Assessment fee for computer repairs

[Haroon92]

Should I always charge an assessment fee from customers?

 

[seashore]

Should I always charge an assessment fee from customers?

Only if you value your time.

 

[Diggs]

There's no hard and fast rule that applies to everyone. I only charge an assessment/diagnostic fee if they do not do the repair with me.

@add - If it's on-site then there's always a charge but if it's something stupid (plug in the printer - I'm gone in 5 minutes) I may split my fee (50%) with the customer. They see me compromising and feel they've gotten a fair deal. I covered my expenses and made a new customer for life.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Depends on the market. Some have great success advertising free diagnostics/estimates. Others get an enormous amount of time wasting tire kickers that want you to fix it for free. It depends in part on how good a salesperson you are.

 

[nerd2u]

I charge and provide it as a credit if they proceed with a repair.

Helps eliminate tire kickers and those that just want someone to tell them what's wrong so they can go price shop the repair.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

 

[cypress]

I charge and provide it as a credit if they proceed with a repair.

Helps eliminate tire kickers and those that just want someone to tell them what's wrong so they can go price shop the repair.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

Yup, same here.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

For the first few years we did free diagnosis. Now we charge $29.95 for diagnosis and waive it/roll it into the cost of repair if they have us fix the computer.

 

[Tech Savvy]

For in shop repairs we charge a $45 diagnostic fee that gets waived if they proceed with the repair.

For on-site we charge by time and do a 1hr minimum $120 that applies to everyone even minor issues like loose cables. It takes time to drive there and back talk to the customer, and verify the problem is fixed. Sometimes if it’s really quick I’ll do a quick hardware test to add a little extra value to the service.

 

[Diggs]

For on-site we charge by time and do a 1hr minimum $120 that applies to everyone even minor issues like loose cables. It takes time to drive there and back talk to the customer, and verify the problem is fixed. Sometimes if it’s really quick I’ll do a quick hardware test to add a little extra value to the service.

I used to do this but it's not worth taking the hit to my reputation. Customers felt I was expensive or unfair in a situation like that. Even though all the details were spelled out up front (and discussed on the phone) they would start complaining to friends, relatives, Facebook etc. For a few potential dollars given up on my part now I have someone that will go out and evangelize for my company instead of demonize it. It's an easy decision in my world/market.

 

[Larry Sabo]

I don't have a separate diagnosis fee, but do have a minimum charge. If I diagnose and fix a problem within the minimum charge time, that's all there is. If they decline to have me take the time to go finish the repair when it requires more time of parts on order, they pay the minimum charge.

 

[GTP]

I've tried to charge a diagnostic fee but after being told to "get stuffed" or being called a ripoff and told "no-one else charges to look at the computer and tell me what's wrong with it" I gave up.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

We have a fee that goes towards the repair.
Part of repairing a computer is spending time diagnosing it..that's part of our skill set..it takes up your time. Taking a computer..putting it up on your bench in your office that you pay rent on, plugging things in, cracking the case open, looking in there, dealing with dust/dirt, using your electricity...using your tools that you paid for, takes up your time and resources. And pulls you away from other jobs which are likely billable.

What if 6 or 8 people brought you computers each day for a "diag"..and takes you, from check in, til finish, say 15 minutes minimum each. Theres an hour and a half or two hours of you day...how will you account for that time, volunteer time? Or earning time?

 

[Your PCMD]

I do what @sapphirescales does. I charge a $450 fee regardless if they want me to fix it or not.

Seriously though, I charge a $40 fee in-shop only if I do not provide the repair however, for onsite there is a 1 hour minimum so regardless if I am there 10 minutes or 40 minutes, its 1 hour. Although to be transparent, this is for businesses and rare for residential because as I don't take in new residential clients.

 

[Haroon92]

Only if you value your time.

I do, so I guess that's a yes, but can you say why for all repairs?

 

[Your PCMD]

but can you say why for all repairs?

Elaborate?

 

[nerd2u]

I have it as it's a requirement for us to determine what is wrong and provide an accurate estimate for your repair.

I don't break it down on each repair.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

 

[Haroon92]

Elaborate?

If a person walks in and says that their HDD is bad, and they already bought a replacement, so all they want you to do is to replace the hard drive for them. Why charge an assessment fee if it is already assessed?

 

[nerd2u]

If a customer has decided they just want an upgrade that's different.

If they say my computer just stopped working and I have to determine the hard drive is bad then they pay a diagnosis.

I would treat your scenario as an upgrade and would skip the fee

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

 

[Haroon92]

If a customer has decided they just want an upgrade that's different.

If they say my computer just stopped working and I have to determine the hard drive is bad then they pay a diagnosis.

I would treat your scenario as an upgrade and would skip the fee

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

That's what I would do as well. And bro @nerd2u, I gave the networking a break, because I know a friend that knows a friend that could let me know if the current hardware could be use, because the new hardware is too costly...approx..$220,000 JA.

 

[cypress]

If a person walks in and says that their HDD is bad, and they already bought a replacement, so all they want you to do is to replace the hard drive for them. Why charge an assessment fee if it is already assessed?

But who did the Diagnosis? The client? I still would want to do a diagnosis and make sure nothing else is going on. If it is in fact a bad hard drive then the diagnosis fee gets waved and they only get charged for the replacement of the hard drive.