PC Repair - legality.

Rhino

Back in the day I used to do a bit of PC Repair for friends, family and friends of friends.

I'm in a bigger city and want to give this a shot again because it used to be good money... but I don't know enough people to base it just on referrals so I'm going to go take on "strangers" as clients.

One thing I'm worried about is the legality of it. I basically want to protect myself from a lawsuit. For example, if someone's hard drive crashed and I can't recover the files; then I don't want some nut job suing me for "losing" all this important files... or whatever, that's just an example.

Basically I want a contract that says "You're using my services at your own risk". Is there any on the interwebs that I can print out and change to my likely (for free and legal of course).

Also... what does Geek Squad charge for repairs?

Any other tips? I haven't done this in awhile and it was all for friends and family so it was very laid back and informal - but if I'm doing it for strangers I want to do it a bit more professional (so that I get word of mouth referrals).

Iroh

Sounds like you're probably going to need to have a waiver written up, but that will probably cost you some money.

You can probably avoid most issues by making sure to back up peoples' data before you make any changes at all.

Pheezer

Look up local small business resources. You'll probably be able to talk to people who have started similar businesses and get some free basic legal assistance.

Pheezer

EDIT:
Actually also if you're too lazy to go and look up your local computer shops' repair rates, then I don't know how you plan to successfully make money doing freelance work.

Rhino

The 3 shops around here charge (apox) $80 to $120 per hour (depending on what you want them to do)... which seems extremely high to me and I was wondering if this is typical? I used to charge $40 per hour back home (really small town and that was 5 years ago) and made a killing (about $900 per week partime), but trying to see whatever else charges.

Burning Organ

My mom knew a computer "expert"... An elderly couple or something had bought a computer and a 5.1 surround system, but it wouldn't work, so they got the "expert" in there... He fiddled with the audio card and drivers for half an hour, charged 200€ and said he couldn't fix it. They brought the computer and surrounds system back to the store, and guess what?

You probably guessed it. The cables weren't in the right places...
Anyway, that's off topic. I recommend having different prices for on-site repairs and things they bring to you. As far as I know, you will get some customers who fuck up their computers and knows it, then call you just so they can get some company... Well, atleast you probably will if you get goot publicity...

Pojaco

1. Look around in town for small computer stores that are going out of business. (watch for the ones that are next to CompUSA or the like)
2. Wait for store to close for good.
3. Get your phone number changed to their old, now-unused phone number.
4. Get lots of 'wrong numbers' and offer your services instead.

A friend of mine did this with the store he was working at when they went out of business, he's making very decent and steady money now.

supabeast

Rhino wrote: »

The 3 shops around here charge (apox) $80 to $120 per hour (depending on what you want them to do)... which seems extremely high to me and I was wondering if this is typical?

Maybe if you’re paying in Canadian dollars, but for those rates one can hire an experienced and capable small enterprise sysadmin/networking consultant in most of the USA. At those prices you’re better off just buying new parts!

Rhino

supabeast wrote: »

Rhino wrote: »

The 3 shops around here charge (apox) $80 to $120 per hour (depending on what you want them to do)... which seems extremely high to me and I was wondering if this is typical?

Maybe if you’re paying in Canadian dollars, but for those rates one can hire an experienced and capable small enterprise sysadmin/networking consultant in most of the USA. At those prices you’re better off just buying new parts!

That's why I was surprised to get those quotes.

Those are all for onsite, so taking in is probably cheaper.

What is the rate around your parts?

Rhino

Urgel wrote: »

My mom knew a computer "expert"... An elderly couple or something had bought a computer and a 5.1 surround system, but it wouldn't work, so they got the "expert" in there... He fiddled with the audio card and drivers for half an hour, charged 200€ and said he couldn't fix it. They brought the computer and surrounds system back to the store, and guess what?

You probably guessed it. The cables weren't in the right places...
Anyway, that's off topic. I recommend having different prices for on-site repairs and things they bring to you. As far as I know, you will get some customers who fuck up their computers and knows it, then call you just so they can get some company... Well, atleast you probably will if you get goot publicity...

I used to give a "no-pay if I can't fix it" clause in my [verbal] agreements. Had no one ever took me up on it, but it was with people I know or from close references... so don't know how well that would work with strangers.

Dhalphir

Maybe don't do no-pay, but say "if I can't fix it, or tell you exactly what is wrong with it, first two hours free" or something.

That way people know that you're going to give it your damn best shot to fix, and in the case of needing a new part for it, when its not your fault you can't fix it, you're not screwed.

Aridhol

Used to do this full time a few years ago and I still do on the side to aquaintences but I would never recommend someone getting into it, too much stress.

TheFish

Iroh wrote: »

Sounds like you're probably going to need to have a waiver written up, but that will probably cost you some money.

You can probably avoid most issues by making sure to back up peoples' data before you make any changes at all.

Bare in mind that people will loose their own important data and then take it to a shop so that they can blame them instead of getting fired.

"Honestly sir, it was working perfectly when I sent it to the shop, they must have installed all those viruses and porn dialers and deleted the Friedman account"

wasted pixels

TheFish wrote: »

people will loose their own important data and then take it to a shop so that they can blame them instead of getting fired.

This, seriously. If there's even a chance that you could cause (or be convincingly accused of causing) harm to a person's sensitive data or hardware, you need to incorporate. Even just a quick Delaware LLC will protect your personal assets from the courts.

If Jack Mehoff over there decides you ruined his computer, wrecked his big project, and cost him his business, he can sue you (as in you, personally) for tens of thousands in damages. A waiver may not hold up in court, and even if it does, you're going to be paying out the nose for a lawyer. Incorporating protects you from that.

Rhino

wasted pixels wrote: »

TheFish wrote: »

people will loose their own important data and then take it to a shop so that they can blame them instead of getting fired.

This, seriously. If there's even a chance that you could cause (or be convincingly accused of causing) harm to a person's sensitive data or hardware, you need to incorporate. Even just a quick Delaware LLC will protect your personal assets from the courts.

If Jack Mehoff over there decides you ruined his computer, wrecked his big project, and cost him his business, he can sue you (as in you, personally) for tens of thousands in damages. A waiver may not hold up in court, and even if it does, you're going to be paying out the nose for a lawyer. Incorporating protects you from that.

Hrm. I think that is what I want. I'm in the progress of doing an Corp S or LLC for another business venture... I'll have my guy set up an LLC for this too.

I can probably go without a waiver if I'm working under an established LLC?

mastman

Why not make a waiver? It would be useful to protect your LLC as well. I don't know how much it costs to get a fancypants lawyer to write one, but I imagine it'll be a good investment if you plan on doing this for a while.

DrFrylock

Rhino wrote: »

I can probably go without a waiver if I'm working under an established LLC?

No. Because a waiver protects your business assets (to some degree) as well, and you don't want to lose those, do you? You also probably want some business insurance (either an "umbrella" policy or a "liability" policy) that will protect the business as well. These are generally quite inexpensive compared to the coverage.

And people can charge obscene amounts of money for basic computer fix-it with no skills because many people 1) don't know what it should cost, 2) are used to getting charged obscene amounts by mechanics, electricians, and plumbers, 3) don't know how to evaluate whether you did your job correctly or not and 4) have little objective basis to compare one technician to another.

Brynj

Just walk into any CompUSA, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc, and ask for a copy of their waver.

You still want a lawyer to tailor it to your use to protect your liability, but should provide you with a basis of the things you want to protect yourself against.

Rhino

thanks.