Another question on charges? Bench fee?

[angrypug]

Alrgiht everyone, I'm not lazy, I did search this issue before I posted but I just can't find what I'm looking for.

What exactly is the "bench fee" or "bench charge" considered.

For example, if I have a bench fee of $45 and someone brings their computer in and I clean it up and remove spyware, etc. is this included in the bench fee? This may not be common other places but all the shops around here speak of their bench fee's and I can't get a good idea what this covers and consists of?

Would it be better to just charge an hourly charge with a 1 hour minimum?

Any help would be appreciated. I've started a store and its doing well but I want to make sure I'm charging correctly and not cheating me nor the customer.

 

[usacvlr]

If a system is left here we charge 49.95 which goes towards the final repair price. If they choose not to go ahead with a repair they have still paid the 49.95 and it is not refundable. We will occasionally make exceptions.

Alrgiht everyone, I'm not lazy, I did search this issue before I posted but I just can't find what I'm looking for.

What exactly is the "bench fee" or "bench charge" considered.

For example, if I have a bench fee of $45 and someone brings their computer in and I clean it up and remove spyware, etc. is this included in the bench fee? This may not be common other places but all the shops around here speak of their bench fee's and I can't get a good idea what this covers and consists of?

Would it be better to just charge an hourly charge with a 1 hour minimum?

Any help would be appreciated. I've started a store and its doing well but I want to make sure I'm charging correctly and not cheating me nor the customer.

 

[Majestic]

Alrgiht everyone, I'm not lazy, I did search this issue before I posted but I just can't find what I'm looking for.

What exactly is the "bench fee" or "bench charge" considered.

For example, if I have a bench fee of $45 and someone brings their computer in and I clean it up and remove spyware, etc. is this included in the bench fee? This may not be common other places but all the shops around here speak of their bench fee's and I can't get a good idea what this covers and consists of?

Would it be better to just charge an hourly charge with a 1 hour minimum?

Any help would be appreciated. I've started a store and its doing well but I want to make sure I'm charging correctly and not cheating me nor the customer.

I don't know about other people but I charge a minimum hour always. Sure, I've left some jobs where it took me 15 minutes to complete the task and when I asked if they needed me for anything else they said no so I got my minimum fee... The reality is you have minimum expenses too. Nobody wants to work for free.

Bench fee to me means "minimum diagnostic fee," or "the time it takes to diagnose and possibly solve the issue within the first hour."

Majestic

 

[Jory]

I charge a diagnostic fee that's just one hour of labor. If it takes less than an hour to diagnose they get that time added to the repair cost.

 

[angry_geek]

Like ACG, I charge a diagnostic/bench fee that goes on toward the repair bill if they choose to have me fix it. My 'bench' rate is billed in 15-minute increments flat, but that diagnostic fee is always the minimum.