 weeks and did not do the work? And you charged me $130?!!? He said, "I guess if you really want me to, I can swap the drives, you can leave it here again." I was absolutely not leaving the computer with him another day, so I took it back, the work I paid for completely undone, and left shaking my head at how stupid an experience that was. When someone hires you to do a job, they aren't hiring you to decide for them whether that job needs doing, they are hiring you to do the job. Thanks for nothing. I'm just going to watch some youtube videos and learn how to do this work myself and compete the task (that i already paid for!) at home. read more

say good-bye to best buy and hello to central computers. this is the place the guys who build computers go....disclaimer. I am not that guy/gal. i know nothing but do know that best buy is a rip off and if i'm gonna waste my money it's going to involve lots of champagne, expensive handbags and some sick shoes. NOT computers. so, i did a little research - just enough to sound like i know what I am talking about and made my way over to Central Computers. The nice gentleman who helped me was super nice, knowledgeable and patient. You won't find the crappy brands you see at BB or those other stores. I run my own business and after a horrific experience with Dell I feel like I got a fair price for a top of the line machine. I actually ended up paying $300 LESS than I budgeted and got MORE features than I anticipated. That never happens. SO, what did I do with that extra dough - NEW SHOES and a few glasses of bubbly at one of my favorite spots!!!! They also do stuff like transfer your old stuff on to your new computer...but I think I am actually going to try it myself...I'm feeling brave! read more

Long-distance customers, beware! Central Computers offers competitive pricing for computer components and other electronics, but the advantages of doing business with them stop there. If you are a customer in the Bay Area, you might have better luck with your purchases, but I would recommend finding products elsewhere if you are out-of-state. In the long run, you will save more money even if you end up paying 5% more on the sticker price of an item. Central Computers' strict return and exchange policies are allegedly the reason they can afford to offer low prices, but in the end these policies end up costing unlucky customers the most. If your product arrives damaged and you would like an exchange, Central Computers requires you to pay the shipping costs to return or exchange the item. It is worth noting that when damage is the fault of FedEx (their shipper of choice), the seller is able to file a claim in order to receive reimbursement for their losses. These claims are not available to buyers. So, while Central Computers might be reimbursed for their losses, customers of Central Computers do not receive any reimbursement for their shipping costs on a return or exchange. If you are unlucky enough to receive a damaged 30 pound large item (such as a new case), be prepared to take a loss of $100+ in shipping costs if you would like a replacement. If you are willing to gamble that the item you order is in perfect working condition and will not be damaged in transit, then perhaps Central Computers is the right place for you. For many who are long-distance customers, I think that finding an alternative seller will be a safer and more cost-effective route to take. read more

I truly believe that one must have reasonable expectations when going to a computer shop like Central Computer. This is not a department store or restaurant so you cannot expect to get the same type of customer service that you would at a Macy's or even a Fry's for that matter. There is a massive difference between a huge chain like Fry's versus a tiny computer shop like Central Computer. What are the differences? 1.) Central Computer has prices comparable to NewEgg.com, TigerDirect.com, DealRam.com and other popular internet retailers minus the shipping costs and with drop-in/pick-up instant gratification. Fry's, CompUSA and other large chains have horrendous prices that make concientious shoppers stick to internet retailers almost exclusively. 2.) The staff at Central Computer are by no means friendly, but they know exactly what it is that they are talking about. Best Buy and other large retailers are staffed by very polite ignoramuses that couldn't tell you the difference between a SO-DIMM module and their rear end. 3.) Central Computer has a huge selection of products from generic (read: cheap) to mainstream brand names. CompUSA and similar large retail stores will only sell you costly name brands at a premium, or worse still, their own crappy brand of tech bristling with their cheesy logos all over. Bottom line, if you are looking for the best prices, the most qualified staff and a great selection, Central Computer is for you. If you are looking solely for smiley faces, then head down to Best Buy - just be prepared to have your intelligence insulted and your wallet raped. Price Comparison June 5, 2007... 1.) 7' CAT6 (gigabit) ethernet cord: Best Buy $18.49, Central Computer $6.50 2.) 2 X 1GB 667Mhz DDR2 desktop RAM: Best Buy $219.98, Central Computer $99.95 read more

My friend Richard suggested I go to Central computer for my repair. He bought a computer from them and said they were good. I think it is important to differentiate between Central's retail and new computer sales and their repair department. I left my computer for an assessment, which cost $30. After a few days I got no reply, I thought I'd hear back from them with a diagnosis and options to get it fixed. After three business days I heard nothing, so I called them. I never got any detailed feedback other than it needed a new hard drive at a high price. Most repair depots will run a diagnostic program which reports if there are hard drive problems, corrupted programs and the like. I got none of that for my money. All I got was BS, so I passed on the repair. I did not need a new hard drive, I'm still using the same one (the tech at the next place I took it to and who fixed my problem-- no thanks to Central confirmed this). I took the computer to another repair depot and the knowledgeable young guy said I think you have corrupted anti virus software. After analysis, It turns out my computer was badly infected with a virus which had damaged the file structure. I did not need a new hard drive, it seems to me Central only wanted to stick me with biggest repair they could at the worst or it was all they could suggest at the best. The repair offered would have done nothing to resolve my problem at all. The Central repair tech was clueless at best and should not be in the business in my opinion. My intuition is this Central Tech lacks the technical competence you would expect when it comes to repairs. My background is not in computer repair, but I do understand protocols for repairs which were not professionally followed at this store. They do not run professional propitiatory diagnostic software as most repair places will. You will get no detailed report of your problems, I think they are just guessing using the same tools you already have on your computer, which are not always enough and why you go to a qualified professional repair depot. Most places will run the assessment software for free, then suggest needed repairs based on analysis of your problem. Central wants $30 to tell you "I did a check disc" anyone can do for free - freaking clueless! In closing it seemed odd to me most people I saw getting repairs at Central had big old clunky tower computer desktop systems, I assumed no one used anymore, so perhaps their technicians are good with older box systems and not modern computers? I have purchased cables and accessories at Central which were very reasonable, but I would not bother taking anything in for a repair, you are just wasting your $30 and possibly not even dealing with your problem. At least this was my experience... read more

Like a mini Fry's in downtown SF. It's great if you work nearby because you can drop by and pick up some OEM (non-retail) computer parts dirt cheap. They also sell full systems and will even help you out if you messed up your computer. The place is always so busy that it's hard to expect stellar service but they still deserve five stars for their selection, prices and location. read more

Central Computers - IT Services & Computer Repair Near Me - San Francisco, California

Yup. They've got a fantastic selection of computer stuff, at remarkably great prices (often actually comparable to even online stores!). Yeah, their return policy is a bit stingy - 15% restocking fee, and only 15 days, but they're not a chain, so it's not surprising. They don't have a big corporate entity to help with the extra costs. Impressively useful hours too. read more

-1 star Reason: called the shop since it is near to my place to check if they had my laptop charger. First a guy answered, and he put me on hold for 10 mins. Then another guy answered. I asked him if they had a specific charger I was interested in purchasing. They said they might and that I should come over and take a look. When I asked the price. They said 50-60 dollars I asked if this is the best price they can give me since Best Buy sells a branded product for the same price. His words - "then you should go to Best Buy and buy their product" Not the best customer service huh? I think this short interaction is a solid representation of the type of service you can expect to get at the shop. read more

This is my very first review on Yelp (actually online). I just need to write one since Central Computer is the MOST irresponsible store I had ever been to. It was my laptop which was not working. I paid the $30 check-up fee and they told me they will contact me in about 2 weeks. No call from them at all. I called them finally, they said it's not ready. I called them every week to follow up since they didn't call, they said the same thing. After almost 2 months of waiting, I gave up and said I'll just come pick it up. Since there was no help at all offered from their end, I requested a refund of the check-up fee. They refused and told me they did spend time looking for a motherboard. I asked for a tech report to show evidence of what they had done. They said they don't have one. So basically, they might have done nothing at all. I asked when they could find me a motherboard, they couldn't give me an answer neither. Please be WARNED to go there if you are seeking for computer service. They are irresponsible, not helpful, don't have the ability to help and so not professional. read more

Although good selection, especially for techie types, I gave up on Central after running into defective Asus motherboards. I returned one due to bad video output. A sales person treated me like a criminal, as if I was trying to steal from her. A service person was arrogant. He knew everything, and I must be an idiot (I'm a computer technician by trade), and another technician was also extremely rude, not caring unless I wanted to pay high fees to have him diagnose the issue. Ending up dealing with Asus directly, I actually went through 5 motherboards which were all defective in one way or another. When the last replacement RMA board reached me, I sold it privately for 40% of its original price just to get rid of it. I bought a different brand which has been working fine ever since, but not from Central Computer. read more

I've been going to Central Computer for about 8 years for a variety both hardward and software issues related to several of my laptops. They've always been good but a bit pricey, but hey...it's like finding a good doctor or hair cutter, you just do it because you trust them. My most recent experience has pretty much told me to find another computer repair shop. If you know a good one, let me know. I took my laptop in for a failing touchpad key. I took the same laptop in for the same issue a couple of years ago, and they fixed it no problem. This time...a lot of problems. First, although their staff kept saying that they would call me with updates and to talk with me about the issues related to the repairs, I pretty much had to initiate those conversations. Secondly, I literally had to show up at the shop on 7 different trips to deal with the variety of issues that came up because of the repairs or lack there of made by Central Computer. The first time that I went to pick up my laptop, Central Computer had lost my power cord. Apparently, they ship all of their repairs down to their San Mateo and Santa Clara offices. When my laptop came back, they mixed up my power cord with another older power cord. They had to ship it back up to San Francisco, and I had to make another trip out to them. After a day of using my laptop, it was pretty clear that they had not made the repair adequately. The same key was clearly failing again, and I noticed that there was a crack at the bottom of my laptop which was probably related to the repair guys opening (I mean prying open) my laptop to access the touchpad keys. So back to Central Repair for more repairs. The second time that I got the laptop back, I noticed that they had replaced the bottom of my laptop. I'm assuming they had completely cracked the bottom of the laptop case at this point to open it up for "repairs". Also, the touchpad and key were not working and had crazy reactions when you tried to use the touchpad or keys. So back to Central Computer once again for more repairs. So their explanation after finally fixing the laptop without destroying more than it already was failing was that the touchpad wire was failing and had to be replaced. My question is why did that happen??? It wasn't a problem when I first took in my laptop. Now I'm having problems where my laptop is having issues with Microsoft updates. Not sure if it has to do with what Central Computer did since they swapped out so many components, but I'm never going back there again. They only get an extra star because at least they stuck with it until they made the repairs good enough to have the laptop work. Still totally lost trust in their work in repairing laptops and other electronic equipment. read more

My experience at this place was ridiculously great! I brought in my laptop for a repair. A socket on the motherboard was broken. It looked grim. The guy took one look at it, and immediately knew what to do. He turned, grabbed a spare laptop which magically was the exact same model (it just happened to be sitting right there?), disassembled it, extracted a spare part, and within 30 minutes had meticulously repaired the socket for my keyboard. I was prepared for a 3 day wait, a $35 - $50 assessment fee, and a bunch of paperwork. Instead, in about a half hour, my laptop was fixed and ready to go. I booted it up and it was all gravy. To make the experience even more unusual and awesome, he waved me out of the door. He wouldn't accept and money from me! I stood there dumbfounded. He shook my hand, and I walked out. Earlier, I was considering taking my chances with one of those shady local computer repair places found all over the city, even with their 1, 2 star aggregated reviews. Luckly a friend recommended Central Computers, and I couldn't be happier about it. read more

This is the place to find any dongle. wire, adaptor, you name it. Helpful (if bored) staff - but really, who cares? Thanks for pointing me to the aisle with all the right wires. read more

I had ordered a item from there website for in store pick up and I checked the availability and the website said that there was 1 left. So I went ahead and ordered it. Everything went fine with the order and I got my confirmation email saying that I would get another email saying that the item is ready for pickup. I waited for 2 hours to get my email saying that it was ready to pick up. I got no such email and I called the store and inquired about my order. I was told that the item was to be shipped to the San Francisco store and I can pick it up then. I told the person on the phone that the website said there was 1 left and she said that the website inventory was incorrect and they were out of stock on my item. There website never said anything about it being out of stock my order confirmation never said anything about it being out of stock and when the people saw my order and that I was waiting to pick it up that day they never bothered to let me know that the item would not be available for a day or two. So if I would have not called and checked as to why it was taking so long I would have waited all day long with no information from the store. That is completely lousy customer service. I had them cancel my order and I will never shop online or in store with them again. read more

I'm still so glad this store is here Redid my living room media pc situation and now can kick it on the couch and surf the web and actually see the text Well I needed (albeit not that urgently) a way to connect the DVI out of the media pc to HDMI in on the LCD (You down with OPP?) A quick ebay search yielded what's out there But since, we as imperfect human beings WANT IT NOW So where in the city, bestbuy, F*** they wanted $150 for a cable that costs 7 + ship +waiting on fleabay Central computer had one for $17, tax inlcuded, not to shabby for solving that problem in 1/2 hr TIP: There is a lot of stuff that is not on there website that they have in the store. Chances are, if it is out there on ebay and not totally bleeding edge they will have it, ready to take home, today, for a decent price Tons of high end audio connectors Also a nice selection of glass computer desks Keys: Monster Cable Best Buy 1080p blueray DVD TV Home Theater Theatre VGA 1080 Sony Plasma Bravia XBR read more

As a long time customer, it pains me to write this. I Strongly Do Not Recommend Central Computers for repairs. After bringing in my laptop for diagnosis, I was told it had a virus. And that it would take about 3-5 days to remove it and fix the damage. I'm a freelance admin so this was my only lifeline to work, but of course I had to suck it up and find a way to borrow computers until it was fixed. In short, it had a virus, and they removed it. (Great!) It had damage from the virus, but it was still useable. (Good news!) They said they would try to fix the damage. They said if they couldn't fix the damage they would uninstall and re-install my operating system. (Thanks guys!) A 3-5 day quote and More than three weeks later, I was getting dicked around and treated pretty much as if I were a pretty gal in heels at a mechanic's in 1984. After being told to call back in another week one too many times, I resorted to getting a dude to call on my behalf and get them to agree to give it back to me, in fixed condition, and soon. Throughout, I was given nearly no information about what was going on with my computer, even though I asked nicely* over, and over, and over again. *except for that one time when I pitifully was reduced to asking them repeatedly over the phone to just double check that it was actually my computer they were talking about that needed yet another week. Unfortunately due to its lengthy stay - with no end in sight, I had to buy another laptop so I could keep working. The One thing that I was told was wrong with it was that the desktop wasn't showing icons. And when I got it home, that wasn't fixed. I have no idea what really was damaged beyond the desktop, because of their persistent refusal to tell me. So who knows what they were actually working on for three weeks. I am extremely disappointed that they handled my repair this way. I have been a customer of their products for many years and never expected this. So my aggravation is not just that they dicked me around, but now I have to find a new computer shop too. I will say this, their staff is really polite. They are polite and professional as can be while they're dicking you around. It's an effective move to silence people. read more

WARNING: Do not buy a computer or laptop here! There computers are all B models with some kind of annoying problem, like a bad trackpad or some other typical B stock problem. It is not worth it... unfortunately. I fell for it, not once, but twice and had the same experience both times. The reason I fell for it twice is because I have been going to Central Computers as long as I can remember and have always loved them. I still love their accessories and repair departments, which is why they get 2 stars instead of 1. I will never buy another computer there again. You can not beat their cables or their repair shop, so those both get 5 stars. read more

To all you CCS haters, hello, the reason that we haven't been to Fry's is that WE LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO. Not San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, South Airport Bypass, Folsom Glen, Woodside-by-the-Stables, Plenty-Of-Cayennes, Shallow Alto, or San Joe's-Eh? Plus we don't spend enough time building our own alien-faced overclocked glow-in-the-dark systemz that we need a full-on WalMart-sized store for computer parts. Whatever. I didn't know about this place until just recently, and now I feel like an idiot for ordering a new hard drive over the net when I could have bought one off the shelf in the same OEM packaging from these guys. I did need a SATA (Serial ATA, of course) cable for the drive though, and the guy at Radio Shack was cool enough to point me in the right direction. Yes, I am that old, I went to Radio Shack for a computer cable. The RS kid looked happy to be able to tell someone about CCS, even though I imagine he was fairly bummed to not work there himself. Anyhow, CCS has your computer innards needs covered. I scored an 24" 90 to straight SATA cable for like $4!!! And a 12' male-male S-Video cable for another $7!! And a box of those little screws that you use to attach hard drives to their sleds. Hard drive sled screws!! And, best of all, this little gadget called a VSky Internet Phone Wizard that lets me use my cordless phone with Skype. Siiiicckkkk. Next time I need a cable, a new hard drive, a copy of Windows (yeah, right), a copy of MS Office (not, either), a power supply, a headset, a something or other, I will head to CCS. They even have Lenovo/Thinkpad laptops on display (where else?), although they didn't have the new X300 yet. Step back, I need some glowing LED's to stick on my RAM, yo. read more

UGH! I was so disappointed with my first visit to Central Computers. I had a very basic question about ethernet cables and the woman refused to help me or answer my questions ( let alone speak english which seemed to come quite difficulty to her). I asked her if I could stretch out the 25Ft cable to test the length, no so I ended up having to come back to exchange for a 50footer. The customer service is terrible here but they seem to have a good selection of items, nevertheless I will avoid this place in the future. read more

Sucks! Unless you know EXACTLY what you're looking for and can go to the store yourself to find out if they have it - don't bother. I called them up to see if they had a simple power supply and had to be transferred to half a dozen people before they understood what I was looking for. Power supply? Yes, Power Supply. Oh, for laptop? No this model is only made for this desktop. You want a desktop? ... Who's on first?! read more

Here's the deal. I love the shop. I still continue to go there to this day. There selection is about as good as any decent discount computer mail order store. When I need something in a pinch, most of the time they have it. What they don't have is good service. I've challenged them a few times and their attitude often stinks. My suggestion is that you go in knowing exactly what your looking for. Dealing with their staff stinks!!! read more

How is it I'm just now discovering this gem? Incredibly helpful sales folks, a terrific variety of products, accessories, and components for all platforms. Thank you for having at least one copy of Windows 7 Pro 64 bit! Bonus: Found a $25 Bluetooth, roll-up, super cool keyboard compatible with my Samsung S4 and iPad. Awesome. read more

Is Amazon same-day too slow? Are you totally over paying through the nose for some random cable from Best Buy, or paying $3.99 for expedited shipping on a $5 ethernet cable? Come here. It's a great place to get all the random knick knacks you need to have "right now". So far I've gotten an Ethernet cable, a USB drive, and a phone charger. All of these items were a tad more expensive than online, but ultimately reasonable enough for me to get them at the store. I've gone here three times, and will make this a mainstay in the future. read more

Man. If you are like me you occasionally need something kinda special like this week I needed an LVD SCSI cable with a VHDCI interface on one end. I ordered one on the Internet ... $50, plus another $50 overnight shipping? I did that, and they didn't bother shipping it ... dang Internet. I asked around ... there's no Fry's in the city ... CompUSA? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA yeah .... "You haven't heard of Central Computer?" I hustled over there and they had the part for $25. "You need SCSI cable? These are very rare ..." HELL YEAH, BROTHER! So, these guys get five stars for saving my bacon. Now, if only it was actually the dang SCSI cable that was the problem ... huh. read more

Fantastic collection at competitive prices and great costumer support. Shout out to Victor who goes above and beyond to make sure you get the most out of your build with his extensive knowledge. Yes we do have Amazon and other online stores but, I love supporting local businesses and these guys deserve the support from my experience with them. read more

This place pretty much has the worst customer service on earth, all their employees I have encountered condescend to you, seem like they hate their job, and have a generally unpleasant demeanor. Not to mention, I sent my girlfriend here to get her computer fixed (a very basic problem at that), and the day they called us to pick it up they said: " we couldnt fix the problem, but u probably can urself because its very easy" That statement right there is just mindblowing. I digress. she goes go to pick up the computer, they say they have fixed the problem, and now are charging us $90 for the pleasure, without having asked us, and will not give us the computer back until we pay their additional 90 dollars, effectively holding it ransom without having even asked us if we wanted them to further pursue fixing the problem. This conversation ends with the sales associate yelling at my girlfriend. Girlfriend requests manager, associate says she left, and then manager magically appears from back store area. Sweet, getting lied to. Girlfriend talks to manager, manager says "he yelled at you because it was a cultural thing". uhm, what? my culture? his culture? why does that make it ok? manager scrambling to defend her "culturally excused" worker for his behavior by saying its because racism/sexism is in his culture? girlfriend is nearly crying in frustration considering pursuing legal action Im going in tomorrow to negotiate the return of our 90 extorted dollars, our 30 dollar evluation fee and compensation for nearly giving my girlfriend an anxiety attack from being yelled at (she has diagnosed anxiety), and overall ruining our evening. Girlfriend gets home, computer works for 5 minutes, then turns off, and no longer turns on. When we brought it there it was working fine, just couldnt log into profile and was overheating. They killed it. At this point I am just laughing, because these guys are about to either fix all this for free, buy her a brand new computer, or get their pants sued off for the same thing plus more. Do you want to go to central computers after hearing this? read more

This place is good for when you need to get a replacement part or an add on for your computer and dont want to buy it online and wait for it to be delivered. They have the types of things they dont sell at CompUSA. I bought a replacement hard drive for my computer that crapped out on me during a move. Also the people working here seem to be computer savvy, unlike at CompUSA. I asked the guy the "whats the difference between the 7200.7 and 7200.10 Seagate Barracuda?" and he told me that "the 7200 referred to the RPM speed while the 7 and 10 refer to the firmware of the hard drive but both will work on your computer". So either they know what they're talking about or they are some of the greatest BS'ers out there. read more

The cashier here, at the time I went, was probably the most helpful & pleasant of the staff I came across. However, I can't say the same for the rest. Like other Yelpers pointed out, they didn't make any effort to acknowledge I was around when I walked around the store seeking for help. I had to be the one to approach them. They didn't ask how they could help. They just kind of looked at me like they were lost. The man that did attempt to help me was rude & irritable. He kept complaining about his computer & eventually asked the guy who rang me up to help. The reason why I even gave any stars was because they had the item I needed that other stores like Staples & Best Buy didn't have. read more

This place is amazing, and whenever I need some quirky cable, adapter, or device, they have it! We really gotta support them, coz where else can you walk in and pickup a Lightning - HDMI adapter, bright green cat 5 cable, or Smart screen Wifi adapter on the spot? Easy location and great prices. One of my fave businesses in the City. read more

Caveat emptor. I ordered a new gaming laptop for 2.8k as the other listings for the same model were running for around 3.1k. The website said the model was in stock and didn't have any additional terms listed. Once I placed the order I immediately received an email loaded with disclaimers including "no-returns", "may not be exact specs", "prices may change in future" etc... Two days later I receive an email notifying me that they only had 1 model left in stock and it was a display/floor model, open box. The email didn't even bother to mention if the floor model had the same specs or matching SKU. No discount was offered for open box status. I had to call the sales line and according to the rep I spoke with the floor model should have the i9 chip and 3080 gpu and be free of obvious blemishes/defects. I will wait until I receive the laptop at which point I will raise or lower the score depending on if they actually ship the right unit free of defects. (Edited for new information.) read more

Let's just be clear up front: The reason we shop at local business like Central is the personal touch and customer service. Most of us can buy what we need online, but we try to support our locals. I have been coming here for 20 years and it used to be amazing. Today, I went in for a modem-router. I had my old one with me to compare. The woman who tried to help me had * no idea* about the products. Fine, but the problem is that she pretended she did. She sold a router-only product to me. She and I even looked at the product together in the store and she said it would work. I got it home and it was wrong. I brought it back 2 hours later and they told me there would be a 15% restocking fee because it was opened. There was never shrink wrap on it, as the woman in the morn would know because she and I looked at the actual product together (and they could check the security cameras). I had to argue to *not* pay a restocking fee. AND, I see below in response to another review that the store rep says they offer an "open box" discount which is the rationale for the restocking fee. Um, I was not offered an "open box discount" by the woman who sold this product to me. Supposedly, my refund was issued for the full price but I only see the charge on my credit card summary. Argh!! THEN dude tried to sell a $24 12v adapter to me. $24 for a 12v adapter? Hmmmm. I can get it elsewhere for less than $10. Sadly, I will be shopping online from here forward. Tried to support a local business but when the customer service is so subpar, forget it. :-( read more

I lost the password to my computer, which was a disaster. I can't tell you how frustrating it was and how unhelpful Microsoft was on the phone. Decided to see Rick at CC and he was amazing. Success. I am forever grateful!!! read more

Are you a geek? Do you know what the back section of Radio Shack is filled with and browse there regularly? Have you ever built your own computer? Do you know how to overclock said computer? Well, if that's you, then this is the store for you. If you can't speak the language of tech, you'd be better off going to Best Buy for your electronics. If you know how to replace a processor on a motherboard though, this is the place for you. DO NOT interact with the salespeople except to ask them to unlock the cabinets to get your parts. It'll only frustrate you. If you are not a techie and still want to take advantage of the low prices here, find a tech-savvy friend and take them with you. read more