How long do you usually have a customer's PC?

[TechGuy71]

I guess this would be more for techs with a shop, but I am curious how long you usually have a customer's computer in before it's finished. Also, are you usually able to start on a new computer that comes in right away? If not, what's the worst you usually get backed up? Guess I'm curious more than anything... but I tend to get a little freaked if I have a computer in for very long.. waiting on parts, or it's just taking more than a couple days, etc. Wanted to see what time frame everyone else is looking at.

Thanks

 

[Iconic]

I aim for 48 hours in most cases, however my absolute deadline is 5 days. The only time I hit that deadline is if there are parts I am waiting on or if I have a backlog of PC's on my bench. Also keeping in mind this may only occur once every 6th months on average since I am mainly on-site.

 

[vontreigo]

24-48 hours some more and some less.

 

[vr6rafal]

24-48 hours unless waiting for parts!!

 

[NickCat11]

24-48 hours unless waiting for parts!!

+1............


___________

 

[iisjman07]

It depends how much stuff there is in the workshop. We usually tell customers 3 days, just so it gives us that little extra time incase something goes crazy... If it's gonna take longer you gotta ring the client.

 

[barry3652]

I tell the customer within the day what the problem is and then how long it will take me to complete. I then depending on the customer I explain that if I am hold up on anything else I will ring them. but more often than not its usually turned around within 24-48 hour.

 

[TechGuy71]

It depends how much stuff there is in the workshop. We usually tell customers 3 days, just so it gives us that little extra time incase something goes crazy... If it's gonna take longer you gotta ring the client.

Yah that's what I tend to do. If I think I can get it done in a day I tell them 1-2 days.. but like last week I had 4 on the bench and 5 waiting to get on the bench. I was telling people 2-3 days.. and a couple I ended up having to order parts for, which I call and talk to the customer about.

 

[Tweak]

24-48 hours unless waiting for parts!!

+2..............

 

[SCR12]

I tell the customer within the day what the problem is and then how long it will take me to complete. I then depending on the customer I explain that if I am hold up on anything else I will ring them. but more often than not its usually turned around within 24-48 hour.

Yes thats what i do, i always keep the customer informed on whats going on either by email or phone, also some jobs may take longer due to other jobs or waiting for parts.

 

[gunslinger]

24-48 hours unless waiting for parts!!

+2.................

 

[atlanticjim]

I tell the customer within the day what the problem is and then how long it will take me to complete. I then depending on the customer I explain that if I am hold up on anything else I will ring them. but more often than not its usually turned around within 24-48 hour.

This is the way that I prefer to work, they then know that I am ACTUALLY working on their computer and not just holding on to it. I think that this really adds value.

However it is not hard for me to excel at turnaround when my main competition (the Big Blue Store) is holding on to machines for a week before contacting the client with (usually) the "bad news" that it will take another week and the only way to fix it is to N/P.

 

[NYJimbo]

It's really amazing how long the big shops will hold onto a machine. I had a guy come in with a HP tower and he told me the last time he took it to BB or something it was in the shop for 10 days. Each time he called he got the run around and when they fixed it someone told him that the "fixes" they claimed to do were not really done.

I hold ALL machines overnight (closed Sundays and ALL major holidayas), DC jacks are next day unless I am overloaded then its 2 days. Weirdo, tough to pin down problems are 2-3 days. I cannot imagine holding a machine for more than 5 days unless we are waiting for a rare part or the client says something like they are going away on vacation and dont care.

 

[iisjman07]

My turn around time is usually weeks not days

Maybe you'll pick up some tips to improve your speed

 

[PCSupportGlasgow]

My turn around time is usually weeks not days

Our clients would go nuts if we held on that long. if ordinary everyday parts take that long to arrive i think it time for you to hold some stock of common things which im sure you would be able to charge a premium on as its the law of supply and demand.

We aim for 24-48Hour turnaround. If any pc is on our bench for longer than 24hours the client gets updated everyday with a reason.

 

[NickCat11]

Our clients would go nuts if we held on that long. if ordinary everyday parts take that long to arrive i think it time for you to hold some stock of common things which im sure you would be able to charge a premium on as its the law of supply and demand.

Same here. I imagine I would lose a fair amount of business as well if I took that long...

 

[Double A PC Service]

Most are 24 hours or less with the max being around 3 days.

 

[Tweak]

The alternative is to drive or fly to the nearest major centre over 800km (497Miles) on a dirt road....

Here you can find about 5 or 6 shops on a single road so that shows how competition is a major difference depending on the area...you have a great opp to have a nice business and I wish you luck!

 

[JosephLeo]

Well- since I've only recently started my turnaround rate is 0 hours since I've only done a few house calls so far by just overhearing some people's conversation.

But I would expect a 24 hour turnaround when I have only two customers- 48 when I have more than that but I will always tell my customers 3-Day turnaround time. Mostly for personal buffer time and almost as important for the "Shock" value a customer gets when they find out their computer is ready earlier than expected.

 

[NickCat11]

Here you can find about 5 or 6 shops on a single road so that shows how competition is a major difference depending on the area...you have a great opp to have a nice business and I wish you luck!

+1, I wish I could say the same around here. We have pizza techs and repair shops everywhere