Help me out here.

[jcovercash]

Ok these people that I have worked on there computer before called me up and said they were having problems. Thye said they called microsoft, and Microsoft told them wither the PS, Vid Card or RAM was bad. I had installed more RAM for them earlier so they called me up and said I need to replace the ram, WHOO HOLD ON. I took their computer Home with me and the RAM, PS, and Vid card were all fine. while booting up i was looking inside and notice the Hs/F fans wasent turing, CRASH. so I replaced the fan. boom booted up fine. So they had some Hd problems the Man had deleted some files that were unreplacedable, so I had to format.

All in all I

Formated
Installed Win 98
Reinstalled all their software, only a couple of titles.
Replaced the CPU fan
Installed an 80 MM fan up front fro better air intake.
I also had to install a new modem. I can't really charge them for the modem, as I am not sure If theirs was bad, I knwo windows wouldn't detect it on three diff computers?????
Vacumed out their case.

This is really the first time i have ever did work like this and I am wondering hom much I should charge. i worked on it for a total of 11 hours.


Thanks,

Josh

 

[pillage2001]

How much are you charging for an hour?? 11 hour?? Charge them the full amount

Charge them for the stuffs that MS told them was bad too.

 

[jkellynewyork]

I would tell them the truth why it did not boot up.

They did not ask for a new case fan.

Reinstalling the software should not take to long(couple of titles).

The modem? Was it broke before. Sure the right drivers are being used. Does not sound right!

Should have not taken 11 hours for what you described.

All, I would charge $100-150 for labor + cost of parts.


Thats just my opinion.
I think they will spread your name around and come back to you again for more business in the future.

 

[majewski9]

I hate to say this, but the right thing to do would be to charge them for the fans and labor.

 

[grimzod]

>I took their computer Home with me and the RAM, PS, and Vid card were all fine. while >booting up i was looking inside and notice the Hs/F fans wasent turing, CRASH. so I >replaced the fan. boom booted up fine.

Are you using a memory tester like 'memtest.exe'? Look into some software based testing programs that can help diagnose problems that aren't always obvious.

Tell the customer about the fan. If they have any warranty fan should be free...if not charge for fan and minimum 1 hour troubleshooting: $50.00 minimum.

>So they had some Hd problems the Man had deleted some files that were unreplacedable, >so I had to format.

Charge a flat fee for re-installation. If the customer caused it and u fixed it charge for it. Flat $50 dollar fee for 1 hour is good.

>Reinstalled all their software, only a couple of titles.

If re-installation took more than an hour charge them for an hour here at least.

>Installed an 80 MM fan up front fro better air intake.

Only charge if you got prior approval to add the fan and at a set fee for the fan.

>I also had to install a new modem. I can't really charge them for the modem, as I am >not sure If theirs was bad, I knwo windows wouldn't detect it on three diff >computers?????

If its bad tell em its bad and needs to be replaced (charge for the part). If its not bad and you are just having trouble finding the drivers replace the modem to cover your ass and make it so you don't look stupid. Pad the overall fee to defray the cost of the modem (if its laying around collecting dust write it off).

>Vacumed out their case.

Included in the above fees.

>This is really the first time i have ever did work like this and I am wondering hom >much I should charge. i worked on it for a total of 11 hours.

Overall, charge 50.00 an hour, minimum. You DON'T want them calling you in the middle of the night every week for the least little problem. That gets old. Higher prices keep people at bay and induce them to learn about the machines so that you aren't bothered unless you are needed.

And for gods sake don't tell them it took you 11 hours.

Anyway, i'd charge 150.00 plus parts for this.

Good luck, Josh.

Grimzod

P.S.: all of the above is assuming the machine is NOT under warranty. if it is or some of its parts are you might have the option of replacing bad parts with new ones that you can get replaced through the warranty. Longshot there though.

 

[dullard]

Crap, my first response disappeared. Here is a shortened version:

Charge them for what they authorized. If they said "do whatever it takes to fix it", then charge for the full 11 hours + parts. If they said "fix the bad RAM you installed", then only charge for the time it took you to diagnose the RAM.

 

[jcovercash]

He told me he waned the extra case fan. The computer is out of warrenty. I told him I reaplced the Fan on the heatsink. I am going to talk to them today, I will probally charge them 150. They told em their modem was not workign. I installed the correct dirvers on it and everyting. I tried it on 2 of my computers and neither windows 98, Me, or 2k would detect it, so I think it is safe to say it is bad.

Thanks guys,

Anybody else got any respoinses to help me in the future.

 

[jcovercash]

come on somebody else give me some opinions. i wasent able to go today because they werent at home when i wanted to take it back to them. Yea also I had to amke a 15 mile house call, to pick up and return, thats gonna cost em