The family tech-support guy

[Amused]

Expression is, "Waste disposal expert".

[NitrOxide]

Being that I'm 16, and the family 'tech' (these arnt small families.. either), I get alot of 'fix my stuff for free' syndrome too. But, my family is learning. Heck, my uncle set up his own company LAN. I'm prowd. *sniff* Don't label me as the 'know-it-all' someone brings along with them to the shop. I stared with a Packard Bell 286 (please, laugh..alot) when I was 7 or 8, and it has been my only pre-built computer since. I either know what I'm talking about, or learn about it. Thirst for knowledge, huh?

Usually I don't mind doing things for family, because its just more experiance for me, maybe I'll learn something new that I can use elsewhere. Luckily, unlike most stories from windrivers.com, the problems I fix are 90% 'harder' cases. Not the 'broken' soundcard that only needed to be taken off mute.

Anyone suggest a type of computer tech job for a 16 year old durring the summer? I dont know where I should start.. I'd rather repair/build new computers than work as a salesmen of some sort.


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Thanks,
NitrOxide

[Chevelle]

I do a few things to fix this.
1. Send out "1 free tech call coupons" with xmas cards.
2. Ask them for the credit card # before you go over.
3. Demand a refferal before any free help.
4. Include a restore disk if you built the computer for them.

Timothy Dougherty
Network Administrator

[BigEd]

After reading all of these, I could not help but share some of my wisdom. My dad was an electronics repairman / electrician / furnace repairman. Seems harmless enough right? A LOT of people knew him well because he'd come out at midnight on Christmas Eve in a blizzard to fix your furnace for almost nothing. That kind of reputation spreads like wild-fire. Also spreads down. Somehow when I learned about computers at the geeky age of 13, I had car stereos TV's, 8 track players, phonographs, you name it, show up at my doorstep, at church, at work, everywhere I went. And oh how unforgiving people are when you don't fix there stuff for free. Well, I've been doing this stuff for 18 years now, and I've finally found my saving grace. My little brother likes computers too, and he will fix anything for free. I just let him. I ran into one of my cousins in a store, she said, "Wow that computer your little brother fixed for me works great, he is such a computer wiz?" I just say, "He sure is...."
Sucker...

[juststoppinby]

Oh god yes. I made the mistake of telling the girlfriend's mom I worked on computers, and now EVERY time I go over there, she bombards me with questions. She don't even SAY HI first! It's "OH MARK, glad you're here, can you look at my NETSCAPE real quick? It's not dialing correctly, also look at this PACMAN game, it isn't running right either. Can you fix my speakers? Oh and what's this Id10t U5er e-mail with a happy99 thingy?"

BAH! From now on I don't tell anyone what I do for a living. I tell them the other half of what I do... Industrial controls stuff. Complicated stuff involving FACTORIES and PLANTS. AIR and Pipes. Switches and Valves. Electricity and Relays. Industrial stuff that's way over their head. That usually shuts them up. They don't have any intrest in a factory guy. Don't mention computers, whatever you do! I just skip that part. They don't really need to know everything, do they? So you work at Best Buy- you can still say you sell computers without admiting you work on them...

If you, like me, has made the unfortunate mistake of falling in this trap, then you're not alone. There probably is no easy way out. You can do what I did, and start charging $40/hr for your services, but you might upset some people. The gf's mom doesn't ask me anymore questions, but then again she hardly talks to me anymore either!


Live the dream -
http://www.ushga.com

[Joe LoPilato]

OR how about when you have a meeting or an appointment to be at and on your way from your office to front door, you get stopped by a handful of people about there problems with little bugs in IE or Netscape (Hey, they are bugs for me too)or Groupwise (Switch to a PC if you want a better Groupwise Client) or the construction workers (accidentally?) severed the communications and electrical wiring.(Don't call Facilities Management because the electricians and communications specialists don't need to be bothered with their job responsibilities.) Oh yeah, and the elevator is not working either, can you fix it?


Sorry Sanity escapes me.

Quito.


Joe LoPilato
Microcomputer/Lan Analyst

[juststoppinby]

Originally posted by juststoppinby:
Live the dream -
http://www.ushga.com

Whoops. Somebody was busy asking me a techie question and I spelled the link wrong. Go figure, ironic no?

http://www.ushga.org

[Dante IronBalls]

I used to have that problem, till one day I had a relative call me and ask "Can you come over?" "My computer froze and i'm afraid ill break it" I told her sure I can come over and I can give you my special "family discount" on my tech services. There was a pause on the other end of the line and she asked "How much?".. I told her my rates for onsite work at 50% of what I normally charge.


I dont work for free....period.

*Footnote: I get bothered with those questions very very rarely these days.


Dante

[Diver01]

You know what I can't stand, when you get a call from someone you hardly know, asking if they can give your phone number to their family member who is having a PC problem, well, gee.. lemme think, ok first how in the hell did YOU get my phone number, and second, the connect fee for this call is $5.99 a minute and will be descretly billed as TECH services on your phone bill, evey minute after that $2.99. Family doesn't bother me that much, its the perfect strangers that start calling that piss me off!

PC Specialist / Retail Tech

[JKSteger]

I'm a network engineer and you know what I did when my mom needed help with a Windows 98 problem?...I gave her a book called Windows 98 for dummies! I told her to read it two time and if she still has problems with Win98 then call me and I will help her out. I don't mind helping people who help theirselves. If I'm going to spend thousands of dollars for books and school to lear this stuff, the least anybody could do is read a "Dummies" book before they ask me to help them for nothing...They can skip the "Dummies" book for $135.00 per hour.
Just my $.02 worth!
JKSteger

[Eagle PC Diagnostech]

It's easier to ask for help than to seek help
This is the way it is in every field of work

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An obstacle is something you see when you take your eyes off your goal.

[Jvaguy]

My way of doing it is to keep the computer close to me (since my gf's family live with me) i have it so blocked they cant do a thing and they like it better, that way they dont make a mistake. thank god for networks now if I could windows stable .. heheh ya right!

[format c:]

Uh oh I am also the family tech and I just recieved my A+ certification
I don't mind fixing my Dad's computer so he can enjoy it , I just hope I don't get calls from strangers wanting my service for free
I have already made money building and servicing PCs so I am doing well
I just don't want it to get as bad as I have read in the other posts



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Format c:

[DesertEagle]

"Nope, never seen that problem before. Could you pass me my cigars"

I wonder why I never seem to get computer questions anymore? I guess they don't like my Opus X cigars?

Matt

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"If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside."
-Robert X Cringely

[theBeast]

Ransomedson once said, "Ever notice that your family members always ask for computer advice, but when you rely on their profession out of work, they don't want to help?" (severly paraphrased...I haven't figured out how to quote with this thing yet...)
Well, I can't say I'm in the same boat. My oldest sister is a nun, and my older sister is a nurse living in Texas. Both my parents are retired (my father was a cop, and my mom worked for security for K-Mart, and Woolco). I've never felt the urge to say to my sister, "Bless me sister, for I have sinned," or "I need an emergency blessing!" and my other sister I've never said, "Hey, sis...I got this funny rash..."

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***the Beast
- Fate drove me here...then told me to get out of the car...