Flat rate always works better for me. I charge $90 for ribbon type jacks and $130 for solder types. I don't seperate parts and labour on my invoice either because we charge same tax on both so it makes it easier.
Invoice simply says DC jack replacement $90. Since it's flat rate, I always get it signed.
I can teardown a laptop to bones, replace ribbon jack and assemble it in 30 - 40 minutes flat without rushing.
One thing to note about flat rate is that sometimes I have to take on more than what I think is fair, but I eat it. For example Alienware laptops, I charge flat $130 but these machines are much harder and time consuming to crack. But there's a twist in that too. For expensive laptops I almost always upsell heatsink service ($50 flat) and offer them at $35 since laptop will be opened anyways. They always go for it and I make extra cash from 10 minutes of more work and some thermal paste and compressor time.
DC jack can be very profitable if you do it right.
Invoice simply says DC jack replacement $90. Since it's flat rate, I always get it signed.
I can teardown a laptop to bones, replace ribbon jack and assemble it in 30 - 40 minutes flat without rushing.
One thing to note about flat rate is that sometimes I have to take on more than what I think is fair, but I eat it. For example Alienware laptops, I charge flat $130 but these machines are much harder and time consuming to crack. But there's a twist in that too. For expensive laptops I almost always upsell heatsink service ($50 flat) and offer them at $35 since laptop will be opened anyways. They always go for it and I make extra cash from 10 minutes of more work and some thermal paste and compressor time.
DC jack can be very profitable if you do it right.
