Business operations- How long to spend on a free diagnostic?

[lcoughey]

If it spins up we use R-Studio to get a clone

Unless you are booting the R-Studio USB key, you are risking further media and file system damage. Both Windows and MacOS will try to mount, read and write to the drive as soon as it is detected. You can always read the article on how to triage a hard drive in the resources section for more information.

 

[WindsorComputerRepair]

I do not offer a free diagnostic at all.
There was one day where i had person after person after person walking in and asking for a diagnostic. It took me all day and I got no other work done.
Ever since, I've implemented a $9.99 diagnostic fee.
This weeds out all the people who are looking for freebies, especially since I tend to charge it right then and there.
If they decide to proceed with my service, I knock it off the bill.
Of course, some clients I had before this that are not wasting my time I let go off the hook, (I've now implemented a diagnostic fee, but for you, it's free) and they love it.
It makes them feel special.
However, this also allows me to pick and choose who I give this free diagnostics too.
I also make no diagnostics over the phone AT ALL. If it cannot be answered with a "Yes" or a "No", It's bring it in, pay 9.99$, and sign an intake form.
Not many clients who aren't being serious go through the trouble.

Overall, I find it sames me a lot of time and money.


EDIT - I am thinking of increasing this to 19.99 or something like that, or just not refunding it.
I'm not sure what to do. For now, i refund it.

ALSO, I am not doing this to be an asswipe, if i crack open the case and the GPU slipped out, or it's something very obvious like a disconnected SATA cable or the power supply switch is turned off, I don't even charge. (Aka if I crack open the side panel and I can do it in under 5 seconds, it's free)

 

[Pacific Blue IT]

I have a diagnostic fee from $50
Its not just time doing a diag, you've got to consider time booking in a client, advising them off their options and invoicing them too. You get one talkative customer and your 3 minute diag is suddenly 20 minutes. It's not just time we are charging for, is our knowledge and experience too. If we can v diagnose quickly why should we charge less or nothing for being better. We should charge more if anything.

 

[crobertson]

Rule #1 - My time and experience is worth money.

Rule #2 - I never give free estimates. I charge for diagnosis. Time is worth something.

I agree but I know I'm going to charge them. My speil is Free Diagnosis with repair..

 

[callthatgirl]

aw yes, I love seeing posts from 8 years ago and I have the same comments I would make today

 

[thecomputerguy]

Holy Necro.

God BLESS TONYY!!!

 

[Fred Claus]

When I offer a free diagnostic, I offer a "Basic" one. This is one where I don't need to open the unit up and take a look at hardware. Since the majority of these are run a scan wait for it to finish, I don't worry about the time if it's reasonable. I can do other things when I'm waiting for the scan to finish. If I have to spend more than 4 hours on a diagnostic, I have to crack the case open, or I have to go to the client location to do it, I don't offer it for free.