How many of you guys fix/build computers on the side/for a living?

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Xanis
I fix things on an almost daily basis for people and I don't get paid, though I should. The famous line is always, "Oh Brian knows how to do that" or "Give it to Brian, he'll fix it". Get's REAL old.

yeah i put a stop to that when i was 15. I'd either quote people $20 or $30 an hour, or say "that sounds like a [hardware
software] problem, I only really know how to fix "$the other one" and theyd leave me alone.

i'll help family any time. anyone else should expect to pay or leave me alone. free work is way, way too much of a hassle.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: aphex
I stopped building computers when a nutjob threatened to kill me when his computer broke.

Dude get over it! I told you I was sorry. :|

 

[amdhunter]

I just fix people's computers for free nowadays...with their understanding that it will be fixed on my own free time. If I charge even the slightest bit anymore, people just hold on to their broken PC's for weeks.

I don't think its really profitable anymore to fix stuff...

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
I used to fix computers but got tired of it. People expect to pay like next to nothing for the hours spent searching for drivers and setting them up. (most PCs I get are epic fail full of viruses and crap, not even worth trying to clean)

Amen. I always have to wonder how on earth people manage to get so much crap on their computer. Even running my computer for several years I haven't seen as much crap on it as what I've seen accumulate on friends computers in months.

"The banner said it was free, and it looked cute. so I clicked it and installed it!"

 

[TwiceOver]

I will usually work on someone's computer with the understanding that there will be beer or some type of service trade. IE Hanging out with my friends "yeah I can look at that, got a beer?" or my neighbors who plow my driveway in exchange for help.

 

[JulesMaximus]

When you can buy a Dell for a couple hundred dollars why would anyone pay you to build them some noisy piece of crap for twice the price?

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
When you can buy a Dell for a couple hundred dollars why would anyone pay you to build them some noisy piece of crap for twice the price?

Thats true. With the exception of poser enthusiasts, it doesn't really make any sense to build a PC for anyone anymore. Just tell them to buy a Dell when they scoff at your markup...lets face it, you can't beat Dells prices building a whitebox even if you make $0 doing it. And when they call Dell and some Indian dude tells them to plug the power cord in when they ask why their email to grandma doesn't work, you'll be at home drinking beer or sleeping in your bed.

And thats the solution also for when they fuck up a computer with spyware too. Just throw it in the garbage and buy a new Dell to fuck up. And when they fuck it up two weeks later as they rush to download all their "software" again (craplets, adware toolbars, trojans from fake porn sites, etc) they'll call Dell and some one will tell them to run windows update.

I think the most efficient way to a PC for your average user is to have too just make a drive image of the install before they screw it up and when they call in with any complaint, no matter how small, just reimage the drive. If that doesn't fix the problem, just blame Microsoft.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
When you can buy a Dell for a couple hundred dollars why would anyone pay you to build them some noisy piece of crap for twice the price?

Bulding them is not where the work is at. It is fixing/recovering/rebuilding after the users gets all their crap in there. I sure don't build them for anybody but spend plenty of time getting them running again.

 

[XxPrOdiGyxX]

Originally posted by: mitchafi
Thanks all for the responses. To address some of the more negative comments: Sure, many "15 year old nerds" can do it...but they don't. The way I see it, there is a large body of people who don't know what the hell they're doing. However limited my knowledge might be in the grand scheme of things, its a knowledge that they don't have. Advising them to throw away their computers because they are "noobs" is the "15 year old nerd" solution, and it doesn't help any one.

I am interested in the field and willing to get certified and read up... what I am not interested in is straight computer science, thus I'm not an engineer. I didn't intend to impart any kind of doom-and-gloom-fuck-why-did-I-major-in-English message; I don't regret my English major at all nor am I worried about long-term career potential. I'm really just trying to throw some ideas around here...being done with school forever (possibly) is, after all, a new experience for me. The way I see it, the possibilities are endless.

The industry is still inundated with technicians. Do a quick search on ATOT and you'll see lots of threads on people who came up with the novel idea of repairing computers for a living or opening up their own computer repair shop. For starters it's a tough market to get into. You are competing with market giants like Best Buy. They do a shitty job...but the people that don't know better go there because of the name recognition. If you are set on doing this...you have to be in it for the long haul and have an alternate source of revenue while your client base bets ramped up. If you are set on doing this...I suggest something like www.onforce.com to get started in finding some work.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: nonameo

Originally posted by: Baked
I've stopped helping people w/ their computer problems a long time ago. If they can't RTFM, google, or solve simple computer problems on their own, they should either buy a new computer, or not own a computer at all.

Wow, I've done this too.

This thread's hilarious, and I agree with every post so far... except the OP. No offense, but freelance computer consulting sucks. I did a bit and it wasn't worth the trouble. Yeah, just graduating you think you have the world by the tail and the "possibilities are endless" but you will find that things aren't what you expect in general. Work on your resume! And those folks who said to get into the health field weren't blowing smoke. It's just about the only area that isn't crumbling right now, and it isn't going away.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

being in Michigan, i say you should work for the auto industry, like GM or chrysler.

 

[Geekbabe]

you'll be sorry, so sorry... don't do it!

 

[kag]

Oh man, this thread brings back memories I wish I could forget forever. The worst of the worst was helping people who bought a cheap computer from someone else, and want to "put the internet on this thing". That's back when high-speed was non-existant, what a pain in the ass to hunt for drivers and all.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

i disagree with you all. it seems like he has at least the minimal skills to scam senior citizens and single moms. maybe you should go to your local convalescent home and try to get and exclusivity contract

 

[silverpig]

Just don't. Please.

I used to do this type of thing back in oh, 2001. Word will get out to your family that you know how to do this and pretty soon you'll be inundated with hour long calls from relatives who want you to fix their computer for them. "Go to the control panel" isn't something you can say to them.

"Click the start button"
Okay
"Now go to settings"
Where? I don't see it.
"It's on the..."
Oh there it is.
"Okay, now go to control panel."
Nothing happened.
"What do you mean nothing happened?"
I clicked it and nothing happened.
"You clicked what?"
Settings.
"No, point at settings and then click on control panel."
You didn't say that.
"Yeah I... Okay, do you have the control panel open?"
No. How do I get there again?
"Start/Settings/Control Panel."
Okay hold on... Okay.
"Okay, now click on system."
How do I get there?
"It's in the control panel."
Where?
"It's probably near the end. Just look for it."

You've by now spent 5 minutes on the phone with the guy and still haven't gotten past the control panel...

 

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
When you can buy a Dell for a couple hundred dollars why would anyone pay you to build them some noisy piece of crap for twice the price?

A Dell with e2220, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, DVD-RW, wireless keyboard and mouse, 2.1 speakers is $550 after tax.

I just built a system for an uncle with an AMD 5600+ X2, Arctic Freezer 64, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, DVD-RW, Antec case, 430W Earthwatts PSU, wireless keyboard plus wireless mouse, cheap 2.1 speakers, for $380. Then he'll tack on ~$100 for labor for a $480 grand total.

Now, with the Dell you're getting Vista and the OS is what makes the Dell the better value.

 

[Paladin3]

My advice is stop thinking JOB and start thinking CAREER. Do it now while you are young, go back to school if necessary and find something you can do that will make you enough money so you don't end up working on the side to support yourself for the rest of your life.

 

[PhlashFoto]

Originally posted by: child of wonder

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
When you can buy a Dell for a couple hundred dollars why would anyone pay you to build them some noisy piece of crap for twice the price?

A Dell with e2220, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, DVD-RW, wireless keyboard and mouse, 2.1 speakers is $550 after tax.

I just built a system for an uncle with an AMD 5600+ X2, Arctic Freezer 64, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, DVD-RW, Antec case, 430W Earthwatts PSU, wireless keyboard plus wireless mouse, cheap 2.1 speakers, for $380. Then he'll tack on ~$100 for labor for a $480 grand total.

Now, with the Dell you're getting Vista and the OS is what makes the Dell the better value.

Yet for $100, you are tech support for the life of the system. Can I pay you $100 to trouble shoot my system for the next 2-3 years too? You didn't mention an OS that you put on his system and what you paid for said OS.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Baked
I've stopped helping people w/ their computer problems a long time ago. If they can't RTFM, google, or solve simple computer problems on their own, they should either buy a new computer, or not own a computer at all.

QFT :beer:

 

[middlehead]

Fix, primary job, internal work for a corporation rather than my own business. No certifications - Bachelors degree and work experience.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: venkman

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Go to nursing school.

The health field will never go out of business

until no one can afford health care.

That's the great thing about healthcare .. you don't need to afford it, you get it anyway. I suppose you haven't been to an inner city (or any) emergency room, have you?

To the OP, English? Ouch man. Like the others have said, I'm not sure you're going to find much career opportunity in the building/fixing computers market. I'd honestly recommend you start looking at graduate schools for something you're interested in. A BA in English isn't going to get you much of anything.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Not no but HELL NO. I try not to let anyone realize I know anything at all about computers. I get enough "service calls" as it is. I can't imagine the kind of nightmare dealing with actual paying customers would be.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: silverpig
Just don't. Please.

I used to do this type of thing back in oh, 2001. Word will get out to your family that you know how to do this and pretty soon you'll be inundated with hour long calls from relatives who want you to fix their computer for them. "Go to the control panel" isn't something you can say to them.

"Click the start button"
Okay
"Now go to settings"
Where? I don't see it.
"It's on the..."
Oh there it is.
"Okay, now go to control panel."
Nothing happened.
"What do you mean nothing happened?"
I clicked it and nothing happened.
"You clicked what?"
Settings.
"No, point at settings and then click on control panel."
You didn't say that.
"Yeah I... Okay, do you have the control panel open?"
No. How do I get there again?
"Start/Settings/Control Panel."
Okay hold on... Okay.
"Okay, now click on system."
How do I get there?
"It's in the control panel."
Where?
"It's probably near the end. Just look for it."

You've by now spent 5 minutes on the phone with the guy and still haven't gotten past the control panel...

Reminds me of some of my worst tech support calls. A few people are just super difficult with computers on the phone. I think they are people with issues, doesn't matter from my perspective. It's just a bitch.

 

[Fear No Evil]

As someone in the IT industry, for one of the largest companies in the world, I'd recommend as others have said and finding a career. That career MAY be in IT, but consulting isn't the answer. Get a job at a helpdesk if you have to, and work your way up. Get experience, move companies, move up, get more experience, move up, etc. Certifications mean nothing right now.. experience is everything.

 

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: ELopes580

Originally posted by: child of wonder

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
When you can buy a Dell for a couple hundred dollars why would anyone pay you to build them some noisy piece of crap for twice the price?

A Dell with e2220, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, DVD-RW, wireless keyboard and mouse, 2.1 speakers is $550 after tax.

I just built a system for an uncle with an AMD 5600+ X2, Arctic Freezer 64, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, DVD-RW, Antec case, 430W Earthwatts PSU, wireless keyboard plus wireless mouse, cheap 2.1 speakers, for $380. Then he'll tack on ~$100 for labor for a $480 grand total.

Now, with the Dell you're getting Vista and the OS is what makes the Dell the better value.

Yet for $100, you are tech support for the life of the system. Can I pay you $100 to trouble shoot my system for the next 2-3 years too? You didn't mention an OS that you put on his system and what you paid for said OS.

That's why I make it clear to people I build systems for that the computer comes with no warranty and any repairs I do to it will cost a minimum of $25 per hour. I also send along a rescue disc with an image of the system before I turn it over to them so they can re-image it themselves.

If they're willing to save a bit of money up front for a nicer quality and probably faster computer then they have me build one. If they prefer to have a warranty then I recommend the cheapest POS with the best specs they can find.