Happy Hamster Computer Repair Review

I needed to use a charger to test a home repair and they were more than accommodating. My friend recently bought a used laptop here aswell and she payed a good price for a nicely refurbished HP.

I was having trouble with Internet Explorer and was dreading taking it in for repair because I haven't had the best experiences with computer techs. But I decided to take chance with Happy Hamsters and I am SO GLAD that I did. When I told Jeremy what the problem was, he immediately knew what to do and had it working within minutes. But he didn't stop there. He got rid of some unnecessary files and did some updates and now it's running great. It still needs some work which I will have them do when I'm in a better financial position. And that's the best part. Jeremy totally understood. No pressure. He's very professional and really knows his way around a computer.He put alot of effort into fixing my computer and didn't charge me a thing. I definitely recommend Happy Hamsters and especially Jeremy to anyone and everyone. Go Happy Hamsters!

So, I traded in my old G4 tower at the Mac Store and failed to migrate all my data, some of which went all the way back to Power Macs and Mac IIs, and was on old hard drives, zip disks, and even floppys. The Mac people threw up their hands, as did the local store famous for dealing with old, outmoded programs and technologies. Just on a whim I stopped in the Happy Hamster while I was driving by. Lucas, the technician who greeted me, took my box of junk, went in the back and came out with old zip drives and connectors and things I could not begin to understand. Inside of 20 minutes, he had opened everything and ascertained what existed and what did not exist, showed me how to migrate what remained, and made clarity out of a mess that had defied the efforts of everyone else. And he did it all with a smile on his face.

There are two great dangers in dealing with computer and software issues. The first is people who think they know what they are doing and do not. The second is people who state categorically that something cannot be done when in fact it can. Finding the sweet spot between these is a joy and a relief. Lucas was that sweet spot.

I'll be back whenever I need any assistance in doing or undoing anything on my computer. Save yourself the grief and go there first when you have needs. It is worth it, they are worth it, and it is always a good thing to support local enterprises that do good work.

Happy Hamster is a gem of a store and a wonderful find. I am lucky I stumbled in there when I did. I have found my computer store.

Helped me rebuild my system from 32 bit to 64 , helpful

They are awesome. My computer has a small issue and they fixed it for free... Thanks

Quick repair turnaround, nice storefront, and professional employees.

Thought I had a hardware problem, but Misa fixed my software problem in just a few minutes - no charge. Would definitely recommend Happy Hamster

I went to two Happy Hamster repair shops to attempt to get my computer fixed. They charged me $75 to look at it just to tell me that I needed to repair the hard drive at a price of $225. They said that they would call me once they had it diagnosed but they never did so I had to take the initiative to call them and go to the shop. I declined to pay the $225 to replace the hard drive. The following week my friend repaired my computer in under 45 minutes without replacing the hard drive. This is not an establishment I would recommend doing business with. I wasted an afternoon and $75. The computer geek/hipster reeked of bad odor. I recommend moving forward that they require ALL there employees to be honest, wear clean none wrinkled clothes, take a shower and brush there teeth. Establishments like is another reminder why Portland is bad for business and a second tier city at best. Way to keep Portland Weird and not thriving.

good people they work good and they are nice with the costomer ....thanks gys

Don't call them as their customer service over the phone is awful. I called with a common issue concerning laptops and the man over the phone told me my issue made no sense and that I was probably wasn't looking at the right part. I understand this market attracts a certain type of character, stereo-typically a socially hindered technophiles, but treating customers like their idiots is bad business. We are idiots and that's why we're coming to you with our idiotic issues. If you want my money then laugh about my idiocy behind closed doors, don't alienate potential faceless clients. "Worst customer service ever."

Hsppy Hamster Computer Repair place has the best "GEEKS" in town. On one occaision, Lucas made a housecall and repaired an ugly virus. Today, I brought my computer to the shop and Dimitri was able to analyze, fix and send me on my merry way within a half hour. They are knowledgeable, personable and kind. I will recommend Happy Hamster to all of my friends.

I can't issue enough praise for Happy Hamster Computers. I walked in this afternoon with a long list of all the recent problems I've been having with my MacBook Pro. George Marques managed to fix them all within a half an hour. He was incredibly polite, knowledgable, and kind. There is a spirit of welcoming you feel right when you walk in the door - no question is a stupid question, no matter how simple a fix it is. Thank you George and thank you Happy Hamster!

The IT guys at Happy Hamster are smart, helpful, (all around awesome!!) and give great advice along with their wonderful customer service. When my old laptop konked out, I purchased a customized laptop through Happy Hamster & the techs transferred all my info for me. No hassle + they let me make payments interest free. Last week I had a malware/email issue that had me scared about possible identity theft. Gabe Wells, who had assisted me with maintenance and backups before, helped me clear all suspicious programs from my laptop and set me up with stronger security + AD Blocker. Problem Solved!! Highly recommend Happy Hamster to anyone needing help purchasing the right computer or those with computer issues.

To make this as simple as possible I will write a timeline of events.

2012/11/21-Sent email asking about repairing my broken laptop screen.

2012/12/07-Received reply that said "we do repair laptop screens. But our hardware guy isn't here right now. I will get back to you.

2012/12/19-called and was told to call back after Christmas. Due to extra off time.

2013/01/08-Decided to order part online and complete the repair myself.

I thought my old drive was forever lost, but these guys saved it and my files on it.

Super helpful!

I already knew that IT Assurance (Happy Hamster's corporate brother company) was fabulous and their customer service was off the charts, but I was reassured of Happy Hamster's performance. I thought I had to replace my hard drive when it went dead, but they magically diagnosed the issue and resurrected it within minutes and all was well again!

Thanks so much!

ps. Moral of the story: Don't upgrade to a new version of Windows without asking Happy Hamster.

These guys are awesome. I had a small problem and they jumped right in and helped me figure it out. Misa and Matt are terrific.

The guys here (Esa) were amazing. I was so impressed with how they were able to gets ten year old laptop running like new. I will be back!

I had a few minor problems with my dell laptop that were a quick fix for Gabe. He fixed them right up and was super helpful! Great people at Happy Hamster Computers!

Simply stunning care and skill. I was touched and amazed, can't recommend highly enough.

I went to get my video card installed. the tech Lucas, was very polite and knowledgeable. I am recommending happy hamster to all friends and family member.s Ryan

BIG Thank you Happy Hamster!! Two days ago I downloaded free "fix it" software for my slow-ass computer. It ran a quick scan of my computer and found 5 million errors, so I decided it would be smart to purchase ($70) their "fix it ALL" software. Then I called a number for a free "professional install" of that software, and "Mark" from India politely asked if I would allow him to access my computer to make the install easier. "Sure", I said. I was then encouraged to upgrade my purchase because my computer was in a "most grievous state". I declined, and asked the tech to assist with the software I have already purchased. To cut to the chase...by that night my computer was so bad I couldn't even get it to boot properly. I brought it to Happy Hamster (first time), and waited 2 minutes, then was greeted by a sharp young man, who confidently took my computer and was able to work his magic. Within 15 minutes, he had removed the offending programs, cleaned up redundant and outdated programs, increased the operating speed of boot-up and Internet by 75%, and reclaimed almost 20 Gb of space for me. The price put a HUGE smile on my face! HH you have a huge fan now, and a customer for life!! PS: Misa you rock!

Relatively new laptop just began churning in the middle of a project. Lucas offered several suggestions but said the best value was to return to Dell for warranty service. Then he double checked that my backup laptop would be functional while my other was gone. Great service, quick turnaround and would definitely return there because there will always be computer problems! Found them on Angie's List and they were rated A, so that's what made me go in.

I was looking for screws for installing my SSD and fans. First I went to Radio Shack but they didn't have either types that fit. So then I googled the closest place and I found Happy Hamster. Only took several minutes and they provided me with all the screws I've been looking for, free of charge. Good place!

I was a Best Buy laptop customer for many years, but after too many negative experiences to count when things went wrong with them, I decided it was time to go local. Happy Hamster saved me:) Not only are they local, but they genuinely care about their customer - and it shows. Very knowledgeable, professional, and KIND. (Kindness goes a long way with me, and being in real estate, we gravitate towards people and businesses we can rely on.) Happy Hamster is now my go-to for all computer needs, highly recommend!

Lucas solved my problem in less than ten minutes. I appreciate the professionalism and customer service very much. I am definitely coming back for all my computer repair problems.

Coming from Chicago, where there are PC outlet stores placed pretty regularly, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find any kind of decent service or selection in Portland, OR... Finding HHC debunked those fears. "Largest computer store in Portland" isn't saying much, but what they lack in real estate they make up for tenfold in quality of service.
I needed a new laptop to bring to college, so I came here. They sat me down for a free consultation, quickly determined my needs, and designed an estimate that matched what I could pay and gave me the best performance per dollar. The base model I needed was actually out of stock, so they called me every few days to touch base on ETA or possible substitutions if I wanted it done faster (they continued to all every 48 hours to give progress reports on the build. To top it all off, I brought my brother and his long-broken laptop in to see if it could be fixed, and since they figured out how to properly fix it in under 20 minutes, it qualified as a "free consultation" and we paid nothing.

End result: I got the perfect computer to meet my needs at a fantastic price, with knowledgeable and personal service, and some extra PC help as well. Would gladly recommend this shop to anyone looking for service or to upgrade.

Very personable and knowledgeable, loved doing business here!

Thanks guys!

Friendly and capable; fixed a troubling issue within five minutes at no charge.

Happy Hamster installed new hardware and copied my OS from the hard drive to new SSD. Fast service and they even did a little extra details at no extra charge. Very positive experience. Will go back for any future PC laptop work.

Highly recommend! Have brought 2 different computers to them on three different occasions, and they were able to solve all problems with ease. Brought my totalled laptop in today and Misa was extremely helpful, took lots of time to work with me to recover my data and give me good advice on different options. Thanks!

Computer superheroes! All they need is a cape!!!

My computer died a very nasty, serious death. Naturally, I had not backed everything up recently. Happy Hampster saved my data, repaired my computer and then followed up with me to make sure everything was running smoothly - and it was! I highly recommend them!

I ran into some problems with a software application, and after spending the usual 25 minutes on hold and 50 minutes talking to a tech person, I was more confused and no closer to a solution. I called a suicide hotline, and they recommend that I go to the store. At the store on MLK, there was a great person who knew the software, fixed the problem, did not make me feel like an idiot, and did not charge any money! Win, win, win, win.

Took my laptop in fully expecting to have to leave it for a few days to get all its issues worked out - but no! they did it on the spot while I waited. Cleaned up a bunch of infected file and got things working again...Misa Valdez was super helpful and friendly. We've been customers of the NE store before - but now super happy to have the Hampster in our SE neighborhood! we'll be back.

My aging macbook was making a horrible beeping noise and Lucas did a quick fix on it while I waited. He was super friendly and helpful, and knowledgeable without being arrogant. This store should be a model to other businesses of what good costumer service is. I will definitely be returning for future computer needs.

I give Happy Hamster Computers my very highest recommendation, a 12 on a scale of 1 - 10. This is why:
I was really, really impressed with the professionalism and knowledge these guys displayed, especially that of Lucas, the representative who handled the overall transaction and the technician (Roman) who transferred the data from my old machine to the new one.

I love my new computer. I took it home and plugged it in and everything worked. This is because of the care Happy Hamster took transferring my Thunderbird email files and my scheduler file (which is no longer industry standard) over to the new machine.
This is the fifth computer I've had over the last 25 years or so. And invariably things have gone wrong when I got the others. But this time the transition was as seamless as could reasonably be hoped.

Took in my friend's HP laptop to see if they could recover the files. They gave me an honest assessment and didn't feel like they were trying to sell me stuff. Will return for future needs.

In a total panic, I went to Happy Hamster this afternoon. I had taken my completely functional laptop to a coffee shop to do some work, and it wouldn't boot up. Zilch. Nothing, Nada. I called a couple of friends who are computer savvy and asked them if there were any tricks. No tricks.

So when I landed at HH, I feared the worst - new laptop dead, you have to find the god-forsaken receipt and send it back to Dell to sit in laptop purgatory. I only hoped I could get access the hard drive since all my work and many family photos are on it. Misa greeted me at the door and immediately began problem solving, opening up the back after a few minutes of futile attempts to boot it up, then calling Kyle Hansel from the back to help with the battery. Long story short, they diagnosed that it had gone into some kind of shut down mode that lifting the battery out and replacing allowed to reset. It booted up!

Misa then spent the next 20 minutes making some needed improvements to my software - all on his own initiative - installing ninite to free me from the plague of windows 8 tiles, getting rid of an unused virus protection that was slowing my computer, and disabling programs that were running in the background.

These guys were great. Super helpful and attentive to me and each person that walked in the door. The customer service was phenomenal. I will be back, as will everyone who asks me for a place to get their computer woes solved. Thank you HH!

Some malware had taken over my Laptop's Google Chrome browser. I could not locate it on my system. I walked in to Happy Hampster and Marc Kelleher examined my computer immediately. Within five minutes he located the culprit and eliminated it from my system at no charge. I've always had a great experience at HH and highly recommend it to people have computer issues. Thank you Marc!!!

I recently bought two 980 gtx gpus and found out afterwards that I had no sli bridge to connect them. After calling all over happy hamster was the only place that had one in stock and at a great price. They had it waiting for me when I arrived. Would definatly go back to them with any future problems I come across.

If you're having trouble with your computer, this is the place to go. These guys are really helpful.

Went in to see about my laptop which had been acting up. The staff was super knowledgable and helpful. They explained what they did, how they did it, and why. To someone with enough computer savvy to be a total threat to any machine, it was a godsend.

They even fielded a couple questions about my droid, and helped me address my (operator error) issues. In and out in 30 minutes.

Highly recommeded.

lucas once again provided quick effective advice and service. shop is always helpful and they never make me feel like a fool.

I brought in my old computer (10 years old) that wouldn't start. Lucas helped me within 10 minutes and understood why I'm still want this old computer to be running (Well, besides emotional attachment, I wanted to get some old files off it). I was very happy with the help I got at Happy Hamster

Ela

I decided to go to their new store at 921 SE 7th Ave because it's closer than their MLK store. They did it again. I had a bad problem with some malware, but Misa fixed it very quickly while I waited. I am a very satisfied customer.

I came in because my laptop was running slow, and within 15 minutes (free diagnostic window) Lucas had identified the issues and fixed them. Great shop, super friendly and knowledgeable staff. I won't hesitate to go back if i have any other issues whatsoever (and pay them while I'm at it!).

Could of taken me more serious if they wanted to sell me a laptop and they didn't

I've been a customer of Happy Hamsters for four years. The customer service is SUPERIOR! Every time I've visited the store, there's always been someone right at the door to greet me and answer my questions. This store doesn't only fix computers, they also sell computers. I bought my last computer from them and they patiently sat with me to figure out the perfect configuration for my personal and work needs. The final tier to my review is from my experience today with Lucas. I called with a very special/specific need that had me stuck and I was hoping to get immediate help. Lucas was so friendly, very patient and extremely helpful to my needs. He got me back up and running within minutes with very clear instructions. In my experience, most computer repair stores are less than helpful and in the end you feel alienated and helpless. Happy Hamster is focused on the customer first! As long as Happy Hamster is here, they have a customer for life!

Happy Hamster was very helpful for my mother both times when we had questions and computer issues and each time they didn't charge us. They are very helpful and kind as well as costumer service. We were very pleased with the service. And the person who helped us was a person named GAbe W. who was very patient and willing to help. Overall we had great service.

For the past year I have brought my PC to Happy Hamster Computers when I have encountered adware, spyware or virus problems. Yesterday I had to take it in again due to a suspected spyware/adware issue and the staff member Mr. Lucas Miller was a great representative of the company. Friendly, attentive and precise, Lucas explored my PC's search engines, identified and eliminated a nasty pop up that was stating that I would have to call a bogus company for help when in fact the company may have charged me hundreds of $$$$ for a problem they created. Apparently malicious jerks like to misinform people they have a problem and then charge them to clean out a problem they installed on your/my PC. Lucas further showed how one should be careful about the publisher of updates and that unfamiliar publishers need to be scrutinized (publishers like Microsoft, Adobe, Apple, are of course safe). After thoroughly looking through my PC's search engines, installed programs and so forth, Lucas said the machine looks good. I was very happy with his professional service, friendly and engaging personality, and his open offer that if anything goes wrong, bring it back for more service.

Once again, Happy Hamster came to the rescue! Lucas was incredibly helpful in explaining to me what had gone wrong with my laptop, and he let me know about ways to avoid the trouble in the future. Thanks so much!

Happy Hamsters was great!!!!! Misa was terrific, fast, and friendly and fixed my computer right away. He went the extra yard to make sure everything was working perfectly. I will come back and highly recommend them!!!!

Having noticed a problem with main computer's performance I contacted Happy Hamster because they come on site. Demetre Janness was sent to my studio to assess the problem. As it turned out my system was on life support and desperately needed help and I didn't know it! Demetre assessed the situation and expressed to me in layman's terms what was the most economical solution. I trusted him and 48 hours later I had a new and much faster computer! He took the time to set it up the way I needed it and I am very happy with the results! Thank you Demetre and Happy Hamster!

I bought a computer from Happy Hamster after struggling to maintain an old laptop I use for work years past its sell-by date. When it finally crashed, they managed to scrape some material from the hard drive for me. Windows 10 had recently reared its ugly head and, upon hearing my complaint that I did not want a computer with Windows 10 on it, sold me a business-class laptop with Windows 7. I paid more than I would have for something at Costco or the like, but figured with the warranty from HH and Windows 7, what could go wrong? Plenty, as it turned out. The thing started crashing nearly immediately. I took it into HH. They blamed my anti-virus software, highly rated anti-virus software a close friend has used without issue for years. I removed the anti-virus software. The issues persisted. Blue screen 2-3 times a day. Crashing constantly. I took it in again. And again. And again. Each time, they blamed something in the software, everything BUT the computer (which turned out to be refurbished, not new, but whatever). They tried to sell me their service to seek out dangerous viruses, because that had to be the problem. It couldn't possibly be that the computer they sold me was a lemon. They finally said they could send it back to the manufacturer, which would take at least a week. Now, maybe all of this wouldn't be such a problem for some people. Doubtful, but it's possible. However, I used this computer for work. My livelihood depended on it. In addition, I was in a master's program and using it for school too. In no way was it possible to be without it for a week. I didn't have a backup. I didn't have $800 to throw at another computer. Never once did they offer a loaner or offer an exchange. They just kept shaking their heads and doing really nothing at all. Finally I took it to another shop who set up another user and charged me $250 to do so, something HH had done during one of my many visits and had not worked. It didn't work this time either. They also wanted to reinstall Windows, something I would have done, too. However, since the install disks weren't given to me by HH, neither of us were able to do so without, you guessed it, sending it back to the manufacturer. One thing they did confirm and determine was that none of this was being caused by some big, bad virus, HH's go-to answer for all I was experiencing. I finally determined I was going to have to suffer through until I really had a week to send it back to the manufacturer.

Nearly a year later, and close to the year warranty deadline, after dutifully backing everything up 20 different ways, I was able to leave the computer for a week while I went on vacation. I took it into HH, gave them the mile-long list of trouble I had been documenting since minute one. (Every time the thing blue screened on me, I would save the report Windows gave of the problem.) When I returned from vacation, it turned out they had not sent it off to the manufacturer, but had reinstalled Windows. I brought the computer home and the blue screen issues had resolved. Yet immediately upon return, any time I booted up the computer, I was shown yet another warning, that my battery capacity was "dangerously low" and that I needed to do something about it. The one day I took the thing off electric power and ran it on the battery, it died within ten minutes. I dashed off an email to HH asking why the battery suddenly had no capacity. I was told that batteries are notoriously iffy that way and I could get a new one for about 40 bucks. This for a battery I had been using less than a year, and mostly plugged in.

I have no faith in Happy Hamster. They might be able to recover lost data for people, but don't buy their computers. If the computer you buy from them does not work, they will not fix it or replace it. They will give you the runaround and expect you to figure it out alone. The only reason I'm giving them 2 stars instead of 1 is because the one fellow with whom I mostly interacted was extremely sweet and polite. I really liked him. Happy Hamster I don't like. Not one bit.

I had Happy Hamster computer repair build me a desktop PC almost two years ago, after having had a Dell that was full of bloatware and four years old. I couldn't be more pleased with my decision. It has a 1 TB solid state drive (SSD) that is SO MUCH faster than an optical drive. The DVD drive did fail during the warranty period so they replaced it at no charge. Other than that it has been 100 percent reliable, and a true workhorse for my photography post-processing using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop Creative Cloud (CC). If you are considering replacing a laptop or desktop consider having 1201 (North) Computer Repair build you one with a SSD. You won't regret it.

I was in the process of building my own PC when an unexpected issue arose. Not exactly knowing where to turn I came across these guys. When I walked into Happy Hamster Marc was super friendly and helpful. The issue was quckly resolved. I will definitely recommend them to my family and friends in the future.

Today I brought in an old 3.5 floppy disk in order to retrieve an ancient Excel file. The folks at Happy Hamsters were helpful, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to rescue my file. I highly recommend them for big jobs or small. Thank you! Thank you Happy Hamster Computers!!

I had taken my computer to Geek Squad and after they had it for 2 weeks they said it needed a mother board and they weren't available. I took it to Happy Hamster and they checked it out while I waited and found it only needed a new power supply. They ordered it and had it in 3 days. The folks at Hamster ROCK. I will only call Hamster with my computer issues.

Came in for some trouble I was having for my laptop. Lucas gave me a quick and economical fix for the problem and did another quick fix for free so I will definitely be coming back here if I have any other computer troubles in the future. Seemed very knowledgeable and customer oriented.

I went to happy hamster, because my laptop's cd-rom was not working. Lucas was very helpful and loaded Office Works onto the laptop with an external drive. I really appreciated the time that Lucas took to help me out in a bind. I would defiantly recommend them.

Very Happy with Happy Hamster! I had a problem with my laptop that I purchased at Best Buy about two years ago. Took it there. They misdiagnosed the problem and told me all I had to do was run a system recovery. Geek Squad girl told me I couldn't run it there unless I was willing to pay 200 dollars. I took it home, ran the recovery and nothing changed. So.... next stop Happy Hamster. Alan was attentive, explained what he was doing, got consulting help from George. They searched fixes online and figured out what the problem was in about ten minutes and fixed the problem. This was without an appointment or anything. I reached for me wallet and asked what the charge was. "No charge for a fifteen minute consultation," Alan replied, "just write us a good review." Here it is, Alan. YOU GUYS ARE FANTASTIC!

Wonderful service and knowledge! They really saved the day for me and got my business back up and running. I first checked with a national computer repair company and they mis-diagnosed my laptop and said it had a major virus which would take a week to repair. Lucas at Happy Hamster recognized the real problem right away and I was back in business very quickly (and for less money). You guys are great and thanks for saving the day!
Jon

Wow! I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable when it has to computers, yet could not fix a technical issue I was having. I took it in and Bam! Within 10 minutes Lucas had the issue resolved and on my way. This is definitely the place I will go to if I ever need any repairs! Thanks Lucas!

When I first brought my computer in, I thought that the motherboard had been damaged which would've meant that my brand new computer had become scrap metal overnight. However, after 45 mins of work and the switching out a new fan, my computer is back in peak working condition and I'm so very thankful to the guys at happy hamsters for saving me hundreds of dollars on a new computer!! And alternatively, saving me money because I didnt have to take it someone else who would've charged far more money for the work done.

I went to Happy Hamster today to get my computer looked at. When I first walked in I was immediately greeted and assisted by Kyle, an employee. He was very nice and quickly figured out the initial problem (and several other problems I was having, like very slow boot up time). Kyle also recommended what I should do to keep my computer running smoothly. Oh! And did I mention that the diagnosis was free! It was pro bono, as it was a simple problem that could be fixed quickly. I definitely recommend Happy Hamster Computers.

These guys fixed one computer fast, got my business back up and running while they rescued my data off a crashed drive on my other computer. Replaced the drive, gave me some good advice on avoiding this problem in the future, charged me a fair price and sent me on my way.

I had a very bad experience at Happy Hamster the summer of 2013. I disagreed with the diagnosis and the assistant was so rude, I ended by walking out. Out of desperation I went back a few weeks ago with 2 computers. The first one he gave a very honest opinion, it just would not be worth the cost to repair. The second one he removed some automatic installation programs that were causing havoc. He was very helpful, gave great suggestions and I think they have won this customer back.

I brought in a laptop I had liquid damaged a couple years prior, having put off repairs due to lack of money and having a desktop to use in the meantime. The gentlemen that worked on it were very patient and openly communicated everything that was going on with my laptop as they assessed it and worked on it. They called regularly, answered all my silly questions, and worked to find me the best deals they could on replacement components since it was worse off than I originally thought. They were very clear about the labor fees, and pricing right up front.

When it turned out I needed a new motherboard, they gave me options and prices, told me to let them know what I thought, and then said they'd offer their personal recommendations after. You know you're dealing with a reputable shop that cares for their clients when they recommend the cheaper part and give all the reasons why they think that's the better idea. No price gouging or hyping up for me to buy the more expensive parts!

I'm very pleased with the work and the open communication they provide here at 1201 North. I'm definitely recommending them to my friends and family, and would gladly see them again. Not that I hope something breaks again but you never know!

Our computer became infected with "pop-ups" and Misa took the time to diagnose and repair our computer while we waited. We had come a long way (we live an hour away) and he went out of his way to make sure we understand what was wrong, remove the item causing the pop-ups and help us to prevent this from happening again in the future. This is the third time we've been to the Happy Hamster and we're continually impressed by their service, knowledge and ability to communicate in non-technical terms. They provide customer service that is rarely seen these days. Thank you so much!!!

These guys are so nice and professional. Whenever I have a computer issue, I go to them. They explain things clearly and patiently, and are always enthusiastic.

The team at Happy Hamster is fantastic! I was in there last Saturday with a couple of quick questions re my laptop. Lucas checked things out for me, ran through the steps to resolve a small issue, and answered all my questions. I was in and out in less than 20 minutes - these folks are GREAT! As someone who knows soooo little about computers and electronics, I really appreciate their service and their help.

Thank you Lucas! I walked into Happy Hamster and received immediate help. The staff here is extremely friendly and make you feel comfortable even if you know NOTHING about computers! They fixed my pc problem with absolutely no snobbery. You guys rock!!!

*Update* After posting this review, I received an email from the owner apologizing for his curtness over the phone. I felt like the email was honest and heartfelt, and I appreciated that he took the time to follow up with me. Obviously I can't speak to their actual technical work, but Happy Hamster obviously cares about their customers and potential customers.

I called Happy Hamster (the Freemont St. location) to ask about data recovery from an external hard drive. After saying yes, they do that sort of work, I had additional questions which were rudely cut off by the employee taking my call. "Look, there is nothing additional I can tell you without you bringing it in for us to diagnose." Sure, I get it, but if he would have listened to my question before cutting me off mid-sentence, he would have known that my question was not about what was wrong with the external hard drive, but more along the lines of what did I need to bring to transfer recovered data onto and did I need to make an appointment or just come by. With customer service like that, I'll look elsewhere.

In one minute, and at no charge, they were able to remove a stripped screw from the bottom of my laptop that I'd been trying to remove at home for an hour. Will definitely be back when I have a repair I can't perform myself.

Fantastic team and work at Happy Hamster. I had a new DVD drive installed and the team diagnosed the basics, gave me options, a good price, and made sure all was working great.

Exactly what I was looking for...

True experts in the computer repair field. One of our company laptops was recently on the fritz. I thought it was a virus, but Zac was able to diagnose the problem within minutes of arriving, and the culprit was actually the hard drive. We got to talking and were so impressed by the quality of their new laptops, that we ended up purchasing two for our office. Hats off to knowledgeable and professionalism of the Happy Hamster team. We'll definitely be repeat customers.

Misa was extremely helpful, and very knowledgeable. Diagnosed the problem right away. Realized we had a serious virus and if we had waited, it would have destroyed our computer. Immediately started working on it, and spent about a half an hour getting rid of the virus while I waited. Had been ready to leave my computer for a week, but was happy I could take it home that day. I would totally recommend Happy Hamster, and especially Misa Valdez.

Shout out to Happy Hamster computer repair on MLK. This is the second time that I brought in a machine on that was giving me serious problems and they fixed it in 15 minutes or less, for free.

#thatswhatimtalkinbout

I came in with a terrible fan problem, the noise was almost unbearable and I thought my computer was going to "explode". Lucas, the manager took a look and had worked his magic on my computer and solved my problem quick and fast. I think I was there for maybe 30 minutes, and I am most pleased. I will definitely be going back next year when I do my system upgrade.

I should also note that the employees are down to earth and most certainly do not talk down to you at all. I don't know jack about computers and I felt that I was being treated as an equal and not a "noob".

Thanks Happy Hamster!

I bring my computer's here for routine hardware upgrades. Friendly, fast service, and they don't gouge customers.

Really great business. They were helpful and knowledgeable.

Super fast services, great customer support, fixed issue and charged me probably less than they could have

My laptop died and would not restart. I brought it into Happy Hamster and they pulled it apart on the spot and fixed the issue within 20 min!

Lucas and Misa treated me with courtesy and showed real concern about finding out how they could best help me. In fact, they solved my issues without having to keep my computer, and they did it without a charge. I plan to go there when I need help and likely to buy a new computer when I need one.

I'm a small business owner who relies on our computers for our day to day operations. 1201 is my go to for our computer and electronics repairs. They are extremely diligent and forthcoming about repair updates and costs. If you value small business and honesty, please consider giving 1201 your business.

Several experiences - bought a used one (rarely available) and serviced 2

Not your usual computer store. Wide range of services offered. Friendly knowledgeable staff. Looking forward to the new ownership and branding. The old owner of Happy Hamster was not the best with people and came across as jerky.

Today, I took my laptop to HH to rid it of annoying ads and services I didn't request or need. Jeremy was able to clean out the crud and get me going, again. He was knowledgeable and competent and I would recommend his skills to anyone. We are so lucky to have the Hamsters in Portland for those like myself who use their computers to make a living but don't know how they work, really.
Thanks, again. I will be back, when I need to.

I've used Happy Hamster for years whenever I have a computer problem. I took my tablet in today and Kyle was able to get it up and running while I was there. I walked in with an unusable computer and walked out with a tuned up machine. Thanks Kyle! I will continue to use Happy Hamster every time I have an issue.

I've taken my PC here three times now for different issues. Staff is extremely helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. They don't try to push products or services on you. Highly recommended for any computer issues.

A few years ago, I took a laptop on its deathbed in. The staff was very good at explaining exactly what was wrong and what my options were. I decided to purchase a business grade laptop from them - the price was worth the assurance I had that this would be a keeper! And it's been running for 2 years with no issues. They are also very philanthropic - they live by their motto on their wall, which is that they help the little guy! I managed to spill soup on my laptop recently, took it in for cleaning. They cleaned the hardware, and did a hardware and software check for less than they estimated. This is an awesome business and I am happy to tell everyone to use their services.

My FIRST experience 3 years ago: I came in with what I thought was a dead laptop from dropping it on the floor. Within 10 minutes, the rad guy who worked there had it fixed up, for free! My experience has always been long and costly when it come to computers, but these guys have got it DOWN. Very polite, professional, and efficient! I will definitely go back to them with any future computer issues (which are sure to happen!).
My SECOND experience a few days ago: The service is fantastic- the folks that helped me were patient, knew their stuff, and took their time to really help me into solving my computer problems. Now I have a great refurbished computer, and it's a total relief! I'd encourage anyone to go to Happy Hamster!

The boys were fantastic. They ran a diagnostic and spent quite a bit of time trying to fix my computer. They even pulled it apart to look and the keyboard only to find out it was nearly sealed to the shell because of a coffee spill. I highly recommend this place, very friendly and competent

I have gone to these guys for several computer troubles I've had and I have found them to be honest. I will continue using them.

Another happy customer of Happy Hamster. Have been there twice. Both times people were friendly, efficient, and price was reasonable. This time, at the branch on MLK, Misa Valdez and Kyle Hansel rescued my laptop, helped me with my phone, and kept me smiling the whole time. Highly, highly recommend Happy Hamster!