• Print
• E–mail
• Share ThisShare ThisShare This
• Report Error

A tech savvy Winnipeg man is hoping to help save the environment while helping his future customers save money.

Carlos Barrios, who lives in McGillivray Park, is set to open his new store — Carlos Computers — on Canada Day.

Barrios, who co-owns the fledgling Fort Rouge-based business with his son, Jonathon Barrios-Blair, aims to serve "people with low income, new professionals and immigrants" with affordable recycled computer equipment based on a simple philosophy.

"Our philosophy is reuse first and recycle second," said Barrios, 55, who originally hails from Venezuela. "We hope people will recycle their old computers, monitors, printers and other accessories with us through our program."

The goal will also to be to fix up consumer-friendly computers for resale.

"We aim to be the affordable and fast for our customers. We won’t do what I call "trabajo chimbo" — where the same problem arises in three or four months that makes you come back and spend more money."

While Barrios is not looking to reinvent the wheel, he is hoping to refocus the mindset of individuals and organizations that think that broken or out-of-date computer equipment belongs in a landfill.

"Every day, many of these items are dropped off at the dump. However, many of them have recoverable materials such as metals, glass and some plastics, which can be used again and potentially save the use of new resources," he said.

The former McDonald’s manager also emphasized the potential environmental impact his venture could have.

"Even a tiny thing like this can be harmful because it contains mercury," said Barrios, while holding a small video card for a laptop computer. "And things like lead, cadmium and copper can also be damage the environment when discarded," he said.

With his business’ opening a little more than a week away, Barrios was busy renovating his new 1,880 sq.-ft premises at A-598 Ebby Ave. It will include what Barrios dubbed a forensics laboratory.

"We need a totally sealed office space where we can analyze broken computers without letting in any foreign agents." 

Barrios has spent years, sometimes while working in different industries, building up his technological knowledge.

"Microsoft has some good problem-solving programs on the Internet. And after passing many tests, I’m now a registered partner with Microsoft, Acer, Dell and HP," Barrios said.

"While working at McDonald’s, I fixed a computer problem for them and they suggested I pursue this. And when I was a banquet supervisor at the Victoria Inn, I would help out my co-workers and friends and it just grew from there."

Barrios is hoping that initial word-of-mouth will help him forge a good reputation and build a client base.

"It’s very important for us to help the community get into the mindset of recycling. Don’t just look to the end of your nose. Look further than that. We may not see the difference in our lifetime, but I hope our descendants will," Barrios said.

For more information, visit www.carloscomputers.ca or call 415-7699.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

BACK TO FRONT PAGE