CheddarPCsKP
Member
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- Cheddar, Somerset, UK
Courtesy Computer?
- Thread starter bolharr2250
- Start date
wickedmojoit
Active Member
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- Derry NH
We usually have a few (for sale) ready to go out the door anyways. We will loan one of those out but we are selective and don't advertise it. It's mostly clients that are established. We don't charge for it.
sapphirescales
Well-Known Member
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We offer loaners for $45/week. We end up selling the loaners to them about 30% of the time and take the computer they brought in for repair in trade. Once they feel the quality and speed of a business class system, they don't want their old slow computer back. LOL.
I've been giving out loaners for years now. As an in-home tech, who also works a "day job", leaving a loaner gives me much more time to work on a system without it being an inconvenience for my customers. It also helps enormously when I'm trying to earn trust from a new client who is not a referral. If I'm leaving them a computer of my own, they feel like I'm not planning on stealing their computer that I'm picking up. Additionally, having them back "up and running" right away is a major plus.
I have 3 desktops, and 2 laptops. I update / image the machines every other month (I use D7II auto-mode for this). A few tips if your looking to start doing this:
1) use Snappy Drive on-site to install their drivers on-site. I have the default driver packs downloaded to my flash drive, which helps to eliminate/reduce download times.
2) I have installed Prey (preyproject.com) which allows me to remotely disable the machine in the event of theft. I've never had to use this, but it's there if I need too.
3) All the machines are cheap/disposable. The laptop's were $300 black Friday specials, and the desktops were under $300 builds. If someone does steal one, I feel like I've already gotten more than their value just in having the service available (3 or 4 jobs and their paid for)
4) I always ask if there was any sensitive data stored on the machine on pick-up. If there was, I DBAN the system prior to restoring the image (never know if the next 'customer' might run data-recovery on the drive)
5) Password-protect BIOS to stop them from booting to disk & re-loading Windows
6) If you really want to go all-out, use XOSL to have multiple OS's on the machine. My desktops have Win 7, Win 10, & Win XP. This is great for my "challenged" and elderly clients that can't handle a different OS than what they are used to.
7) Have a remote-support client loaded in case they need help doing something simple, or you need to send them a file from their system.
8) Either run your own WSUS server, or use WSUS Offline to install Windows Updates. I use PatchMyPC to update all the 3rd party apps
9) I used a case with a handle on the top for the desktop builds. Look's very professional & is much easier to carry into a house.
10) For the desktops, use a MOBO that has VGA, HDMI, and DVI outputs.
11) Try to make the system run as quick as possible by upgrading the RAM and using a decent HDD. Many a customer has had me do custom build for them just because my $300 loaner runs better than their main system does.
I have 3 desktops, and 2 laptops. I update / image the machines every other month (I use D7II auto-mode for this). A few tips if your looking to start doing this:
1) use Snappy Drive on-site to install their drivers on-site. I have the default driver packs downloaded to my flash drive, which helps to eliminate/reduce download times.
2) I have installed Prey (preyproject.com) which allows me to remotely disable the machine in the event of theft. I've never had to use this, but it's there if I need too.
3) All the machines are cheap/disposable. The laptop's were $300 black Friday specials, and the desktops were under $300 builds. If someone does steal one, I feel like I've already gotten more than their value just in having the service available (3 or 4 jobs and their paid for)
4) I always ask if there was any sensitive data stored on the machine on pick-up. If there was, I DBAN the system prior to restoring the image (never know if the next 'customer' might run data-recovery on the drive)
5) Password-protect BIOS to stop them from booting to disk & re-loading Windows
6) If you really want to go all-out, use XOSL to have multiple OS's on the machine. My desktops have Win 7, Win 10, & Win XP. This is great for my "challenged" and elderly clients that can't handle a different OS than what they are used to.
7) Have a remote-support client loaded in case they need help doing something simple, or you need to send them a file from their system.
8) Either run your own WSUS server, or use WSUS Offline to install Windows Updates. I use PatchMyPC to update all the 3rd party apps
9) I used a case with a handle on the top for the desktop builds. Look's very professional & is much easier to carry into a house.
10) For the desktops, use a MOBO that has VGA, HDMI, and DVI outputs.
11) Try to make the system run as quick as possible by upgrading the RAM and using a decent HDD. Many a customer has had me do custom build for them just because my $300 loaner runs better than their main system does.
Sergio3
New Member
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- QC, Canada
Thank you for your Tips Loopey. One question, do you loan your desktop builds often? We do get a few requests for loaners, mostly laptops, but I never bothered to setup something because most of the time the customer asking for it is the never-satisfied-kind-of-customer that would also ask me to transfer all his data on it and install his 3 printers plus autocad and sage50 while giving me 3 hours to fix his malware infected celeron b820 laptop for ... under 30 dollars 
.
Seriously, our only loaners right now are 2 micro wireless usb keyboards for when we replace a keyboard on a laptop and we have to wait 2-4 days to receive it. About 3 out of 4 customers take it and we never had a problem.
Our usual turnover is 24hrs max and mostly everyone is OK with it so we see no real need. But I do agree that loaning a fast (preferably SSD equipped) laptop might lead to a sale, I never thought of it that way.
. Seriously, our only loaners right now are 2 micro wireless usb keyboards for when we replace a keyboard on a laptop and we have to wait 2-4 days to receive it. About 3 out of 4 customers take it and we never had a problem.Our usual turnover is 24hrs max and mostly everyone is OK with it so we see no real need. But I do agree that loaning a fast (preferably SSD equipped) laptop might lead to a sale, I never thought of it that way.
I keep a couple of old HP laptops updated with restricted users accounts and always offer a loaner (no charge) when taking someone's computer. Very few people used to take me up on it but now that they have Windows 10 on them some people like to take a peek before making the move to Win10.
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