Lol "do i owe you anything"

[momo88]

Here is the story,

I done a mobo replacement for a customer about 2 months ago and he came back yesterday with a BSOD error so i said no probs leave it with me and i will sort it out for you. So i sorted the problem and gave him a call to come pick it up, he arrives and i explain that it is all sorted now. He says "do I owe ya anything" I explain that the prob was a software related error and had nothing to do with the mobo, because he had the cheek to say that it made me feel bad and i gave him the repair for half price. Now i am mad at myself for doing so.

 

[Martyn]

Here is the story,

I done a mobo replacement for a customer about 2 months ago and he came back yesterday with a BSOD error so i said no probs leave it with me and i will sort it out for you. So i sorted the problem and gave him a call to come pick it up, he arrives and i explain that it is all sorted now. He says "do I owe ya anything" I explain that the prob was a software related error and had nothing to do with the mobo, because he had the cheek to say that it made me feel bad and i gave him the repair for half price. Now i am mad at myself for doing so.

You have to tell him up front before you start what the situation is otherwise this is what happens. I always get them to sign my sheet which states if they don't go ahead with the repair there is a diagnostic fee which in turn is waivered should they go ahead with the repair. When I know what the problem is I phone and tell them the cost.

 

[NeutronTech]

Here is the story,

I done a mobo replacement for a customer about 2 months ago and he came back yesterday with a BSOD error so i said no probs leave it with me and i will sort it out for you. So i sorted the problem and gave him a call to come pick it up, he arrives and i explain that it is all sorted now. He says "do I owe ya anything" I explain that the prob was a software related error and had nothing to do with the mobo, because he had the cheek to say that it made me feel bad and i gave him the repair for half price. Now i am mad at myself for doing so.

It's funny how skilled customers can be at making us feel guilty about doing what we have every right to do. They make us feel guilty about charging what we know we are worth.... and even less than what we are worth. They make us feel guilty about their stupidity and ignorance. They make us feel guilty about their financial problems. They make us feel guilty about doing the right thing, period.

What amazes me is how easily and how skilled they do this. It's almost like they have all majored in psychology and have an inherent ability of manipulation. They are able to make us feel so guilty, yet they feel no guilt themselves. They believe their own manipulative attitude is the right way to do things. These people are the ultimate con artists. What's worse is how poorly we handle those with this mystical power, and how long it takes us to finally build up a defensive shield against it. Of course, sometimes when we use our shield, we end up feeling bad about it.

 

[Vicenarian]

"Automaker Henry Ford asked electrical genius Charlie Steinmetz to
build the generators for his factory. One day the generators ground to
a halt, and the repairmen couldn't find the problem. So Ford called
Steinmetz, who tinkered with the machines for a few hours and then
threw the switch. The generators whirred to life--but Ford got a bill
for $10,000 from Steinmetz. Flabbergasted, the rather tightfisted car
maker inquired why the bill was so high.
Steinmetz's reply: For tinkering with the generators, $10. For
knowing where to tinker, $9,990. Ford paid the bill."

Same principle applies to computer repair.
I was thinking of printing this on the back of all my invoices.

 

[PC Ops]

No matter your tech skills, there'll always be skilled customers (skilled in being a customer )

and....

"Automaker Henry Ford asked electrical genius Charlie Steinmetz to
build the generators for his factory. One day the generators ground to
a halt, and the repairmen couldn't find the problem. So Ford called
Steinmetz, who tinkered with the machines for a few hours and then
threw the switch. The generators whirred to life--but Ford got a bill
for $10,000 from Steinmetz. Flabbergasted, the rather tightfisted car
maker inquired why the bill was so high.
Steinmetz's reply: For tinkering with the generators, $10. For
knowing where to tinker, $9,990. Ford paid the bill."

Wow Vicenarian, how applicable! And indeed, great for an invoice backside!
+1

 

[ATTech]

No matter how you look at it, you only have yourself to blame for not setting the proper expectations.

 

[NeutronTech]

No matter how you look at it, you only have yourself to blame for not setting the proper expectations.

For the most part this is true. In some cases, however, both sides can have complete understanding of their expectations and a customer will still try to manipulate.

 

[ATTech]

For the most part this is true. In some cases, however, both sides can have complete understanding of their expectations and a customer will still try to manipulate.

I don't disagree with that; I've seen it happen. His post, however, gave no indication that he mentioned anything to the client about charging them.

 

[Technotch]

Here is the story,

I done a mobo replacement for a customer about 2 months ago and he came back yesterday with a BSOD error so i said no probs leave it with me and i will sort it out for you. So i sorted the problem and gave him a call to come pick it up, he arrives and i explain that it is all sorted now. He says "do I owe ya anything" I explain that the prob was a software related error and had nothing to do with the mobo, because he had the cheek to say that it made me feel bad and i gave him the repair for half price. Now i am mad at myself for doing so.

lol he just got you off guard that's why. techs tend to forget to have their clients sign the agreement especially for repeat customers. just stick to business next time.

 

[acs]

For tinkering with the generators, $10. For
knowing where to tinker, $9,990. Ford paid the bill."

I remember seeing a similar quote about James Watt hitting a steam engine in the same way.


Perhaps we should update for PC repair ...

" For updating software £10,for knowing which piece of software to update £100...

I am sure others can come up with something similar.

 

[meanderer]

"since this is not related to my previous work, it would be standard rate of $"insert your rate" here"

I am guilty of doing that a lot, but as time goes by you will learn the alarming sign and toughen up.... otherwise you will have to quit because you don't make enough money to support yourself... that's just a hard fact...

 

[PcTek9]

"do i owe you anything?"...

of course not..! i work free mmm kay? cuz im a pothole... let me just get out my sellular and ...


The store with cheap customers will always be a cheap store...

 

[elegia]

Here is the story,

I done a mobo replacement for a customer about 2 months ago and he came back yesterday with a BSOD error so i said no probs leave it with me and i will sort it out for you. So i sorted the problem and gave him a call to come pick it up, he arrives and i explain that it is all sorted now. He says "do I owe ya anything" I explain that the prob was a software related error and had nothing to do with the mobo, because he had the cheek to say that it made me feel bad and i gave him the repair for half price. Now i am mad at myself for doing so.

Of course he owes something and you should have charged him full price for fixing the software error. He brought it back to you thinking he could get it done for nothing thinking it was the mobo again. And then you pointed out it was a different problem. He should pay for your ability to diagnose the problem and for you having the knowledge to fix it properly.

The customers that try to talk me down for the price of their repair annoy me the most - I can guarantee that no-one fills their car with gas for say $2.65 a gallon and then asks to pay $2.50 a gallon for it, just because they filled up there last time

My prices are my prices end of - if you don't like it go to best buy and get charged an arm and a leg!!!!!!

 

[vdub12]

Sometimes giving a discount to a returning customer can go a long way to word of mouth. You may have lost half of what todays job was but potentially could make thousands off of the customers gained by making the customer feel that you where being fair.

 

[dipper]

I'm guilty of doing things similar to this - especially when they are friends or relatives.

It can be a good marketing exercise (as someone mentioned above) but at the end of the day you are cheating yourself out of extra money!

 

[NeutronTech]

I only give out free service if I know it is my fault. I'd rather give out a discount than free service. Giving someone free service tends to make them want free service in the future. By giving a discount, I get paid something, and the customer saves something. Win Win

 

[MobileTechie]

Clearly you need to specifiy the price whenever a customer gives you a job, even if it's an old customer or linked to an old job. Since you didn't agree a price and said you'd "sort it out for him" then it's natural that he might assume it was a freebie.