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PC Repair Business - Hints and tips

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  • sdt1986
    sdt1986 Posts: 411 Forumite
    Good thread. Thanks.
    Poverty 2012 - F**K My low wage!
  • sdt1986
    sdt1986 Posts: 411 Forumite
    edited 14 November 2011 at 12:35PM
    HappyMJ wrote: »
    Gaff? I wouldn't use the word gaff nor would I use the word gaffer.

    Gaff means house but you need to look professional so I'd just use the words workplace or home.

    Gaffer means one's manager or boss. You are the owner of a business so I wouldn't refer to yourself as the gaffer to the customers only to the employees.

    I would also register a domain name and set up an email address with that name rather than using googlemail.

    It's supposed to be tongue in cheek. Creating humour in an otherwise dull subject. You not think this will work (bearing in mind this is only for pocket money in the village type area I'm currently staying in)

    My concerns are the same as yours by the way, I highlighted this last night when I received it however I get the angle, just can't decide whether that's what route I want to go with, hence me asking others first.
    Poverty 2012 - F**K My low wage!
  • paulwf
    paulwf Posts: 3,269 Forumite
    sdt1986 wrote: »
    It's supposed to be tongue in cheek. Creating humour in an otherwise dull subject. You not think this will work (bearing in mind this is only for pocket money in the village type area I'm currently staying in)

    My concerns are the same as yours by the way, I highlighted this last night when I received it however I get the angle, just can't decide whether that's what route I want to go with, hence me asking others first.

    I have to agree 100% with HappyMJ. Get rid of the references to gaff and gaffer, the humour doesn't work IMHO. Again agree about getting a domain name to create a professional email address, it'll only cost you a fiver.

    I would try and give the leaflet more focus - put your name on it so it has a personal touch and just list a few key points instead of covering all bases.
  • vax2002
    vax2002 Posts: 7,187 Forumite
    I would just say make sure you have the relevant qualifications before repairing mains electrical equipment.
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
  • sdt1986
    sdt1986 Posts: 411 Forumite
    vax2002 wrote: »
    I would just say make sure you have the relevant qualifications before repairing mains electrical equipment.

    I wont be doing none of that, this is a very basic service made to look more than it is. This is literally evenings and weekends pocket money, if it starts actually looking like a bit more of a money spinner, I'll look into gaining more knowledge, experience and qualifications along with having a much more proffesional image.
    Poverty 2012 - F**K My low wage!
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,611 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 14 November 2011 at 7:43PM
    sdt1986 wrote: »
    I wont be doing none of that, this is a very basic service made to look more than it is. This is literally evenings and weekends pocket money, if it starts actually looking like a bit more of a money spinner, I'll look into gaining more knowledge, experience and qualifications along with having a much more proffesional image.

    My tuppenceworth.
    • As above get rid of 'gaff'
    • Replace that first sentence with 'We aim to fix your PC at your home or place or work' or something that doesnt imply you might not be able to fix it
    • 'We'll leave your computer like new' - remove that - there is too much implication on your part there. You could be held to that.
    • get rid of 'gaffer' too.

    Other than that i quite like it. It catches your eye.

    Get some cheap business cards made up too - you can usually get 500 for some ridiculously low amount of money on vistaprint.

    Make sure that phone number your using is a disposable PAYG phone that you can turn off over the weekends etc.
  • sdt1986
    sdt1986 Posts: 411 Forumite
    pgilc1 wrote: »
    My tuppenceworth.
    • As above get rid of 'gaff'
    • Replace that first sentence with 'We aim to fix your PC at your home or place or work' or something that doesnt imply you might not be able to fix it
    • 'We'll leave your computer like new' - remove that - there is too much implication on your part there. You could be held to that.
    • get rid of 'gaffer' too.
    Other than that i quite like it. It catches your eye.

    Get some cheap business cards made up too - you can usually get 500 for some ridiculously low amount of money on vistaprint.

    Make sure that phone number your using is a disposable PAYG phone that you can turn off over the weekends etc.

    Will hopefully get this sent across to my friend tonight who is designing it for me. Thanks for the input.
    Poverty 2012 - F**K My low wage!
  • patman99
    patman99 Posts: 8,532 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    And just remember, for every PC engineer, there are 50 people who will fix a computer for the price of a pint. Your hardest task will be to convince your customers that you really are worth that £10 p/h you are charging them.
    One of my favourites that I use when working on computers belonging to people I know is to say to them "Pay me what you think the job is worth". They usually pay between £20 and £30 for what seems like 3 hours work, when in real terms, I've spent 30 minutes actually working on their computer and 2 hours drinking their tea, chatting to them and watching their telly.
    Never Knowingly Understood.

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  • sdt1986
    sdt1986 Posts: 411 Forumite
    patman99 wrote: »
    And just remember, for every PC engineer, there are 50 people who will fix a computer for the price of a pint. Your hardest task will be to convince your customers that you really are worth that £10 p/h you are charging them.
    One of my favourites that I use when working on computers belonging to people I know is to say to them "Pay me what you think the job is worth". They usually pay between £20 and £30 for what seems like 3 hours work, when in real terms, I've spent 30 minutes actually working on their computer and 2 hours drinking their tea, chatting to them and watching their telly.

    I'm going with £30 for call out and first hour, £20phr after that. Just to start with. Not sure how well this will work but it's just spending money to get stop me spending my full time wage. £50 a week would be my ideal.
    Poverty 2012 - F**K My low wage!
  • paulwf
    paulwf Posts: 3,269 Forumite
    sdt1986 wrote: »
    I'm going with £30 for call out and first hour, £20phr after that. Just to start with. Not sure how well this will work but it's just spending money to get stop me spending my full time wage. £50 a week would be my ideal.

    One thing you have to decide with your fees is what will you charge if your advice is "buy a new one"? Routers, printers and even laptops are now reasonably cheap items designed to last 2 or 3 years then be replaced.

    Do you spend 2 hours fiddling with a router for £50 or get the customer to spend £40 on a new one that will work perfectly? That is a real world example as I've struggled with a router for a year spending many hours on it, eventually I walked up the road, spent £40 on a new one and set it up in 10 mins and not had a problem since.
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