On Sun, 2005-11-27 at 18:23 +0000, Ten wrote:
I know what you're saying, but to my mind if there were fewer computer "shamen" in the world, we'd all be better off.
And that counts doubly for retail chains that will charge people money to run scandisk, defrag and spybot S&D on their computer and call it a "tune-up" (hahahaha).
Yes and I have also heard that some garages charge to change the oil in your car.
The sad fact is that time is money and if doing those things resolves a problem and is beyond what the end user has the time/knowledge to do themselves then why shouldn't they charge.
I am not condoning sloppy application of (mostly) automated tools as a answer all problem to every machine that comes through the door, but if someone does these things to improve the stability and performance of the machine and has acceptable results then why not ?
Of course in an ideal world a large percentage of people wouldn't be using an operating system that frequently needs such attention...but as long as it does and that work isn't being performed and charged for where it is not needed then I think a reasonable charge for the time taken is justified.
Actually some of the machines that pass by me end up going out charged at a somewhat less than our hourly rate simply because if I charged them for the full time it (sometimes) takes to rid a sickly Windows box of all the spyware, malware and viruses it would quickly become uneconomic for the customer to proceed.
We operate a policy of customer education and if there is a quick fix that the customer can apply with instruction then this is freely given..similarly if there is advice we can give the customer on how to avoid a repeat visit then it is of course shared...but if the box comes in and has bench time to resolve a problem then I am afraid I have to charge something.....I think (hope) that you are referring more to the "tune up" services which are implied as necessary at regular intervals even when they are not.