56% of Geek Squad employees responding to a poll on a company online forum said they found “no reason” to use anti-static wrist straps when repairing customer’s computers.
These straps help prevent against against electrostatic discharge (ESD), which can completely fry a computer.
18% of the 129 responding to the December, 2006 poll said they felt using straps was “necessary anytime the case is open.” 17% said “our precinct does not have any or anywhere to attach to the bench.” And 7% said “I am too lazy or there is not enough time to use them.”
Geek Squad’s standard repair operating procedure requires use of the straps, in conjunction with anti-static rubber mats.
Geek Squad employees gave various reasons for not strapping on, like, “we would have to spend money,” and, “I have never worn one…and we’ve never had any ESD issues.”
ESD can build up in a device and cause damage weeks or even months later. Sometimes the damage can be a gradual degrade over time, resulting in random instability and system lockups.
Other employees simply found the straps “uncomfortable” and cumbersome to use.
Some chided their fellow employees for poo-poohing the straps. One employee cited a study where mishandling IBM computers led to $500,000+ in ESD damages. Another said, “We owe it to our clients to protect not only their privacy, but the longevity of their electronic components. “
Full screen shot of the poll, inside…
Click to enlarge.
One agent in Liberty, MO provides a cautionary tale:
I was *always* far too good to wear one. Never had a problem with any of my own equipment, precinct work, client’s machines etc.
Then I moved my own motherboard from one case to another to upgrade. Admittedly, I wasn’t taking good precautions changing it on carpet, but I did the same trick everyone here does with grounding the case to an outlet and putting hands on the chassis.
I killed the thing.
It was then that I realized that a freaking dollar and some change dynex wrist strap would have saved me ~$200. I can imagine messing up at a client’s house, and I don’t want the issues frankly. Now, when there’s a screwdriver in my hand, my wardrobe includes the strap.
Some techs say it’s not necessary to use the straps, and that there’s other ways to properly discharge before operating on a computer. But if Geek Squad thought wrist straps were good enough to require in the standard operating procedure, why aren’t they being used in the stores? — BEN POPKEN
I didnt miss your point at all. You are not willing to put on a wrist strap in order to be sure you are not damaging a component. People like you piss me off. Too lazy to make sure you do your job right. Its simple. Hard to miss my point.
I don’t care if your machine lasted you 20 years. If you are handling the components inside the machine w/o proper ESD equipment you are risking damage. It can be a performance hit, it can be complete failure, it can be instability. Just because you are too proud or ignorant to admit it does not change the facts.
“But here’s the deal: how can you tell me that the cheapo box won’t die on you anyway? Work on it in a fuckin clean room, I don’t care.”
That right there shows that you dont give a flying fuck about doing your job right. Who is to say your car wont die on you eventually? Why dont you just not change the oil for 20,000 miles. I’ve seen cars that run for 20,000 miles on the same oil. ITS THE EXACT SAME POINT.
Just because it boots, does not mean it is running properly. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t have latent ESD damage, doesn’t mean that it won’t fail or have instability.
“You trying to say if only that GS dude wore a wrist strap 6 months ago then the MB or HD would not burn out? 2 years?”
YES! Finally you understand. (Probably not though, you were trying to make a sarcastic remark, but your ignorance validated my point.)
It isnt YOUR PC. If you don’t care about your PC fine. I dont care! Take a piss on it for all that matters. But if it is other people’s computers you are working on, it is your responsibility as a responsible tech to take precautions to protect THEIR INVESTMENT.
I never said the wrist strap to the chassis was the best. In my shop we have properly monitored ESD equipment grounding everything to an earth ground. There is no static in my body when I am touching components.
Your whole excuse for not using ESD protection is that they didnt spend a lot of money on the machine. That is a pathetic reason.
IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FACTS!
ESD Damage can cause:
1. Immediate Failure
2. Instability
3. Latent Failure
4. Depreciated Performance
Im sorry you can not comprehend this. I am sorry you are a bad computer tech. I am really sorry for the owners of the computers you touch.
@Trumps: I don’t think anyone is contesting that ESD causes damage to components. I think anyone who works with computers knows perfectly well what kind of damage it can cause to exposed electronics.
But theoretical concern does not trump real-world experience. Just because you say something is so does not make it true. A technician standing on an electrostatic discharge mat, opening a computer case and discharging himself properly, then removing the optical drive with no anti-static strap is not going to damage that CD-ROM in the process unless he decides to walk off the mat, find some carpet, and start working at it. And even then I’d be impressed to see the component damage. On the other hand, you can easily kill RAM with a quarter of this effort. But following the same steps, combined with common sense, you’re not going to damage that RAM either.
As long as you discharge yourself appropriately, work in a proper environment, and are knowledgeable enough to regulate further ESD buildup, you’re going to be perfectly fine handling menial computer repairs.
And because I can guess what you’re thinking at this moment, this depends on what you’re handling. If you’re swapping motherboards or a CPU without taking extensive precautions you are gambling with someone else’s property.
Heck, components could be safer in a clean room being worked on by technicians wearing Pentium man uniforms, but that doesn’t make it practical. A person could, I’m sure, present an argument for it, but it doesn’t mean much without real-world data to back it up. (Yes, I know you can find studies supporting both arguments — you can also find a study explaining about how global warming is going to ruin our world in a few decades right below one that says it is a natural phenomenon).
In short, if a technician ensures they are properly discharged, and errs on the side of caution in doing their work, they need not take every precaution that has been dreamt up to do their job properly.
In general response regarding the ‘$500 Dell’, I would venture to say its brand, lifespan, and quality really don’t matter at all. A technician is being paid, and trusted, by a person to take care of their computer. That technician, if he is ethical at all, should treat that computer with the same respect and caution he would afford a computer belonging to his parents or significant other.
@XianZhuXuande
No they would not need a wrist strap if standing on a grounded conductive surface while wearing heel straps. There is no need to “discharge yourself” if you are already doing all of that.
But the “real world experience” argument is BS. Most computer techs don’t test for ESD damage after they finish working on a PC. They see if it powers on and if the component functions. There is no way for the to check to see if they have actually caused ESD damage to a component without thoroughly examining it with aforementioned tools.
“And because I can guess what you’re thinking at this moment, this depends on what you’re handling.”
It doesn’t matter what you are handling. If it has exposed circuits than it is ESD Sensitive. ODDs are not generally ESD sensitive as they do not have exposed planars.
“In short, if a technician ensures they are properly discharged, and errs on the side of caution in doing their work, they need not take every precaution that has been dreamt up to do their job properly. “
But thats the thing. “Touching the Case” is not a valid precaution when you have had years of ESD training. You know how useless it is to just touch the case and keep working.
Other than that i agree with your post
My Typhoid Mary story above was an analogy to make a point; here is one more. Suppose you went to a skydiving facility, and you found out that they weren’t putting reserve chutes in the packs they gave you. When you asked why, they said that in the thousands of jumps that people did at their facility, no one ever needed the reserve. When you got upset and accused them of being reckless and endangering their customers, they arrogantly replied that they are experts, they pack chutes all the time, and if you pack the main chute properly it will work just fine. Who the hell are you to tell them how to do their job. Some kind of parachute engineer or something?
Do you think they are doing their job properly? Would you give them your business?
FYI, some of us IT guys take ESD seriously. I can’t say which vendor I work for, but we make the best servers.
And to accompany our good servers, our service contract with our customers requires that we observe ESD standards as set by ISO 9000 rules and to tell you the truth, we do it.
I’m wearing a ESD wrist strap as I type this message from our main lab, and don’t see what the reason for the cavalier attitude is from you other techs. It’s good business, it is not a waste of time.
To you guys who think touching the case while the unit is plugged in is good enough? When was the last time you checked the ground in that plug? We have a tester in the lab to watch that as well.
DO YOUR JOB CORRECTLY PEOPLE! OR DON’T, AND MAKE WAY FOR YOUR REPLACEMENT!
$100 says that Trumps either works in the ESD certification business, or signs a huge check to said business to certify his employees and needs justification.
I’ve seen Geek Squad benches, and they have both anti-static floor and table mats. I don’t believe that they wear boot straps, but they touch the side of the case to discharge whatever small amount of ESD could be built up in that environment. They aren’t touching CPUs, they’re installing / replacing HDs, RAM, and video cards, and unless they’re idiots they’re never touching any circuitry on those items. Even RAM has the two large PCB sections on the end with no circuitry where you are supposed to press down on or pick it up with.
Hey Trumps, can I buy some carbon credits from you, too?
@mantari:
Sounds like an ‘Employee of the Month’to me! Can I find you on Guru.com?
Where’s the tar, where’s the feathers!
@Trumps: OMG Trump! But what about latent static build up by your ass hairs rubbing together?!? Now you need special ass hair straps to make 1000000% sure that there is absolutely no threat of horrible, terrible ESD.
Bill and Melinda should be putting their money into ESD awareness, the plague of the 21st century. Not some stupid poor people disease. Thanks Trump, you changed my life.
@agent86: Well, if my mother’s life was on the line, I suppose, maybe, if she begged me and did my laundry with starch this time, then……maybe….I would wear a wrist strap. But only that one time.
@axiomatic: So apart from telling you to get back to work you lazy sot….what will you do when you have to repair a unit onsite? In a war zone? In a trailer park?
Let me guess…tell the client, “no sir, I dare not touch it without proper care and equipment or else it will blah blah waah wahh…I’ll need to take it into a ISO 9000 facility for proper care and feeding. $500 extra, chump.”
@Occum
Actually I have worked for major computer companies and have had proper ESD Training.
“I’ve seen Geek Squad benches, and they have both anti-static floor and table mats. I don’t believe that they wear boot straps, but they touch the side of the case to discharge whatever small amount of ESD could be built up in that environment. They aren’t touching CPUs, they’re installing / replacing HDs, RAM, and video cards, and unless they’re idiots they’re never touching any circuitry on those items. Even RAM has the two large PCB sections on the end with no circuitry where you are supposed to press down on or pick it up with.”
This entire statement is full of lies and ignorance.
Most GS dont use ESD or even have access to it.
HDD, RAM, AND VID CARDS ARE ESD SENSITIVE YOU MORON!!!
WTH is wrong with you people? Its not only CPUs that are sensitive. THEY ALL ARE. If it has an exposed planar then it is Sensitive. And just because you dont touch the circuitry on those items doesnt mean you arent damaging it.
Plus HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE ALL THE CIRCUITRY IS!?!?!?! Can you see through the multiple layered boards? See all the traces 3 or 4 layers beneath the surface?
Love your try though. Try to discredit me by claiming “im on the take” then lie your ass off.
Ill take my $100 bucks, message me and ill send you my PO Box#
@oldhat:
oldhat you know what you do when you are on-site? USE A WRIST STRAP!!
How hard is the comprehension?
At least i know that you know you’re wrong. You have abandoned any kind of argument and just resorted to insulting.
Yay intelligence wins!
I still feel sorry for your customers. They don’t deserve an incompetent tech.
@oldhat: Alright, so we know you’ve got a heart in there somewhere! So now we’re just quibbling over which customers are worth the effort?
@oldhat: Yeah sorry to burst your bubble there, but there are wrist straps that can be grounded to a wall socket, the PC, hell take your pick of grounded object and the wrist strap just attaches to any of that with a clip. Or what some might call a “roach clip.”
Also, I don’t go on site, I’m a developer, I live in a lab. (hole?) But I work closely with the “services” types. Hence my following of ESD practices.
I’m not an engineer. I don’t know much about IT, except how to fix trivial problems and swap out certain parts. I’ve never seen a wrist strap in my life. But as a consumer, if I’m paying you to fix my computer, you better be taking every single precaution necessary to ensure you don’t fry my shit.
Seriously: could some of you IT guys explain why– if you’re not working on your own machine–you’re not taking every practical precaution possible? Putting on a damn wrist strap sounds reasonable; it’s not like asking someone to fix their computer in a goddamn clean room.
My mind boggles. Boggles, I tells ya.
I work on a Linoleum floor in bare feet. I make use of the anti-static bags that come with components, and I ground myself on my ceiling fan before sitting down – that’s more than what most people do, and they never fry anything.
Wrist straps are overrated. This poll shows nothing.
@ Trumps – Geek Squad Precincts DO have access to ESD mats. Every single Precinct has a mat in front of the repair bench that is not only ESD, but also Anti-fatigue. ALL of the counter surfaces on teh repair benches either ARE ESD material or have an ESD mat laid across it that has been properly connected to a grounded source. These mats and counter tops have a snap located near the rear corner of each section where someone with the proper ESD wrist strap could snap in place. The Standard Procedure “COULD” be for each Agent to wear their own personal Wrist Strap and then then at each corner, the cord is already there to be plugged in.
@ oldhat – I want to thoroughly thank you for continuing to fuel Trump’s fire because your bantering is quite humorous. Even though I’m right in the stuff every day, I do have the ability to take a step back and I totally see what you are trying to say. Interesting and insightful.
We all have to keep in mind that these are only opinions of the posters…
@Zeke129:
“and they never fry anything.”
how do you know?
This is my main problem. You people don’t know if you are frying something or not. You don’t check for it. All you know is that the component still works. You dont know if you just halved its lifespan or performance by improper handling.
And wtf with the ceiling fan? WTH is that besides a static creation device? Do you know the whole purpose of touching the case or grounding yourself to the case? It is not to discharge all the static from your body. It is to equalize the static charge safely so that there is no discharge onto components.
“Wrist straps are overrated. This poll shows nothing.”
Seat Belts are overrated, as well as safeties for guns. Go drive your car into a wall with your finger on the trigger of a loaded gun…. I have never seen anyone get hurt doing that so you will be fine.
So, what I’ve learned is that oldhat is a bit of a troll, the people who are engineers think wrist straps are a good idea, and the rest of the hacks who dick around with computers think they’re useless.
I think I believe the engineers.
@justadakaje
A majority of GS Precincts do not have ESD Equipment. Unless you are referring to their “special flooring”. That is a joke.
1) Its not grounded
2) They arent even wearing heel straps
3) It isn’t even cleaned properly
I dont know where you are getting your info justadakaje, but it is wrong. Look at the poll above your head….
105 out of 129 people dont use Wrist Straps. 80% of GS polled dont use Wrist Straps.
The Counter surfaces are not ESD material or grounded either. Maybe you work at one of the lucky ones who do have ESD equipment, but you are a minority.
@Her Grace:
OMG!!! Look its a smart, responsible, intelligent response!
RUN Her Grace!!! Run before the trolls get you! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!1!!11!1111!1!!!eleven!!!111111!!!!!!
Funnily enough, in 15+ years of PC work I’ve never worn a wrist strap. I can’t recall zapping any computers anyway, they’re usually brought to me after they’ve stopped working anyway
The mere fact that I’m handling the PC case should be enough to ground any static build-up by the time I actually touch sensitive components; or maybe I’m just lucky. I’m also the kind of guy who thinks portable storage means an IDE hard drive in my jacket and I drag my 50lb workstation to lan parties every other weekend.
They’re machines, not endangered albino koalas… I find a lot of these recommended safety measures are just excuses to sell gimmicks.
@justadakaje: wow, somebody finally gets me!
People keep calling me a troll…what a bunch of pansies.
I think by troll they mean funny or engaging. Or right.
Ah…I tore this one up tho…classic stuff in here. Put this one the big board, bobby…