Comments on: Raising Your Prices http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/ A Resource for Computer Repair Technicians & to get PC tech support help. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:21:18 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Eddie Lopez http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-11348 Eddie Lopez Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:44:06 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-11348 Personally I don't see as a "mistake" charging less when starting a business. At the beginning you don't have a name or reputation yet, and you should find other ways to find customers. Charging less is a way to do so, although not necessarily the only way. There's even people who base their business on that... charging less than others (and not only at first, they want to charge less all the time). But I would say that you should just make up your mind on the charge amount that would make you happy, and stick to it. Personally I don’t see as a “mistake” charging less when starting a business. At the beginning you don’t have a name or reputation yet, and you should find other ways to find customers. Charging less is a way to do so, although not necessarily the only way. There’s even people who base their business on that… charging less than others (and not only at first, they want to charge less all the time). But I would say that you should just make up your mind on the charge amount that would make you happy, and stick to it.

]]> By: Bob Wilkinson http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-10396 Bob Wilkinson Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:45:55 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-10396 The 'value' of services rests in the 'TRUST' that clients demand from the technician. If a client has problems and the technician fixes them 'everytime', then, the client is willing to pay the cost of the repair, no matter if it costs more. Treat every client like YOU expect to be treated and your 'VALUE' will be 'priceless'! The ‘value’ of services rests in the ‘TRUST’ that clients demand from the technician. If a client has problems and the technician fixes them ‘everytime’, then, the client is willing to pay the cost of the repair, no matter if it costs more. Treat every client like YOU expect to be treated and your ‘VALUE’ will be ‘priceless’!

]]> By: Howard Rubin http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-10325 Howard Rubin Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:47:02 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-10325 I have to charge a fixed rate here in Northern Brazil. Most of my clients are running pirated newer software on underpowered machines. I have to charge the same rate to do the same job even if the machine is a Pentium 4 with 512mb memory or a new Core 2 Quad with 3 gb memory... it's only being fair. I have upped my rated three times in the past 10 years and never lost a client. I have to charge a fixed rate here in Northern Brazil. Most of my clients are running pirated newer software on underpowered machines. I have to charge the same rate to do the same job even if the machine is a Pentium 4 with 512mb memory or a new Core 2 Quad with 3 gb memory… it’s only being fair. I have upped my rated three times in the past 10 years and never lost a client.

]]> By: trCreative Web Design http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-3008 trCreative Web Design Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:40:38 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-3008 It's the same for all industries, just got to stand your ground. If they're getting a service they are happy with then they shouldn't have a problem. It’s the same for all industries, just got to stand your ground. If they’re getting a service they are happy with then they shouldn’t have a problem.

]]> By: Doreen http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-1221 Doreen Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:15:43 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-1221 If you don't have to make a living from your computer repair service you could charge less as a hobbyist. That is a BIG mistake business owners make when starting out. You need to establish your price based on professional rates. There's a huge cost of doing business. You need to charge appropiately for your market. We charged slightly less than we do now when we started & then raised prices. Our market is small business/home business professionals. They have the income to pay for our services. We don't want cheapo clients. They can go get cheapo repair people if that's their desire. Who cares! We have many loyal clients who love us & are more than willing to pay for our services for excellent work! You get the target market you are catering to. Go for quality clients if you are a quality service provider! If you don’t have to make a living from your computer repair service you could charge less as a hobbyist.

That is a BIG mistake business owners make when starting out. You need to establish your price based on professional rates. There’s a huge cost of doing business. You need to charge appropiately for your market.

We charged slightly less than we do now when we started & then raised prices. Our market is small business/home business professionals. They have the income to pay for our services.

We don’t want cheapo clients. They can go get cheapo repair people if that’s their desire. Who cares! We have many loyal clients who love us & are more than willing to pay for our services for excellent work!

You get the target market you are catering to. Go for quality clients if you are a quality service provider!

]]> By: Reliance Computer Solutions http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-1225 Reliance Computer Solutions Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:31:28 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-1225 I started out charging too little. Fortunately, I was running my business part time while still in the Navy. My family life suffered. Even though I knew what the average going rate was, I still felt guilty asking someone for that much money. Once I calculated how much I needed to make a day to pay the bills, and how much my 15 years of experience were worth, I had no problem charging $65 an hour. If a client wants to find someone cheaper, that's fine. That leaves me with some quality time for my family. If you have the experience and/or credentials, charge what you think you are worth, and what the market will bear. You have to find a balance between the two extemes: Charging too little will leave you overworked without much pay, charging to much will obviously get less customers, and more pay with less work. You have to find the middle ground to maximize your earnings and time. I started out charging too little. Fortunately, I was running my business part time while still in the Navy. My family life suffered.

Even though I knew what the average going rate was, I still felt guilty asking someone for that much money. Once I calculated how much I needed to make a day to pay the bills, and how much my 15 years of experience were worth, I had no problem charging $65 an hour. If a client wants to find someone cheaper, that’s fine. That leaves me with some quality time for my family. If you have the experience and/or credentials, charge what you think you are worth, and what the market will bear.

You have to find a balance between the two extemes: Charging too little will leave you overworked without much pay, charging to much will obviously get less customers, and more pay with less work. You have to find the middle ground to maximize your earnings and time.

]]> By: santiago http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-1224 santiago Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:51:45 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-1224 Try to show them first why your work costs more than yesterday. what do i say?: My work is guaranteed, my skills & knowledge are wider & specialized now... also i think here is when certif. can come into play. Try to show them first why your work costs more than yesterday. what do i say?: My work is guaranteed, my skills & knowledge are wider & specialized now… also i think here is when certif. can come into play.

]]> By: Russ Blakeman http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-1223 Russ Blakeman Sun, 04 Nov 2007 01:03:56 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-1223 One problem with being very low and trying to present a professional image - $10 customers arent gonna pay for new tools, enhanced training, insurance, upgrades, advertising, web hosting, taxes, equipment, books, etc so $10 shows you are out of the basement part time hobby repairer - not that your skills arent as good as $75 shops but the image difference is there esepecially with commercial clients that know what it costs to run a business. The couch potato slobs that are dribbling food into their laptop keyboards, havent been out of the chair in eons except to get another beer or snack and go from sunup to sundown on the internet are not the clients you want. I called all the locals and then went outside by 25 miles to get an area average also taking into consideration that I offered services they dont ike printers, cabling, etc. To prove most of the locals were hacks in professional clothing it seems one of the originals are still in business along with me and both of us have a good business inter-relationship as he's mostly an ISP and comnputer sales with very little shop work and rare onsite where I do mostly break-fix, upgrades, warranty, etc and mostly onsite from home to large corporate. We refer things more suited to the other over and work together often on things. I was asked by a regular about getting wired between one building and the other with a 2 mile gap between - that got referred to him and at the same time he referred a national service company looking for someone to maintain a local corporation's line printers to me - we both made money, didnt have to leave the customer high and dry and have had additional work from these referals. It takes a lot of time also and you will lose a few percent with each change but gain others at the same time, many times better and more than before. One problem with being very low and trying to present a professional image – $10 customers arent gonna pay for new tools, enhanced training, insurance, upgrades, advertising, web hosting, taxes, equipment, books, etc so $10 shows you are out of the basement part time hobby repairer – not that your skills arent as good as $75 shops but the image difference is there esepecially with commercial clients that know what it costs to run a business. The couch potato slobs that are dribbling food into their laptop keyboards, havent been out of the chair in eons except to get another beer or snack and go from sunup to sundown on the internet are not the clients you want. I called all the locals and then went outside by 25 miles to get an area average also taking into consideration that I offered services they dont ike printers, cabling, etc. To prove most of the locals were hacks in professional clothing it seems one of the originals are still in business along with me and both of us have a good business inter-relationship as he’s mostly an ISP and comnputer sales with very little shop work and rare onsite where I do mostly break-fix, upgrades, warranty, etc and mostly onsite from home to large corporate. We refer things more suited to the other over and work together often on things. I was asked by a regular about getting wired between one building and the other with a 2 mile gap between – that got referred to him and at the same time he referred a national service company looking for someone to maintain a local corporation’s line printers to me – we both made money, didnt have to leave the customer high and dry and have had additional work from these referals.

It takes a lot of time also and you will lose a few percent with each change but gain others at the same time, many times better and more than before.

]]> By: Online Computer Repair http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-1218 Online Computer Repair Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:26:11 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-1218 It all boils down to perception of value. I'm a firm believer that the average consumer relates value with price. By charging a premium above the rest, you're establishing in your client It all boils down to perception of value. I’m a firm believer that the average consumer relates value with price. By charging a premium above the rest, you’re establishing in your client

]]> By: Computer Repairs http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/comment-page-1/#comment-1220 Computer Repairs Sun, 28 Oct 2007 10:28:43 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/raising-your-prices/#comment-1220 We're thinking of raising the prices ourselves, as our overheads are growing, and we might have to start employing some technicians.. We’re thinking of raising the prices ourselves, as our overheads are growing, and we might have to start employing some technicians..

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