This year, perhaps you found a technological gift under the tree or in your stocking.
Unwrapping a gift, whether it be a new tablet, a streaming device, or a pair of wireless headphones, may make you pleased at first, but then you realise you might not know how to set it up. What if you disagree with it, though?
You probably will have some queries (indeed, issues) with your new gear, especially if you’re not very tech-savvy.
The good news is that you have several options for getting technical support, many of which are free. In this article, we’ll look at a few ideas.
Consult with the manufacturer
Don’t be reluctant to ask the manufacturer for assistance. Don’t be reluctant to use it; after all, technical assistance and customer care are included in the purchase price. The manufacturer should also be able to help you because tech enthusiasts have probably encountered this problem before, in addition to that.
If you need assistance, check for the tech support section on the company’s website (such as apple.com or dell.com) or perform a web search for “(product name) tech support,” but be sure you’re connecting with the right organisation (look at the URL).
There are a few ways you can get in touch with someone: you can call them on the phone (if one is available), send them an email (which is easy but may take some time to receive a response to), or use the website’s “Live Chat” feature to communicate with someone right away (though it may be a “chatbot” at first).
They are hearing:
Unless you alter these settings, Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook are always listening.
rely on tech-savvy family and friends
Contact a tech-savvy relative, friend, coworker, or neighbour if you can.
- Make sure you have your equipment nearby so you can follow instructions if someone offers to assist you over the phone. Better yet, make a note of the tip in case it occurs once more.
- Nothing beats helping someone in person, so maybe offer them some freshly made holiday cookies.
- Holidays spent at home? If you choose Roku, retro, Apple, or Amazon, you can’t go wrong.
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The next best thing to having them there is having a trustworthy friend or family member remotely access your laptop or desktop to fix the problem for you. Just keep an eye on what they’re doing as they take control of your mouse and take notes if they can’t come to you in person for computer help. Popular “remote desktop” programmes include LogMeIn, Go ToMyPC, and Splashtop Personal (my personal favourite).
The Internet, YouTube
Want to try to solve the problem on your own? Why not give it a shot as it might be easy?
You’ll probably discover someone else who is experiencing the same problem if you conduct a web search for it and are as descriptive as you can, including the exact model number (and hopefully, a solution, too).
You could occasionally find a succinct response yourself in the search engine.
Unauthorised Online Retailers’ Services
Asurion, the organisation that operates the nationwide network of Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions repair shops (previously known as uBreakiFix), provides a device protection plan called Asurion Home+ ($24.99/month) that covers almost all home technology under one roof, including TVs, computers, tablets, and e-readers, smart home devices, and gaming consoles, regardless of where it was purchased or how old it is. This package does not cover smartphones.
Asurion guarantees that broken technology will be repaired or replaced (typically at an Asurion Tech Repair & Solutions location) or you’ll get your money back.
The Geek Squad at Best Buy, on the other hand, has a different subscription service called Total Tech Help ($199.99/year), which provides limitless support for all of your appliances and technology (by phone, online, and in-store), regardless of where you bought it.
Speaking of stores, you might want to drop off your gear at an electronics retailer or repair centre for an expert to handle if you don’t have the time or patience for online or phone help. Get prepared to part with your money because it might not be mended while you wait depending on the task and how busy the business is.