The rate I charge for my services is $110 per hour plus applicable tax.
This rate applies to work in both residences and businesses.
Commonly Asked Questions:
What forms of payment do you take?
I accept cash, check, VISA and Mastercard.
When do you expect payment?
I require payment upon completion of service.
Do you charge for every minute of your time?
No, not always.
It is important to me that you obtain value from my services. If I am ineffective at solving a problem, I do not expect you to pay for the time I spent attempting to fix it. I charge for my skills when they are effective at solving the task at hand. No solution = no charge.
I also firmly believe in charging for expertise and not charging for learning time. Although it doesn't occur as frequently as it used to, I do not charge for time I spend learning or "spinning my wheels" acquainting myself with new information.
It is important to me that you obtain value from my services. If I am ineffective at solving a problem, I do not expect you to pay for the time I spent attempting to fix it. I charge for my skills when they are effective at solving the task at hand. No solution = no charge.
I also firmly believe in charging for expertise and not charging for learning time. Although it doesn't occur as frequently as it used to, I do not charge for time I spend learning or "spinning my wheels" acquainting myself with new information.
Why hire you when I can just buy a new computer?
That's a very relevant question given that computers are cheaper and cheaper every day.
I'll be the first to advise you that you shouldn't pay anyone $110 an hour to fix a worthless computer when you can just buy a new one for $300.
In fact there are lots of times when it doesn't make sense to pay for computer services.
Some examples:
1.) Your computer has no valuable information on it
2.) Your computer is of little value
3.) You've got tons of time (and patience) to fix it yourself
4.) Your equipment is under warranty
5.) One of your friends offers to fix it
6.) You picked up good tricks from this website
7.) Your problems aren't that bothersome and you can just work around them
8.) Some part of you actually enjoys suffering
It's important to note that I'm not as much a computer repairman as I am a computer consultant. My specialty is in solving problems no one else can, in a way no one else does. My job is not just to "fix it" but to make all your hardware and software work harmoniously and teach you how to use it too! Typical computer technicians do not offer such a service. I frequently solve problems technicians at the Geek Squad concluded were insolvable. I recover lost data no one else believes can be retrieved. I teach people concepts more clearly than anyone I know. And I do it efficiently.
I'll be the first to advise you that you shouldn't pay anyone $110 an hour to fix a worthless computer when you can just buy a new one for $300.
In fact there are lots of times when it doesn't make sense to pay for computer services.
Some examples:
1.) Your computer has no valuable information on it
2.) Your computer is of little value
3.) You've got tons of time (and patience) to fix it yourself
4.) Your equipment is under warranty
5.) One of your friends offers to fix it
6.) You picked up good tricks from this website
7.) Your problems aren't that bothersome and you can just work around them
8.) Some part of you actually enjoys suffering
It's important to note that I'm not as much a computer repairman as I am a computer consultant. My specialty is in solving problems no one else can, in a way no one else does. My job is not just to "fix it" but to make all your hardware and software work harmoniously and teach you how to use it too! Typical computer technicians do not offer such a service. I frequently solve problems technicians at the Geek Squad concluded were insolvable. I recover lost data no one else believes can be retrieved. I teach people concepts more clearly than anyone I know. And I do it efficiently.
How far do you travel?
If you live anywhere in the South Puget Sound region, there will be no travel charge.
This means Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Port Orchard, University Place, Lakewood, Puyallup and the Key Peninsula
I will add one hour's time to appointments in the following locations:
Seattle, Bellevue, Bremerton and Olympia
This means Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Port Orchard, University Place, Lakewood, Puyallup and the Key Peninsula
I will add one hour's time to appointments in the following locations:
Seattle, Bellevue, Bremerton and Olympia
The guy in the want-ads charges $25/hr. Why not hire him?
Another excellent question.
There are lots of problems a less expensive (and less experienced) computer technician can solve.
But when your problems are complex and you need someone to make it work and explain it to you with refreshing clarity, I'm your man!
If you're looking at spending hours (or even days) banging your head against your computer screen attempting to understand its quirks yourself, my fees will be more than worth it. I've worked on thousands of computers and I have a memory like an elephant. My experience gives me a huge advantage in that I have seen, fixed and articulated so many different types of problems. Each problem I encounter makes me better at what I do. I speed read and can type 100wpm. I live and breathe this stuff and have a creative way of approaching problems. I should after all - I've been obsessed with troubleshooting computers for over 20 years! Two of my most valuable assets are my ability to communicate and an extraordinary amount of practice.
In my experience most professional computer nerds are not "out of the box" thinkers and are rarely well-spoken. Consequently their solutions are often mediocre and they may leave you feeling unintelligent and/or confused. I have zero interest in talking down to you. My goal is to get your equipment working but also to get you working as well. Your skills play a critically important role in the experience you have at your computer. In my experience, more computer problems are skills-related than are actually caused by your computer itself. This is why I focus so much energy on developing clear ways to explain computers to my clients.
There are lots of problems a less expensive (and less experienced) computer technician can solve.
But when your problems are complex and you need someone to make it work and explain it to you with refreshing clarity, I'm your man!
If you're looking at spending hours (or even days) banging your head against your computer screen attempting to understand its quirks yourself, my fees will be more than worth it. I've worked on thousands of computers and I have a memory like an elephant. My experience gives me a huge advantage in that I have seen, fixed and articulated so many different types of problems. Each problem I encounter makes me better at what I do. I speed read and can type 100wpm. I live and breathe this stuff and have a creative way of approaching problems. I should after all - I've been obsessed with troubleshooting computers for over 20 years! Two of my most valuable assets are my ability to communicate and an extraordinary amount of practice.
In my experience most professional computer nerds are not "out of the box" thinkers and are rarely well-spoken. Consequently their solutions are often mediocre and they may leave you feeling unintelligent and/or confused. I have zero interest in talking down to you. My goal is to get your equipment working but also to get you working as well. Your skills play a critically important role in the experience you have at your computer. In my experience, more computer problems are skills-related than are actually caused by your computer itself. This is why I focus so much energy on developing clear ways to explain computers to my clients.
