Random Thoughts Thread

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you'll nail it!

 

People should have to pass some kind of test before being handed a smartphone, a guy here just got sent one and e couldn't work out how ot get into the box let alone use the phone....

 

Why do we say a pair of trousers when theres only one?

 

my mums friend got a new BT router, which wouldn't connect to broadband. So BT sent her a replacement which still wouldn't connect.

So she mentioned this to my mum, who asked if i'd take a look. On my way home i bumped into her, so i went in to take a look. turns out she still had the old modem plugged in upstairs which was already connected, hence the new one wouldn't even sync with the exchange. I was there for about 5 minutes, and i explained all that was wrong and she tried to pay me £20 for this haha. she wouldn't take it back so i have given it to my mum to give her back. I don't think i would sleep tonight knowing i had taken £20 for that lol.

 

20 sounds like a decent payment for the service you did. I don't get why some feel ashamed to ask for money for a job well done. You know how to do the job because it's your specialization. I occasionally perform similar tasks for friends and family, and I charge 3 digit numbers for an hours worth of work. I do the job right, my friends and family trust me, and it's more than fair to charge this money as I have over ten years of experience in these things.

You work in IT for a reason, you do it because you know how it works. So don't be afraid to charge a reasonable sum when push comes to shove.

 

^ i agree, but not if its friends/family. Unless it was a good few hours work then i generally won't take anything. If it's some randomer then not a problem.

 

True, but it's neither friends nor family... it's the friends of your family. Do it once for free, and ALL yer mom's friends will be wanting free service... mark my words, I speak from experience.

I currently charge $100/hr for my services.

 

Friends or family, don't care, I charge 'em.

There two exceptions.

I'll fix whatever for my girlfriend.

And

I'll do all my dad asks for free (he had provided a fair bit in compensation over the years, so I owe him).

Sorry, but the rest will pay for any intervention I can't resolve in a 5 minute phone call.

 

Haha i know what you mean also.....but i do have a limit. This was my mum's best friend who i have known for years also.

The other thing i don't like about taking money is its like you have given a lifetime warranty on whatever you fix, as soon as something else happens you get called again! They don't know it is somethign completely different! What i will say though is over the years i've learned plenty from doing it which has definately helped me

 

Psst... when you do it for free... you have given a FREE lifetime warranty on whatever you fix. ;) And you'll DEFINITELY be called again!

 

There's not becuase i feel no guilt telling them i'm too busy if i haven't asked for money!

 

I feel no guilt telling them I'm too busy if I HAVE asked for money. They wait on me to free up... I fix their stuff... and unless what I did before was actually my fault, I hand them the bill. And ya know what? They pay it happily, because they think I'm worth every penny.

The eye doctor I do side work for just moved her practice to another location. She called me up the other day, saying, "Ever since you took over my IT 12 years ago, I haven't had a single problem. After the cabling guys hooked my computers up in the new office, nothing has worked correctly. Please come help."

If you provide good service, the occasional hardware fault or misconfiguration will be acceptable. You simply have to be fair with them.

EDIT: Crap. I'm getting away from the random thoughts.

 

Virgin media gave me two Wireless routers anyway haha, once when they put the line in, and then when they came to install my broadband./ YAY go me.

 

yep i see what your saying. And everyone who offers me money really does insist on paying it. It's just that i personally feel guilty taking money in exchange for some of my time helping friends and family. It doesn't matter to me what i would be worth, it's me giving up some of my time to help.

 

Then you missed my post... I agree with not charging MY friends and MY family. But I DO charge my mom's friends. Isn't that what you were discussing?