Hmm... I need a job.
Hmm... I need a job.
CornJer
Metal does cocaine.
2005 Mar 21 • 1531
36 ₧
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I was applying for geek squad, untill I realized that I absolutely hate working for the man. I like BEING the man much better.
So what I was thinking, was that I would kinda do the same thing aaronjer was doing, start a computer fix-it thing, put my cell in the phone book and on craigslist (whatever that is) and what not, and go around fixing computers for about 25 bucks a pop. Just as a summer "job".
It seems like a good idea to me, but I'd like some input on this, like what price, what other ways do I advertise, etc. Just so that I could figure out how to do this.
If you jump high enough you'll hurt your ankles when you land.
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2008 May 1 at 06:48 PDT
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You should talk to my buddy david hes in that sorta thing.
dlelliss@highland.net
Make awkward sexual advances, not war. Down Rodeo said: Dammit, this was the one place that didn't have this, but noooooo, molkman pisses all over that 
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2008 May 1 at 13:40 PDT
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A classified ad in the paper is good if you can afford it.
Word of mouth is huge, too. Give what little customers you have a biz card and they will refer their friends. Everyone has friends with computer problems.
For pricing (if you are good) offer your services for $50-$100 or FREE if you can't fix it. A lot of people get turned off other companies because they'll charge you for time even if they don't fix anything.
I used to do this too, and people were always really happy to hear "no pay if no fix" and when I did fix it (always) they'd usually offer to pay extra because they're so happy.
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2008 May 1 at 15:51 PDT
— Ed. 2008 May 1 at 15:51 PDT
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aaronjer
*****'n Admin
2005 Mar 21 • 4940
1,227 ₧
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I agree with SuperJer completely. Except that big companies charge like $75 and hour, so you can even get away with charging like $35-40 an hour and people will still think it's cheap. You do miss out on all the really poor customers though, who would only get their computer fixed if it was going to be like $50.
Here's another hint. Most people have the same problem with their computers. That their computer is a virus-laden, unprotected and poorly set-up piece of shit. This means the remedy for most people is to copy their important information onto a flash drive and format their computer. Make sure they have an OS disc or a CD-Key for one before doing this... you can use an OEM copy of Windows XP in most cases as long as they have a legit key. Also take note of drivers and such, it's best to get the model and manufacturer of their computer (easy to get them to read the number on the front on the phone) before you even show up so that you end up finding out that the drivers are unavailable after you format. This is assuming that they have a computer made by Dell or something, but everyone with computer problems does.
Then all ya gotta do is reinstall (windows can take 4 hours to install on it's own for a shitty computer... try not to factor all of that into the price since you aren't doing anything, I've even left to do another job while it was formatting before.) everything, slap on a replacement for their crappy Norton like Spybot and of COURSE make sure windows is fully updated/set up to receive updates.
You still get other more basic problems, like "My text size in IE changed! HALP!" or the venerable "How the crap do you set up a router?!"
Try to make sure you know how to do all of these things, but even if you don't and can figure it out while you're there, just don't charge them for the time you spent learning things.
I should also mention that people tend to listen to what you say, most people know NOTHING about computers and for some unknown reason try their best to keep it that way. This means you get free reign of suggestions on them, and as long as you always get them to "OK" everything (which most people do automatically because you're the computer guy) you can change their system to whatever would actually be best for them. I should warn you though, trying to switch people to Linux typically has very bad results.
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2008 May 1 at 16:27 PDT
— Ed. 2008 May 1 at 16:30 PDT
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Down Rodeo
Cap'n Moth of the Firehouse
2007 Oct 19 • 5486
57,583 ₧
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aaronjer said: trying to switch people to Linux typically has very bad results.
This is true. I think I'm going to be doing that for someone though, as they had an... "interesting" copy of Windows, shall we say, and upon phoning technical support for some problem they were discovered.
People I know said I should do something like this; but as you mentioned this is just because I happen to know a bit about computers rather than being of an older generation "unused" to them. It's an interesting thing though: I just know what I'm doing around computers etc., but my parents and those of their age apparently don't. It seems to go beyond something that can be taught.
On track, sounds like a plan, Cornman. Go to it and have fun. Say no to assholes.
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2008 May 1 at 17:02 PDT
— Ed. 2008 May 1 at 17:02 PDT
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When you start this and you find your self needed cat5e cables and USB csbles look me up and I will get you started.
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2008 May 1 at 18:23 PDT
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CornJer
Metal does cocaine.
2005 Mar 21 • 1531
36 ₧
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So I could easily charge 45 bucks a fix, and people would still hire? Hot damn! Easy money right there. One question though: I have a CD from gateway which formats the hard drive and reinstalls XP. Would that work on other computers as well? I think it worked on my old ass sony, but I stopped before it fully loaded cause someone said they needed to get stuff off the computer, and it would have formatted the whole drive.
I'm assuming that a phone book entry would work well too?
How much does it cost for a classified entry or a phone book entry?
If you jump high enough you'll hurt your ankles when you land.
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2008 May 4 at 09:56 PDT
— Ed. 2008 May 4 at 09:56 PDT
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aaronjer
*****'n Admin
2005 Mar 21 • 4940
1,227 ₧
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CornJer said: So I could easily charge 45 bucks a fix, and people would still hire? Hot damn! Easy money right there. One question though: I have a CD from gateway which formats the hard drive and reinstalls XP. Would that work on other computers as well? I think it worked on my old ass sony, but I stopped before it fully loaded cause someone said they needed to get stuff off the computer, and it would have formatted the whole drive.
I just wrote a really long post about many things involving fixing computers, but it just got deleted for no reason so here's the short version.
No. Wrong. Download a default OEM copy of windows XP Home and Pro from a torrent (make SURE it already has SP2, big timer saver). Use this if the activation bitches at you and won't work right.
http://superjer.com/atojer/wpakill.rar
The activation bitches with perfectly legit copies of Windows XP so you will need it a lot. It's just broken. DO NOT CALL MICROSOFT TO ACTIVATE. Big mistake.
Here's a few more quick pointers:
1. Do not work with Vista. Ever. Still make sure you know the locations of things like the control panel and network settings for the day when Vista stops having "BSOD for no reason" type problems and can actually be reliably fixed.
2. Do not install using a pirated key even if they ask you to. No FCKGWs for you.
3. If they have an OS older then Windows XP suggest an upgrade and warn them of the dangers of using older OSs (viruses, security, compatibility.) Only reinstall an old OS if they ask you to.
4. Only suggest a free copy of Linux if their OS cannot be reinstalled and they don't want to buy XP. This will only happen if they lost their key or were using a pirated copy of XP.
5. Tell them how to use an operating system if they switch.
6. Make sure to save all of their information. This commonly includes the painstaking process of backing up all of their shitty Outlook information. Not fun, but that'll make 'em mad if you wiped their address book.
I had some very detailed explanations of many things before. But, oh well.
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2008 May 4 at 18:37 PDT
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Quote: "My text size in IE changed! HALP!"
$45 to fix ma'am
I lol irl at that, srsly.
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2008 May 4 at 20:43 PDT
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aaronjer
*****'n Admin
2005 Mar 21 • 4940
1,227 ₧
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I fix that one for free over the phone if at all possible. Sometimes the person is waaaay too stupid to handle the single instruction required to fix that problem.
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2008 May 5 at 02:12 PDT
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aaronjer said: I fix that one for free over the phone if at all possible. Sometimes the person is waaaay too stupid to handle the single instruction required to fix that problem.
I cant believe how much lack of intelligence some people have with computers.
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2008 May 5 at 08:43 PDT
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yeah its strange to imagine ,
but i have "friends" who can't even install a program , download with torrent , FIND SOMETHING ON GOOGLE OMG !!!....
* snaps out of it * ahhem sorry about that .
its not like im all that good with computers .
but still people who need help even with the most basic things
( even after they had a pc for a couple of years )
just don't deserve to have a pc the first place
... just cause of the lack of interest to learn something 
Wtf is that ? its a bird ! no its a plane ! amm maybe its a plastic bag . NO ! its SUPERJER ! the greatest super hero ever!
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2008 May 5 at 11:46 PDT
— Ed. 2008 May 5 at 11:46 PDT
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