alt.certification.a-plus - PC repair for a living?

Author

PC repair for a living?

Mike R

2002-12-31, 8:15 pm

Hi all,

I would like to know if any of you have a PC repair business or work for
one. I've seen ads from time to time offering onsite repair service (home,
business, etc.) and I was curious how one starts such a business or if it a
good idea at all. I really enjoy PC repair and would like to do it for a
living. I have worked in aviation for the last 20 years and I've been laid
off twice in the last 12 months so I would like to change professions.

Thanks

Mike

The PC Guy

2002-12-31, 8:15 pm

Hello Mike:
The income and job security of running your own business is certainly no
better than what your experience in aviation has been.
It takes considerable time to build up a roster of past customers who
would call you again if something goes wrong with their computers. Until you
reach that point (I've not yet gotten there after five years in business),
you'll have to advertise heavily to keep new customers coming in.
The upside is it is truly enjoyable to solve a problem for someone who
has spent several weeks or months cursing and swearing at their computer.
The smiles and thanks do add up.
--

regards,
bruce

The PC Guy
Bruce Von Deylen
South Bend, Ind. USA
Serving the computer impaired in northern
Indiana and southwest lower Michigan

E-mail: pcguy<at>attbi<dot>com

Website: http://www.geocities.com/the_pc_guy_1627/index.htm
"Mike R" <a@b.com> wrote in message
news:AJEM9.1324352$6N5.171172@post-03.news.easynews.com...
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> I would like to know if any of you have a PC repair business or work for
> one. I've seen ads from time to time offering onsite repair service (home,
> business, etc.) and I was curious how one starts such a business or if it
a
> good idea at all. I really enjoy PC repair and would like to do it for a
> living. I have worked in aviation for the last 20 years and I've been laid
> off twice in the last 12 months so I would like to change professions.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> Mike
>
>
>

JohnnyVee

2002-12-31, 8:17 pm

I'm not too sure that PC repair is the place to head right now. With
systems costing so little now, why get it repaired? I predict that within a
few years PC repairman will be as common as VCR repairmen are. That is not
to say that once in a while someone may need a CDROM replaced or a hard
drive formatted and the O/S loaded..but I think those jobs are going to be
few and far between. Most folks know somebody that can do that for nothing.
When you actually think about it, not too much breaks on a modern PC
(usually software issues are causing problems, not dead components). I've
been giving this some thought recently, since I teach PC repair at a
vocational high school. My advisor group (made up of people actually
working in the field) suggest that we move more into networking. Many of my
students think that once they are A+ certified they will sit home building
gaming systems for rich people that will compete with Alienware...Computers
are so standardized, the components so similar that repairing them is
actually pretty easy. If you want a real challenge grab hold of a Compaq or
IBM server (think in the range of 20K or so) and try to get vendor certified
on those once you get A+. In another year or so computers will be legacy
free (no serial , parallel, keyboard or mouse ports) and the configuration
of these will be much simpler..

"Mike R" <a@b.com> wrote in message
news:AJEM9.1324352$6N5.171172@post-03.news.easynews.com...
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> I would like to know if any of you have a PC repair business or work for
> one. I've seen ads from time to time offering onsite repair service (home,
> business, etc.) and I was curious how one starts such a business or if it
a
> good idea at all. I really enjoy PC repair and would like to do it for a
> living. I have worked in aviation for the last 20 years and I've been laid
> off twice in the last 12 months so I would like to change professions.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
> Mike
>
>
>

The PC Guy

2002-12-31, 8:17 pm

Hello Johnny:
You are correct in the sense anyone who only replaces hardware and
doesn't get involved in OS or software issues won't have much success.
In my experience, you have to be able to deal with software issues as
well.
I also agree your students who think they'll get rich building systems
for gamers won't go far. Most gamers I know build their own systems.
--

regards,
bruce

The PC Guy
Bruce Von Deylen
South Bend, Ind. USA
Serving the computer impaired in northern
Indiana and southwest lower Michigan

E-mail: pcguy<at>attbi<dot>com

Website: http://www.geocities.com/the_pc_guy_1627/index.htm
"JohnnyVee" <whatever123@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:GolN9.6215$uV4.3396647@news2.news.adelphia.net...
> I'm not too sure that PC repair is the place to head right now. With
> systems costing so little now, why get it repaired? I predict that within
a
> few years PC repairman will be as common as VCR repairmen are. That is
not
> to say that once in a while someone may need a CDROM replaced or a hard
> drive formatted and the O/S loaded..but I think those jobs are going to be
> few and far between. Most folks know somebody that can do that for
nothing.
> When you actually think about it, not too much breaks on a modern PC
> (usually software issues are causing problems, not dead components). I've
> been giving this some thought recently, since I teach PC repair at a
> vocational high school. My advisor group (made up of people actually
> working in the field) suggest that we move more into networking. Many of
my
> students think that once they are A+ certified they will sit home building
> gaming systems for rich people that will compete with
Alienware...Computers
> are so standardized, the components so similar that repairing them is
> actually pretty easy. If you want a real challenge grab hold of a Compaq
or
> IBM server (think in the range of 20K or so) and try to get vendor
certified
> on those once you get A+. In another year or so computers will be legacy
> free (no serial , parallel, keyboard or mouse ports) and the configuration
> of these will be much simpler..
>
>
> "Mike R" <a@b.com> wrote in message
> news:AJEM9.1324352$6N5.171172@post-03.news.easynews.com...
> > Hi all,
> >
> >
> >
> > I would like to know if any of you have a PC repair business or work for
> > one. I've seen ads from time to time offering onsite repair service
(home,
> > business, etc.) and I was curious how one starts such a business or if
it
> a
> > good idea at all. I really enjoy PC repair and would like to do it for a
> > living. I have worked in aviation for the last 20 years and I've been
laid
> > off twice in the last 12 months so I would like to change professions.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Navin R. Johnson

2002-12-31, 8:17 pm

On Fri, 20 Dec 2002 13:15:12 GMT, "Mike R" <a@b.com> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I would like to know if any of you have a PC repair business or work for
>one. I've seen ads from time to time offering onsite repair service (home,
>business, etc.) and I was curious how one starts such a business or if it a
>good idea at all. I really enjoy PC repair and would like to do it for a
>living. I have worked in aviation for the last 20 years and I've been laid
>off twice in the last 12 months so I would like to change professions.
>
>Thanks
>
>Mike
>

Hi Mike,

I've been in the computer repair business for 26 years and the PC
repair business for the past 12. I started repairing and building PC's
as a side business until I was laid off from the best job I ever had -
hardware support on large expensive CAD graphics systems. That was over
10 years ago. It took about three years to really get my PC business off
the ground. For the next 5-6 years I frequently had to turn down
business due to our earth days only having 24-hours - I was constantly
busy. The money was good but not great and I never made as much as I did
in my last job - $55k - but a lot of it was cash off the books. For the
past three years or so things have definitely gotten worse. Today, there
is very little profit margin in selling systems & hardware. The service
calls have dwindled due to the quality & reliability of the hardware
that's available now. Everybody and their brother (including the
15-year-old kid down the street) is a PC repair person. Dell, Gateway
and all those XXXXing infomercials are killing the 'new system' business
and the 3-5 year warranties they sell are killing the repair business.
I'm going back to college in the spring to start working on a degree in
something other than computer technology. Don't get me wrong, I love
fixing and building computers and would do it all for free if I hit the
lotto but if I was just starting out now I'd get into the software side
of the business and go back to workin' for the man. I have a customer
who's been creating web pages on the side for a couple of years and she
makes more $ in a week than I do in a month - and she works less hours.
Remember, this is only my opinion..... but..... I think I've seen the
writing on the wall. Ten years from now there WILL be cheap disposable
computers that fix themselves - no need for us geeks.

Good Luck,
NRJ

James West

2002-12-31, 8:18 pm

I don't think so, people will still be the same idiots that download
spyware and install a whole boatload of crap software, then blame the poor
performance on the hardware.

God bless the ignorant.

- James

Navin R. Johnson <TheJerk@optigrab.net> wrote in
news:9ige0vsa36qoirnmfqjcts933
94vaivoiq@4ax.com:

Ten years from now there WILL be cheap disposable computers that
> fix themselves - no need for us geeks.
>
> Good Luck,
> NRJ

The PC Guy

2002-12-31, 8:18 pm

Hello Navin:
I like your comment about the kid down the street who "fixes" computers.
I don't know how many times I've got a call from someone. They explain
to me what the problem is. When I state what I think it will take to solve
the problem and how much it will cost they reply "I know a kid down the
street who'll fix it for free."
If they do know such a kid, why are they calling me and not the kid? Do
they expect me to fix their computer for free?
Thanks for letting me vent.
--

regards,
bruce

The PC Guy
Bruce Von Deylen
South Bend, Ind. USA
Serving the computer impaired in northern
Indiana and southwest lower Michigan

E-mail: pcguy<at>attbi<dot>com

Website: http://www.geocities.com/the_pc_guy_1627/index.htm
"Navin R. Johnson" <TheJerk@optigrab.net> wrote in message
news:9ige0vsa36qoirnmfqjcts933
94vaivoiq@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 20 Dec 2002 13:15:12 GMT, "Mike R" <a@b.com> wrote:
>
> >Hi all,
> >
> >I would like to know if any of you have a PC repair business or work for
> >one. I've seen ads from time to time offering onsite repair service
(home,
> >business, etc.) and I was curious how one starts such a business or if it
a
> >good idea at all. I really enjoy PC repair and would like to do it for a
> >living. I have worked in aviation for the last 20 years and I've been
laid
> >off twice in the last 12 months so I would like to change professions.
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >Mike
> >
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> I've been in the computer repair business for 26 years and the PC
> repair business for the past 12. I started repairing and building PC's
> as a side business until I was laid off from the best job I ever had -
> hardware support on large expensive CAD graphics systems. That was over
> 10 years ago. It took about three years to really get my PC business off
> the ground. For the next 5-6 years I frequently had to turn down
> business due to our earth days only having 24-hours - I was constantly
> busy. The money was good but not great and I never made as much as I did
> in my last job - $55k - but a lot of it was cash off the books. For the
> past three years or so things have definitely gotten worse. Today, there
> is very little profit margin in selling systems & hardware. The service
> calls have dwindled due to the quality & reliability of the hardware
> that's available now. Everybody and their brother (including the
> 15-year-old kid down the street) is a PC repair person. Dell, Gateway
> and all those XXXXing infomercials are killing the 'new system' business
> and the 3-5 year warranties they sell are killing the repair business.
> I'm going back to college in the spring to start working on a degree in
> something other than computer technology. Don't get me wrong, I love
> fixing and building computers and would do it all for free if I hit the
> lotto but if I was just starting out now I'd get into the software side
> of the business and go back to workin' for the man. I have a customer
> who's been creating web pages on the side for a couple of years and she
> makes more $ in a week than I do in a month - and she works less hours.
> Remember, this is only my opinion..... but..... I think I've seen the
> writing on the wall. Ten years from now there WILL be cheap disposable
> computers that fix themselves - no need for us geeks.
>
> Good Luck,
> NRJ

Julian

2002-12-31, 8:18 pm

hi guys,
just wanted to say, I AM one of those 'kids from down the street'
and i cant stand it! all the problems i have encountered are dead simple
10-second, 3-click jobs. which, in my opinion, any 10 year old could have
fixed.
i never get paid for any of these fixes - only the occasional box of
chocolates. :-(

...if only exam fees could be paid with chocolates! :-(

"The PC Guy" <pcguy@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:kgQN9.441368$P31.152331@rwcrnsc53...
> Hello Navin:
> I like your comment about the kid down the street who "fixes"
computers.
> I don't know how many times I've got a call from someone. They explain
> to me what the problem is. When I state what I think it will take to solve
> the problem and how much it will cost they reply "I know a kid down the
> street who'll fix it for free."
> If they do know such a kid, why are they calling me and not the kid?
Do
> they expect me to fix their computer for free?
> Thanks for letting me vent.
> --
>
> regards,
> bruce
>
> The PC Guy
> Bruce Von Deylen
> South Bend, Ind. USA
> Serving the computer impaired in northern
> Indiana and southwest lower Michigan
>
> E-mail: pcguy<at>attbi<dot>com
>
> Website: http://www.geocities.com/the_pc_guy_1627/index.htm
> "Navin R. Johnson" <TheJerk@optigrab.net> wrote in message
> news:9ige0vsa36qoirnmfqjcts933
94vaivoiq@4ax.com...
> > On Fri, 20 Dec 2002 13:15:12 GMT, "Mike R" <a@b.com> wrote:
> >
> > >Hi all,
> > >
> > >I would like to know if any of you have a PC repair business or work
for[c
olor=darkred]
> > >one. I've seen ads from time to time offering onsite repair service
> (home,
> > >business, etc.) and I was curious how one starts such a business or if[/color]
it
> a
> > >good idea at all. I really enjoy PC repair and would like to do it for
a[col
or=darkred]
> > >living. I have worked in aviation for the last 20 years and I've been
> laid
> > >off twice in the last 12 months so I would like to change professions.
> > >
> > >Thanks
> > >
> > >Mike
> > >
> >
> > Hi Mike,
> >
> > I've been in the computer repair business for 26 years and the PC
> > repair business for the past 12. I started repairing and building PC's
> > as a side business until I was laid off from the best job I ever had -
> > hardware support on large expensive CAD graphics systems. That was over
> > 10 years ago. It took about three years to really get my PC business off
> > the ground. For the next 5-6 years I frequently had to turn down
> > business due to our earth days only having 24-hours - I was constantly
> > busy. The money was good but not great and I never made as much as I did
> > in my last job - $55k - but a lot of it was cash off the books. For the
> > past three years or so things have definitely gotten worse. Today, there
> > is very little profit margin in selling systems & hardware. The service
> > calls have dwindled due to the quality & reliability of the hardware
> > that's available now. Everybody and their brother (including the
> > 15-year-old kid down the street) is a PC repair person. Dell, Gateway
> > and all those XXXXing infomercials are killing the 'new system' business
> > and the 3-5 year warranties they sell are killing the repair business.
> > I'm going back to college in the spring to start working on a degree in
> > something other than computer technology. Don't get me wrong, I love
> > fixing and building computers and would do it all for free if I hit the
> > lotto but if I was just starting out now I'd get into the software side
> > of the business and go back to workin' for the man. I have a customer
> > who's been creating web pages on the side for a couple of years and she
> > makes more $ in a week than I do in a month - and she works less hours.
> > Remember, this is only my opinion..... but..... I think I've seen the
> > writing on the wall. Ten years from now there WILL be cheap disposable
> > computers that fix themselves - no need for us geeks.
> >
> > Good Luck,
> > NRJ
>
>[/color]

Navin R. Johnson

2002-12-31, 8:18 pm

Tom MacIntyre

2002-12-31, 8:18 pm

On Tue, 24 Dec 2002 13:04:09 +0800, "Julian" <talywine@wantree.com.au>
wrote:

>hi guys,
>just wanted to say, I AM one of those 'kids from down the street'
>and i cant stand it! all the problems i have encountered are dead simple
>10-second, 3-click jobs. which, in my opinion, any 10 year old could have
>fixed.
>i never get paid for any of these fixes - only the occasional box of
>chocolates. :-(
>
>..if only exam fees could be paid with chocolates! :-(
>

I'd prefer being paid with beer, and then pay for the exams with the
beer caps...

Tom

>
>
>"The PC Guy" <pcguy@attbi.com> wrote in message
>news:kgQN9.441368$P31.152331@rwcrnsc53...
>> Hello Navin:
>> I like your comment about the kid down the street who "fixes"
>computers.
>> I don't know how many times I've got a call from someone. They explain
>> to me what the problem is. When I state what I think it will take to solve
>> the problem and how much it will cost they reply "I know a kid down the
>> street who'll fix it for free."
>> If they do know such a kid, why are they calling me and not the kid?
>Do
>> they expect me to fix their computer for free?
>> Thanks for letting me vent.
>> --
>>
>> regards,
>> bruce
>>
>> The PC Guy
>> Bruce Von Deylen
>> South Bend, Ind. USA
>> Serving the computer impaired in northern
>> Indiana and southwest lower Michigan
>>
>> E-mail: pcguy<at>attbi<dot>com
>>
>> Website: http://www.geocities.com/the_pc_guy_1627/index.htm
>> "Navin R. Johnson" <TheJerk@optigrab.net> wrote in message
>> news:9ige0vsa36qoirnmfqjcts933
94vaivoiq@4ax.com...
>> > On Fri, 20 Dec 2002 13:15:12 GMT, "Mike R" <a@b.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > >Hi all,
>> > >
>> > >I would like to know if any of you have a PC repair business or work
> for
>> > >one. I've seen ads from time to time offering onsite repair service
>> (home,
>> > >business, etc.) and I was curious how one starts such a business or if
>it
>> a
>> > >good idea at all. I really enjoy PC repair and would like to do it for
>a
>> > >living. I have worked in aviation for the last 20 years and I've been
>> laid
>> > >off twice in the last 12 months so I would like to change professions.
>> > >
>> > >Thanks
>> > >
>> > >Mike
>> > >
>> >
>> > Hi Mike,
>> >
>> > I've been in the computer repair business for 26 years and the PC
>> > repair business for the past 12. I started repairing and building PC's
>> > as a side business until I was laid off from the best job I ever had -
>> > hardware support on large expensive CAD graphics systems. That was over
>> > 10 years ago. It took about three years to really get my PC business off
>> > the ground. For the next 5-6 years I frequently had to turn down
>> > business due to our earth days only having 24-hours - I was constantly
>> > busy. The money was good but not great and I never made as much as I did
>> > in my last job - $55k - but a lot of it was cash off the books. For the
>> > past three years or so things have definitely gotten worse. Today, there
>> > is very little profit margin in selling systems & hardware. The service
>> > calls have dwindled due to the quality & reliability of the hardware
>> > that's available now. Everybody and their brother (including the
>> > 15-year-old kid down the street) is a PC repair person. Dell, Gateway
>> > and all those XXXXing infomercials are killing the 'new system' business
>> > and the 3-5 year warranties they sell are killing the repair business.
>> > I'm going back to college in the spring to start working on a degree in
>> > something other than computer technology. Don't get me wrong, I love
>> > fixing and building computers and would do it all for free if I hit the
>> > lotto but if I was just starting out now I'd get into the software side
>> > of the business and go back to workin' for the man. I have a customer
>> > who's been creating web pages on the side for a couple of years and she
>> > makes more $ in a week than I do in a month - and she works less hours.
>> > Remember, this is only my opinion..... but..... I think I've seen the
>> > writing on the wall. Ten years from now there WILL be cheap disposable
>> > computers that fix themselves - no need for us geeks.
>> >
>> > Good Luck,
>> > NRJ
>>
>>
>

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