callmesteve

Senior member
Jan 5, 2005
690
0
0
Some guy just asked me to put in an old hard drive into his new computer, and restore his files. He WANTS me to charge him. He then said if its not too expensive he would like to fix that old machine, it doesn't start.

So I was thinking anywhere from $25-$35 for the restore, and if he still wants the other machine fixed I'll do it altogether for $100. What do you guys suggest?
 

Slvrtg277

Golden Member
Sep 9, 2004
1,004
0
0
35 an hour, 2 hour minimum. You never know what you might get into when you open the case.
 

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
7
81
I sometimes charge $40 for a reinstall... mind you I only do friends & family & referrals.

Yesterday I spent 6 hours doing my brother's HP a250n which mysteriously had a blank HD. Cost? $zero$
 

callmesteve

Senior member
Jan 5, 2005
690
0
0
Hrm I see, this is my friend's co-worker, so I was thinking of cutting him a deal, depending on how nice he and how big the job is I might do it for free
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
I think it's fine. I personally don't deal with other people's problems anymore... especially for money because then you are obligated even afterward.
 

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
7
81
its true... i charged $80 to work on someone's old HP peice of crap. reinstalled windows Me, did all the bullcrap that every PC tech knows you have to do before sending it off so you can sleep at night... even left a "readme.txt" on the desktop with some software recommendations etc... what do i get? 1 week later a phone call: "our CD rom doesn't work" (whiniest voice ever). the cd-rom decided to crap out after 7-8 years without a cleaning... i just replaced it with one of the drives sitting around here and didn't even charge them.
 

PanzerIV

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2002
6,875
1
0
Originally posted by: callmesteve
Some guy just asked me to put in an old hard drive into his new computer, and restore his files. He WANTS me to charge him. He then said if its not too expensive he would like to fix that old machine, it doesn't start.

So I was thinking anywhere from $25-$35 for the restore, and if he still wants the other machine fixed I'll do it altogether for $100. What do you guys suggest?

That figure is a bit low on the restore but if you are giving him a "combo" discount it's not so bad IF you can get the old machine working with a minimum of grief on your part. Don't tell him your initial figure, give him a higher number and preface it with something along the lines of how if you can get the old system started then you can do both for $100.00.
 

Garet Jax

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2000
6,369
0
71
Originally posted by: callmesteve
Some guy just asked me to put in an old hard drive into his new computer, and restore his files. He WANTS me to charge him. He then said if its not too expensive he would like to fix that old machine, it doesn't start.

So I was thinking anywhere from $25-$35 for the restore, and if he still wants the other machine fixed I'll do it altogether for $100. What do you guys suggest?

Is he a friend?

If he is and you plan on running it like a business then he won't be. If he is and you don't plan on running it like a business then you will be giving up tons of free hours.

The only people I give free help to are my dad and my brother.
 

randal

Golden Member
Jun 3, 2001
1,890
0
76
$75/hr minimum. Seriously, if you're going to be taking responsibility for his POS machines and his data, rape his wallet.
 

chasem

Banned
Dec 17, 2001
705
0
0
if you spend personal time w/ the person telling them directions and it is at their house, do 80$ per hour in 15 minute intervals 1 hour min. don't charge if u have to go get drivers or soemthing