How much to charge when repairing PCs?

[:Þ]

Once in awhile I receive calls from people who's having some real trouble with their PCs.. In other words, I fix PCs.. at home, at work, sometimes I receive calls from commercial businesses/services too, but here's the scenario: I don't have a base charge. I just calculate them like whatever. If I need moolah to pay some bills, I charge about $100- just to configure a wasted soundcard, or $50 just to install Windows98, or $100 just to set up KDE.

If I'm on a 'helpful mood' and guardian devil isn't pinging my ***, I'd repair it for free... sometimes I just charge a one pack of 'Lites Menthol for a complete Intranet configuration.

I hate it. I hate playing unfair to some people. Now, if you were me, (this is just my sideline, and very effective
time-waster since my wife is preggy and we couldn't have fun :D)
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU CHARGE YOUR CUSTOMERS for...

• Creating a site..
• Troubleshooting networks...
• Building PCs..
• Troubleshooting PCs/servers..
• Backup recovery / Backup system on tapes...
• OS installations, ***unix/Be/Mac/Win..etc

Thanks for your help. :cool:

[gumacanian]

This chick creates sites for a living and lists her charges.
Take a look www.janeoakley.co.uk

[1-INZ]

I believe the purpose of this particular forum is to gauge the current market standard of PC support. I have been repairing PC’s and building networks for almost 15 years now and I have seen technicians and wanna’ be technicians (WBT) that sometimes even charge more than professionals. It has been very common with these WBT running scandisk, defrag, anti-virus S/W, or simply reseating an I/O card to charge $50-100. There are also the A+ certified, MCSE, CNE, and other Microsoft or CompTia certified individual that can’t do jack with a simple problem of a system not going through POST or if a node is not seen in a network.

I have been working as an MIS manager for a multinational software diagnostic manufacturer here in California but I have also an E-commerce business of my own that basically renders the same service I have been providing for the past four years. I specialize on SOHO start-up companies needing a WAN / LAN on either NT or Unix with less than 50 workstations with complete package of a website or e-commerce business.

Creating website:
Basic Marketing Site (less than 10 pages) starting $950.00 +
Celebrity Website (w/ fan club database, merchandizing, Verisign etc.) starting $1850.00
Complete E-Commerce – starting $3200.00

Troubleshooting Networks:
10 nodes or less $65.00 first hr., then $45.00 /hr.
Not more than 25 nodes $85.00 first hr. then $75.00/hr.
Not more than 50 nodes $ 100.00 first hr. then $85.00/hr.

Building PCs:
There is really very little money in building PCs today. Rule of the thumb is you should make at least $200.00 for the full package. There would be better profit if you get our own components.

Troubleshooting PC’s:
On-site $85.00 first hour then $45.00/hr.
Carry-in depends on the job (normally fix rates)
Example:
Memory upgrade $35
Multimedia Upgrade $65
H/W troubleshooting/repair $75
S/W configuration $85
Service package includes system preventive maintenance and 30 day warranty

Back-up…
Same rates if on-site or carry in ($85)

OS inst:
50% value of OS

[TNT2bluz]

Goddang! That's unbelieveable!

That much for putting in a DIMM into a slot?

:D If only people read more.

[kerb]

Originally posted by TNT2bluz
Goddang! That's unbelieveable!

That much for putting in a DIMM into a slot?

:D If only people read more.

wag! thats the reason why technicians exist :P

[TNT2bluz]

Well, yes and no.

Yes, if the problem is truly one that is exceptionally specialized, and no, if technicians simply rely on keeping the people ignorant.

[1-INZ]

Maybe this will help if we looked at theses stores on how much they charge for a memory upgrade.

Fry's Electronics $65.00
CompUSA $75.00
Best Buy $65.00

Most of this stores would ask you to wait from 24-48hours.

[:Þ]

1-INZ.. hey, I used to work for Fry's Electronics!! - store 8/Woodland Hills as a PC technician. :) (that's 97')
The figures you've specified are a little bit outdated because Fry's now charge $75.00/hr JUST FOR THE SERVICE, you buy your mem modules, they will install it..well YES they're rip offs, just like when the car mechanic tells you it costs $500 but in reality it only costs $5. That's just the way life is, kid. If you think it's a ripoff then learn how to do it and mess with your own problem.



There are also the A+ certified, MCSE, CNE, and other Microsoft or CompTia certified individuals that can’t do jack with a simple problem of a system not going through POST or if a node is not seen in a network.


So why are we certified for if we can't do jack about systems? Since I got my A+ in 1996, I never stood palefaced shaking my *** off in front of a melting server. So what's the point of saying that MOST certified tech people can't do jack about systems not going through POST or nonfunctioning network system?


See, most of the time my clients just 'offer' the amount that they think they could afford - If they wanna pay me $20 for building a system... fine! I'm not forcing them to shell out fivehundred bucks for plugging a monitor.
I'm just asking about 'how much' are the reasonable amounts to pay for some certain jobs. I just fix their systems because they want me to, otherwise it's not my job.



I have been working as an MIS manager for a multinational software diagnostic manufacturer here in California but I have also an E-commerce business of my own that basically renders the same service I have been providing for the past four years. I specialize on SOHO start-up companies needing a WAN / LAN on either NT or Unix with less than 50 workstations with complete package of a website or e-commerce business.


Nice to hear that. A fellow californian! ;) Which company do you work for? My company is currently in need of additional SCO Unix technical consultants (mostly network related) Would you be interested, please mail me admin@continentalcoin.com /or/ sysadmin@store.ccc.net


kerb: LOL :D

[1-INZ]

Thanx for the offer. It seems, for now, I really have very little time for my family already so it would be very difficult for me to take another consulting jobs but thanks anyway.

I guess we pretty much started the same way. When I was a tech in CompUSA in'95, my first job, A+ was not required since they already knew I was an engineer, ECE-DBTC. Then again being an engineer here doesn't really mean anything if you're a graduate from the Phil. I was the manager in a few months without even taking the A+ cert. BTW, if you can still remember the test, its really a joke and I'm sure you would agree how stupid majority if the questions are. I remember this because they started pressuring my techs to get cert so I had to review them. Then eventually the company sent me for training to get my MCSE certification. That was in '96 when CNE's where being challenged by MCSE because of the demand of Microsoft network apps in most businesses.

Well, the moral to the story is, certifications will not tell you how to analyze and troubleshoot a computer. All they provide is verification of the basic tools you would need to be a tech or a network admin.

A simple memory upgrade can be as simple as putting bread into a toaster or as complicated as matching your best friend with the right girl. This applies especially with manufacturers that require specific types of memory like voltages, chip configurations, parity/non-parity,bus speeds, buffer, sync, number of IC on the DIMM,etc. Then on the other hand some machines will just need a generic of the shelf PC100 DIMM.

[ginoledesma]

Talk about sky-high prices. But I understand these are all in the US context. What about the Philippine context?

I like fixing stuff, and I usually do it for free (well, I've never actually charged anyone). But I still have yet to really learn gut-repairing: stuff like rewiring, analyzing/diagnosing, etc.

The base rate in some cities is usually P250.00-upwards. Some stores have the "look-see" first attitude. They gauge the "repair" or "service" needed then they slap on the charge. Usually, the minimum is P250 or P500, depending on location, I guess. Though those that charge P500 up usually throw in an additional 'warranty' period of 3-12 months.

[:Þ]

Thanks for your input guys. I appreciate it :)