No One Want to pay a PC Tech what they're worth

I heard someone say they were sick of fixing peoples PC because people aren't willing to pay what a PC Tech is worth.

He basically charges 35 bucks for diagnostics, and then he tells them an amt it woudl cost to fix it, they wont pay so he gives it back to them broke. lol

Here's more of what he stated, he's good at what he does..but it just isn't worth it being a PC Techie anymore

-----I had a woman with a bad Hard Drive, she didn't want to pay $175 for a New Hard Drive and for me to load her Windows System.
Even if they don't have a Windows Disk, I can order new codes from Microsoft for $25, otherwise they would have to buy Windows Full install for around $200.

I think more and more people are thinking PC Techs are not worth even $15 an hour,
Even when i worked at Comp-USA in Texas in 99', they paid us $12.50/hr plus a percentage on whatever upgrades and service contracts we sell.
Not only did you have to be a Tech, you also needed to sell a certain amount of upgrades and service contracts, or else you were out the door.
I did pretty good, but I hated to have to sell people things they didn't need. It's one thing doing it over the phone, and another doing it face to face.
Every PC needed a Video and sound card, memory upgrade etc, and that's why your PC is so slow,
Not because you have over 3000 bad files,, lol yeah right,,,
So we did the upgrades and repaired the system and i don't think a customer walked out of Comp-USA without having to spend at least $200-$300 to solve a simple problem.
I couldn't take it for too long so I quit and went back to Phoenix installing Marble and Granite for $35/hr, and didn't have to deal with any BS.
I thought fixing PC's would be the same, but I think Techs got a bad rap because of all these National PC repair shops,
They just closed about 150 Circuit City Stores, and more to follow,,, All of Comp-USA Stores are closed, but their online business is booming. They made the right choice for them, even though it put 1000's of people out of work.
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Anyone agree?

I'll agree that most PC techs - or, more accurately, people who consider themselves PC techs - aren't worth $15 an hour. I've had to undo too much of their shoddy work. This is why people don't want to pay, because all the customers know someone who got burned. I heard of one gal around here who convinced everyone that their hard drive needed replacement, no matter the actual problem (or solution). In this field, it's still considered quasi-shamanism to debug a computer or to reinstall an operating system on a replacement hard drive.

I don't really know what you think a good tech is worth, but until things slowed down here (a lot of my customers are commercial and the economy bites) I averaged $900 a week charging $40/hour for almost all my jobs. No one got overcharged, no one complained and I worked part-time with almst no overhead. I'd like to make a quick fortune, but then I wasn't hurting either.

BTW - CompUSA is doing OK here after "partnering" with TigerDirect. Their store here in town does good volume now.

I've always said that it's the value of the PC that affects the perceived worthiness of the servicing side of things. People who are now paying £249 for their PC feel reluctant to fork out anything more than £30 for a fix, no matter how long it takes.

People do not seem to blink when told the labour costs to fix their car is £50 an hour. This is because their car is worth far more.

There'll come a day when people do not even bother to get their PCs repaired - all their data and apps will be on-line and new PCs will cost less than £50.

TEk

Ditto.

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I had a woman with a bad Hard Drive, she didn't want to pay $175 for a New Hard Drive and for me to load her Windows System.

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Another $175 gets ya a brand new-faster pc....

This even goes for computer techie stuff besides fixing systems. Let's talk about webwork and design.

I am aware of some approximate price quotes to do even a relatively basic website for someone.

This site a good friend of mine had done:

http://www.healinghandschicago.com/

I'm guessing he charged I guess around a grand to do (not sure if this was the exact site he did) but did a decent job.

1,000.00 dollars....that IS alot of money, but he has to eat and pay the bills, right?

I am not as good as he is in building sites (he's good at XML/CSS/some flash) I'm not.

And I think I was going to do a site for some guy who had a Paintball squad...i was going to charge him only 250.00 bucks...I think he looked at me like I had 2 heads.

Apparently, since it's so "easy" for us guys to click on a few t hings, ftp a couple of html pages and be done...we're worth peanuts.

I think theres just something about "computer nerds" that don't get the same worthiness of a plumber or a carpenter.

If you have a leak in the house, and you have to call a plumber to come out on a Sunday to take care of it....that's ONE big bill just for him come out there.

But see, a busted pipe or car is more important than a busted computer.

Computer tech: "Click here, there, add/remove...type type type type type"

Okay fixed, that'll be 100 bucks!

"What i'm not payin' that!!!!!!"

lol

But see, we aren't seen as the EQUIVALENT to a plumber or mechanic.

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But see, a busted pipe or car is more important than a busted computer.

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And it'll stay that way, until your computer can make coffee or take you to visit the kids 100 miles away. That's why I like commercial customers - they know the value of the computer when it goes down.

Absolutely agree with Teknophobia. Fixing a computer can cost a third to half the price of a new one. It makes it a lot more difficult to sell a repair job. I think the secret is to find the middle road. Have enough customers who are not paying too much to get it fixed. True, it takes longer to get rich that way, but I think that is the direction this trade is heading to. Or, as lgbpop said, work for business customers. It's a lot cheaper for them to fix 10 computers then to buy 10 new ones.

Another problem (at least here in Israel) is that every zit faced teen who can format a hard disk is all of a sudden a "computer technician". I get these "computer technicians" coming to my store from time to time asking me for my help in fixing their customers computer. The other day I found myself explaining to a "computer technician" how to do a repair install in XP !? These "computer technicians" both give us a bad name, and also drive down prices.

From my own experience though, customers are more reluctant to argue the price since I opened up a proper store. The store gives an added "professionalism" and seriousness. It's also easier for me to say no to a customer if he asks for a discount.

Also, I find that a good mix of both fixing computers and selling computers & equipment is the best way to make money. Although profit nowadays on peripherals and computers is quite low, it's easy money.

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Computer tech: "Click here, there, add/remove...type type type type type"

Okay fixed, that'll be 50 bucks!

"What i'm not payin' that!!!!!!"

lol

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My brother actually did this once at his store. Took him about 30 seconds. After the "What!!!" from the customer, he asked how long the customer had been fighting with the problem. "About a week." was the reply. He pointed out that the customer was not only paying for the time, but for the expert knowledge. After this, though, he would usually say "I know what the problem is. Leave the PC and I'll get on it as soon as I can." That way the customer never knew how long it really took to fix.

In cases of hard drive problems or a messed up OS, the customer was given a choice of options: New HD if needed and a reinstall for one price, or if they wanted their data recovered, that would cost more.

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Originally Posted by hambone2

I can order new codes from Microsoft for $25, otherwise they would have to buy Windows Full install for around $200.

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How and where do you buy these licenses???

I have a friend who retired from teaching after 20 years. The last few years he worked he got the MSCS (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) certificate. He says the money in computers is not in fixing the machine, it's in fixing the software. He now works for a very big company in Philadelphia, PA. making big bucks.

MSCS = Microsoft Cluster Service
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms952401.aspx

MCSE = Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/default.mspx