CPR: repairing electronics, changing lives

TONAWANDA - Looking to serve a purpose in others lives, and trying to find their own niche along the way, Dave and Aria Ferguson, owners of CPR Cell Phone Repair of Western New York, are thrilled to plant their feet back where it all began for them.

“We have always wanted to own our own business. To be part of that group of people that help the community and are driving the economy in Western New York in a positive way,” said Aria.

The Fergusons are originally from the area, however they spent of few years living in Syracuse due to employment opportunities. When those opportunities became obsolete, the duo decided to try their luck at opening a business that did not just fulfill purpose in their own lives, but in others as well.

CPR Cell Phone Repair of Western New York is part of an international franchise. The store is small electronics repair center dedicated to the on-premise repair of cell phones, tablets, laptops, game systems, mp3 players, key fobs, GPS units and other electronic gadgets.

Dave’s technical background, combined with Aria’s expertise in sales and marketing are just the right ingredients for creating a successful business in WNY.

CPR, located at 1246 Niagara Falls Blvd., Tonawanda, specializes in electronic repairs pertaining to water damage, charging ports, broken screens and much more. The store also has an extensive buy, sell, trade, protect and recycle program that helps to keep old electronics out of landfills and given a new life. CPR lives up to its motto “we fix it all.’

“We provide a second option for our customers and offer an instantaneous solution,” said Dave. “They could always just go to the store they bought the product from, but lets say someone has an iPhone 5 and their screen cracks, we can repair it while they wait, or we can offer them a refurbished phone that we have in the store. We can also unlock and flash their phone.”

When the phone is unlocked it opens up the phone so that it will receive the signal, which is also known as un-tethering the phone from the primary carrier. While flashing the phone requires taking one providers software off of that phone and adding another providers software to replace it.

“People are responsible to pay for the contracts they already have no matter what, but we can unlock the phone so the customer can use services from another provider,” said Dave.

When CPR makes repairs to cell phones or electronics, the store considers the cost to the customer and makes a great attempt to accommodate their needs.

“We mitigate the cost of the customer in order to accommodate them. So that means we might make a little less, but our customers are happy,” said Dave.

CPR offers a sixth-month warranty on all repairs and in addition to the company focuses on recycling.

“You can bring in your old phones that are sitting in a drawer waiting to be put into a landfill, and we can give them new life,” said Dave. “We can salvage the parts to use in other phones and we can use the charger for when someone comes in with an old phone and they are desperate for a charger.”

He continued, “After I have that phone that is being recycled, I can take those precious metals, which can be used and recycled, to the proper place. We then take the proceeds from the recyclables and donate it to Shriners Hospital at the end of the year.”

The Fergusons have had a great start so far being back home.

They look forward to helping any individual who needs assistance with an electronic device that is no longer working properly.

“One of the things I always find that enriches me in my career is being a ‘hero’ for a customer,” said Dave. “I take a situation that they have an emptiness for and I fill it. I get to see the satisfaction on their faces. It’s a great position for me to be in.”

Aria piggybacked Dave’s statement, “We are two local Western New York people, running a family owned business where people can feel they are coming into a place and receiving dependable and trustworthy service.”

For more information, or questions regarding an electronic device contact CPR at 832-4277, or visit CPR-Tonawanda.com.