Payment for Computer Repairs

Antar Bolaeisk · 24 Feb 2008 at 16:50

Hello all,

Was just out doing a bit of work today and as a result I've been asked to perform a "clean up" operation on several computers in a small local business. The job I was at earlier today was installing several CAT5 wires to allow for broadband to be used on the aforementioned computers. For this task I charged €50 and spent about 2 hours doing it. Now the person felt that I really should be asking for more but was quite happy to pay the money.

While I asked for what the owner felt to be below the odds money I knew there was a probability that I'd get future work from her and that gamble paid off I intend not to undervalue any further services I may provide.

As stated previously, the task is to perform a general clean-up on five computers and I was wondering what people here charge/pay for similar circumstances as this is my first time dealing with anything like this and I've no idea what prices to set?

Thanks in advance,
Antar Bolaeisk

Antar Bolaeisk · 24 Feb 2008 at 17:24

Lamo said:
I charge an initial £50 and £25 per hour there after.

Are you being serious? I wouldn't have expected it to be so high.

Out of curiosity do you work for yourself or are you part of a larger company?

Antar Bolaeisk · 25 Feb 2008 at 18:58

Thank you everyone for the very helpful replies, it's very much appreciated and you've really opened my eyes.

Antar Bolaeisk · 28 Feb 2008 at 16:35

Well, other day there the Manager at work rag me and asked me what was wrong with the computer as it wasn't starting up. From the description it sounded like it wasn't getting past the post screen and figured that he could probably try a CMOS reset.

Now that to you and I is no big deal but to him he just wouldn't be able to do it even if I were to talk him through it, he'd be to afraid of blowing something up. Anyways, he asked me to come in and fix it becuase someone had set the wrong prices for the show times and the cinema stood to lose quite a lot of money.

Before I went in though I was going to charge €50 for call-out seen as how this was outside my sheduled hours, he quibbled about it saying how I'd always done stuff like this before without charging anything extra than my normal hourly rate, €9.50, but he did agree to it. Turns out a CMOS reset was all it took and everything went back to normal so €50 for five minutes work and twenty minutes travel time.

Completely agree with evryone saying they're paying for the knowledge as well as just the bit of work that has to be done.

I still do this sort of stuff free for family though... wouldn't see the money anyway even if I did charge them.