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Thread ID: 22677	2002-07-27 03:46:00	For Elwin Way	dipstick01 (445)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
65876	2002-07-27 03:46:00	Elwin I was reading your comments on the see through case thread and I noticed you said you were trying to start a PC repair business. If you are where are you located? If I can find various people around the country who do good work then I might be able to send some of these people who ring me constantly asking advice on repairs etc to them and save my toll bill.	dipstick01 (445)
65877	2002-07-27 06:06:00	I'm sure Elwin won't mind me putting in a good word for him. He's in Porirua, outside Wellington.	Susan B (19)
65878	2002-07-27 07:56:00	And he's known to spend way too much time on F1. Oh wait, it's me you're talking about... :D Hm, well, to be quite honest, I wouldn't mind at all. But there are some caveats: 1- I'm a terrible business person. My wife is constantly berating me for not charging. 2- I'm not rich. In fact, we're so deep in debt any income will disappear straight away, so I cannot afford thing like parts up front, freight etc 3- I'm deaf, and so cannot conventional communication devices such as telephones. Otherwise, sure! :D	Elwin Way (229)
65879	2002-07-27 09:02:00	none of those are a problem elwin........99% of the things I end up doing are for people who have a virus and need help to remove it. There is also the odd reformat etc thrown in and there are a few who could really really do with a ram upgrade but from the stories related to me about their techs etc they need to find a good one. I have just got off the phone from a 65 year old in Tauranga after running her through removing the Yaha virus.......this is the day after her tech "checked" it out and told her it was a software compatability issue and she should upgrade to XP to fix the problem......handily enough he had a copy to sell her. Most of them are happy to spend the money on a tech but I just need to find one that knows what he/she is talking about and after reading your posts I reckon you would do pretty well.	dipstick01 (445)
65880	2002-07-27 09:25:00	Elwin, Sister Susan is here to give you a (free) lesson on turning negatives into Positives. 1. You may be a terrible business person but your wife is obviously not. She can take care of charging your customers. Just tell her who the customer is, how much time you spent on the job and what the hourly rate is. Your wife can then send them the bill and bank the cheque when it arrives. 2. Any income you make should be banked by your wife into a special (joint) business account specially to build up funds for parts/freight, etc. Money in this account is used only for your business, nothing else. (If it isn't a legal requirement that business accounts are kept separate from home or personal accounts, then it is common sense anyway). 3. Telephones are a pig for the hearing impaired, but you've got access to faxes through your PC. Your customers can fax you. Is your wife hearing impaired as well? If not, she can help out with the telephone messages. What about your children, are they old enough to take names and addresses when they are home? Think of the obstacles by all means. But kick them out of the way as fast as they can pop up or work out how to get around them.	Susan B (19)
65881	2002-07-27 09:32:00	hey Elwin, I'm but a stones throw from you... if you need any business advice (been in contracts (10yr) / computing (27yr) ) only too happy to pass on anything that can help. Despite my <sometimes> crazy posts been running my own businees successfully many years now. Hi Susan B Babe.	Babe Ruth (416)
65882	2002-07-27 09:33:00	Heh, I can understand that. It seems that 85% of the techs out there are really rebadged salesman. I have just finished repairing a PC who's (?) CMOS battery kept going flat. Had just been recently replaced by a tech. The tech failed to solder one end in properly, was held in by flux, and wasn't making proper contact. Took me 10 seconds to spot the problem - just had a close look at the board. The tech who did it obviously did a rush job and failed to check it. But yea, OK, if you want my contact details, they are on my web site (http://www.design4web.co.nz). Oh, and thanks for the compliment :D	Elwin Way (229)
65883	2002-07-27 09:45:00	Cripes, I take too long to reply... 2 posts popped up while I was typing my last one... Susan B, many thanks for the advice. It is hard when you have a disability because it makes life 10 times as hard. Being deaf is not easy - it helps fail job interviews, keep clients, and make money. However, you are right. Unfortunately, my wife is attending tech and away from 8:30 - 3:30, and my son is at the age where he can answer the phone, but cannot be trusted to take messages (no he's not a teenager - he's only 5 :) ) As far as the fax thing goes, yes, I have set up the laptop to receive faxes, however faxability is out of the question as the %&^* winmodem can't detect ring patterns! Babe , many thanks for your offer. I will keep it in mind. Incidentally, I have looked further into the case mod business (would be lovely if I can combine pc repair / web site design / case mod into one business) and I am looking at $2000 just for the tools/equipment and some stock :(	Elwin Way (229)
65884	2002-07-27 09:55:00	Elwin, Also there are the Porirua Business Initiatives (Program of Action) and the Wellington 2020 Communications Trust which have some very good advice (free!). As Nike might have said ... Just Do It Cheers, Babe	Babe Ruth (416)
65885	2002-07-27 10:00:00	Elwin, Watch the negativity. List the problems then list the solutions. eg Problem 1. Can't hear on phone Solution 1. a. Communicate by email b. First pay cheque - buy answer phone c. Second pay cheque - buy fax Go for it Heather	Heather P (163)
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