Data Doctors of Tempe

I took a laptop here awhile back that was in its death throes. The guy working at the front counter hooks it up in the back, tells me the hard drive is failing, which I already knew. I wanted to see about getting data backed up and I ended up getting the runaround.
He then tells me it will be $ 350 to back everything up. I politely decline, and tell him I don’t even have that much money in my checking account (starvingartist/​recent college grad here). He completely ignores that and insists I do the data transfer while they have my laptop hooked up (essentially trying to push me into it), at which point I got icy and demanded my laptop back, re-​iterating that this is an expense I simply cannot afford. He made some snide remark about how I’d lose my data immediately if I didn’t follow his advice and pay for the backup, and it was clear by his attitude he was kind of human who thinks that girls couldn’t possibly know anything about computers. He grudgingly unhooked my laptop and handed it back and I split.
A friend of mine was able to salvage the data, so all was not lost. AVOID THIS PLACE for their horrible customer service and pushy sales tactics.

I took a 3TB backup drive which had stopped being recognized in to see how much to have the data ‘recovered’. Was helped by a nice kid, who also happened to be helping a lady on what appeared to be a re-​install of windows. Young man made a huge deal about instead of $ 149 investigative fee we’re offering a discount… only $ 59! I thought, OK. Lower than what I found on their site. Things are looking good… so far.
We get into the nitty gritty of the deal, and there is no way this company is going to give me a worst case estimate… kid finally says, (after my approaching the subject from several angles) «Fine…anywhere north of $ 1500.» OK… now we have a number.
«Will I get a list of the filenames they were able to detect?»
«I’m not sure. What type of files are you looking to save?»
«All of them… but I’m really interested in the .zip, .cr2,.dng, mac program files, etc»
«They will let you now what they are able to get off the drive»
«OK…what the hell.»
$ 59 later and a promise to hear from them in up to a week, out the door I go.
Enter the Data Recovery Specialist:
’###ring…###ring…Hello
«Yeah, this is (Tom, Don, Dom… who gives a shot) from Data Doctors, I need to talk about your drive»
«Ok»
“Well, what were the symptoms before it failed?”
«exact same as I told the guy I handed the drive to… not being recognized»
«Well, that explains things. Here’s how this is going to work. I have to buy parts because I think the read/​write head is crashed… this happens when people don’t take care of their drives. These parts cost me money, and that will be worked into the price.
„Ok, speaking of money, how much and whern can I expect the list of files you anticipate being able to lift from the drive?“
„What list“
„The list the guy who I handed my drive to said I would receive to determine of I wanted to go ahead with the recovery.“
„There is no list. If I can get the data you pay. If I can’t there is no charge, I eat the cost of the parts, so no data, no charge.“
‘Ok, how much»
«Up to $ 1,285»
«What’s the breakdown? Is there a rate per MB, a rate per file, a rate per GB?»
«Yup, up to $ 1285»
«That’s a pretty large estimate»
«Yup, If I can get the data you pay. If I can’t get the data it’s no charge, not even for the parts I have to buy.»
«What about the list?»
«No list. If I can get…
„Yeah I get it. If you can get the data, I pay. If not, you cover the parts“
„Yep…so what’s it gonna be?“
„Too rich for me, bud. You sold me on not going forward. Thanks. Have the drive returned to the store I dropped it off at, and thanks.“
„Uh, That’s totally up to you, friend.“
I guess these clowns have never heard of the proverbial bait and switch. I bet this scam works real well on the girls at ASU (just up the street from this store) who come in with lost pictures and maybe even a term-​paper or two which has fallen into the bad-​drive syndrome status.
Funny thing, I have been receiving multiple calls from the store staff, now getting more urgent reminding me of the status of my drive ans „we are really expecting you to come get it“
If this store was the last place on earth selling water, I’d remove a finger and drink my own blood. The story you get at the counter is not the story you get when speaking to the ‘data recovery expert/​parts buyer»
I wasnt expecting a bargain basement price, but as many times as their data recovery guy said «I», «me», and «my» I was left with the impression he was a single person in a garage someplace
with a copy of DiskDoctor working on commission. There was no level of comfort whatsoever in dealing with this individual, and after the phone call I felt as if I’d fallen in the mud and needed a shower.
If I mis-​read all of his «I get the data you pay» statements, then my bad. I gave a very specific list of what I wanted to the young man who helped me when I handed my drive over. He both nodded and answered to the affirmative, which in body language school we know means there is at least a 45% chance the subject himself believes what they are saying, regardless of the actual level of truth in their words.
For Data Recovery, I would not recommend Data Doctors. I inquired at the initial meeting whether the process was handled on-​site, and was told that the recovery work took place in a clean room environment off-​site. The call I received from the ‘expert’ did not leave me with that impression.
If you ve received better service than I, maybe it was the moon or the shifting sands. I cannot in good faith say I was even the least bit satisfied with any part of my transaction with Data Doctors in Tempe on Rural Rd. There is a good part: The initial cost was only $ 59 rather than the $ 149 they ‘normally charge’ which is lost money, by the way. That is what it cost me to be told «I get the data, you pay» $ 10 a word.
Avoid them at all costs.

For some reason, my very first review was deleted. I know… the truth hurts.
My laptop from this clown college has finally shit the bed. I will soon be posting the video of this «fine product» sold to me by these jerks. It should be noted that I am writing this on the laptop that they declared DOA, but refused to show me the work order showing me what was wrong upon request. Before you buy, read this. BEWARE… CAUTION… HOLD THAT WALLET WITH BOTH HANDS…

Went to this place with a laptop of mine after it crashed and had troubles with my back up laptop. There was some girl who worked there — plump and with black hair. She wasn’t rude or unfriendly, but she wasn’t friendly either. Kind of one of those people there for a paycheck?
So she answers my questions and then I head out. Well, a couple days later I went back because my back up crashed and some guy greeted me this time when just after, she comes strolling out. Again, just indifferent. You would think that once a customer made it known that «hey it’s me from the other day, how you doing» the employee would somewhat match the enthusiasm. Guess not. So then she just walks to the back and the other guy helped me. He told me that the laptop would cost more to fix than it was worth. So I left.
I went to U break we fix it, and they quoted me at 80 bucks to reinstall windows which is all it needed. And I told that guy that, but it still would cost me more than it was worth. Not just that, these people wan 50 bucks just to diagnose the problem and then if you choose to have it repaired, the 50 dollars goes toward the repair. U Break It We Fix it will look at it for free. If that isn’t enough to sway your choice, not sure what is.
For what would have cost me over 200 dollars, I got fixed for 80.

Yay! I’m a fan of Data Doctors because you can recycle your gently used computer parts with them.
I can’t remember the name of the man I spoke to, but I called ahead and asked if I could drop off an old monitor. They said yes. The man at the front of the store was more than nice to me and took the heavy monitor off my hands. Way to go, Data Doctors, for being so green and friendly.