Be prepared--this is a longish and detailed review because I have been a customer of ABC for…read moreseveral years, and have used them to support my teaching, my professional writing, and my personal needs.
ABC is the best service I have ever gotten in the Detroit area. Detroit area computer techs have been very good to me--just not as professional nor as good at ABC. I compare ABC to wonderful personalized service I used to get at a similar small shop in Miami where the techs knew me personally, gave me the suggestions a professor needs, and kept my business for ten years--
Well, ABC in Hamtramck, MI is as good as that and better. I've worked as a university professor for twenty years in Florida, New York, and in Michigan. I have consistently used ABC over my own University tech support here because ABC is more professional, and once even reversed some damage done to my laptop by university techs who totally misunderstood what I wanted. University techs can be dismissive, unenthusiastic, and impersonal. ABC's techs and owner actually listen to me, consider my needs, my professional challenges, and of course most importantly REMEMBER me and remember the idiosyncrasies of my machines, some of which they sold me.
Personal service matters. So far, every computer they ever sold me has performed excellently, and I have so far never needed to buy 'replacements', but tend to pass on the older ones to a girlfriend, to family, and even to students when I am ready to go to ABC to purchase a more powerful machine.
Lastly, there are a couple of experiences that puts them several cuts above everyone else and cement my loyalty: I spent a year in Boston at Harvard getting a second Masters, and when I had seemingly unsolvable problems with a laptop I needed to function for my classes, I called Nick from Boston and he diagnosed my problem and advised me on how to resolve it, suggesting what to purchase and how to install it myself, no need to incur costs from Boston techs or Harvard techs. He did this for me free of a consultation charge because I am a long time customer.
Incidentally, you get what you pay for, so ABC components, parts, programs, and hard drives are not 'cheap'. They carry and order well made parts and will accommodate my budget but usually successfully convince me not to request material for my computers that will not be durable and appropriate. 'Cheap' is not what they go with, so their prices accordingly are competitive, NOT bargain basement. ABC also provides warranties on parts and on their work. Overall, the cost of shopping at and hiring ABC aren't cut rate but are affordable, given the level of cost typical for electronic parts and services. (I'd rate them thusly: (between $ and $$$$ I give them a $$ to $$$). You'll save money, and they do not try to sell you anything they know you don't need.
I am a published journalist and author. Once I'd moved back to Detroit from Boston I happened to get a publishing contract for a novel. I worked on the final draft, and ABC kept my computer clean, running well, and kept it updated for me as I finished that process. The book is entitled, "Sympathy for Me: A Memoir of the Devil" and is available on AMAZON. It is selling well. I owe my successful completion of that book's final draft in part to ABC and Nick's ongoing support. ABC deserves customer loyalty.
By the way, the shop itself is clean, neat, always with good music playing in the background (Steely Dan was playing today when I was in!), and they appear to me to be following COVID-19 level cleanliness (counters, display cases, the shop windows, and shelving, all neat and clean). What more could a customer ask for?
