Diagnostics Charge?

[CompTech]

What do most of you charge for diagnostics, if anything? Just need to get some feedback on this issue.

I keep deliberating over diagnostics charges. So many who call on the phone will hear a modest diagnostics charge and will not bring their computers in, even though I clearly tell them the fee is waived when the repair is done. It's like they are turned off completely by a very minimal charge.

I feel like my time is worth something and especially after I explain what needs to be done (in detail) and they take it back and run with it to their cousin or best friend's kid to repair (with my information).

Any suggestions on how to avoid this problem...and earn a decent living???

Thanks all !!!

 

[PCmechanic]

I hover between $20-30+ depending on the type of customer they are.

Normally having this charge will separate the potential paying customers from someone who is looking for free services and/or is unwilling to pay a fair amount for work.

imo it's better to miss out on those anyway

 

[VashEXE]

I'm gonna have to agree with PCmechanic. If they are going to be put off by a minimal diagnostic charge you can only image what they are going to be like when you tell them what the labor for the actual fix is going to be.

 

[PorterComp]

I agree with PCMech and Vash, if they aren't willing to pay the diag fee, then they should go elsewhere. Our time is valuable and needs to be treated as such. We typically charge $40 for diag if they don't get the repair. However, if I can't diag the problem, then there's no charge. This is rare. Now that I've said that one will come in tomorrow I can't diag.

When someone seems put off by the diag fee, I make sure they understand that they only get charged that if they do not go ahead with the repair. This usually sets their mind at ease.

Even if you take your car to be diagnosed, they are going to charge a fee for that, why should computers be any different. It's not only the service they're paying for, it's the knowledge.

 

[ComputerRepublic]

What do most of you charge for diagnostics, if anything? Just need to get some feedback on this issue.

I keep deliberating over diagnostics charges. So many who call on the phone will hear a modest diagnostics charge and will not bring their computers in, even though I clearly tell them the fee is waived when the repair is done. It's like they are turned off completely by a very minimal charge.

I feel like my time is worth something and especially after I explain what needs to be done (in detail) and they take it back and run with it to their cousin or best friend's kid to repair (with my information).

Any suggestions on how to avoid this problem...and earn a decent living???

Thanks all !!!

Don't be discouraged when they don't come in. In fact, you should actually be happy because you've more than likely just avoided a horrible customer. People that are turned off by a small diagnostic charge, especially when it's waived if repairs are approved, are not the kind of people you want to cater to or even service at all. As the other posters have mentioned, if they aren't willing to pay $20-40 for a diagnostic, good luck getting fair payment for your time and services if you actually convince them to come in.

There is also no loyalty with customers like that. The next time they need service done, they will go shopping for the absolute lowest price they can find once again. You'll bend over backwards to please these kinds of people because they expect that you're going to give them the world for $20-40 of service.

Count yourself lucky that you managed to qualify them and send them packing.

 

[tarik]

we charge £30 for diagnostics.

 

[Martyn]

I charge £30 diagnostics waivered if the client goes ahead with the repair or any service. For instance if I get a laptop in with a failed motherboard and they don't want to go ahead with the repair I charge a £30 diagnostic. If they want a data recovery I charge £40 for that and waiver the fee. I sometimes waiver the fee if it is a 5 minute diagnostic and keep a client

 

[Techlogon]

In my opinion you should always charge for diagnosis - it may take longer and require more skill than the fix itself. Why should you not be paid for your time and expertise?

Most customers understand that - the ones that don't are the ones that don't value your time. Such people may take your free diagnosis (thank you very much!) and fix it themselves or ring round for the cheapest quote - and they will always find someone cheaper than you, especially if they have done half their job for them and can say exactly what the problem is...

 

[Blue Banana]

No diagnostic fee.

When people come to me, they want their systems fixed, they don't want to know what's wrong with it.

 

[CompTech]

Diagnostics Fee

It's interesting that I get a lot of people who come to me with diagnostics they get somewhere else. Many are price shopping. How do you think you can diagnose without giving it all away? They want complete details so they can do it themselves or take your diagnosis to someone else and get a better price. This is precisely why I feel we must charge "something" for diagnostics. Some people make a hobby out of price shopping and getting diagnostics so they can do this. There has to be a way to tell them as concisely as possible without every single detail, but HOW IS THIS ACCOMPLISHED, if you have to justify costs of service???

Thanks again everyone. Your feedback is very helpful!!!

 

[Martyn]

No diagnostic fee.

When people come to me, they want their systems fixed, they don't want to know what's wrong with it.

Sometimes it's not cost effective to fix it but you can spend an hour finding out what is wrong.

 

[Blue Banana]

Sometimes it's not cost effective to fix it but you can spend an hour finding out what is wrong.

Honestly, I really don't mind. I live in a small town. Everybody knows everybody around here and we all here go the extra mile to help someone out. If I tell someone it's R200 for the diagnostic, they'd probably be surprised and hand me the cold hard cash while thinking 'He didn't fix a single thing on my computer but he's still charging me, a lot, you greedy little *******!'

 

[vdub12]

I do free estimates and charge $39 for a diagnostic.

The charge is waved if the work is done. I normally only charge that in cases where I have to rip a notebook apart and its not worth fixing.

Most things fall under the free estimate.

 

[Martyn]

I do free estimates and charge $39 for a diagnostic.

The charge is waved if the work is done. I normally only charge that in cases where I have to rip a notebook apart and its not worth fixing.

Most things fall under the free estimate.

Same here. The problem I find is people take advantage if you do everything for free. If I see someone is needy or disabled I sometimes don't even charge for visits.

 

[Sussex IT]

Honestly depends on who the client is and what the job is.

For example, if someone says they want to know what's wrong with their PC I do charge a diagnostic for £20 which includes a written report. With what fuel costs in the UK that £20 just about covers fuel...

Then if they want the repair the £20 is put toward the final cost of repair.


If it's a larger job, business client etc I will do a free onsite consultation. This is often just to get to know the client and see how I could help. If a business is willing to take the time to speak to me I'm always of the opinion that they aren't just "price shopping"

But every situation is judged differently, I don't have a hard and fast rule for all scenarios...

 

[Ccomp5950]

$35 dollar diagnostic fee, waived if work is performed.

If I see a computer from 2003 or prior I charge the diag fee up front. Otherwise I only charge it if they want to pick their computer up after they decided to not have work performed.

 

[NeutronTech]

$35 diagnostic / bench fee. If I touch it, the fee is charged. I don't say the fee is waived, but instead say "the fee is put toward the cost of repair". Same thing, only different.

 

[mcarpani]

Our diagnostic charge is $30 but this fee is waived if the customer decides to use our shop for repair. This will keep those "free advice" seekers at bay or at least help cover the cost of your time to deal with them and your loyal customers are still getting free diagnostics. Seems to work well for us anyway.

 

[gazza]

I charge £30 diagnostics waivered if the client goes ahead with the repair or any service. For instance if I get a laptop in with a failed motherboard and they don't want to go ahead with the repair I charge a £30 diagnostic. If they want a data recovery I charge £40 for that and waiver the fee. I sometimes waiver the fee if it is a 5 minute diagnostic and keep a client

same here, you need to charge a diagnostic fee to cover your time and to weed out the freeloaders. I did a job for a client 6 months ago and they kept sending emails asking me for help on certain things, I did answer the first one or two but when they continued I wanted to put a stop to it, as soon as I said you will have to book a repair or remote service, they don't call anymore, unless they have a real problem.

 

[Kitten Kong]

I charge a £20 diagnostic fee, which is put towards the job if I do it.

However I am thinking of taking the £20 up front, before I even look at the job. Just recently I have had 2 instances I can think of, where I have done the diagnostic. Rang my client to say basically its BER. Client then tells me to keep the item in question.

One of which is a Acer One netbook. The SSD has failed, requires a new ssd, and windows installation. This machine was sold by a trader at a local PC market (Bowlers). I told my client to return the item to the trader, as it is his responsibility to sort it. Client tells me it isnt worth her trouble.

Upto now, I have 2 hours tied up in this machine, with all the diagnostics, and reports written, which I will have to write off.

Another client brought in a later P3 machine. Client wanted it fully cleaned up and upgrade where possible.

Did that, then the client wished XP to be installed. I told him the cost of the upgrades required to bring it up to spec is far in excess of the value of the machine.

Told oh well, in that case I will leave it, as it isnt worth it.

Again I have an hour tied up in this, which I will have to write off.

Hence my reluctance, but may have to receive the diagnostics fee before I even look at the machine.