First of all, Sorry about the rant. Fixing up a few computers for some family and friends atm. One of them is a rather old computer easily about five years old etc. Dont mind having to look at them but what annoys me is that people are either ungrateful or have much higher expectations of what I'm able to do with there computers. E.g Expecting me to be able to get a old system to perform like a brand new machine that they could buy today. Then being really disappointed when I explained that I couldn't do that but I'd get it running as best as I could. My personal favourite is being given a computer with a power supply that was literally ****ed and them being really angry when I couldnt fix it. Sorry about the rant again, but thought this was bound to have happned to some guys on here as well.
Charge them money for your services. Either they stop bringing their problems to you or they start to value what you do. People always value what they have to pay for more than what they get for free. Alternatively, tell them to take it to a repair shop like other people.
LOL. Yeah... I've got this Pentium II... it's kind of slow, but I don't want to spend more than $5 to make it fast... work your magic!
I know what you mean, I used to try and help with stuff like that but when some people can't *see* what you've done they get a bit miffed, even if you've done it for free!. You could spend a third of the time building a wall and it would be much more appreciated than spending a day nursing there 10 year old Packard Bell back to health, but you can see a wall, where as Windows 98 still looks the same as it did before. They do get excited though when you tell them the slide out cup holder also plays CD's I try not to let people know what I can do with computers, just help the people I know who will appreciate, and charge the friend of a friends aunt etc.
Welcome to my world. I charge family and friends for my services. I run a business, not a charity. Doing it as a "favour" is a whole other kettle of fish. I stopped doing that a long time ago.
Close Family, close friends free. Everyone else can cough up some dough or at the very least a crate of bow or a gift of something I want. My time has a value, simple as. Advice on the other hand is free. If I get out my toolkit though there is a payment. Sometimes it's biscuits, cos you can't beat a chocolate hobnob with your morning brew.
charge them, I often screw people for £30 for a basic tune up. this may sound wrong but I have no qualms with screwing the ignorant.
As other's have said, unless it's someone you are very good friends with/immediate family who you know won't be dicks if nothing can be done, then charge them.
I own that t-shirt for that exact reason. My personal favourite as the guy who insisted it was a major issue because "I kind of know what I'm doing but I haven't been able to sort it out and you know that little bit more than I do." When I powered it up there was no less than 18 different ******** trial versions of cleaner this and scanner that and reg fix the other. Add to that the 160GB hard drive which had exactly 700mb of free space...... He no longer gets any free advice/help/repairs. I do freely give advice and repairs to anyone really but when they do stupid **** like that AFTER I've already sorted it once they get a firm middle finger.
There's your problem right there... if experience has taught me nothing else it's *never* do stuff for friends and/or family. They expect miracles and they expect you to do it for nothing [and are always reluctant to cough up when you do charge them]... That said when I *do* charge the following applies - 'Because it's you' [regulars] - 75% of what i normally charge, cash when done. 'Sure... I'll do it' [randoms/people i don't know] - normal charge, cash when done. 'I don't like you [but I'll still take your money]' [problematic people] - normal charge + 50%, cash up front. friends and family - double, cash up front.
awesome i think i might just start to use you price tables .. and that last one ... you got it so right
"I'm very sorry, but I don't have time. I have the internet to save." Job done. Say it with a serious face and people get so confused. Works every time.
My favourites are the ones who have "a brother/cousin/other relative who's into all this. He couldn't do anything with it though, so I called you". I've had several cases of that recently where the problem has been relatively simple for an experienced tech to fix, and my polite answer is always something along the lines of "thanks for the call, where did you hear about us.. your computer is now fixed" at which point they're amazed it's done so quickly. Someone who's "into all this computer stuff" should know how to re-install a wireless card driver, remove a ukash virus, scan for adware, fix dll errors etc, and yet apparently they can't. My pet peeve of working in this industry though is being called a "whizz-kid". I always call people on that. First of all, yes I'm a lot younger than you, but I'm 24 so I'm not a kid, and the term you're looking for is engineer. I haven't had my nose in university textbooks since I was 18 so I could be called a "computer whizz", a "whizz kid" or even a "computer technician". I am an electronic engineer. Read the card.
Made me lol. +rep I don't get too many requests to fix stuff, but when I do my friends/family are pretty gracious about it if there's not much I can do. Can't say I've ever charged for advice/fixes, though I have been bought beer for it, which makes it better when you aren't expecting it.
You're so getting rep for that. I'm 30, and one of the oldest survivors with the severity of my condition. I was a "whiz kid" at 16 when I was employed by my high school. I am now through systems engineer all the way to systems design specialist (my last job title before leaving that sector of IT.) I will, however, accept "Sir." I will not fix your computer unless it is blazingly simple or I have a vested interest in your work. I am damned well retired, and deservedly so. One too many people asking for new systems "cause you have a ton of that stuff, don't you?" I leave repair to those who still think it's hot stuff. I think you know that group, right Unicorn?
Agreed. Way too many people today are much too ignorant about their computer, despite having at least one in pretty much every UK household. What annoys me more than people not being able to see what I've done are the classic moronic questions: (Trust me, these are from people at school, they're really bad!) "I'm going to get 2 HP computers and solder them together to make it more powerful, do you think I can get a case for that?" "Are Alienware good?" And many more on my 3- disc, special edition CD- morons of the computing world. Order now to get the bonus DVD featuring live action!
