MT VERNON FIRE UPDATE FROM THE ELDEST (and temporarily Homeless) GEEK
Its not been a week since the fire (Monday Night). I’ve put up some images on my website www.theeldestgeek.com
Insurance folks have NOT let anyone onsite. They are concerned about injury if a beam were to fall on someone going through the rubble!
As to the dealers – to many of them its devastating. Like most (if not all) malls I’m sure insurance was up to each individual store.
We – the Eldest Geek – had no insurance against fire. I had been considering getting some against theft but decided finally that one or two laptops that might be swiped in a year would not make sense to insure against. I NEVER considered any fire risk. The fire folks checked it not infrequently and we always seemed to be in good shape. After all the building had stood since 1946!
But in the not quite week since the fire I’ve had MANY thoughts.
First – some QUESTIONS and ANSWERS for my customers 🙂
WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT COMPUTERS THAT WERE IN FOR REPAIR?
Let me know best as you can what you had. I have records of all the work being done but exact models of units may not have been recorded. I will do my best to get as close as possible to anything that got lost!
I have been raising some money and will provide replacements (or mutually satisfactory cash payments) to take care of the losses. I dont think there is any point about filing with your own insurance as they would just come and talk to ME about it. I’ll handle everything as best as I can.
WHEN you ask? as quickly as I can arrange replacements. ANYONE WITH URGENT NEEDS PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME!
WHAT ABOUT MY DATA?
Here we need to get lucky. VERY lucky. It is POSSIBLE (and I mean only POSSIBLE) that when I am able to get to the remains of my shop (and my bit of the second floor is the only part of the second floor not to have collapsed) although the computers will all have been ruined (and I mean RUINED. Computers HATE fire. They HATE smoke. And they LOATHE water. And they were subjected to all three!) – it is just possible that some of the hard drives inside a laptop or inside an iMac might have survived and data may be recoverable. but we HAVE to get lucky – and so far luck has not been with me!
HOW CAN I GET OFF THIS DAM EMAIL LIST?
Really? there should be a link below LOL
HOW CAN YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR AFTER THIS?
Now THAT is a good question. I estimate I lost about $400,000 in the fire. Mainly my personal stuff (computer-wise maybe $150k worth of inventory) A LOT of what I lost was my beautiful collection of minerals and crystals. I’ve been collecting over 50 years. I invested at least $100,000 over that time. Some of my specimens were literally world class. Some came from places like the Smithsonian. Some were unique. And all are irreplaceable. Oddly fire insurance even if I had it would not have begun to cover the loss. Not even close.
WHAT will I miss the most? My Kill Bill Sword? – my minerals? my old technology? Probably its my Northstar Computer – the first computer I ever owned (well not the very first but one of them) – the one that was in the Walnut Wood Case on my glass shelf. I bought it in 1978 and paid just over $12,000 – between the CPU and the Hard Drive. That one I loved so much. It served so many purposes! When it was a cold night in Pinecliffe Colorado – I could take off the top and warm my room! It was a museum piece, and is utterly impossible to replace.
But – what I will REALLY miss the most was the Mt Vernon Antique Center. I will miss my chatting with customers. Talking about politics, science, mathematics, computers, hacking (the Russians STILL had nothing to do with the DNC Hack LOL) – and the atmosphere. Being able to work on your computer and have you wander around the Antique Center – and not be bored! This I will miss – till the end of my days.
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING NOW?
At least for a short while Alex, Danko and I will be based at my house in Lorton and have plenty of time for house calls! We are looking at possible spaces for a new shop but we are ready willing and able to take care of your computer needs. Though if you want a good used computer my stock is currently rather depleted. Call to setup an appointment – or use the link I just put up on my website – and you can book a service call online!
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
I’ve been very gratified by the outpouring of support from you my customers. I’m hanging in there – and I will NOT let this be the end of my store! Any computer needs – give us a call or book an appointment at www.theeldestgeek.com/services
Need a website? I have plenty of time to work on them – call me 🙂
Pass our name around and let folks know of a worthy little computer store that can use support!
I’ve had some folks suggest a GoFundMe page. What do you all think. Make sense? I value your opinion.
I have had some offer money. I am gratified at the offer but so far I’m not bouncing checks. Yet. (LOL) I guess if anyone whats to ‘prepay’ a computer or support I would not say no 🙂 But I’m not desperate – far from it. I’m oddly hopeful! My wife has been at me for YEARS to downsize! And she was bugging me about cataloging my minerals – she said (with much truth) that if I was hit by a bus – who would know anything about them? Well – she has been relieved on both these scores! LOL <insert sick just had your store burn down humor here>
ADOPTION CORNER:
Currently I have a handful of laptops even some decent ones. But all the nice ones I was listing here – well say no more. What laptops I have are being earmarked for customer replacement!
Thanks again to all of you and your kind responses!
The Eldest Geek is not finished – just temporarily the Homeless Geek!
(yes I know not quite the same cachet)
Craig, Alex and Danko