P.C. shop is now an Apple store.

[techs]

Ha! I have had my computer shop for 10 years. Before I opened I got my APlus cert. Then I started buying used computers thru a recycler and fixed them up and sold them for a year. I must have worked on 250 computers in that year.
THEN I opened my shop.
I have seen about 10 other computer shops come and go.
About 3.5 years ago a shop opened, selling computers and repairing them. Then they added a Sprint phone department. Then a home security dept. Then an internet service, then a gaming place, then a wireless internet service.
Interestingly, they still offer all these "services" though now they just pass on the names to other companies to do the work.
Finally they opened a large p.c. selling and repair shop at THE most expensive rental site in town.
After a year of pissing people off, lo and behold, last monday the shop windows were covered over with brown paper and a small sign said "Coming Soon a whole new bite"
On black friday they re-opened as an Apple authorized reseller. Not a p.c. in sight.
Since the shop used to do HUGE advertising, they did cut into my business a little bit. But just like when the other 10 shops that have opened, after they were gone my business boomed.
Its going to be a good year.

 

[MrPickins]

What size is your town?

 

[soydios]

:thumbsup:

 

[AkumaX]

:beer:

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: MrPickins
What size is your town?

About 15 thousand. Probably additional thousand at any time in tourists.

 

[Siddhartha]

OP,
What are the reasons for your longevity? Service, low overall head, price?

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Siddhartha
OP,
What are the reasons for your longevity? Service, low overall head, price?

All three. I don't take on companies that require a lot of emergency service. That way I can promise that 95 percent of all jobs in my shop are completed in 24 hours.
I keep my overhead down by working out of a heated garage. I put my money into the best software and hardware for diagnosis and repair. I do all the work myself, I only have a bookkeeper who does my taxes at the end of the year.
And with my low overhead, coupled with the best equipment and superior training and experience, I can repair computers in less time, with less labor, saving my customers money.

 

[Auryg]

How much do you charge?

Just wondering if my rates are comparable

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Auryg
How much do you charge?

Just wondering if my rates are comparable

I charge 65 per hour, because that is what the other shops imy area charge. If I charge less I get inundated, more and I don't get enough new customers. However, since I do the work in less time the customer gets charged less, despite the equal hourly rate. This spreads thru word of mouth and my customers, and the ones they refer to me (60-70 percent of new customers are referrals from satsified customers) know that it costs less to come to me. Not a huge amount less, but less.

 

[SuperSix]

You are doing what needs to be done to stay in business, if you are focusing on PC repair. Low overhead, fast turn around.

That being said, I am a sales manager for a Tier1 hardware distributor - you should get an account with us. (If you don't already)

I sold Tankguys nearly all the G0 Q6600's they sold.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: SuperSix
You are doing what needs to be done to stay in business, if you are focusing on PC repair. Low overhead, fast turn around.

That being said, I am a sales manager for a Tier1 hardware distributor - you should get an account with us. (If you don't already)

I sold Tankguys nearly all the G0 Q6600's they sold.

I build maybe 3 p.c.'s a year. In fact I buy only replacement hard drives, mobo's etc. I used to have an Ingram/Micro account, but for my purposes Newegg does the job.
I make very little on hardware. In fact my hardware profit actually is close to zero since I charge just enough to cover defective parts that fail just outside warranty, rma charges, etc.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: MrPickins
What size is your town?

About 15 thousand. Probably additional thousand at any time in tourists.

Ahh. I see how competition could be fierce.

Good for you, then! :thumbsup:

 

[intogamer]

I'm guessing you do pick up service? But you charge by the hour? I'm planning on starting in my own area, which is pretty good.

I'm thinking that if I do pick up, I can get more done. Workbench FTW?

 

[amdskip]

Fixing computers onsite pretty much always takes more time and some people make it hard to work. I don't mind them seeing what I am doing but I'm going at my fast speed and I don't want to explain every little detail. If I pick a system up, I'll setup a bunch of downloads, a couple scans, and come back and check it every so often. I can have multiple systems hooked up on a kvm and you don't waste time watching processes complete.

 

[intogamer]

Would you boot the computer at the site to confirm the problem. Or would you just load it in vehicle and head to the next customer?

How would hourly pricing apply to pick ups

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: intogamer
Would you boot the computer at the site to confirm the problem. Or would you just load it in vehicle and head to the next customer?

How would hourly pricing apply to pick ups

If you are doing a pickup unless you can solve the problem in the first 10 secs, it doesn't make sense to do that.

Getting the PC back to anywhere the customer is not makes working on it a lot easier.

I would get the details of how the problem happens and figure it out.

Hourly pricing would apply to the time at the shop. If transport is a fee then that is added, or there is a minimum labor charge.

 

[meltdown75]

Excellent! Best of luck with the business, it is nice to hear this type of success story with a PC business. Frankly I find it inspiring!

 

[HannibalX]

Are you in a large metro area or is your town out by itself.

It sounds like that other store tried to grow to quickly.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: intogamer
Would you boot the computer at the site to confirm the problem. Or would you just load it in vehicle and head to the next customer?

How would hourly pricing apply to pick ups

If you are doing a pickup unless you can solve the problem in the first 10 secs, it doesn't make sense to do that.

Getting the PC back to anywhere the customer is not makes working on it a lot easier.

I would get the details of how the problem happens and figure it out.

Hourly pricing would apply to the time at the shop. If transport is a fee then that is added, or there is a minimum labor charge.

I don't plan on opening a shop, just working from home. If I were to transport it back to home, I would charge a standard flat price instead of hourly?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: intogamer
Would you boot the computer at the site to confirm the problem. Or would you just load it in vehicle and head to the next customer?

How would hourly pricing apply to pick ups

If you are doing a pickup unless you can solve the problem in the first 10 secs, it doesn't make sense to do that.

Getting the PC back to anywhere the customer is not makes working on it a lot easier.

I would get the details of how the problem happens and figure it out.

Hourly pricing would apply to the time at the shop. If transport is a fee then that is added, or there is a minimum labor charge.

I don't plan on opening a shop, just working from home. If I were to transport it back to home, I would charge a standard flat price instead of hourly?

You always have an hourly fee. What you will also likely have is a minimum fee of say an hour (generally people bill in half hour increments). The size of the town can also play a role. If you have to pick up a computer 13 miles away, you need to get paid for your time somehow. You could do that by having a one hour minimum charge for all orders picked up.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: intogamer
Would you boot the computer at the site to confirm the problem. Or would you just load it in vehicle and head to the next customer?

How would hourly pricing apply to pick ups

If you are doing a pickup unless you can solve the problem in the first 10 secs, it doesn't make sense to do that.

Getting the PC back to anywhere the customer is not makes working on it a lot easier.

I would get the details of how the problem happens and figure it out.

Hourly pricing would apply to the time at the shop. If transport is a fee then that is added, or there is a minimum labor charge.

I don't plan on opening a shop, just working from home. If I were to transport it back to home, I would charge a standard flat price instead of hourly?

You always have an hourly fee. What you will also likely have is a minimum fee of say an hour (generally people bill in half hour increments). The size of the town can also play a role. If you have to pick up a computer 13 miles away, you need to get paid for your time somehow. You could do that by having a one hour minimum charge for all orders picked up.

I don't get how charging by hours when you repair it at home though. How do you calculate the hours at the shop/home. Can't you possibly scam them a few hours?

Someone enlighten me on standard billing procedures?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: intogamer
Would you boot the computer at the site to confirm the problem. Or would you just load it in vehicle and head to the next customer?

How would hourly pricing apply to pick ups

If you are doing a pickup unless you can solve the problem in the first 10 secs, it doesn't make sense to do that.

Getting the PC back to anywhere the customer is not makes working on it a lot easier.

I would get the details of how the problem happens and figure it out.

Hourly pricing would apply to the time at the shop. If transport is a fee then that is added, or there is a minimum labor charge.

I don't plan on opening a shop, just working from home. If I were to transport it back to home, I would charge a standard flat price instead of hourly?

You always have an hourly fee. What you will also likely have is a minimum fee of say an hour (generally people bill in half hour increments). The size of the town can also play a role. If you have to pick up a computer 13 miles away, you need to get paid for your time somehow. You could do that by having a one hour minimum charge for all orders picked up.

I don't get how charging by hours when you repair it at home though. How do you calculate the hours at the shop/home. Can't you possibly scam them a few hours?

Someone enlighten me on standard billing procedures?

You can scam them. Every service business is capable of doing this. You basically just have to keep track of how much time you are spending. It is not that hard to do. You then use an invoicing program to detail what you did and give a total bill.

Businesses also have to keep track of billable and non billable hours. For instance, a plumber may be at work 11 hours per day, but only able to bill 7 because of travel time. The plumber would adjust rates as needed to make the billable hours provide enough income.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: intogamer
Would you boot the computer at the site to confirm the problem. Or would you just load it in vehicle and head to the next customer?

How would hourly pricing apply to pick ups

If you are doing a pickup unless you can solve the problem in the first 10 secs, it doesn't make sense to do that.

Getting the PC back to anywhere the customer is not makes working on it a lot easier.

I would get the details of how the problem happens and figure it out.

Hourly pricing would apply to the time at the shop. If transport is a fee then that is added, or there is a minimum labor charge.

I don't plan on opening a shop, just working from home. If I were to transport it back to home, I would charge a standard flat price instead of hourly?

You always have an hourly fee. What you will also likely have is a minimum fee of say an hour (generally people bill in half hour increments). The size of the town can also play a role. If you have to pick up a computer 13 miles away, you need to get paid for your time somehow. You could do that by having a one hour minimum charge for all orders picked up.

I don't get how charging by hours when you repair it at home though. How do you calculate the hours at the shop/home. Can't you possibly scam them a few hours?

Someone enlighten me on standard billing procedures?

You can scam them. Every service business is capable of doing this. You basically just have to keep track of how much time you are spending. It is not that hard to do. You then use an invoicing program to detail what you did and give a total bill.

Businesses also have to keep track of billable and non billable hours. For instance, a plumber may be at work 11 hours per day, but only able to bill 7 because of travel time. The plumber would adjust rates as needed to make the billable hours provide enough income.

Ah, so you don't charge a standard flat rate for different problems as Geeksquad/Firedog do.

If that is the case then PC repair is a whole lot of money than I looked at it before.

BTW How do you guys handle software(such as anti virus) or do you install AVG or something free?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Ah, so you don't charge a standard flat rate for different problems as Geeksquad/Firedog do.

If that is the case then PC repair is a whole lot of money than I looked at it before.

BTW How do you guys handle software(such as anti virus) or do you install AVG or something free?

You will have both hourly and fixed rate services. You provide the fixed-rate services for simple tasks where the amount of time necessary can be determined such as component installations/upgrades. You then use the hourly rate for tasks where the amount of time can not be easily determined. How many fixed-cost services are offered is up to the company and the types of business they receive. Note that spyware removal is something that could go in either category.


Software is a touchy issue because you want something that is both free and legal for you to install as well as something that requires no maintenance by the user (all updates done automatically, etc).

 

[Train]

somehow I dont see an Apple-only store surviving in a town of less than 20k people.

Not many are going to switch to MAC's, and even if you get better than average iPod and iPhone sales... I dont see it supporting a whole store in a pricey retail location. Are they going to do service and repair? doubt it, control prone Apple probably makes them ship the computer back to thier factory.