Computer Tune-Up charge

[smr1619]

Just want to found out how some of you guy's are charging. If you do a computer tune-up and it has multiple profiles you have to clean, do you charge extra for each profile? I currently charge $45 for a tuneup, but with multiple profiles it takes a little longer and I feel I should charge more to make it worth my while.

 

[MrMille]

10 bucks extra for each profile.

But to be fair, a clean up is easy easy money.

 

[cmonova]

Charge

I would not charge per profile. I would set a fee for a "cleanup" and stick with it. Base it on how long does it actually take you to do a cleanup on a comptuer with 1, 2, or more profiles.

Sometimes depending on how bad a computer is 1 profile can take you as long as a computer that is not as infected.

I'd keep it as simple as possible when it comes to charging.

 

[doortodoorgeek]

I agree, flat rate

I would not charge per profile. I would set a fee for a "cleanup" and stick with it. Base it on how long does it actually take you to do a cleanup on a comptuer with 1, 2, or more profiles.

Sometimes depending on how bad a computer is 1 profile can take you as long as a computer that is not as infected.

I'd keep it as simple as possible when it comes to charging.

Keep it simple for you and your customers or else questions will entail and you will have a user say “only clean out my profile” and then another profile could be holding some malware or a virus

And really how long does it take to clean a profile (desktop, my docs, temp, temp ie)

 

[usacvlr]

In my walk in shop we charge 99.95 flat rate which is less than other shops in the area and certainly less than the bigbox chain stores. A tuneup is going to include spyware, viruse removal anyway so basically they are one in the same.

 

[MrMille]

I agree with all of you. Charging per profile is a bad idea.

To give something back to the forum, here is the defacto list of what a tuneup should consist of.

1. CCleaner
2. System Properties: Adjust for best performance
3. Uninstall unneccessary or unused programs
4. JKDefrag
5. msconfig for unnecessary services/startups
6. Anti-virus/Anti-spyware/Anti-malware installed
7. Antivirus/Spyware/Malware update
8. Automatic Updates
9. Antivirus/Spyware/Malware scan
10. Chkdsk

Anything above and beyond is just being *special*, and I'm not talking about the Olympics.
The software listed is the software that is most popular, you can substitute as you wish.
Blowing "dust" out of a box isn't going to improve it's performance, unless you've got a dog living in there.

 

[usacvlr]

You know actually blowing it out could affect the performance on some systems. Some systems will underclock themselves if they are overheating and they will overheat if the fans/heatsinks are clogged up.

 

[gunslinger]

You know actually blowing it out could affect the performance on some systems. Some systems will underclock themselves if they are overheating and they will overheat if the fans/heatsinks are clogged up.

Exactly. Thats why I always include this service.

 

[MrMille]

Only two people listed it as a service they provide,
that's why it fell off the list.

Unless some of you were holding back!, or lying!

But to be fair, it's very typically computery type person to start this type of conversation after someone has put in a few minutes to rationalise the list of tuneup activities and present the most use approaches in an easy to read list.

But, please do, continue adding on trivialities to the list

And before I finally stop editing this post, why doesn't somebody write a script of some kind to automate the list I posted?

 

[MrMille]

There's the rub.

Many people consider running a virus/spyware/malware scan part of the tune up.

Granted, not all scans can then remove the culprit, but most can.

Glad we discussed this.

 

[smr1619]

Thanks for the feedback

I do everything that MrMille listed in his replay +cleaning

 

[Y.F.N.C.G.]

$65 (U.S.) - Complete virus/malware scan, clean, and update.
$75 - Tune-up which includes standard stuff not including virus clean, but including case, keyboard, and mouse cleaning.
$90 - Both services above (normally people will pick this one and think they're getting a good deal)

This is all relative, though. In my area this is well below the standard rate, but in rural Nebraska, this may be the norm for pricing.

 

[camp.cool007]

cleanup charge

I charge a $25 'basic' cleanup fee, which is just uninstalling old programs and deleting bad files, and then a $50 'full' cleanup fee which includes a msconfig cleanup, defragmenting, disk cleanup, c-cleaner, virus check, uninstall old programs, ext.

 

[MrMille]

Do people actually go for these services?

I've never had anyone ask for a cleanup.

Fix a slow computer, due to virus, yea, but never ask for a spit'n'polish.

 

[Blues]

It is a service you tend to have to sale to your clients but it is something they need. You tell them what it is and how often they should do it what you cost give what ever information you think will convince them to call you back for it sometime. I would consider some type of discount cupon to new customers as some might not want it done then and the cupon is a reminder also keeps you as the name to call.

 

[Keck]

Profit by volume

Do not charge for the extra profiles, sell the services for 30.00 each (in store)
and have 5-7 at a time on the bench. and for the love of God UP SELL!!

"If you Discount it,They will come"

that's how i ROLL!! Thanks to radio

 

[atlanticjim]

Basic charges and the upsell.

I tell my customers that I will gladly look at their slow machine and then tell them what I recommend. . . for $50 . . and I do just that. I take a look and then call them with a recommendation. The call goes like this "I found 2GB of junk on your computer, you are infected with one really bad spyware program, your registry has 62 entries that are slowing it down, you have 5 programs that slow things when you start the computer, your WinXP needs to be updated, your virus program is expired and needs replacing . . . " Then their "customized" clean up job costs $50 or so but since they "know a friend of mine" or something, they get the $10 discount (which I put right on the bill so they see what they could have paid). They always tell me to do the job. That is $90 in my pocket. When they get the machine back they ALWAYS get a written estimate for an upgrade, usually memory, sometimes video card or software. 40% come back to me for the upgrade work.
After looking at the BestBuy and FireDog and Staples menus of computer shop work I came up with my pricing scheme. It come in at 50-70% of what they charge, so I can take the money in good conscience.
This pricing might seem high but I am just outside of NYC.

 

[bigdippin]

My PC cleanup service is $65. If combined with another service, I will give a discount.

 

[justpcsupport]

Definitely keep it simple.

The more complicated your billing the more likely they are to say take this off or take that off and then lo and behold 30 minutes later they are more apt to say, well nevermind. When it comes to money we are IMHO generally impulse buyers.

If your trying to make a little bit more money you could try a marketing trick I read about, when quoting prices do it like this.

$45 Basic cleanup (1 profile no virus, ......)
$75 Advanced cleanup (1 profile, but the whole shebang)
$75 Super uber deluxe cleanup (Everyting, and a free can of air)

instead of like this
$45 Basic cleanup (1 profile no virus, ......)
$60 Advanced cleanup (1 profile, but the whole shebang)
$75 Super uber deluxe cleanup (Everyting, and a free can of air)

You will sell more of your Super ubers' than Advanced. Hope this helps.

 

[usacvlr]

I never try to sell a customer on anything. If I wanted to do that I'd work at best buy instead of own my own shop. They come in, they say, I need this thing cleaned up. I say, 99.95, they pay, they leave I clean it up and they pick it up the next day