Friends, family, and acquaitences and computer repair - a much maligned subject

[episodic]

I was accused of being an ass. . .

I hate doing free work for people. A while ago, I printed up biz cards with my rate on there, and when someone asks if I can 'fix' their computer - I say sure and hand them a card which has my rate on it. I tell em when they are ready to note my rates and give me a call.

A person that works with the wife that is kinda friends of the family (an older lady) told me that was extremely rude and got mad.


Not that I'm upset - this is a more 'how do you keep the wolves at bay' kinda question, and is my way an appropriate method in your opinion?

 

[bonkers325]

what are your rates?

 

[JujuFish]

I see nothing wrong with what you're doing, especially if that's what you do for a living.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

There is no way to keep the wolves at bay. Help or don't.

If you help you get no respect and people are unappriciative. If you dont help you're an @ss.

 

[sigs3gv]

Originally posted by: episodic
I was accused of being an ass. . .

I hate doing free work for people. A while ago, I printed up biz cards with my rate on there, and when someone asks if I can 'fix' their computer - I say sure and hand them a card which has my rate on it. I tell em when they are ready to note my rates and give me a call.

A person that works with the wife that is kinda friends of the family (an older lady) told me that was extremely rude and got mad.


Not that I'm upset - this is a more 'how do you keep the wolves at bay' kinda question, and is my way an appropriate method in your opinion?

Make her take a look at Geeksquad's computer repiar rates.

 

[RMSistight]

Time is money. Your time should be paid for. It's not your fault the people you know refuse to educate themselves on how to fix their own computers. People can learn how to fix anything themselves. But they refuse to because of ignorance, no time, etc etc.

If they don't know how to fix it, then they SHOULD pay someone to fix it. That old lady needs to STFU. She could learn how to fix her own damn computer. Your time could be better well spent at something else.

THAT's one of the PRIMARY reasons I choose to learn about computers. I refuse to pay someone to fix something that I can learn how to fix. People try rip other people off too.

 

[skyking]

I had a co-worker ask me to come over to his place to configure his <first> computer. I had offered to image it while I was doing other stuff at work, just slap it on the kvm and do a quick install. He had another buddy offer to "install a different hard drive" so I was like " hey, OK, you have somebody to help".

I told him I had too many customers to take care of, I couldn't come over.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: bonkers325
what are your rates?

THe cost of living around here is real low, so this is going to seem low to you, but about 30-40$ an hour (depending on the headache it gives me).


A minimum of 40$ for anything basically though. I may charge 30$ an hour if it takes me 3 hours and call it a discount for instance.

I really don't like the repair part, my full time dedication is offering classes and selling 1 hour blocks of time teaching various computer skills. Thats what I try to keep busy doing.