Prices Ethics

**Ferrit** · December 25th, 2007, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by HipHoper

"Data copying and such is one on my specialties"....Special agent BOND....Ferrit BOND.... :O)

Umm no not special agent, i just take the time to save the data. Its what distinguishes and employs me over and above typical computer people who arent allowed the time and frankly arent really good at it either.

If the computer you are working on is of important client/data,
UMM I think thats why I wont do it at the customers Any number of things can go wrong or the computer isnt booting correctly or its virused and needs ot be put in my scanning system

Then it must be fully backed up via some imaging software (I love acronis), On an hard drive or DVD-R, And this process by itself might take 1/2 an hour up to 2 hours. And in order to be able to do that, You need HD space and proper connection to it (Via network or Usb/FW).

DVDr's are nearly useless nowadays

Just bought a 500gb drive today, Just to be able to keep client's images for a week after I bring them their computer in case something have been forgotten to be restored....Most of the images won't fit a DVD-R cause of their size, So HD space seems the best solution

External drives are the way to go

**Niclo Iste** · December 26th, 2007, 09:25 AM

My general ethics are different than my offices policies. I judge on a few things and this may be why my clients always come back to me and more frequently. I guage their personality, if they are the type that proves that they wouldn't be happy even if you offered to gold plate their whole computer for free they get charged every hour and if over by even 1 minute that's another hour. If they are more of a customer who needs help and in dire straits or they are a good natured person I'll cut them a discount or donate hardware I have of my own to reduce the costs a bit. This generally comes down to me shaving an hour off of laber which is the best I can offer because time logs would really dispute that if I gave them more off the price. I can live without a lunch break if it makes a client happy. My goal is to one make the customer happy, two fix their problem, three give them ease of mind. I guess you can say I stick to this because if I can make them happy even if the problem isn't able to be fixed they'll still be understanding and pay the bill. If I can achieve both 1 and 2 the third is easy because all it comes down to is doing a quick teaching and helping them understand what happened and if possible how to prevent it. The process has given me many opportunities to be referred to other potential clients by these people and has served me well at my old job. Building the reputation again at my new job is only a matter of time but will show its results in due time.

**HipHoper** · December 26th, 2007, 09:34 AM

"I can live without a lunch break if it makes a client happy"....Expensive taste in food I guess :O)

**Niclo Iste** · December 26th, 2007, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by HipHoper

"I can live without a lunch break if it makes a client happy"....Expensive taste in food I guess :O)

Hehe well sometimes my lunch tastes are expensive. I'm a fan of Sushi and we have a Sushi bar across the street from our office.

**xpuser357** · December 26th, 2007, 01:38 PM

Ugh and double ugh Raw fish? Mine has to be cooked.
just my 2 cents

**Guts3d** · December 26th, 2007, 01:53 PM

Raw fish aside, I agree with Niclo on the cutting of breaks for certain customers, donating a part or two, etc. I have customers that wouldn't bat an eyelash for a bill that was nearly $800, and others that would scrutinize every little charge. I grant freebies and discounts accordingly, and charge through the nose for others. (Don't tell anyone, but I am trying to buy my way into Valhalla with kind deeds to people of limited funds...)

**Niclo Iste** · December 26th, 2007, 02:02 PM

LOL so does that mean that none of you would appreciate a relaxing evening eating Nagiri style salmon sushi with a fine glass of Remy Martin? Mmmm that's just mouth watering to think of. Calamari sushi on the side with it would be good to. Tell ya what though that's a great way to end a good day or even a day where you close a really good deal with a client. High priced liquor and raw fish is the way to go. Plus the fish isn't all too filling so you can get a really nice buzz going from the glasses of cognac you down.

**HipHoper** · December 26th, 2007, 03:06 PM

I'm more like eating pizza in front of my computer screen....

**HipHoper** · December 27th, 2007, 05:50 AM

Now one of the lawyers in the office I spent 10 hours this week calls me if I can check her home computer "not specially, but when I'll be around the office", So I told her that I will see her in a month or two....These cheap lawyers....Million dollars contracts yes, Paying for service...What ? You need to pay for this ?
I told one of the secretaries, that i'm sure she have some good side to her, And they'll probably find it in archeological digging....

**HipHoper** · December 27th, 2007, 08:32 AM

Another secretary that heard that story told me that this lawyer took everything they've put in the office refregiator. The first time, They asked her if she took all the cheese an hour after they've bought it, She said "yes, I didn't notice", And after that they've put STICKERS WITH NAMES on the food they've bought, And it happend again.....This time she also said that she haven't noticed....So next time they put a big sticker on the food "(Her name) DONT TOUCH !!!"

**Niclo Iste** · December 27th, 2007, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by HipHoper

Another secretary that heard that story told me that this lawyer took everything they've put in the office refregiator. The first time, They asked her if she took all the cheese an hour after they've bought it, She said "yes, I didn't notice", And after that they've put STICKERS WITH NAMES on the food they've bought, And it happend again.....This time she also said that she haven't noticed....So next time they put a big sticker on the food "(Her name) DONT TOUCH !!!"

I had the same issue in one office. I started putting a note saying "I spit on this." My lunch never went missing again.

**HipHoper** · December 27th, 2007, 08:55 AM

LOL....Maybe they just don't like sushi with raw spit :O)

**Guts3d** · December 27th, 2007, 05:29 PM

I don't like either!

Back on the subject, though, I just had a newly reffered customer call with a Dell that won't stay on. I figured it is either a bad power supply, blocked or defective fan, or something heat related. I then told him it will run about X dollars, but it could be as little as X - $25 or as much as X + $100, depending on parts . He was happy with that, and I feel confident that he will be pleased as punch to find out it was only a bit dusty with a power wire stopping the chip fan, causing thermal shutdown.

**BOB IROC** · December 27th, 2007, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Guts3d

I don't like either!

Back on the subject, though, I just had a newly reffered customer call with a Dell that won't stay on. I figured it is either a bad power supply, blocked or defective fan, or something heat related. I then told him it will run about X dollars, but it could be as little as X - $25 or as much as X + $100, depending on parts . He was happy with that, and I feel confident that he will be pleased as punch to find out it was only a bit dusty with a power wire stopping the chip fan, causing thermal shutdown.

I just had a similar situation with Dell that a customer took to Geek Squad and they told her that the motherboard was fried and or the processor and it would cost $600+ to fix the computer. Well she said forget it and came to me and asked how much I would charge to get her data off the drive since Geek Squad wanted $200 just to do that. I told her that I could do it for less than half that depending on how much data she had.

Well when I got the computer I experienced the thermal shutdown problem and when I inspected the computer I saw no fan problems. So I threw my test PSU on it and it ran fine. Called her and told her that all she needs is a power supply that should run about $30 and the computer would be fine. So for $100 she got her computer back and all I had to do is install the PSU and run the updates for her computer. Good as new. She then proceeded to call Best Buy and ask for her money back on the diagnostics.

**HipHoper** · December 27th, 2007, 06:55 PM

These are the cases that differentiate us from the competition.

The thing is that some (A lot) of people are'nt honest, Becuase they are more flimsy results oriented (I want to get as much money I can get, Because I don't have control over the situation, And the client may never return - It's like a self filling prophecy) And not focused about deeper meaning of their personality and lives, that in the long run will shone their value even in the shape of money.

I am an avid fan of "The law of attraction", And if you look at your life, You will see that you attract people to your expereince that have common beliefs as you...."Tell me who are your friends, And I'll tell you who you are"