Blade_Jones

With the prices of computers dropping year after year will there come a day when the "computer repair guy" becomes like the "TV set repair guy" of yesteryear? Will a computer be like one big field replaceable unit? I look at places like Geek Squad charging $200 to diagnose and repair a computer. Soon a decent new computer will cost only $200. You really can't go wrong when buying a cheap new computer when compared to what was available even 6 years ago. New computers are as low as $300.

All in all I think people are always gonna have a thirst for the latest and fastest technology, then when it breaks down it will always be more cost effective to have it repaired than to toss it.

One thing that seems like it will never become obsolete is data recovery.

bilbus

computers are not tvs, tvs do not store personal files.

If it was not for the programs loaded and personal files then yes when they break you buy a new one.

There is no money in being a computer tech .. its an entry level job.

Blade_Jones

At $15 an hour I would agree, but what about if you can run your own repair business?

bilbus

owning a entry level buisness is not much better. Why not study and get a better job?

You are making $15 an hour repairing computers (home computers?) Wow you are doing really good.

You could easly double that by working in corp IT.

markiemark66

Blade_Jones,

that is an interesting question. To some extent computer will be like tv's in that they will continue to get cheaper but that balances with the increasing sophistication of computers. It's the personal info on them that is and will be a concern like bilbus says.

Bilbus,

I disagree. I say owning a pc repair company is better than working for a corp. Who wants the long hours commuting to the city and working for someone else? There's alot to be said for being your own boss, no matter what the function. And if money is the bottom line here, not the love of computers, then a better avenue could be found.

bilbus

so you would prefer to work long hours repairing computers? That would be the worst job i could think of.

Fixing computers is entry level. Why anyone would want to do help desk or fix computers is beyond my understanding.

Go learn servers, routing, sans, sql, or something else. You can make up wards of 100k a year with those.

If you learn enough, and are skilled you can easily earn 75k+ with 5 or so years of xp.

Love of computers? You love fixing old people's crappy desktops?

I perfer to work on routers and servers .. much much more fun.

markiemark66

bilbus, the thought of working on large scale systems does sound like fun. On that we can agree. However working for a corporation to get more money om something besides entry level is unappealing to me. Thanks.

bilbus

Whats wrong with a corporation?

Fixing computers is a low skill job, if you are happy with not pushing your self .. then perhaps thats the route for you.

Blade_Jones

If you run your own repair business you won't be making $15 an hour or commuting into the city day after day 9 - 5 to work for the man.

markiemark66

I am strictly writing about working for a corp. Usually it lacks autonomy and those that stick out too far get whacked and they don’t allow you to set your own hours.

But it isn't so much just fixing pcs as being your own boss and offer other services as well, like web design or consulting.

bilbus

lol, so you just don't like working for a corporation ... Have you ever even worked in a corporation? Have you gotten fired for sticking your neck out?

As for working your own hours, what do you expect ... business does not work on your own hours. I know of no one that got fired for sticking their head out. If you are referring to politics, sure there is .. but thats life.

As for small business consulting, its not your own hours also. Many times I have had to drop everything and go fix things on my days off.

There is very little money in web design. The market is flooded with people doing this full and part time.

bilbus

whats wrong with working for the "man". The man started at the bottom just like you.

Haha, sure you wont be driving all over the city meeting people to fix their junk.

Not like that was my first IT job or anything.

Small business consulting was the most annoying job i have ever had. buiesnesses always want to pay as little as they can, and want you to fix everything.

As for low pay, how much do you expect to charge for stuff?

50$ a hour? ok. What about downtime. Say you only can bill out 75% of your time.

Your hourly rate per day just drooped to $32 a hour. Now factor in gas, expenses, and taxes. You will be making peanuts.

A enterprise server admin can easily make $40 -60 + a hour.

Oh ya my drive is less then 10 miles, i am quite happy

m_fridman

Being in the Computer Repair business can be as successful as YOU make it. If you hate what you're doing and think of everything in a "scarcity" mindset, then you will NEVER make it anywhere. This is key.

There is a dire need for honest technicians everywhere. I'm traveling the world right now, and everywhere I go, I connect with the Anglo communities and get all their business just because I do a better job than the other guy.

Also, make sure to qualify your clients. After doing 20 or so jobs, think about your IDEAL client and how you can market to them. What kind of needs do they have and how can you appeal to that. THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHY I CAN CHARGE JUST AS MUCH AS THE BIG CHAIN STORES AND MAKE MORE MONEY THAN WHEN I WAS IN THE PRO IT FIELD. Try to think "how can I give my clients $100 worth of value for $10" so to speak. The big chain stores have the opposite in mind, they charge $100 for $1 value.

Here's another thing, just focusing on computer "repair" won't get you too far. Think outside the box, what other services (non-$exual) can you offer?

The computer repair business will be around until the zombie apocalypse will hit us. And even then, I'm sure we'll have clients.