And people wonder why I've lost faith in "service people"

[TAftonomos]

Meh..

[ducpainter]

I'm proud of you T.....

[the_Journeyman]

Posts like this make me wish I did home networking and home theatre stuff on the side.  I'm more inclined to come in, find & remedy the problem as fast as possible and be off to the next job all while leaving a client behind that was happy with the results.

JM

[Popeye the Sailor]

$270 hours is too much to pay for someone to diagnose something you couldn't get to work for 3 years?

Also, why should they listen to you about what's wrong if you couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work in the first place?

About 3 years ago I ran Cat6 to each room in the house.  I've been unsucessful in getting the ends correctly terminated/tested in the 3 or 4 times I've screwed with it.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Ever occur to you you got charged the "pain-in-the-ass fee"?


I'm sure you were nothing but pleasant for the half hour car ride, and not peeved that you had to go get something, right?


I think you might try being nicer. You'll get better results.

[Veloce-Fino]

$270 hours is too much to pay for someone to diagnose something you couldn't get to work for 3 years?

Also, why should they listen to you about what's wrong if you couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work in the first place?

I work with end-users for a living between school, diagnosing problems with pc's and home networks.

Step 1 to solving the problem is understanding the problem. Listening to the client is always part of that step.

The travel time thing really depends on the tech you're working with. I never charge clients when I need to run out and get a part. Again, really depends on who you are working with though.

[Howie]

I'm one who defends those who work for a living, you do the work and spend the time you earned the money.  In this case, as described by TAftmonster, I have to agree with him.  If you are working by the hour you do not charge for more time than you worked.  Flat rate is different.  Beat the clock, you win.  The clock beats you, you loose.  Travel time is OK if agreed on first. 

Twice I had contractors do work on my house in the last couple of years where things did not go right.  They did not complain and held to their estimate even though they were loosing their shirts.  Both left with handsome cash bonuses.  A few years before that was Jim.  Disappeared for weeks mid job.  I hired someone in the interim as a helper so I could finish his work since he did not respond to phone calls.  Finally he calls and says he and his crew will be there tomorrow.  I told him not to come, I finished the work.  He came over, demanded money and threatened me.  Ummmm...he did not make out so well.

[derby]

How long does it take for someone to put a tester on one end, and find that there is a short?

good question... didn't you mention you had a tester? 

[rgramjet]

I know Exactly how you feel.......I lost all faith in Greek people because my barber, "Spiro", did a really bad job last time.....

[1KDS]

That's shitty service, the only reason I charge people to get parts is if they are extremely uncommon and no one would stock them.  Your job would only require a handful of possible parts, dude should have had them on the truck.

[GAAN]

I would have to agree, dewd should have had everything he needed in his truck

so the parts run was bullshit

but

sub 300 bucks for a diagnosis and solution isn't a bad price

and

Clock milking is a sign of a true professional

any monkey can run a line test

but getting 3 hrs pay for 15 minutes work is a true test of ones professional skill

[Charlief]

Clock milking is a sign of a true professional

any monkey can run a line test

but getting 3 hrs pay for 15 minutes work is a true test of ones professional skill

That made me giggle.  I have a friend who works for Verizon.  He runs fiber/network/internet lines for businesses.... no residential.  He has 8-10 hour days....with only half being actual work.  His words...not mine.   

[mookieo2]

I guess I got here too late because the story is not here. What was the end result of why it didn't work? If I may ask again. I like to know past problems for my own knowledge.

[Speedbag]

but getting 3 hrs pay for 15 minutes work is a true test of ones professional skill

And that, friends, is why I'm an engineer.