Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice from my fellow IT friends. I sometimes do side jobs where I help fix computers for friends and family. Recently, my mom recommended me to one of her friends who had some issues with his laptop. He mentioned that he couldn't see his desktop icons and thought his files were deleted. After a quick visit yesterday, I fixed the issue with just a couple of clicks.
When he asked what I should be paid, I said $10, which is a fair rate for me based on similar jobs. However, he seemed taken aback and said it was too much, especially since it didn't take me long to fix it. This is the first time I've faced such reaction, and now I can't stop questioning if I should have charged less or done it for free. Should I have asked for a different amount, or is $10 reasonable for my expertise and the time I spent traveling? What do you all think?
4 Answers
You charge what you feel is fair. You went out of your way, time is money, and you shouldn’t undervalue your skills! Next time though, maybe be upfront about your costs before you meet? That might help avoid any awkward situations.
Honestly, you did nothing wrong. You took time out of your day to help him with a mistake he made. Home visits cost more because of travel time and effort. Just for comparison, here, a call-out from PC repair services can easily go for over $100. So, charging $10 for your effort was reasonable!
I agree! Plus, getting up and going to someone’s house, especially when they're far away, is worth at least a bit of compensation. It’s not always based on time; it’s also about the expertise that comes with it.
You’re totally in the right here! Just like in that story about the ship repairman, people often don’t realize that it’s the knowledge that counts, not just the time spent. You provided a service and your time is worth something, especially considering you had to travel there. I’d say stick with your usual rate!
You’re definitely not the a**hole! If he could have fixed the problem himself, he wouldn’t have called you. Customers often see quick fixes as being less valuable, but that’s just not true. You charged for your knowledge and experience, which is completely fair!
Yeah, that makes sense. I’ll have to be clearer about my rates next time to avoid confusion!