Page 12 - May 23, 2013
Nome and Paul Van Middlesworth thecomputerfactoryltd.com The Computer Factory
What We Do
The Computer Factory has been on the SW corner of Bent Ave and San Marcos Blvd for eighteen years. Although some things have changed over the years, our core business is pretty much the same as it was when we opened. We build PCs for all applications and we upgrade and repair all PC brands. “We build the best and fix the rest” is our mantra. We’ve built thousands of new PCs and repaired or upgraded tens of thousands since 1995.
Most new PCs have been for local home and business users but our PCs have been shipped all over the world. We’ve built solar powered controllers for mountain top navigation stations in Portugal, scores of rack-mounted,
May Revise Falls Short
Last week, the Governor released his May Revise to the state budget. It includes some practical policies but few plans for improving California’s economy. I am pleased to see a sales tax exemption for manufacturing equipment proposal in the Governor’s May Revise. This is something I have long fought for, and I have introduced similar legislation numerous times.
However, there is little else in the budget plan that shows that job creation is the top priority. Our budget should be more responsive to Californians’ need for more jobs and economic growth. We cannot ignore an unemployment rate that continues to rank one of the high-
shipboard PCs for the world’s largest ocean bottom mapping company and our PCs continue to be used as integrated controllers in design workstations and automated assembly equipment both here and abroad.
We’ve built servers, gamers, design and animation workstations, flight simulators and daytrader systems. We’ve built PCs in Doggie and Kitty Cat cases, burled walnut and transparent cases, alien and transformer cases, full towers, mini towers, micro towers, desktops, rack mounts, lunch boxes and cubes. While it’s fun to build these “specials,” well over 90% of the PCs that we build are basic home or business towers.
power supplies. While “parts” sales were never a significant part of our business, they were always a major headache. Frequently “parts” were returned because the DIY either bought the wrong part or didn’t know how to install it. Equally as often they would call us for technical support when they got in over their heads. When Fry’s moved in across the street a few years ago it had two major impacts on our business. First, having Fry’s right across the street gave our business a significant boost simply because of the increased exposure and traffic. Second, it provided us the oppor-
tunity to stop selling “over the counter” components to the DIY folks. Processing returns and refunds is costly and often involves unpleasant confrontations with customers. Fry’s has lots of experience handling unhappy customers and have it down to an art form. We’ve never had enough unhappy customers to get good at it. We still stock and sell all the “parts” that we once did but now we sell them only as part of an upgrade or repair service. We provide a one-year parts and labor warranty for our work. Today you can count on one hand the number of returns we process in a year.
Some things have changed over the years. We do a lot more onsite support installing and maintaining business and home networks. We also started selling and repairing notebook PCs a few years ago. We do not sell or repair printers, game boxes or Apple products.
We used to sell PC components to the DIY (do-it-yourself) crowd. In the early days there were a lot of hobbyists building and repairing their own PCs. We felt obligated to help these “shade tree technicians” by selling them components like memory, motherboards, video cards, CPUs and
760.744.4315 760.744.4315
est in the nation or ignore Harming Business to the fact that CEO’s from Help the Homeless across the country once again consider California as the worst state for business. Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5) has Our government must do better. Too many Californians are unable to find jobs or are underemployed in part-time positions. Underemployment is keeping prosperity away from families, businesses and our state. With the right budget policies and priorities, California’s economy could experience growth that is long. Senator Mark Wyland represents the people of the 38th Senate District, which includes Rancho Bernardo, Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, Escondido, and Vista.
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rent statutes and restricts law enforcement’s ability to maintain public safety. The bill further requires the state to prorecently garnered a great deal vide funding for “hygiene cenof attention. The bill, intro- ters” for use by the homeless, a duced by Assemblyman Tom costly mandate that underAmmiano (D – San Francisco) mines the local decision makis dubbed the “Homeless ing process. Persons Bill of Rights and Fairness Act.” AB 5 seeks to Business owners will also be address a serious problem barred from taking action to impacting many cities, but prevent homeless persons does so in a manner that will from virtually taking over have negative repercussions sidewalk space in front of on California’s economy. their storefronts. Business would be further impacted AB 5’s most egregious provibecause the bill creates a new sions allow homeless persons to panhandle, sleep and con- protected class of employees gregate in public places, and customers who are homeincluding parking lots, com- less or who may be perceived mon areas and courtyards. to be homeless. Homeless persons would be authorized to leave personal It is no wonder that AB 5 has property in public spaces and been identified as a “job killer” could sue authorities if this by the California Chamber of property is confiscated or Commerce. Unfortunately, destroyed by law enforce- some legislators seem determent. The bill gives homeless mined to drive even more persons rights far above cur- businesses out of our state.