Comments on: The Problem with the Computer Repair Industry http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/ A Resource for Computer Repair Technicians & to get PC tech support help. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:51:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: JMeid http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-10337 JMeid Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:14:15 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-10337 100% agree with this article. I haven't been in the field all that long, maybe 6 or 7 years, but even I am sometimes surprised by the incompetence of these so-called 'tech guys'. My parents recently had a computer fixed at a local shop, and they also had them upgrade it from 2GB to 4GB RAM (4x1GB). They had the computer for 2 more days after repairing it, saying they were having problems with the MB/RAM etc. I went in and told them i would take the system home as-is. Turned out the MB just didn't really like 4 DIMMs, and i had to up the voltage. Started right up. Some of these folks deserve their good reputation, and some need to be driven out of business. 100% agree with this article. I haven’t been in the field all that long, maybe 6 or 7 years, but even I am sometimes surprised by the incompetence of these so-called ‘tech guys’. My parents recently had a computer fixed at a local shop, and they also had them upgrade it from 2GB to 4GB RAM (4×1GB). They had the computer for 2 more days after repairing it, saying they were having problems with the MB/RAM etc. I went in and told them i would take the system home as-is. Turned out the MB just didn’t really like 4 DIMMs, and i had to up the voltage. Started right up.

Some of these folks deserve their good reputation, and some need to be driven out of business.

]]> By: Aramis http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-9776 Aramis Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:17:14 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-9776 In 6 years as a "certified" IT Professional, I have heard it all. "What do you mean $65 for you to drive 45 miles round trip and take care of what I know is a simple problem my cousin could fix if he lived in this town." "I know you have not made a single cent on me but I need you to walk me through setting up my network server and 4 workstations over the phone! I have a business to run.(for free)" And on and on... Bottom line is there are some of us that do in fact know what we are doing. And others that don't know their ass from their elbows. (IE That jack of all trades cousin in another state) If there is a problem with the price quoted to you, seek another.(wonderful thing about this world) There is no need to talk down to (Have heard "I have a real job, I spent 2 weeks in a strip mall learning real estate so I can sell homes worth 100k for 350k and completely screw up the American economy, what you do is worth nothing my cousin can do it." or insult or claim its easy I could do it myself but... Well then sir/mam, you don't need me or my expertise, and I don't need to sit on the phone for who knows how long giving you what I spent time in school for, for free. Conclusion is human being are generally just full of shit mammals. Yes be polite be courteous, but never let some jack ass price your work for you, or undermine what you have spent time money and effort to learn. In 6 years as a “certified” IT Professional, I have heard it all. “What do you mean $65 for you to drive 45 miles round trip and take care of what I know is a simple problem my cousin could fix if he lived in this town.” “I know you have not made a single cent on me but I need you to walk me through setting up my network server and 4 workstations over the phone! I have a business to run.(for free)” And on and on… Bottom line is there are some of us that do in fact know what we are doing. And others that don’t know their ass from their elbows. (IE That jack of all trades cousin in another state) If there is a problem with the price quoted to you, seek another.(wonderful thing about this world) There is no need to talk down to (Have heard “I have a real job, I spent 2 weeks in a strip mall learning real estate so I can sell homes worth 100k for 350k and completely screw up the American economy, what you do is worth nothing my cousin can do it.” or insult or claim its easy I could do it myself but… Well then sir/mam, you don’t need me or my expertise, and I don’t need to sit on the phone for who knows how long giving you what I spent time in school for, for free. Conclusion is human being are generally just full of shit mammals. Yes be polite be courteous, but never let some jack ass price your work for you, or undermine what you have spent time money and effort to learn.

]]> By: Alex http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-8929 Alex Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:58:19 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-8929 Right on! Why give away the knowledge you worked for? No other successful professional does that!!! Right on! Why give away the knowledge you worked for?
No other successful professional does that!!!

]]> By: Nomad http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-8678 Nomad Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:18:25 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-8678 I find it amazing that so many in IT support continuously shortchange themselves. Charge $30/hr if you like, but if you spend even 15 minutes each way to and from the 1 hour job, 20 minutes talking to the customer (15 minutes beforehand, 5 min extra being "friendly"), a few minutes to set up and pay invoices, you already have over 2 hours invested. Do you have an accountant? Do any advertising? Maintain a business website? Still more indirect costs. Have any of you called a pumber recently? An electrician? Carpenter? Let me know when you find one for $20-30/hr. It has been my experience that most people who charge such low rates are in the "well I make $20/hr at work, so if I charge $30 on my own I'll make good money" category. Maybe others just don't like to make much money, who knows? Personally, I charge $85, though I always combine and package services to give people a break, and my customers appreciate the level of service. I find it amazing that so many in IT support continuously shortchange themselves. Charge $30/hr if you like, but if you spend even 15 minutes each way to and from the 1 hour job, 20 minutes talking to the customer (15 minutes beforehand, 5 min extra being “friendly”), a few minutes to set up and pay invoices, you already have over 2 hours invested.

Do you have an accountant? Do any advertising? Maintain a business website? Still more indirect costs. Have any of you called a pumber recently? An electrician? Carpenter? Let me know when you find one for $20-30/hr.

It has been my experience that most people who charge such low rates are in the “well I make $20/hr at work, so if I charge $30 on my own I’ll make good money” category. Maybe others just don’t like to make much money, who knows?

Personally, I charge $85, though I always combine and package services to give people a break, and my customers appreciate the level of service.

]]> By: TechguyUK http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-7832 TechguyUK Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:49:38 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-7832 I run an IT services business in the UK. I think "Dodgy car mechanics" A very appropriate analogy!! I know several businesses that quite literally run like a dodgy garage, ripping off customers, doing bad repairs, selling unnecessary parts, installing illegal copies of Windows and more. The reputation of us genuine IT professionals is being tarnished by dodgy traders. But these dodgy traders are full of bullshit and sales talk, it works and people continue to flock to them leaving genuine businesses struggling for work. We globally need to stand up and get these dodgy businesses shut down! There needs to be some sort of regular "anonymous customer" standards honesty testing in order to stay in business. I run an IT services business in the UK.
I think “Dodgy car mechanics” A very appropriate analogy!!
I know several businesses that quite literally run like a dodgy garage, ripping off customers, doing bad repairs, selling unnecessary parts, installing illegal copies of Windows and more.
The reputation of us genuine IT professionals is being tarnished by dodgy traders. But these dodgy traders are full of bullshit and sales talk, it works and people continue to flock to them leaving genuine businesses struggling for work.
We globally need to stand up and get these dodgy businesses shut down! There needs to be some sort of regular “anonymous customer” standards honesty testing in order to stay in business.

]]> By: On Call PC Solutions http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-5151 On Call PC Solutions Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:37:23 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-5151 Reading what you said about your 30 years of experience made sense. But what about the regular relatively new tech, business owner like myself with less than a decade of PC repair experience who also knows that software installs can cause problems. Am I worth $75 an hour when my FT Hospital Support tech job pays significantly less than that? Or even better is this, should I feel comfortable charging a customer $75 an hour, when someone else equally skilled can also do it for $50 an hour. All of us are constantly learning, Vista, OS X, even Linux. your 30 years of experience starts over so to speak when new platforms and technologies come out. So I guess the point I am making is for those who charge people $75 - $100+ an hour for something the customer could do if they just pressed yes, OK, and I Agree, seems in itself unethical to me. Thats just my opinion though and I know people will disagree, but that's my opinion. I guess the next issue I would have with spending that kind of money would be the finished product. If I charged that I better not make a mistake EVER. Since I'm not perfect, and neither is anyone else, I could not see charging that for home consumer services. Reading what you said about your 30 years of experience made sense. But what about the regular relatively new tech, business owner like myself with less than a decade of PC repair experience who also knows that software installs can cause problems. Am I worth $75 an hour when my FT Hospital Support tech job pays significantly less than that? Or even better is this, should I feel comfortable charging a customer $75 an hour, when someone else equally skilled can also do it for $50 an hour. All of us are constantly learning, Vista, OS X, even Linux. your 30 years of experience starts over so to speak when new platforms and technologies come out. So I guess the point I am making is for those who charge people $75 – $100+ an hour for something the customer could do if they just pressed yes, OK, and I Agree, seems in itself unethical to me. Thats just my opinion though and I know people will disagree, but that’s my opinion. I guess the next issue I would have with spending that kind of money would be the finished product. If I charged that I better not make a mistake EVER. Since I’m not perfect, and neither is anyone else, I could not see charging that for home consumer services.

]]> By: Ron http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-5101 Ron Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:48:21 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-5101 "Just because you have 30 years experience isn’t justification for charging $75 an hour for work that somebodies cousin can fix." I disagree with that, as I am someone who has 30 years experience and does charge $75.00 an hour. Yes, it may be as simple as installing a piece of software that their cousin can do, but I doubt there cousin knows that even a simple software installation can wreck havoc on a PC because DLLs are replaced/modifed, other software is installed adjunct to the initial software installation, and that possible conflicts can result from these things, etc. You aren't paying me to install your software... anyone can do that. You are paying me for my knowledge and my time so that IF something does go wrong,I can fix it vs your cousin who just installs it and then when the PC is messed up says "uhh I dunno man. It installed ok. uhhhhhh..." Go ahead. Use the cousin, then call me to clean up his mess - OR - call me (or someone else equally qualified) in the first place and save both time and headache. "On some things like data recovery I can understand wanting the high dollar tech with expensive software and tools. But if its as simple as installing software and basic clean up, or installing a DVD drive, Why pay someone $75 to $125 an hour when someone else can do the exact same job for $20-$30? I don’t care what your certs are that’s a rip off." Read above. I also don't have certs and if something thinks that certs alone qualifies them for that kind of pay, that are being mis-lead by whoever told them that giant lie. @Dinosaur: "The ability to solve a problem on your own without help makes you a tech." WOW. All I can say is WOW. The sheer arrogance astounds me. To quote Emerson, "Who you are speaks so loudly, I can't hear the words coming out of your mouth." I think others on here have made some points I would have made as well. You sir are a pompus and arrogant a**. “Just because you have 30 years experience isn’t justification for charging $75 an hour for work that somebodies cousin can fix.”

I disagree with that, as I am someone who has 30 years experience and does charge $75.00 an hour. Yes, it may be as simple as installing a piece of software that their cousin can do, but I doubt there cousin knows that even a simple software installation can wreck havoc on a PC because DLLs are replaced/modifed, other software is installed adjunct to the initial software installation, and that possible conflicts can result from these things, etc.

You aren’t paying me to install your software… anyone can do that. You are paying me for my knowledge and my time so that IF something does go wrong,I can fix it vs your cousin who just installs it and then when the PC is messed up says “uhh I dunno man. It installed ok. uhhhhhh…” Go ahead. Use the cousin, then call me to clean up his mess – OR – call me (or someone else equally qualified) in the first place and save both time and headache.

“On some things like data recovery I can understand wanting the high dollar tech with expensive software and tools. But if its as simple as installing software and basic clean up, or installing a DVD drive, Why pay someone $75 to $125 an hour when someone else can do the exact same job for $20-$30? I don’t care what your certs are that’s a rip off.”

Read above.

I also don’t have certs and if something thinks that certs alone qualifies them for that kind of pay, that are being mis-lead by whoever told them that giant lie.

@Dinosaur: “The ability to solve a problem on your own without help makes you a tech.”

WOW. All I can say is WOW. The sheer arrogance astounds me. To quote Emerson, “Who you are speaks so loudly, I can’t hear the words coming out of your mouth.” I think others on here have made some points I would have made as well.

You sir are a pompus and arrogant a**.

]]> By: az world inc http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-2997 az world inc Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:24:57 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-2997 it marketplace www.azworldinc.com Headquartered in Miami,FL AZ World is the worlds largest marketplace for IT and consumer electronics service professionals. VARs, solution providers, technology retailers and IT staffing firms all turn to AZ World when they need professional technical resources to assist with rollouts, installations, repair work and more. More than 25,000 IT pros across the U.S. and Canada have grown their businesses by registering with AZ World. it marketplace http://www.azworldinc.com

Headquartered in Miami,FL AZ World is the worlds largest marketplace for IT and consumer electronics service professionals. VARs, solution providers, technology retailers and IT staffing firms all turn to AZ World when they need professional technical resources to assist with rollouts, installations, repair work and more. More than 25,000 IT pros across the U.S. and Canada have grown their businesses by registering with AZ World.

]]> By: Computer Repair ,computer support , computer help http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-1577 Computer Repair ,computer support , computer help Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:13:19 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-1577 This was an excellent article and commentary. Thanks This was an excellent article and commentary.

Thanks

]]> By: David http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-1576 David Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:27:14 +0000 http://www.technibble.com/the-problem-with-the-computer-repair-industry/#comment-1576 i have a few quibs here. First while the article does reveal a few problems (wow what an understatement), it does nothing but misdirect on solutions. my first computer was a sinclair, my first computer with a GUI was a commadore 64 running westwood OS, My first BBS was on a commi 128. I've been fixing, repairing ect for a quite a while. Before my spinal surgery, my business was quite sucesseful. But i charged a simple 20 bucks an hour (this was in the early 90's) and it stayed there till almost 2000 when i raised it to 35 bucks. certs?? what certs?? i just do my job well. I remember having a company (which will remain nameless) contact me to "service" one of their customers (i lived out in the boondocks). first thing i did was boot her machine and then call the company back and give the service manager an earful. They were trying to sell her a cpu when all she needed was a PSU. i explained how the voltage rail wored and how her computer wasn't producing enough to keep things going (KISS always works) and all she really needed was to upgrade her power supply (she already added another HD and GPU hence the drain), but wait the good news isn't over, they wanted me to install the CPU anyway. I hung up on the company told her to send it back and get the parts she needs (also gave her a biz card) then got online and made sure the BBB knew what was going on with that service company. My customers are all repeat customers (i ask) i get new customer by word of mouth. So as you can see, regulating, certification, guilds, ect won't help. It's the customer who needs educating. Well some techs do too but i'm not going into that rant, i've repaired way to many machines that have had "professional techs" working on them to even be remotly objective about it. i have a few quibs here. First while the article does reveal a few problems (wow what an understatement), it does nothing but misdirect on solutions. my first computer was a sinclair, my first computer with a GUI was a commadore 64 running westwood OS, My first BBS was on a commi 128. I’ve been fixing, repairing ect for a quite a while. Before my spinal surgery, my business was quite sucesseful. But i charged a simple 20 bucks an hour (this was in the early 90’s) and it stayed there till almost 2000 when i raised it to 35 bucks. certs?? what certs?? i just do my job well. I remember having a company (which will remain nameless) contact me to “service” one of their customers (i lived out in the boondocks). first thing i did was boot her machine and then call the company back and give the service manager an earful. They were trying to sell her a cpu when all she needed was a PSU. i explained how the voltage rail wored and how her computer wasn’t producing enough to keep things going (KISS always works) and all she really needed was to upgrade her power supply (she already added another HD and GPU hence the drain), but wait the good news isn’t over, they wanted me to install the CPU anyway. I hung up on the company told her to send it back and get the parts she needs (also gave her a biz card) then got online and made sure the BBB knew what was going on with that service company. My customers are all repeat customers (i ask) i get new customer by word of mouth. So as you can see, regulating, certification, guilds, ect won’t help. It’s the customer who needs educating. Well some techs do too but i’m not going into that rant, i’ve repaired way to many machines that have had “professional techs” working on them to even be remotly objective about it.

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