But you didn't even pay?

[underemployeed]

But, my boss tried to tell them that he wasn't going to pay the $200 fee, since "you can buy a new printer for less." As to where he'd get a new laser printer for less than $200, I have no idea. He bitched and moaned, but they stood their ground.

I guess now you can get a laser printer cheap for home use, but I'm assuming this was back when laser printers costed A LOT more, or it is a pretty nice model. It was my bosses personal computer and I needed back in her good graces so I said I didn't need to get paid if I couldn't fix it. Hours of stress later there was so much wrong with it because of motherboard and power supply failure, she paid me anyways because I at least attempted to fix it, and it was still cheaper than most of the local shops to even look at the PC and attempt nothing, repaired at any of them would have cost MORE than a new PC, because of how much actually would have needed replacing.

[iradney]

So wait, if he goes to the Dr, and doesn't get any "parts replaced" does he then demand the consultation fee back then????

[NateTheChops]

I'm sure the doctor enjoys the ambiguity that comes with malpractice insurance.

[chainedbarista]

ergh, consultations refunded? what is this guy taking, i wonder...

you get what you pay for, after all; want it done right or at least know what's happening? shell it out, or go to sparky's fly by night repairs/legal advice/med clinic and take your chances.

[Salesmonkey]

With my better clients, I do give them an "If I can't fix it, no charge to you" guarantee. But they're paying me enough as is. New clients, I usually ask them how old the computer is, what OS they are running, and how much they paid for the machine. A lot of time, it's easier to tell them to buy a new one than to worry about them stiffing me on my fee for fixing the old one. Some guy off the street? And rude? He can tell his woes to the police.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

SC: I just wanna know im gonna get my f**king money back if I dont pay for the part. is it really that f**king hard to understand.
.

It evidently f**king is.

[GiggityGiggityGoo]

You should at least give him store credit for the trouble he went through.

[Andara Bledin]

I can sort of, almost see where this guy went off the rails.

In cases like this, you need to pound into their skulls inform them that there is a $75 dollar diagnostic fee that must be paid and will not be refunded for the techs to determine why there is a problem. Once that has happened, the customer will receive one hour of service for free for that computer, with the offer expiring once the machine leaves the premises.

That makes the service work itself a completely separate transaction than the diagnostic work, but still allows for the first hour of labor to not require further payment.

No telling whether it'd work or not, though. People like that just want to be angry.

^-.-^

[Jester]

Everytime I try to understand guys like that..my brain revolts..pulls a BSoD..until I give up.

Well, your first mistake is in trying to understand this kind of thinking at all.

I don't understand how to fix my truck. I don't beat myself up about it. I know that I don't know what I'm doing, so when something goes wrong with the Jestermobile, I immediately call Super Mechanic, who at this point knows my truck far more intimately than I ever could.

Meh, I'm playing devils advocate in that I am on the same page in thinking that a charge to have a computer evaluated like that is a bit much...

It's a service fee. To continue the car analogy, if something is wrong with my truck, Super Mechanic or the guys down at The Blimp will take a cursory look at it. If they can figure out what's wrong from that, great, they'll tell me, and estimate what it will cost in parts and labor to fix it. If, however, they need to get into the truck to see what's wrong, they ARE going to charge me for their time.

Computers are not trucks, though, so cursory examinations are almost never going to reveal the problem. They need to get down into the engine and see what's wrong with the hamster. Time equals money.

And if you don't like that particular computer shop's policy, you are more than free to not use their service and take your business elsewhere. If you are too lazy or can't be bothered to go to another shop, that is your problem, not the shop's problem.

[Mystic]

It's a service fee. To continue the car analogy, if something is wrong with my truck, Super Mechanic or the guys down at The Blimp will take a cursory look at it. If they can figure out what's wrong from that, great, they'll tell me, and estimate what it will cost in parts and labor to fix it. If, however, they need to get into the truck to see what's wrong, they ARE going to charge me for their time.

Never had that happen, but then, I'm from a small area so we don't get charged for a lot of stuff like that here. I can take my truck in for a full under the hood estimate and not be charged for it. In fact, that's why I no longer have my truck and now have a new car... I miss my truck.

Computers are not trucks, though, so cursory examinations are almost never going to reveal the problem. They need to get down into the engine and see what's wrong with the hamster. Time equals money.

And if you don't like that particular computer shop's policy, you are more than free to not use their service and take your business elsewhere. If you are too lazy or can't be bothered to go to another shop, that is your problem, not the shop's problem.

Eh, again, small area I guess. I never charged a fee to see what was wrong with someones computer when I did repair work. I mainly charged for the actual repair itself.

[Andara Bledin]

Eh, again, small area I guess. I never charged a fee to see what was wrong with someones computer when I did repair work. I mainly charged for the actual repair itself.

Or you totally undervalue your own time.

^-.-^

[PatchO'Black]

Computers are not trucks, though, so cursory examinations are almost never going to reveal the problem. They need to get down into the engine and see what's wrong with the hamster.

Permission to use that quote sometime? You, sir, are a regular fount of wisdom!

[Argabarga]

For what it's worth, just about every repair/refurbish place I've seen/used that operates out of a traditional storefront has some minimum charge for even looking at whatever you brought in, usually prominently posted near the door or counter, SC had no excuse even BEFORE it was explained to him, IMHO.

[Jester]

I can take my truck in for a full under the hood estimate and not be charged for it.

Sometimes I can, too, but it depends on how much they have to do to diagnose the problem. With the last issue with my truck, when I say he had to get in there to see what the problem was, I mean he had to get in there and take stuff out and move shit around, etc. You know....not just looking, but WORKING.

Also, sometimes it's how well they know me and like me. I am well-known and well-liked, and this usually plays to my advantage.

Permission to use that quote sometime? You, sir, are a regular fount of wisdom!

You are correct, of course.

That being said, I can't remember ever refusing someone the right to use one of my quotes, unless it was written by a friend of mine, of course (as in a recent tribute to a friend by another friend). So yeah, knock yourself out.

[Jetfire]

Never had that happen, but then, I'm from a small area so we don't get charged for a lot of stuff like that here. I can take my truck in for a full under the hood estimate and not be charged for it. In fact, that's why I no longer have my truck and now have a new car... I miss my truck.


Eh, again, small area I guess. I never charged a fee to see what was wrong with someones computer when I did repair work. I mainly charged for the actual repair itself.

It probably is the small area. When you're in a town where everyone knows everyone else, then the mom and pop shops (and even the franchise/chain stores) especially will often do some/all of the consultation work (and even some of the simple repair work) for free, since they know that the Reputation boost they will get will more than pay back the time costs. Especially if its a true repeat customer (and not just a SC who claims they are your #1 customer) who you are friends with/who you know you've earned their trust and money from other transactions.

Once you get up to the city level where you're dealing with strangers, then the consultation fees come into play since you don't need to (or you simply can't) depend as much on the word of mouth/You scratch my back, I scratch your back type of give and take to make up those costs. Of course even in cities, if you've built up a (good) reputation by consistantly shopping there or being real friends with the people involved you can often get the small town deals too. (But as we all know, if you have to say "I know the owner!" then that's a sure sign that you are NOT in the small town relationship with the company)