Building My Neighbor a Computer - How Much should I charge him?>

[Nighthawk168]

Hey Guys I am building the guy next door a computer

He wants a really high end gaming rig...

I was thinking of charging him 200 bucks - too little or too much??

I will be shopping (at Fry's) for him, building the rig, installing the software, and setting it up at his house.

FYI: day job = 10 bucks / hr...so 2 days of work is worth 160 to me...

 

[magomago]

Are you going to actually quote him this as the price or are you going to "hide" it in the purchases?

And define "High end rig"

Are we talking spending 1500, or are we talking spending 2500?

 

[Nighthawk168]

Spending 2500

 

[bgeh]

Love Thy Neighbour
I think about 175 should be fine

 

[Slappy00]

I wouldnt charge him more than a resonable price for my time, in that I usually enjoy putting computers together. I mean how you feel if dude charged you to go pick you up some lumber in his truck (above the cost of gas and maybe a six-pack of the good stuff). Yah time is money but I never charge people more than some food and beer for my efforts, money is one thing but I'd much rather have some one owe me a favor instead.


you know for hiding bodies and such

 

[Hankysmoo]

Originally posted by: Slappy00
I wouldnt charge him more than a resonable price for my time, in that I usually enjoy putting computers together. I mean how you feel if dude charged you to go pick you up some lumber in his truck (above the cost of gas and maybe a six-pack of the good stuff). Yah time is money but I never charge people more than some food and beer for my efforts, money is one thing but I'd much rather have some one owe me a favor instead.


you know for hiding bodies and such

 

[pillage2001]

The more you charge, the more after sales service you need to provide him. You do know that since you're building it for him, you're bound to be his 24hr-on-call-service-rep for life right??

 

[tbates757]

$200 is fine, you will be installing all the software, and no doubt whenever there is a problem IT'S YOUR FAULT! So add that into the equation and $200 isn't asking too much at all

 

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: Hankysmoo

Originally posted by: Slappy00
I wouldnt charge him more than a resonable price for my time, in that I usually enjoy putting computers together. I mean how you feel if dude charged you to go pick you up some lumber in his truck (above the cost of gas and maybe a six-pack of the good stuff). Yah time is money but I never charge people more than some food and beer for my efforts, money is one thing but I'd much rather have some one owe me a favor instead.


you know for hiding bodies and such

Not only does this solution work very good, but it does have some more benifits. If you do a good job he will tell other people. Just let him know that the free beer and food is not what you normally charge but, that since he is your neighbour and he can spread the word around for you it is all good.

 

[Slappy00]

200 is fine, you will be installing all the software, and no doubt whenever there is a problem IT'S YOUR FAULT! So add that into the equation and $200 isn't asking too much at all

Well in that case just install the hardware new drivers and The OS and thats it. Show the person that the computer is completely stable (run 3d-mark or something) uninstall 3dmark and tell him/her that everything is set and from here on out problems are software and he/she shoud contact the manufacturer of the software or simply RTFM.

I guess the gentleman im quoting must have some awful experiences building computers for people, or maybe he just works in TS .

 

[imported_Mike]

dont build it, $200 is no where near worth the pain in the ass he will be when sh!t starts going wrong.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Nighthawk168
Spending 2500

Please tell me your joking

 

[Mitzi]

A suggestion - make sure he is aware how much you are making to avoid possible backlashes in the future and also stress the point (in writing if required) that you are NOT technical support - your responsibility ends once the machine is up and running at his house.

 

[AndyHui]

Suggestion: don't build it. Buy him a DELL.

 

[Shooters]

Originally posted by: orion7144
Not only does this solution work very good, but it does have some more benifits. If you do a good job he will tell other people. Just let him know that the free beer and food is not what you normally charge but, that since he is your neighbour and he can spread the word around for you it is all good.

And before you know it, the entire neighborhood will be knocking on your door asking why their computers stopped working after they clicked on an attachment they got from an unknown e-mail address.


I stopped building systems for people because the money (or in some cases, no money) wasn't worth the inconvenience of me having to play tech support every time something went wrong, and of course it was always user error, not builder error.

Anyway, for $2500 he could get a nice Dell or even an Alienware. He'll get better service, support, and warranty. Telling him up front that you won't be playing tech support once the system leaves your hands will not prevent him from calling you anyway when something goes wrong, trust me on this one.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Suggestion: don't build it. Buy him a DELL.

 

[VTrider]

I'd rather eat live bees than go down that road again.

Popular dilemma here at AT, many of us love to put together a new system but the tech support that is attached to it is enough not to do it for friends, etc. I agree, no matter how clear you make it that your not his Tech Supp. you'll receive that desperate phone call at the most inconvenient time and he will make you feel guilty.

Buy him a Dell....

 

[vegetation]

I'll add to the chorus here:

Don't do it!

Especially since he's your neighbor, you can bet you'll be getting knocks on your door at the most inconvenient hours, and you wont be able to hide.

 

[Mday]

DONT DO IT.

that's all.

 

[merlocka]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Suggestion: don't build it. Buy him a DELL.

Because (depending on the guy of course) his dumb errors and screwups will become "that PC you made isn't working right."

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: CheapArse
dont build it, $200 is no where near worth the pain in the ass he will be when sh!t starts going wrong.

 

[Macro2]

RE:"Suggestion: don't build it. Buy him a DELL."

I would also consider Compaq just for the availability of the Athlon XP.
Or even alienware or someone like ABS.

Mac

 

[Intelman07]

200 bucks is fine but like most ppl have said you will be 24 hour tech support and when something goes wrong hes gonna blame you and point fingers at you. If you buy him a dell he can get mad at them but if he is a nice neighbor and you are willing to help 200 bucks is fine.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: Slappy00

200 is fine, you will be installing all the software, and no doubt whenever there is a problem IT'S YOUR FAULT! So add that into the equation and $200 isn't asking too much at all

Well in that case just install the hardware new drivers and The OS and thats it. Show the person that the computer is completely stable (run 3d-mark or something) uninstall 3dmark and tell him/her that everything is set and from here on out problems are software and he/she shoud contact the manufacturer of the software or simply RTFM.

I guess the gentleman im quoting must have some awful experiences building computers for people, or maybe he just works in TS .

Some poeple are either incompetent or just arses. Even "normal" people would want a hideous amount of support if anything goes wrong. Usually nothing happens for the first few weeks since its a clean install. Problems generally arise months later when the user contaminates that clean install with junk.

Unless the client knows what he's doing, he wont be bothering you. Then again, if he knew what he was doing, I highly doubt he'd ask some guy to build a computer for him with components bought at Frys.

 

[yhelothar]

yeah i built computers for friends before... they'll be calling you over to ask you for help... takes a lot of work...

unless he's good with computers...

charge him more if you think he's gonna be asking for a lot of support...