Western Computer Reviews 209

was gutted to spill coffee on my newly refurbished Macbook pro. Early into the current lockdown the only place that I could find open for repair was Western Computers in Ciren. This was not a problem, as though I live in Bristol, I work in Cirencester most of the time. So I popped the machine in, where I was informed that they wanted 84 quid just to look at it. Fine I thought, the machine may be salvageable so lets give it a punt. They came back with a repair cost of almost £1,300.

What they didn’t know is that though my days of playing around with a soldering iron are behind me, I am not completely naïve to the dark art of computer repair. I knew that though the logic board and battery may not be repairable, the rest of the machine was fine. However, the quoted cost included the replacement of components that may have come in contact with liquid, but I knew were totally fine. Moreover, I had just had the computer refurbished by Apple in Cabot Circus Bristol, who charged me £200 for a battery replacement, while the charge here for the same component was almost £400.

In the end I took the machine to the IT Centre in St Werburghs in Bristol, who also charged me 50 quid to look at it, but repaired the whole thing including the battery for £350. I think Western are exploiting a captive market in Ciren - if you are happy to pay for the convenience of a local repair, no problem. Though you are paying more than a hefty premium.

I was going to give western a 2 star review. But No. When I came to pick up the machine, due to the current covid restrictions you have to be served through the front door. It was peeing down with rain at the time, and I had to wait 10 minutes for the service engineer to finish a phone call before he served me. Fine – I arrived in the rain, that is my fault. However, I was clearly soaked, and it would have been nice of him to acknowledge my patience. With “sorry for keeping you” or “sorry you got wet”. But no – nothing. 1 star.

I recently paid for a repair cost of £425 after paying a £84 diagnostic fee and within days the computer was not working again when I took it back they said it was the same job number and they are now asking for another £84 plus another £425 stating the parts (which they fitted) are not genuine Apple
The latest Macbook cost less than £1000 to buy new from Apple. Avoid this company and go to apple directly

Last Friday I was completely stuck with an upgrade for my MacBook. Joost in Cirencester gave outstanding service and fixed the problem overnight.

The customer service is bad. Theyre taking forever to reply me. I’ve called though sands of time everyday, no one picked up. I’ve sent them email, haven’t replied me back.

I ordered MacBook Air m1 online during Black Friday. Pete really helpful and respond quickly due to I would not be in London after Xmas. Received the product before three days. Fantastic customer service definitely will shop again.

AVOID! This company is an Apple "approved" service centre and Apple even refer you to them but obviously have never regulated the reviews of unhappy customers. Wait for a genuine Apple appointment or be prepared to part with money unnecessarily. Read all the reviews or if you are duped into using them take photos of your device while in their store from all angles. Ask for a second opinion on the 'repairs' they deem necessary and sign nothing....walk away. Profiteering during a pandemic on repairs that Apple later deemed 'very unlikely" to have occurred to a device still under warranty.... not by one member of Apple support but 3! Log any concerns you have with this company with Apple Support for them to review whether they still wish to use them as an approved service centre.40% on trust pilot give 1 star for service....wow let them defend that and that's because you can't put 0 stars....shameful tactics!

Booked an Appointment online for a walk in front screen repair, travelled one hour, paid £10 in parking and was then told they couldn't repair it that day ! Why offer online appointments as a "Authorised Apple Service Centre" and then cannot provide the service. Very rude technician as well. Stay well clear. Didn't want to provide them one star but had to leave this review.

I have purchased an iMac from Western Computers and now I am going to purchase another one with them!

Very helpful and knowledgeable, as well as being polite and friendly :)

Error message on MacBook Pro stated battery needed servicing even though cycle count very low and booked service slot with Western. On visiting, Western said they had no details from Apple and had to run their diagnostics at a non refundable £84!
Then got message that battery needed replacing costing a further £213.14 - total about £300.
While staff polite, etc. Impression given that as they have regional monopoly as only approved Apple dealer / repair company they can charge what they like. While prices seem lower for batteries than listed by others, £84 just to run Apple's diagnostics software (with no discount / offset against actual repair) is a rip off.

Tried to scam me saying my 4 month old iPad Pro was water damaged. Later it to Apple Birmingham who fixed under warranty in minutes saying just dust in charging port. Avoid this store they are scammers

Exceptional service and friendly team. My MacBook Pro was delivered back to my like it was brand new.
Fully recommended

My computer screen had crashed and I had a deadline due for my course plus all my contact information: I am a carer for my Mum so my laptop is crucial. The people at Western were calm, did not over promise and kept me up to date. They said it could take up to 10 days as they had to order a new screen. But they had it turned around in 48 hours. They are heroes. Professional, polite and brilliant. Thank you.

My iPhone battery needed replacing so UPS Collected it . The service engineer repaired it and then UPS returned it. Fantastic service and great to be able to speak to the engineer and get replies to any emails.
Fully recommend using Western Computers

Had a problem with my phones charging socket. They knew exactly how to fix it with no issues. Great service from Western Computers Cheltenham would recommend them to anyone.

Booked a battery replacement at the Leamington store through the Apple site Which is our nearest store but still 25 mins away. Dragged the kids there in the rain for our appointment only to be told the batteries for my phone were out of stock and I’d need to leave the phone with them for 2 days. Very annoyed.

Great service and professionalism. They sorted out my under warranty iphone, where Apple didn't.
I would not hesitate to shop and go back to Western Computers and can't recommend them highly enough. There are no long queues in the store and it is a pleasant experience, unlike Apple Solihull.

Visited to have an IPhone battery replaced. I booked via Apple.
Pete was a huge help and arranged for my battery to be changed within a couple of hours when he found out we didn’t live locally. Luckily for me, my battery was in stock (worth checking with the store before arriving).
Very pleased with the service.

The battery on my Macbook Pro needed servicing and was clearly faulty. I took it into Western for a quote and was told it would cost about £570 to replace. I brought the laptop away as my data needed backing up first, then when I had psychologically accepted the fact it was going to cost me a lot of money I took the laptop back a few weeks later. This time they told me it was going to cost £813 but couldn't explain why the high jump in cost. Again I took the laptop away, googled some information and contacted Apple directly instead. I now have a new battery courtesy of the Apple Store which cost me £199, less than a quarter of the price I was quoted by Western. Needless to say the staff at Apple were quite taken aback at the quote for £813. Unfortunately their extortionately high prices and lack of justification for them have ensured that I will never return to any Western store again.

My 7-year-old iMac was running dreadfully slowly. I assumed I needed to increase the operating memory; Apple Support advised that neither their Bath or Bristol branches were able to upgrade because of the age of the machine, but directed me to Western Computer Service Centre in Bristol. I contacted them and was advised that it was more likely that the hard drive was becoming exhausted, and to consider a replacement SSD drive which they assured me would improve performance; they could also upgrade the memory if required, though all the indications were that there was still enough capacity in the existing 8GB for the moment. I accepted their advice and their quote and booked in for the SSD replacement.

I delivered the computer to them on Monday lunchtime, was advised the work was completed by Wednesday, and I collected it on Thursday; the improvement in performance is remarkable - just like having a brand new computer again! And all this for what I consider a very reasonable £238.00.

I note other branches have had poor reviews, and I can't speak for them; for Bristol, however, I have only good words, and would have no hesitation in recommending them to friends and colleagues.