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Thread ID: 135530	2013-11-14 01:42:00	Computer techos ripping off some people	stuffed (1469)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1359784	2013-11-14 01:42:00	It really annoys me to see how computer technicians are ripping off the vulnerable. By the vulnerable mean those who have not had a chance in life to get to grips with some basic computing knowledge and this is in no way a criticism of them - they may be older or simply not had an opportunity. So the family donates and old PC to Mum and Dad. This is where the techos start having a field day. If only someone could set them up with a tablet - can get good second hand ones for about $200 now. Just that had a case today when an older friend (80+) contacted me for some help. Brought himself a new iPad and he has had at least 2 trips to the tech and he has still not got his emails or contacts on the iPad- grrrrr!	stuffed (1469)
1359785	2013-11-14 02:01:00	There are some cowboys in our industry and they give us all a bad name! Much like any industry though.	CYaBro (73)
1359786	2013-11-14 02:53:00	There are some cowboys in our industry and they give us all a bad name! Much like any industry though. :+1: A LOT has to do with what is needed to be done as well. Some places will charge an hourly rate and stick it it hammer and nail, if they are at a persons place say for 2 hours cleaning out a PC or doing what ever the customer WILL be charged 2 hours even if the tech is sitting there watching a scan for most of the time, some will be at a persons place for 15 minutes and a certain company ( whom I wont name) would charge a full 1 hour = $115 regardless. So along those lines a statement first then a question for Stuffed. I was at a persons place this morning, took me roughly 45 minutes to get there, 1st had to get the PC going again, then once going I was fighting a battle with a DEAD SLOW internet connection (Xtra had throttled them back to dial up) at this time I had been there for 1 hour -- I suggested I bring the PC back to my workshop where I have a good high speed - 45 minutes drive back to workshop - So far the PC has been scanning and removing infections for 2 1/2 hours, estimate another 2-3 hours to finish, repair any damage and update windows, and make sure its going as it should. Then tomorrow drive back to the customers place. Normal advertised charge out rate is $92 / hour (but I dont often charge it fully) Heres a hint to the question below - I got appointments all of next week from current customers and word of mouth, I'm actually turning calls away because I cant get to them for at least a week. The Question. How much do you think I should charge for the complete job taking into account all the time, travel etc ? :nerd:	wainuitech (129)
1359787	2013-11-14 03:04:00	I find your post highly offensive. NOT ALL TECHS ARE RIPP OFFS as you imply. Many customers, as you describe, are computer illiterate, have no idea what they want, have no idea what is practical, have no idea what their email a/c details or passwords are. How about some cold hard facts, how about the other side of the story. case in point "So the family donates and old PC to Mum and Dad. This is where the techos start having a field day." I have no idea what you are raving about. An old PC , often is on its last legs, riddled with viruses & crapware, in need of a good cleanout or Win reload. THIS TAKES SOME TIME Why get a tech in if you only want a 1/2 assed job & dont want to have the OLD pc fixed up. "If only someone could set them up with a tablet - can get good second hand ones for about $200 now." So whats the big issue. Go buy one on trademe. Most PC techs cant just pull a used $200 tablet out the air, they dont keep stock of el cheapo used tablets El cheapo Android Tablets are CRAP, we dont want to have anything to do with them, because they can be so bad. "Brought himself a new iPad and he has had at least 2 trips to the tech and he has still not got his emails or contacts on the iPad- grrrrr! " Hey, there must be more to it than that. ANY tech can setup email, its a very simple job..... How about the full story mate, I bet we are missing some facts here.	1101 (13337)
1359788	2013-11-14 03:22:00	People expect something for nothing. The number of times when I used to do home repairs, that people would, for example, not know their password for their email account, and somehow blame me that I had to sit and wait while they phoned their ISP (and usually sat on hold for half an hour) to get it reset. Geez. As to your question, wainui - personally, I would do full rate for the travel + time on site (so about 2.5 hours at this stage), and presuming your setup is such that the machine running is not interfering with your ability to continue with other work in the meantime, track the amount of time you actually spend dealing with it in the workshop and charge that also at full rate. I tended not to charge for time a PC was sitting on it's own while I continued with another job, but I know some will (even if at a reduced rate).	inphinity (7274)
1359789	2013-11-14 03:31:00	We've never used a computer tech. But like all industries I believe the expectation is that yeah like WT says if it takes you 30mins to get to their location that may be billed, if they stay 15mins or 2hr scan they may charge just that (min of an hour). With cameras with the manufacturer that is - they charge you $70NZ for an inspection which includes return post but $300-500 is considered a small bill. Prob cheaper to use the recovery CDs ... :lol: Well not cheap I know. I mean $500 might be what a low income earner gets per week, if the repair was $200 or $300 why repair at all maybe one may view that. Computer prices have come down so much, if they are not literate in redoing the software or swap the component out, maybe recovery CDs might be a way really unless you have impt files stuck there .. or simply buy another machine and have the 3-5yr warranty included.	Nomad (952)
1359790	2013-11-14 03:41:00	As to your question, wainui - personally, I would do full rate for the travel + time on site (so about 2.5 hours at this stage), and presuming your setup is such that the machine running is not interfering with your ability to continue with other work in the meantime, track the amount of time you actually spend dealing with it in the workshop and charge that also at full rate. I tended not to charge for time a PC was sitting on it's own while I continued with another job, but I know some will (even if at a reduced rate). Unfortunately, with home PC repairs, there is only a limited amount you can really charge, no matter how many trips out there or how many hours spent. Home users simply will not pay what is often the full hourly cost to have their PC fixed. Just the way it is if you are doing these jobs. :groan: Good example: Printer not working. The PC was riddled with viruses, MS update had Broken the BUGGY driver (confirmed issue, not reversable) , no new driver available (had to find a driver that had literally been hacked to work) & then the printer also had intermittent faults. Client kept insisting that it be fixed, no matter what, despite my protests it would be cheaper to replace the printer. Of course they refused to pay for all my time onsite.	1101 (13337)
1359791	2013-11-14 03:47:00	Doesn't IT techs given a breakdown on the est. costs involved prior to doing it? If they choose not to just the call out inspetion fee... Give them the option this is how much it cost to fix but you may prefer to get a new one...	Nomad (952)
1359792	2013-11-14 03:57:00	Doesn't IT techs given a breakdown on the est . costs involved prior to doing it? If they choose not to just the call out inspetion fee . . . Give them the option this is how much it cost to fix but you may prefer to get a new one . . . Not always possible . Sometimes a person doesn't describe the problem correctly, or one of the local " I know everything" people have looked at it and completely got it wrong . The above mentioned job - The way the person described the problem on the phone it was sounding like a Hard Drive or motherboard may have failed, they never actually gave a error message or could when asked . In reality it was a corrupted operating system, caused by Norton Failure and loaded with infections causing the problem . Most techs will take the description as a rough guide only, unless its something like the computer is completely dead, wont go . The first response to that is to ask, is it actually plugged in and turned on at the power -- you'd be surprised how people don't bother to look . ( actually got a funny story about that - may tell it sometime) :)	wainuitech (129)
1359793	2013-11-14 04:18:00	Yep but cannnot tech's do a 30min inspection and bill them that and quote them for the repair bill should they want to go thru with it ..	Nomad (952)
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