drop off places

[ATSCF]

For those of you who work out of your home, do you use any place as a drop off like another store or anything? I am trying to get some ideas to expand my reach.

 

[Kitten Kong]

Here, I work from home, well the workshop, and 95% of customers drop their pc's off to me direct.

Most will ring, and say abc is wrong etc, the other 5%, just come in, and treat it as a store front..

 

[Elemdee]

Another tech in the area uses the locally-owned copy shop as an official drop off for customers.

 

[Hercomputers]

For now, it's at my home and since it's part-time I ususally get someone in the early evening and/or weekend but I don't make it too late for them to drop off/pickup. I'm careful about allowing strangers in my home and when I do, they only make it as far as the kitchen/dining room. People's eyes wander and they look around so I have to be careful.

I wish I could find a small shop nearby to use as a dropoff-

 

[SThompson86]

I have people drop off and my full time job, I just make it quick and simple.

 

[ATSCF]

What does everyone think would be a reasonable fee per computer to pay them to handle the drop off and pick up and payment?

 

[Charlotte PC]

There's a guy in our area that has people drop their computer at the nearest Mail Boxes Etc store. I assume he has some kind of deal worked out with them. Might be worth looking into.

 

[kagman]

Hmm a copy center and mail boxes etc. Cool ideas.

 

[SmR13]

I have always met my customers half way and a place of their choosing.

 

[maclaptech]

As far as picking up, I always go to customer's home or office. They don't drop off.

After repair, if they want to pickup, I have a place close to my house, parking lot of a large department store, they pickup there. I usually tell them that I'm working in the area and they can just meet them there.

I also offer $25 fee to deliver it back to their home or office.

 

[atlanticjim]

Thanks to the OP for opening this thread and giving me some ideas.
I loathe the idea of anyone coming near my house to drop-off or pick-up.
I provide free pick up and delivery within 7 miles, outside of that I charge or they meet me at a large starbucks.
The mailboxes etc (ups store) is an interesting idea though.

 

[Peaceful]

I'm way too paranoid to allow others to handle customer's equipment. If I'm gonna be buying a dropped laptop I'd rather be the one that dropped it.

I either pick it up at their home or work or meet them anywhere they choose. Hopefully they choose a nice clean minit market I have a weakness for those imitation instant cappuccinos Most will insist on meeting me somewhere rather than their home, I guess they don't wanna have to clean and make presentable for company