What Do You Charge for Tech Support?

war3rd asks: "Years ago I used to offer tech support for friends and family (for free), and ended up doing it for everyone they and I knew. I cut it out because it was taking too much of my time, but I've been getting more and more requests lately due to everything from viruses, spam, spyware, as well as aging PC with Windows 98 and ME (oog!) on them still. I was thinking of saying OK to requests that are convenient, but I want to make it worth my while. So I ask, I'm sure that some of you out there must do this, what is the general going rate for basic user tech support (i.e. getting someone's home machine cleaned up and back to normal email & web browsing capability)?" "I assume that there is probably some range in different parts of the country, but I'm curious anyway. And let's just assume that I live in the Tri-State area around New York City (can you say 'overpriced?'). I figure I should be able to pull in enough to feed my ever-present desire for better hardware, but on the other hand, I don't want to be a jerk and gouge people who should be able to trust me with their machines. So what to other Slashdot users charge for their tech support services?"

Comments

Zaurus

[denisbergeron]

If they want support, ask them to install Lilnux, it's a lot more easy to support.
-No virus
-admin tool are protected
-easy offsite support (Telnet, SSH, vnc, etc.)
-no game whom f0ck your dll !
- put your others reason here

I don't charge

[ThousandStars]

Charging family for services creates too much ill-will and too many possible incidents that might become part of family lore for decades. Instead, I've solved the tech support issue by telling family and friends that I'm more than happy to fix their computer problems -- as long as they have a Mac. Since the Mac users I know have very few problems, I create a positive Catch-22: by volunteering to fix computers that seldom have problems, I don't have to do much tech suport, but at the same time I don't reject people I know and appreciate.

Problem solved.

Re:For a family member?

[tomhudson]

Nothing less than $300...regardless of the problem.

So who's the fucktard who modded this funny? I'd say its damn insightful. You can lose a friend over their stupid spyware-infested computer. Better to have them take it somewhere else and scream at some pimply-faced know-nothing who'll reformat it and give it back to them (and then let them go through the fun of reinstalling everything else [tt]).

I've gotten to the point where I tell them to just go out and buy another computer - I'm not a maid, I don't do Windows.

Once they see you're serious, they'll understand that it's a major PITA to screw around with an OS that's as tedious to install as XP.

For the money it costs for XP and a copy of all the "essential" applications, they can just go out and buy a new box and throw linux on it.

1. Installing Windows: $300 sounds reasonable - 'cuz I DON'T WANT to do it;
2. Installing Linux: $0 + a barbecue and beer- 'cuz it's quick and easy;
3. Watching them go "You're not serious" and then realize you are: priceless.

When they gripe and whine, I say "If it's so easy, why are you asking me?" Same with removing spyware, adware, etc. Easier to just give them a knoppix bootable dvd, set their bios to boot off the dvd first, and say - here - your problem's fixed, if you're not satisfied call Microsoft".

I could buy a wide-screen TV if I had charged a lousy buck for every problem I've fixed over the years from that POS by SoftZilla.

Re:Business or Personal?

[Bob 4knee]

Now that I have a gf ...

Is this really an option for most /.ers?

Re:Market vs. Cost

[balloonhead]

I'm a doctor and make just under $34 Australian (about $18 US, I think). I could factor in my anti-social hours and overtime, but they are antisocial hours and overtime. My basic rate is that. Admittedly I get holidays and sick leave, but no other benefits like medical (ironically) or dental. There is a scheme here in Australia where I get a bit more due to salary packaging (in lieu of benefits) but not that much.

That's five years out of medical school - so not senior, but certainly not junior any more.

I have to be honest, it really shits me that plumbers get paid so much more than me. I don't want to belittle their profession, but considering the debt I accrued going to medical school, and the expenses since then to sit postgraduate exams (which are pretty much essential for progress), I think I get a pretty raw deal.

I don't think I'm particularly badly paid, until I look at other jobs and realise that I get shafted in comparative terms. And I do realise that I don't have to worry about idle hours and all as I am salaried.

I note you pointing out that $20 an hour is exceptionally low. So next time you go to your doctor, just remember - you get what you pay for.