What makes the prices high? The people who continue to use the services because they use the same logic that you and a couple other people are using. Just because it's a business doesn't make it fair that they charge so much. Obviously in my mindset, I'm thinking about just helping people more than making money, so it's not from the same point of view which is why a lot of people are disagreeing with me.
However, your example of a maid is really the most relative example of all services given. A maid is not something imperative to our survival or something we need to rely on every day, yet some people still hire them. Your analogy is something I had never thought of either, and isn't far off from the truth.
True, which again is where people I guess aren't understanding why I don't feel these prices are justified. If someone asked me whether or not I thought it was a good idea to go to Geek Squad to put their RAM in, I would tell them I'd do it for half the price and show them how to do it next time.
The only problem is, when not using the business but rather the help mindset, you're more prone to becoming a free tech support line, which is something I would NOT want.
You think that installing a water heater is a service well worth a plumber's cost, but reformatting, backing up information, or installing memory is not? Guess what? If you read up on it, it's pretty easy to install a water heater yourself. And it's pretty easy to wire an outlet if you do a little reading. Just like it's pretty easy to install a stick of memory, or reformat a computer yourself with a little bit of research.
There are quite a few people out there that do NEED a computer because of their jobs. And guess what, these people normally don't care if they have to pay companies what your consider too much money, because they need convenient, speedy, and good service.
So some guys son down the block says he knows something about computers. Maybe when he gets a chance, he'll look at the computer. And then just maybe, he'll completely fvck the computer up and won't be held liable because it's just some guy's son.
Some people don't want to go through the pains of having to trust some supposed computer expert, and are willing to pay extra for guaranteed service.
And then you correlate us justifying the prices that the market has proven to bear with considering cars "investments?" Way to pull something completely out of your arse that makes absoultey no sense, and has no correlation whatsoever.
People in this very thread have explained why these prices are justified several times. And it's almost exactly the same justification for any other type of tradesman or artisan, as stated before.
It seems like you have more a problem with a capitalistic society than anything.
I used to work for a mom & pop place, the hourly rate went up month to month until they went out of business. They started with $75/hr, then 100, then 125.
I seem to be able to count on you to troll any serious thread I ever make. I have a problem with a capatalistic society because I think one place is overcharging? :roll:
It does have a correlation because comparing car repair to PC repair is like comparing money spent on a car to money spent on a house.
And of course it's easy to install a water heater, but again, there are codes you have to comply to, and even if you did know them, at least around here, they changed just recently.
Bringing work computers into it makes it a totally different discussion because those are people who DO need their computers to work. But, they should probably take a little bit of time to learn the basics just to save themselves money (and I'm sure some do).
This thread is a perfect example of why I can't stand this forum sometimes. I disagree with the pricing structure of a company and people want to jump all over my ass because I'm not looking at it from the business point of view.
Please, do get over yourself.
As far as bringing work computers into it, why shouldn't you bring work computers into the discussion? Because it weakens one of your points greatly? And for everyone that does take some time to read up on things, there are probably a bunch of others that don't have the time, and don't want the stress of actually doing something themselves.
Once again, you did not show how justifying these prices correlates with believing cars are investments. And now you completely change it to simply spending money on a house vs. car.
If you post a thread on here, expect people to look at it from all angles. Don't get all pissy once someone starts disagreeing with you and provides sufficient reasoning behind their posts, and play off that holier than thou crap. We're jumping all over your ass because we disagree with what you have to say? Please, grow some thicker skin.
You use the term trolling rather loosely. Show me how I was exactly trolling in this thread. Hell, show me how I was trolling in any of your other threads. I didn't know that posting and supporting your view point was trolling these days.
No, I don't use it loosely. There are people who in every single thread I see them post in post something just to be get a rise out of the OP. You're one of those people. Supporting your point of view is one thing, but going around and having a point of view opposite of someone on everything and talking down on them isn't the same.
If I didn't expect people to give me different angles I'd be a fvcking fool, but sufficient reasoning? You cannot tell me that there is sufficient reasoning behind why it costs $89 to burn a DVD, or $29 to put a stick somewhere.
I didn't fail to show the relation of the car/house thing, I guess you just missed it. I'd explain it more but Family Guy is still on and I have a feeling you don't care at all.
Bringing work computers into it changes the discussion is all that I said. I never said it was something that shouldn't be brought into it, but it changes some of what I said as my opinion was based solely on people who use computers for recreation.
I don't need to get over myself, and I don't need thicker skin. I don't understand how you people come to some conclusions and I don't care. If some of the people with a different opinion didn't come off across as such asses the way they write then I wouldn't respond the way I have. Goosemaster and I disagreed earlier, but it was just casual and it's not something where he felt he had to try to talk condescendingly.
Please, do go ahead and show these countless examples of me trolling. Better yet, since I'm such a troll, it should be easy enough for you to simply PM the Mods, have them look through a few threads, and have them ban me.
Sufficient reasoning? It's basic business and econmics for them to set it at a price that results in the most amount of revenue generated (Price x Quantity). They've more than likely paid millions in researching what price to set their services at, but apparently that's not good enough justificiation for you. And undoubtedly, included in that research is what it's worth for people to save time, money, and stress, something people in this thread have pointed out.
And you're calling out others for talking to people condescendingly? Pot, kettle, black?
i get my oil changed for less than the cost of the oil
try your local car dealerships, some do it to get you in to look at the goods.Geek Squad is way cheaper than the $80/hr my dealership charges...best part is that geek squad charges flat fees, not hourly...
I Saw OJ
Diamond Member
- Dec 13, 2004
- 4,923
- 2
- 76
The prices really aren?t that bad and the people pay these prices because not everyone knows what most of us know about computers.
Sure, they aren?t hard to understand, sometimes they can be frustrating, but still, most people don?t have the time nor care enough to learn this stuff.
Take my mom for example, she doesn?t know jack squat about computers and would probably take hers into BB when she had problems with it, if I wasn?t around to fix the damn thing. Do I get mad at her? No, because what the hell does a 56 year old 2nd grade teacher need to know how to format a hard drive for?
To most people they are just another tool around the house or office. No different from the water heater or the garage door opener (even though they are about a billion times more complicated)
Seth
- Aug 23, 2003
- 25,375
- 142
- 116
For those of you defending BB, please note:
1)Even if they are charging market value for the services, they are paying way below market salary to their techs, which means...
2)...Their techs can be as clueless as some of their sales staff at times. Horror stories are already surfacing about Geek Squad fvckups.
Opening your own tech support service can be lucrative, but most people miss the advertising bit. Geek Squad is all over the newspapers and TV, but most mom & pop shops limit themselves to the banals of newspaper classifieds and phone books. If any enterprising geek wanted to make some big money during the empty summer months, I suggest spending a couple hours designing a good newspaper ad and spending the cash to run it for a few weeks. You would be surprised how many people will pay you $35, $40, or more per hour to do routine tasks like running spyware/adware/virus scans, backing up data, installing hardware, etc.
I know from personal experience. And the best tip I can give you is to exude professionalism (in your advertising, wording, demeanor, etc.) so that people feel comfortable hiring you for the job. Take hints from bigger companies shamelessly. Remember that a LOT of what goes on in the world of business is based on appearances.
1)Even if they are charging market value for the services, they are paying way below market salary to their techs, which means...
2)...Their techs can be as clueless as some of their sales staff at times. Horror stories are already surfacing about Geek Squad fvckups.
Opening your own tech support service can be lucrative, but most people miss the advertising bit. Geek Squad is all over the newspapers and TV, but most mom & pop shops limit themselves to the banals of newspaper classifieds and phone books. If any enterprising geek wanted to make some big money during the empty summer months, I suggest spending a couple hours designing a good newspaper ad and spending the cash to run it for a few weeks. You would be surprised how many people will pay you $35, $40, or more per hour to do routine tasks like running spyware/adware/virus scans, backing up data, installing hardware, etc.
I know from personal experience. And the best tip I can give you is to exude professionalism (in your advertising, wording, demeanor, etc.) so that people feel comfortable hiring you for the job. Take hints from bigger companies shamelessly. Remember that a LOT of what goes on in the world of business is based on appearances.
Please. I and others were just trying to get you to think about the real costs associated with fixing someone?s computer, while also putting oneself in a position to MAKE A PROFIT. Just b/c charging $10/hr makes you money doesn't mean that BB would make any money. They have other more significant costs. They have put a lot of time and effort into determining their prices, much more time and effort than you have put into criticizing their prices.
Not really. However, pricing your services based on a rough estimate of the actual cost of the job itself is a recipe for disaster. I was just trying to explain that to you. We don't live in some utopian society where sustinence and shelter are provided to us out of the kindness of ones heart. Besides, even if this were the case, i'd still expect a weeks worth of swine for fixing the butcher's computer.
No argument here. How can you compare yourself to someone who relies on a particular business to make a living? If you do not need to rely on this business for food and shelter, then of course, you can do it for cheaper. However, what happens when your parents stop cooking for you, kick you out and tell you to get a job?
I'm going to try this reasoning the next time I visit the dentist,lawyer,doctor,store...etc.
So you want to be involved with my "hobby"
Me to Girlfriend #1. OK, now turn it on.
Blank stare.
OK... Push the button
Monitor power button goes click
Blank stare
NO, try again
monitor power button... cli......ck .... clickety clickety clickety
At this point she's actually crying cause I'm laughing at her so hard.
This is how people are.
Me to Girlfriend #1. OK, now turn it on.
Blank stare.
OK... Push the button
Monitor power button goes click
Blank stare
NO, try again
monitor power button... cli......ck .... clickety clickety clickety
At this point she's actually crying cause I'm laughing at her so hard.
This is how people are.
There is one thing I have to mention that people should make note of, not sure if this has already been said.
I'm absolutely amazed that the OP thinks the advanced security setup for $118 is a rip-off. That clearly shows the OP did no research whatsoever before posting this rant. The $118 fee for the advanced security setup INCLUDES THE SOFTWARE THAT THEY INSTALL, which is Norton AntiVirus 2005 and Webroot Spysweeper. Those two programs alone cost $49.99 and $29.99, for a total of around $80. So in essence, you are only paying Geek Squad $38 to do the services, which include:
- installing and updating both pieces of software
- installing ALL Windows Updates (which could take forever for dial-up customers if done themselves)
- doing registry tweaks
- optimizing performance by altering system properties settings (system restore usage, automatic updates, checking device manager for conflicts, altering visual settgins)
- completely wiping out msconfig of all startup crap they do not need
- uninstalling crap from Add/Remove Programs such as trial versions and other stuff they don't want (like stuff from AOL)
That, IMHO, is a BARGAIN for any normal computer user.
I'm absolutely amazed that the OP thinks the advanced security setup for $118 is a rip-off. That clearly shows the OP did no research whatsoever before posting this rant. The $118 fee for the advanced security setup INCLUDES THE SOFTWARE THAT THEY INSTALL, which is Norton AntiVirus 2005 and Webroot Spysweeper. Those two programs alone cost $49.99 and $29.99, for a total of around $80. So in essence, you are only paying Geek Squad $38 to do the services, which include:
- installing and updating both pieces of software
- installing ALL Windows Updates (which could take forever for dial-up customers if done themselves)
- doing registry tweaks
- optimizing performance by altering system properties settings (system restore usage, automatic updates, checking device manager for conflicts, altering visual settgins)
- completely wiping out msconfig of all startup crap they do not need
- uninstalling crap from Add/Remove Programs such as trial versions and other stuff they don't want (like stuff from AOL)
That, IMHO, is a BARGAIN for any normal computer user.
Also, aplefka, the $229 you quoted for a PC to PC transfer is the IN-HOME PRICE. I don't think you mentioned that anywhere. The in-store price is a mere $59, which is quite reasonable.
LMAO at bolded part.Originally posted by: aplefka
Okay, $29 to put a stick of memory in, $59 to run a virus scan one time, $89 to make you a 4GB DVD, $118 for an extra-special virus scan
Biggest fvcking ripoff ever.
The diagnostic includes:
- running Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test to make sure the HDD has no signs of going bad, sometimes takes many hours to run
- running Memtest 86+ to make sure the memory is fine, is ran for at least 4 successful passes before determining the memory is okay, again, can take hours
- running TWO virus scanners (can take hours)
- running every spyware scanner known to man (can take hours) to see how much spyware they have
They also check for bad amounts of internal dust, bad BIOS settings and RAM timings, etc. Not a bad deal at all.
I work at BB and I hate how they rip people off with the Geek Squad :\ they make it sound like the Geek Squad is some special task force of computer masterminds and you should take your computer problems to them and them alone. It bugs me when people buy a computer and the customer leaves and tells me that "They are installing anti-virus" and it takes a LONG time to do so, lol.
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