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I need an Orbital LART, or a hug... | by shadowsystems | 2006-08-06 02:47:08 |
| Suggestion (longish and more general) |
by Qcumber-some |
2006-08-06 07:45:03 |
I'm doing private (friends/relatives) computer repair stuff without money. Normally I'll get "enough to drink" for the time I have to work - like a full beer crate for a fresh install of a Windows, and another for fixing if there are major problems with specific hard- or software. I do this mainly for learning - every installation of Windows is different, for example since every computer is different, and this way my experience increases. I "book" it as learning time.
If you get paid for it - that's really fine. You should then keep your "hourly" estimation but fix it with the "customer" - like, a clean Windows install is about 2 hours, a "more complete" Windows install is about 4 hours, a "full and specific" Windows install is about 8 hours and so on. Fixing problems take 2 hours minimum. Fix these times BEFORE and call them if it's gonna take more time, explaining them why. If they don't want to pay more, finish the problemless part in your time and leave the worksite as best as you can, suggesting the "customer" to find a professional to fix the problematic part, for no less than 4 times the money.
Of course, you'll need to add additional prices for extra spendings like fuel. I recommend you make them bringing their stuff in, and if that's not possible, tell them you'll take them to the fuel station and they'll pay for the fuel for your way to them and back, so that you don't need to take their money in cash. I suggest that you really don't bloat your extra spendings, since that's what can easily be recalculated and soon be matter of objection with the "customer".
You can offer to teach them to fix simple problems alone, or to create a custom solution for them to fix a recurring problem alone. Of course this will also take some time.
All in short:
- Make prices fix, based on real work and an amount you need to take. Don't bill hourly.
- Fix a minimum time (2 hours?).
- Extra spendings (fuel...) to extra bill items. Don't bloat.
- If possible, don't take cash.
- Encourage people to learn about computers to find problem solutions by themselves. |
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[ Reply ] |
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I've already tried that... =) | by shadowsystems | 2006-08-06 19:22:50 |
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