Techie Rant...

[Dutch3]

I used to do side jobs. No more.
I got tired of people showing up or calling at 5PM on a Sunday demanding their issues be solved by 9AM on Monday. Always expecting a free favor.

About 10 years ago, I started telling them it would be $50/hour + $100/hour for unplanned or rush jobs. That weeded out about 80% of those looking for a freebie.

The rest whined incessantly, so these days I just say "no". It is amazing how indignant people can get when you tell them you are not interesting in fixing their computer at any price, especially when they are expecting it for free.

[Fizz]

I work for a small OEM computer company that provides IT services.

I frequently wear this to work.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/frustrations/388b/

[Curtis]

I think all professions have this issue. I'm not the IT person, although my wife is always asking me to fix something with her PC. I try to tell her not to click the links in e-mails....and when the computer asks if "are you sure you want to install xyz" say "NO!". It is funny how upset she gets when she asks, "how did you fix it?" and my reply is "I'm not sure." And it is the truth.

I am a structural engineer. I get lots of requests for "favors." I deal with it this way: I tell them "my normal fee is $xxx. I will invoice you when I'm done." If everything goes smoothly and we don't have any "client" issues, I tell them not to worry about the fee. If they start changing things or there are other "client" issues, I start sending bills for the extra services.

My brother is a chiropractor. At the end of every family gather he pulls out is portable table and spends 30-60 min. adjusting everyone who wants to lay on the table. It has even gotten to the point were people call and ask mom if he will be at the party/dinner.

On the funny side of "asking for help", I was having an issue with changing my wife's oil/oil filter. I called my neighbor for some help. He showed up, found the issue was I had the wrong filter, he went into his stash and pulled out the correct filter. (He also provided the oil for free too). Later my wife made the comment, "it feels a little weird having an NHRA funny car driver changing the oil in my minivan."

[PsychGuy274]

If there's one thing I absolutely HATE it's helping people free of charge; no matter what the help is concerning. I mean, why on Earth would I want to be a nice person and help someone...FOR FREE?! That's just stupid. I like being stingy because that way I won't have to waste a few minutes of my life in order to make someone else's life easier.

Like, I was shooting at the range the other day and this chick came up to me and said that I was a really good shot and she needed help with a pistol she just bought. I just stared her right in the eye and said, "Excuse you Miss, do I look like a firearm instructor? No, I don't. If you want to learn how to use that thing then you have to pay someone to teach you like I did!" Then I slapped her in the face for having the audacity to ask someone more knowledgeable than her for help.

Some people, I swear... :/

[dwtt]

I don't know why the OP has any problems to begin with. All he needs to do is say no. "No". It's that easy, really.

[ibanezfoo]

I work for a small OEM computer company that provides IT services.

I frequently wear this to work.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-app...trations/388b/

Thats the one I wear to all my family gatherings. For some reason it doesn't amuse them as much as it does me.

[rplusplus]

Good friends get a freebie from me... if they choose to pay me in pizza then bonus. I actually relax when working on electronics.

Aquaintences get some free advice on how they can fix it or who I would recommend they go to get it fixed.

[Merc1138]

If there's one thing I absolutely HATE it's helping people free of charge; no matter what the help is concerning. I mean, why on Earth would I want to be a nice person and help someone...FOR FREE?! That's just stupid. I like being stingy because that way I won't have to waste a few minutes of my life in order to make someone else's life easier.

Like, I was shooting at the range the other day and this chick came up to me and said that I was a really good shot and she needed help with a pistol she just bought. I just stared her right in the eye and said, "Excuse you Miss, do I look like a firearm instructor? No, I don't. If you want to learn how to use that thing then you have to pay someone to teach you like I did!" Then I slapped her in the face for having the audacity to ask someone more knowledgeable than her for help.

Some people, I swear... :/

I suspect there is some sarcasm in your statements. However you've failed to consider just how much time can be involved in "fixing" people's computers. Not everything is a quick fix. Spend 6 hours copying someone's data to an external drive or file server to format and re-install their OS, then re-install their drivers, then install some applications to prevent whatever it was the user screwed up in the first place, then explain to the user how to stop breaking their computer, all to end up repeating the cycle every 6 months and you will get sick of it.

I'm not going to spend hours and hours of my time fixing someone's computer because they bought some pizza. There are better things I can be doing with my time. For example, I got sick of being the "go to guy" for tech support when my Mom's computer had issues so I eventually gave up and bought her a Dell with a support contract because I was tired of dealing with it and it was cheaper to just buy a computer and support contract than spend time on it.

Cussed out an uncle over the phone because he demanded I respond to his request to compare models for his upcoming laptop purchase while I was out watching a movie, this is after spending 4-6 hours every 6 months to fix his computer because he's apparently incapable of clicking "NO" or "CANCEL" or even just closing the window every time a pop-up appears.

Some people cannot understand that just because I spent 20 minutes installing your printer driver for you 20 years ago, does not mean I have hours and hours to deal with your computer(or your phone, or your TV, or your refrigerator, etc.) now. Especially having a career that involves computers(more than just using one at a desk), it is not "fun" to solve your problems after a 9 hour long day at work because you still can't keep a computer running like I can. Nor do I want to explain for the 10th time that you need to spend money to upgrade your 10 year old packard bell, or that you won't be able to get any money selling an old 486 on ebay to buy a new computer.

[Deadbolt]

If there's one thing I absolutely HATE it's helping people free of charge; no matter what the help is concerning. I mean, why on Earth would I want to be a nice person and help someone...FOR FREE?! That's just stupid. I like being stingy because that way I won't have to waste a few minutes of my life in order to make someone else's life easier.

Like, I was shooting at the range the other day and this chick came up to me and said that I was a really good shot and she needed help with a pistol she just bought. I just stared her right in the eye and said, "Excuse you Miss, do I look like a firearm instructor? No, I don't. If you want to learn how to use that thing then you have to pay someone to teach you like I did!" Then I slapped her in the face for having the audacity to ask someone more knowledgeable than her for help.

Some people, I swear... :/

aye i mean, just give the illegal aliens a little college tuition bro. Maybe let them use the Emergency room for free too


just helpin people out

[SuperSet]

On the flip side, consider this good practice for an eventual barter system when the SHTF.

[drkphibr]

On the flip side, consider this good practice for an eventual barter system when the SHTF.

LOL, something tells me when/if the SHTF, the last thing my computer illiterate neighbor will remember is all the free (and actually expensive based on Geek Squad rates) computer work that was performed pre-SHTF and lend me a helping hand...as the barter system I tried with him most recently failed, forcing my new strategy.

On a side note (humor time), when I went to retrieve my goods (the service barter that failed to be fulfilled for MY needs) 30 days after performing the last "fix" (BB quoted $200 for the work BTW), neighbor seemed surprise and responded with "is it because we're taking too long?"...and then proceeded to immediately ask me a question about why his AV is prompting him for input...amazing.

[the86d]

Lately I am bartering 20+ years of Hardware and Software Tech++ and Network++ knowledge for reloadable ammo, while downgrading my expertise and payments back to knowledgeable tech.

My chiropractor gets free work done, and so do I... He's a really good guy, and I try to be.

[Barbarossa]

I just wish people would realize that While I'm downing the server, no your exchange e-mail/facebook/yahoo will not be working...

It's not even my job description and it aggravates me...

"Hi! My computer says it can not connect to the server/internet..."
"ya-huh..."
"is it okay? or should I restart it again? It always runs slow right after I restart it"
" " "yeah try restarting it again, server should be up in about 15 minutes..."

What I like even better?
Waiting since the 6th for the IT company we pay to respond to an e-mail, about why I constantly have to restart the damn server, because it is hanging 2-3 times a week.

Serenity Now!

[1stGenRex]

"How do I upgrade my computer chip to play Skyrim"

Me: I took a look inside your Dell system , your Processor will be ok ,but you'll need a better video card.

"Ahh man, what card do I need?"

Me: For $80, you can get a HD 6670 that will work with your psu"

"I got to pay for it!!??"

I feel your pain buddy. People think techies are magicians that can make computers faster by waving their hands.

You could just have them download more RAM

Does anyone watch "The IT crowd"? Funny Brit comedy about an IT dept. It's streaming on Netflix.

"Hello, IT, have you tried turning it off and on again?"



The one that bugs me is "hey I'm thinking about buying a laptop, what do you think about (Specific model)"

Like I'm some walking encyclopedia of all computers ever made!

I had one dude ask me about a certain Toshiba, which I was unfamiliar with, but explained that I've had issues with 2 Toshibas due to the poor heatsink / fan design where you get a giant dust bunny between the 2, and the computer eventually overheats.

He then proceeds to start rattling off random specs, and says that's what he's going to get... Cool? I mean, why ask me if you've already made up your mind?!

[amd64]

"How do I upgrade my computer chip to play Skyrim"

Me: I took a look inside your Dell system , your Processor will be ok ,but you'll need a better video card.

"Ahh man, what card do I need?"

Me: For $80, you can get a HD 6670 that will work with your psu"

"I got to pay for it!!??"

I feel your pain buddy. People think techies are magicians that can make computers faster by waving their hands.

Usually the next thing they say is "you have lots of PCs and spare parts why don't you give me one of your video cards?"

These are the same type of low/no class leeches that say "wow you're prepared for SHTF, me and my family and friends will come to your house when SHTF".