thecomputerguy
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 1,414
I had a referral over to a client from a previous residential client to a Law Office who is going be relocating their offices and wanted help setting up their equipment at the new office. I immediately became suspicious when at the very end of the conversation he mentioned they were on a "really tight budget".
So I give her a call and some more red flags start coming up. She needs her patch panel moved (which honestly sounds like a complete re-wire), and they do not yet have an account with an internet provider because she does not know who services the area as her current ISP doesn't provide service at her new office, and they don't have a phone provider lined up. Then another red flag, they are moving their offices in 6 days.
Sometimes I don't charge for consults, but she and this job sound like it could be a heavily demanding PITA job.
I told her that it's hard to quote how long it would take to setup and make everything perfect at the new office blindly (8 computers, a main printer, setup a new network, and personal printers for all computers). But I told her I would guesstimate probably about 5-6 hours on my end once I've taken all the equipment to the new office, to which I got a long sigh.
I told her I would need to have my wiring guy come out and do an estimate and based on what he has quoted me before I told her probably about $700-$900 and probably half a day, which would include any new equipment recommended or required, to which I got another sigh.
So I explain to her that it would probably be worthwhile to have me come out for an hour or two to help her make some sense of whats going on and give her some direction as to what is going to need to be done, what is going to need to be wired, help her research an ISP and phone provider, and help her get a plan together to make the move as smooth as possible.
"So how much does a consultation cost?"
"Well it's just my normal hourly rate"
She said, well I didn't think we'd have to pay for a consultation so I'll have to check with my partner and see about spending more for a consult.
They are about 30 minutes away, and if I was just popping by to take a quick look I probably wouldn't charge. But this lady has no idea what she is doing, isn't prepared for the move at all in 6 days, has no internet, no phones, no direction, no plan. I just said, "Well how long are you going to be at the new office?"
She says, "At least 5 years, its a 5 year lease."
I just said, "So in my opinion it would probably be a good idea to get someone out there to make sure you have a plan to move, and a plan to make sure you are setup right for the next 5 years, and in my opinion that is worth an hour or two of my time."
Plus I hate going in blind anyways.
So I just think that this job reeks of red flags, and a cheap customer. Sometimes I don't charge for consultations but given how screwed she is, and how it needs to be done two weeks ago, she basically needs someone to come in and line this whole move up for her otherwise she is going to have a hell of a move.
So what do you all think? Do you charge for consults? Would you have charged for this one?
So I give her a call and some more red flags start coming up. She needs her patch panel moved (which honestly sounds like a complete re-wire), and they do not yet have an account with an internet provider because she does not know who services the area as her current ISP doesn't provide service at her new office, and they don't have a phone provider lined up. Then another red flag, they are moving their offices in 6 days.
Sometimes I don't charge for consults, but she and this job sound like it could be a heavily demanding PITA job.
I told her that it's hard to quote how long it would take to setup and make everything perfect at the new office blindly (8 computers, a main printer, setup a new network, and personal printers for all computers). But I told her I would guesstimate probably about 5-6 hours on my end once I've taken all the equipment to the new office, to which I got a long sigh.
I told her I would need to have my wiring guy come out and do an estimate and based on what he has quoted me before I told her probably about $700-$900 and probably half a day, which would include any new equipment recommended or required, to which I got another sigh.
So I explain to her that it would probably be worthwhile to have me come out for an hour or two to help her make some sense of whats going on and give her some direction as to what is going to need to be done, what is going to need to be wired, help her research an ISP and phone provider, and help her get a plan together to make the move as smooth as possible.
"So how much does a consultation cost?"
"Well it's just my normal hourly rate"
She said, well I didn't think we'd have to pay for a consultation so I'll have to check with my partner and see about spending more for a consult.
They are about 30 minutes away, and if I was just popping by to take a quick look I probably wouldn't charge. But this lady has no idea what she is doing, isn't prepared for the move at all in 6 days, has no internet, no phones, no direction, no plan. I just said, "Well how long are you going to be at the new office?"
She says, "At least 5 years, its a 5 year lease."
I just said, "So in my opinion it would probably be a good idea to get someone out there to make sure you have a plan to move, and a plan to make sure you are setup right for the next 5 years, and in my opinion that is worth an hour or two of my time."
Plus I hate going in blind anyways.
So I just think that this job reeks of red flags, and a cheap customer. Sometimes I don't charge for consultations but given how screwed she is, and how it needs to be done two weeks ago, she basically needs someone to come in and line this whole move up for her otherwise she is going to have a hell of a move.
So what do you all think? Do you charge for consults? Would you have charged for this one?
