Website of the Week: FixYa.com

O.K., take a deep breath and say it with me, "the holidays are over and I survived!" If you're really lucky, you might even have received a bright new shiny gadget or two as a gift. Now the fun really starts - getting those gadgets to do what they're supposed to!

If you're finding this to be much more difficult than you expected, you are certainly not alone. Fortunately for all of us, help awaits on the Web!

One of our favorite places to go to solve those tech headaches is FixYa.com .


FixYa.com is an online support community, where experts and consumers come together to solve their appliance and gadget problems.

FixYa was founded by an entrepreneur who decided to do something about the fact that gadget manufacturers rarely provide adequate after-sales support. Even as tech products become more and more technologically advanced, manufacturers are not allocating the necessary resources to provide relevant and up-to-date trouble-shooting information.

The idea behind FixYa is simple - aggregate all support info that is scattered throughout the internet in a single, user-friendly location. The site operates a lot like the popular Yahoo! Answers site - users post questions and other users answer them.

FixYa has a nice clean design that is very easy to use. Through the site's unique rating system, FixYa allows its users to find the best solution for every problem and even solve new problems. The best thing about FixYa's knowledgebase is that it's based on real users' experience rather than on projected questions the manufacturer thinks might come up.

Users can get solutions to any issue with any consumer product by typing the product name or a brief description of their problem and then clicking Search. If all else fails, you can also search for a local repairman.

Users can also browse lists of product manufacturers and recently posted problems. If users can't find a solution, they can click on the Ask button to post their question. Within hours there are other members within the FixYa community coming to the rescue! If you think you've got what it takes, you can even sign up to be an expert and earn cash for providing answers to other users' problems.

With over 12 million visitors and 1 million products in its database, FixYa is a place where individuals can share real-world experiences and provide practical advice. FixYa also reduces product returns and manufacturers' support costs, while placing more power in the hands of the average consumer.

Gone are the days of the impersonal phone support specialist or the cryptic repair manual. From fixing cars to cameras to iPhones, FixYa is a welcome contributor to the DIY revolution that's empowering techies, tinkerers and hobbyists across the globe.

Barry Myers