Computer work for people @ work

[altonb1]

You got owned. heh...

I don't mind working on other people's computers from time to time, but it is mainly for family or close friends. In fact, I will often sit in front of the computer to hit the internet or whatever, and then just do a quick cleanup while there.

To each his own, I guess.

 

[Billzie7718]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: jhayx7
One of the guys here at work was going to sell his computer and asked if I could wipe it clean and reload all of the software. Sure, I said, under the stipulation that you take me out to lunch as payment; these are Marketing reps so I figured a nice lunch was in order (around $25 lunch). He brought the computer in the next day and that afternoon I was finished reloading it. Skip ahead a couple of days, we head out for my free lunch When we get out in the parking lot he asks if I can drive because he drives a truck and he thinks that might look a little gay for two guys to be riding in a truck together (um, ok...?). We start down the road and he suggests Roly Poly (cheap bastard). We get to Roly Poly and he asks if I am going to have a combo and what size. I told him that I was going to order a Thanksgiving combo, regular size (odd? my gaydar goes off). We get to the register and he orders, I order, then he proceeds to whip out a buy one get one free regular combo coupon (even cheaper bastard!). WTF! That cheap SOB... I did a $50-$75 computer job and he treats me to a "free" lunch. *sigh* Never again...

Clifs:
I did computer work for Marketing Rep
Wanted lunch as payment
Got F'd over by cheap Marketing Rep...

Not surprising at all. I don't do computer work for ANYBODY anymore. NO ONE. I told friends, family, and coworkers a LONG TIME AGO to assume that I sharpened pencils for a living.

I don't know what it is, but people seem to expect you to do computer work for free. It's like, because you are able to do that kind of work, you're just expected to do it on a charity basis for the whole fscking world.

A coworker of mine came to me a few weeks ago and asked to get some spyware off her computer.

"Lady, my WIFE doesn't ask me to do computer work. Move along."

I might sound like a harsh son of a bitch, but that's the price of freedom these days.

I get just the opposite. Most of the people I work with are willing to pay, but I know if I accept payment, they will call any time they have a problem in the future.

My resolution:
I tell them I'll do it for free but they have to bring it to my office. This gets rid of most people because they don't want to go through the hassle of bringing it to work. Second I tell them they should expect it to take several days to fix because I'll be working on it during downtime at work (which there isn't a whole lot of these days). This takes away any time expectations.
By doing it this way they feel like I did them a favor (which I guess I did) and it's pretty hard to go back and ask the same person for the same favor twice. It may not get you any monetary compensation, but your co-worker is happy and it's easy work.


As far as the coupon at Roly Poly ... get over it man.

I believe it was Socrates who said "Never turn down Free Lunch or Free Beer." ... or was it Nick Nolte? I'm not sure, one of those two.