Things we hate reading...

[ChrisTech]

Sold a customer a new tower last August. They said they didn't know much about computers, so I did the 'gold' service, even down to copying their photos etc. to an external hard drive for them, (they didn't want to pay for a Fabs Autobackup-type full transfer).

Get a call form the customer this week (April 2016), with an irate edge to their conversation, asking why the data isn't on the external hard drive. Since last August.

Me: Why haven't you contacted me before - the data is in a folder called 'archive' as I showed you at the time".
Cust: "Oh"
Me: If you thought it had not been copied, have you still got the old PC?
Cust: "Yes, we're using it instead of the new one"
Me: So why haven't you copied it to the external hard drive since last August?
Cust: <silence>

Yeah, I'm that gullible. Not.

 

[Tntwrdsl]

Someone will say, "If you do a good job and give me a major discount, I will bring back other computers, and you can charge me full rate on those."

 

[JoeTech]

From a customer that is extremely picky and took several calls and hours of remote sessions to get everything to her liking. "I decided to upgrade to windows 10 and now everything you set up is gone!"

Amazing how most of these posts still apply even though it looks like this was started almost 3 years ago.

 

[HCHTech]

I just want a diagnostic, I do not want you to fix it. Oh and I forgot an left a few things unplugged when I was looking around inside at it earlier.

LOL. I just had a ticket like this, but they didn't insist on a diagnostic first, thankfully. If they had, I would have given them the answer. "My diagnostic reveals that several devices are unplugged". Fixing it is option and costs more money. Alternatively, I would have plugged everything back in to run real diagnostics, then get the results, unplug everything again and ask them if they would like me to repair it.


Oops - didn't notice the necrothread. Same answer applies, though!

 

[coffee]

Quote from a business to me after remote service call and fixing their problem:

"Oh, Your not gonna charge me are you?"

 

[TurricanII]

Nobody has touched my laptop since you set it up for me. I don't know how Windows 7 [OEM] became Windows 8.1 Pro [with a pirate serial number that is refusing to activate]. The same chap - I'm just a pensioner [still working as an architect] and can't afford your invoice.

 

[jfm]

Client brings computer in a saturday, said it was urgent and important for his business.
I take him in (I work from home), check the computer on the spot, power supply, 125$ to fix, and I cant fix it right now.

Client said wait, I'll take it to my tech guy this monday so he can fix it for less.
Thanks for the diagnostic...drives off in his BMW...

I just stood there, completely hopeless, my faith in humanity vanished.

 

[Just Larry]

@Just Larry YES. Just had one the other day:

Customer: You fixed my computer a month ago and now its doing all this crazy stuff. I thought you fixed it? I havent used it since you said you fixed it a month ago.

I don't know why they have to lie about it. I would sooner they told the truth about what they have been doing on their computer as it would make life easier for me and cheaper for them as it would maybe be a quicker fix.

 

[coffee]

I don't know why they have to lie about it. I would sooner they told the truth about what they have been doing on their computer as it would make life easier for me and cheaper for them as it would maybe be a quicker fix.

Also, For being so upset about "Getting Infected" again I found nothing wrong on her laptop and it was probably just some browser attack. A simple 'Dump the cache' and/or reboot fixed the issue. But my calls to her (2 now over 2 days) about her laptop being done have not been returned yet. I will be billing her for a normal service call - I bet this will go over well.

What I cannot believe is that a lot of people will readily believe some stupid message in their browser over what a qualified tech would tell her. Especially when you have a good history with the customer.

 

[nlinecomputers]

and I cant fix it right now.

If you couldn't fix it then why do you not expect the client to pack up and leave you? Time to stock up on parts dude....

 

[LedHed]

I can't believe no one has put this one up yet:

 

[Just Larry]

I can't believe no one has put this one up yet:
View attachment 5799

Is that a cue for the Phil Collins song ?

 

[4ycr]

My computer just suddenly stopped working (boot error). after a quick test, the hard drive was totally gone, I phoned and said it needed a new hard drive as it looks like it must have been dropped, only to be told oh yes I did drop it. So the part where I asked what happened just before the problem you failed to mention this.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I downloaded this software designed to speed up my PC and...

 

[AlexanderCS]

If you couldn't fix it then why do you not expect the client to pack up and leave you? Time to stock up on parts dude....

Fair enough, I also try to keep at least one of things (SSD, PSU, etc.) but it also sounds like even if he had one, buddy's hangup was "I'll just take it to my own guys for cheaper."

 

[nlinecomputers]

Fair enough, I also try to keep at least one of things (SSD, PSU, etc.) but it also sounds like even if he had one, buddy's hangup was "I'll just take it to my own guys for cheaper."

That's fine but you charge a diagnostic fee. If you take your car to the mechanic and decline the work they will still bill the time spent to look it over.

 

[cypress]

Client brings computer in a saturday, said it was urgent and important for his business.
I take him in (I work from home), check the computer on the spot, power supply, 125$ to fix, and I cant fix it right now.

Client said wait, I'll take it to my tech guy this monday so he can fix it for less.
Thanks for the diagnostic...drives off in his BMW...

I just stood there, completely hopeless, my faith in humanity vanished.

So you never got a diagnostic fee? If not, then that is on you.

 

[AlexanderCS]

That's fine but you charge a diagnostic fee. If you take your car to the mechanic and decline the work they will still bill the time spent to look it over.

Agreed. Anytime someone has me "take a look", they get charged. Your electrician, your plumber, etc don't "look" out of the good of their hearts, and I don't eat for free.

 

[jfm]

Client brings computer in a saturday, said it was urgent and important for his business.
I take him in (I work from home), check the computer on the spot, power supply, 125$ to fix, and I cant fix it right now.

Client said wait, I'll take it to my tech guy this monday so he can fix it for less.
Thanks for the diagnostic...drives off in his BMW...

I just stood there, completely hopeless, my faith in humanity vanished.

Oups, typo there I could have fix it on the spot...

 

[PR Tech]

Overheard in my office today by two different customers:
"I am a MCSE, but I don't have time to fix my computer myself, so I brought it to you."
"My daughter is really good with computers. She stalks people all day long on Facebook."

*Facepalm*