amdfanboy

I drove 2 hours away to help out a fire companies server.

I had no clue what I was doing cause I don't know much about servers, and was never taught at school when I went for computer stuff.

Anyway, I set up 2 more accounts on the server, and had to figure out why the one printer wasn't working. The fire company had a technician from the printer company fix the printer with the server, but the technician installed the wrong drivers, so I had to go to 5 computers, and redo drivers for everybody since I didn't know how to work that on the server.

Now that I think about it, it probably would've been easy to use the server to put the right drivers on the user names.

I wasted a lot of time waiting for somebody to come to the fire company to type the admin password and everything in, and then I needed the admin password for all the computers so I could log in on all of them.

One guy came in, and he was the executive or somebody way up, and seemed a little upset that I was on the officers computer, but there was a meeting later on, and the person in charge or whatever came, and straightened everything out.


I was thinking about charging the fire company $100.00, but am not sure what to charge.

I know anybody who would drive 2 hours from home, and then 2 hours back would probably charge $100.00-$200.00 just for the drive if I was working for a company.

I like to keep my rates low, but not too low.

Rataru101

Seems like an easy enough task, but you did get thrown a few problems. I would say $200-$300. Just my opinion. IT doesnt come cheap, unless of course it's TSF!

pat mcgroin

I agree to charge more.
Sitting there waiting on someone should still be chargeable as you could have been doing something else with your time.

amdfanboy

Thanks, but I like keeping my prices low. I was tempted to charge $150.00 after reading your posts, but I will stick with $100.00.

I made a bill as follows:

$50.00 to get the printer working on all computers
$20.00 to set up 2 user accounts on the server
$30.00 for gas to drive down and back

Honestly I only wasted about $20.00-$25.00 in gas, but the toll was about $6.00 total.

I know I could easily charge more, and probably would've if I didn't have a full time job, and am working on my own business on the side. I only do side jobs if they take time out of starting my own business unless I can get off work which won't be possible soon with the position I am getting to.

I work in retail, and my boss just told me when I switch positions they will have to hire 2 people to take my place. They should just pay me double to stay instead of hiring 2 new people. I would stay, but the pay really stinks, and its not worth it. Its like slavery, and I am not the only one who says that. The company makes millions of dollars a year. One year they made half a million just on christmas sales. I hate grocery stores that make a lot, but don't give a lot to employees, but employees get christmas bonuses, christmas banquet with gifts so I guess it all equals out in the end.

Rataru101

Well it is your call. Its your time, your skills, your price. And yes you could have gotten away with charging them up to 300$ without them even questioning it but, it's good to know there are a few honest people out there such as yourself.

Kudos to you sir!

Phædrus2401

I would rather earn double pay than just get a banquet at Christmas time.




Hey, how did you advertise so that the firemen found you? I've been trying to find an IT job, but the pickings here in New Orleans are fairly slim, so being able to go out and do stuff like you did would be ideal for me.

amdfanboy

I have connections. I don't have my A+ certificate, and am trying to get more money so I can get that, and maybe a bachelors degree down the road. I hate borrowing money, and loans cause of interest rates, ect.

My one friend works at that fire company, and referred them to me when he found out there was an issue, and the other IT person messed up worse.

I also work in construction when my cousin needs help, and work on my car.

I like being honest, but I like making money too, and need money cause for some reason all my records show me making money, but ebay is taking $1-$200.00 a month for fees cause I sell expensive stuff.

The last two things I sold where Brand new Barebone laptops which I put parts in, and sold them as brand new laptops on ebay, and wrote in the description that I bought them as a barebone, and put the parts in and everything. Its basically what any company does though cause I put windows on it, activated it, and packed it up after the drivers where installed.

I made about $300.00 on each laptop, but I sold them for 50% off retail price. I am just good at finding cheap parts, and got the barebones cheap.

Problem is I want to upgrade this laptop to 4gb ddr2, but the memory doubled so I am lost now, and won't spend the money.

5NIPER_WOLF

I'd charge them $1000, pays for gas and gives you a nice profit.

Rataru101

Yea, but then you get the whole guilt factor knowing you took money from a place which saves lives... =/

WereBo

Being unemployed, here in the UK, I enjoy working a 'barter' system, I mend their PC and they mend my car or whatever their skills are that's handy. For the folks that insist on paying cash, I split the difference between my 'out of pocket' expenses (fuel, bits, time, whatever and deducting things like mugs of tea etc. ) and what a professional company would charge.

I.E. The expenses amount to (for example) £100, a professional person would have charged approx. £200 so I'll ask for £150. That way, I'm not undervaluing the job and the client feels as though they've got a good bargain and everyone's made a profit.

Another handy trick (that I picked up from Star Trek, of all places) is to estimate how long the job will take, then double it. This gives you plenty of leeway for any 'hiccups' along the way, and when you finish the job ahead of schedule, the client thinks you're a miracle worker and often insists on giving a tip

Rataru101

Haha! Thats genius! But I feel now that I must point out Starwars > Startrek

Phædrus2401

Known Space > science fantasy



I don't have any certs either. I'm thinking of putting up a flyer at my college...

Mike's Computers!
Office computers starting at $499.99! Gaming computers for $799.99! Custom builds*!
Basic computer troubleshooting for just $15, virus and spyware removal only $50!

Call blah blah blah

TJ Belfiore

I guess being a bad person was an option.

5NIPER_WOLF

Excuse me?

This isn't about being a good person or not, this is about business, and business means making profit. Period.

elf

Try contacting Chevy, last I heard he was running some tech business down there...he may be able to help you out.

Phædrus2401

He's moved now. He did give me some pointers, but his first series of advice didn't pan out, and I haven't gotten another response from him.

amdfanboy

Yeah, but you would probably never get called back to that job, and wouldn't get good references if somebody at that company knew somebody that owned a business or something where they needed computer help you wouldn't be the one to get that job.

l_b_rex

You are setting a precident and it may be hard to make repeat customers pay more when you need to raise your prices for whatever reasons may arise in the future.

Chevy

I haven't forgotten you!!

Just been real busy lately. I do have an update for you ...

As to this issue:

Don't be afraid to bill them. you spent several hours traveling (unproductive and costly), and then the time onsite.

For what you did, I'd bill at $85/hour + 1/2 hour billable for travel.

speedster123

fire companies are not hurting for money, here they bought cabins in the Poconos to have their party time.
They generally aren't bashful at spending tax payers money.