VERY off topic - opinions if possible

LeeDJC · Post by **LeeDJC** » 25 Apr 2007, 22:24

I hope nobody minds me posting this link here.....

If you read my post in the "pics of you" thread, then you may have seen that I'm setting up a PC repair type company to try and help me through Uni. I've just finished sorting out the website, and would really appreciate any feedback.

It's at www.collinscomputers.co.uk

If anyone's got a couple of spare minutes, it'd be great if they could take a look and let me know what they think. Particularly at the Pricing page.

Thanks!
Lee

THELABMAN · Post by **THELABMAN** » 25 Apr 2007, 22:40

Hi Lee,

Your web site looks good and fairly professional but I have to admit that I baulked at your prices.......£20 to install a memory chip that involves about what 10mins work at most seems hell of excesive to me the same goes at £15 for installing a DVD drive, god thats about what I can pay for one.

LeeDJC · Post by **LeeDJC** » 25 Apr 2007, 22:54

Hmm, that is a fair point. I would include a discount for multiple upgrades etc, perhaps I should make that clear and also review the prices.

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 25 Apr 2007, 22:56

It's not just fitting the chip, it's collecting the computer, selecting the correct chip and ordering it and then returning the computer. It doesn't seem so expensive when you consider the time and fuel involved in all that.

THELABMAN · Post by **THELABMAN** » 25 Apr 2007, 23:02

I'm not knocking you Lee far from it as I know your looking to make money to get you through Uni.

Just as an example one of the computer stores I use in Glasgow charge £40 to call an engineer out and then it's £20 an hour for the 1st hour and £10 for every 30mins after that, so compared to that some of your prices are very reasonable.

It's only recently that I've plucked up the courage to open up a PC case and add memory etc. but having done so I realise how easy some of the jobs can be and hence my remarks about those two prices in particular.

Your idea though of a discount for multiple jobs, especially installation inside the case is a great idea and I wish you all the success in the world with your venture.

LeeDJC · Post by **LeeDJC** » 25 Apr 2007, 23:07

THELABMAN wrote:I'm not knocking you Lee far from it as I know your looking to make money to get you through Uni.

Just as an example one of the computer stores I use in Glasgow charge £40 to call an engineer out and then it's £20 an hour for the 1st hour and £10 for every 30mins after that, so compared to that some of your prices are very reasonable.

It's only recently that I've plucked up the courage to open up a PC case and add memory etc. but having done so I realise how easy some of the jobs can be and hence my remarks about those two prices in particular.

Your idea though of a discount for multiple jobs, especially installation inside the case is a great idea and I wish you all the success in the world with your venture.

It's not knocking, it's "constructive criticism"

No-one would be anywhere without that. I can understand that on the face of it, it does seem a little expensive, but all things considered, I don't think it's too bad.

Will see what others think

Thanks

THELABMAN · Post by **THELABMAN** » 25 Apr 2007, 23:15

Hi Lee,

Having read reblack68's posting he does make a fair point about you travelling to peoples houses.

I know it may get a bit confusing but how about prices quoted for work done in situ in peoples homes and work done when they bring the PC into you and I still think the discount for multiple installations is a winner.

Ross_K · Post by **Ross_K** » 25 Apr 2007, 23:34

I don't see any problems with the guy's prices, specially as he's visiting the customer.

So a RAM installation takes a couple of minutes? What about the time to get to and from the customer's premises, petrol used, etc, etc. 20 quid for that isn't excessive, or you do you get free cars and fuel up your neck of the woods

To the nay-sayers: Unplug your PC, stick it in the car, go to PC World and see what they charge for hardware or software installs.

It's easy to moan about the price of a certain service, but if someone doesn't have a clue how to, say for instance, install a hard drive, change a set of spheres or install a central heating system they have two choices - pay someone who knows what they're doing or learn how to do it themselves.

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 26 Apr 2007, 00:16

I'm with Ross here on the price level.

Remember guys - a service like this is offered to and aimed at the customer who wont know how to do it himself - and never would let in a highschool 'puter expert' to do it for him.
What seems very simple for the average home PC nerd, may be completely off the list for a standard user.
Take a look round your nearest family members :
Few super users like yourself.
Many gamers, who thinks they are professionals based on their score rate and videocard type knowledge.
Most fainthearted that panics if Windows suddenly slams up some kind of a service message box.

Here are my pennies Lee :
Dont be 'too professional' in yor profile presentation. This is in fact NOT professional (use a picture of yourself, instead of that silly clerk model 8) )
Hints :
You are not selling webdesigns (or are you ?), but purely tech assistance.
Dont start your website 'click to enter'.
Its sooooo annoying for the customer to first read, then click, before anything happens.
Slam up your start page at once !

This is veryveryveryvery off topic but fun
- says the moderator

Ross_K · Post by **Ross_K** » 26 Apr 2007, 01:42

Oh yeah Lee, I forgot to mention this book 'Start Your Own Computer Business': http://www.fonerbooks.com/compbiz.htm

You can read bits of it on the website, or pick up a hard copy on Amazon or eBay.

It's an excellent, and funny, guide to the pitfalls you come across in the computer business. Some of it has an American bias - tax and stuff like that - but the majority of the advice is sound.

PS, I would even revise some of those prices upwards. Stuff like OS installs are time consuming - You're talking about 1.5 or 2 hours to install XP by the time you get all of the drivers and things like antivirus software on. Charging too little can sometimes be as bad for business as charging too much.

bxbodger · Post by **bxbodger** » 26 Apr 2007, 10:28

I've just had a look and I don't think you're charging anywhere near enough......you need to charge some sort of hourly rate, just to cover your travelling if nothing else.........if it's going to be your sole source of income you are really going to have to toughen up the prices: have you done any research locally on what other people charge?

Think about it- you're in Cornwall, people and their computers are pretty spread out: you will need to travel if you prefer to work in situ........and you are offering a no fix no fee service!! So....someone from an hour's time away calls you out, you go, you look, you discuss, the customer decides not to go any further with the job..that's three hours at least of your time wasted for nothing, or maybe just a £15 DVD install.Plus of course your travelling costs, fuel, etc, it will actually cost you money!

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 26 Apr 2007, 12:17

Hi Lee,

Site looks good. Your prices, seem alittle high but nothing really to worry about, esp if it includes a callout charge.
One thing I would say is I found it was never a good move to publish your prices on the website. The reason for this was your competitors would see your prices & under cut them, even if it ment them making a loss.
I think your better putting email enquiries up instead.

deian · Post by **deian** » 26 Apr 2007, 15:59

Hi,

as an ex webdesigner... it's a nice site, it's simple, it's clean and it gets the message across... i'm not sure about the black background in this instance, yes it draws attention to where the details are, but the contrast between black and white is too much... try making it very dark blue to match your logo... the guy in the pic is always there... no offence here, but I don't feel it's right, he seems to be sleeping or relaxing?... i tend to avoid companies that put pictures of cheesy good looking people who are wearing a headset or sitting in a conference room... i reckon the masses are steering away from stock photography nowadays.

I agree on the part of put yourself in the site, just a small picture is enough...

This part may be not be needed:

"No fix - no fee
If you decide that the repair for your computer is uneconomical, or you do not wish me to undertake the repair on your behalf, I do not charge."

It could give a customer a way out when you've already done some work?
I think that one is unnecessary, and obvious, who would pay for nothing?

I'd take out the word 'pornography' from the site too... search engines may filter that page only because it has that word in it.

Otherwise it'll work! Nice site. Let me know how it goes, i've always been toying with the idea of starting a web/graphic design business online.

The prices are spot on in my opinion. A customised CV on the site would work well too, it will make you more approachable.

LeeDJC · Post by **LeeDJC** » 26 Apr 2007, 16:14

Thanks for all the replies everyone! I'm going to digest all the replies and take a look at the overall look at the site, pricing and wording etc.

I'll let you all know when I've made the changes

In the meantime, if anyone else still has any opinions, then don't hesitate to let me know!

Thanks again

rabenson · Post by **rabenson** » 26 Apr 2007, 21:38

A nice clean looking site which gives a good first impression of your business.

Being critical, the only minor problem with site is the filesize of the main graphic (Relaxing guy - 130K which will slow down your load time radically on a slow connection)- optimally compress it with image ready if you've got it or save it at as low a quality JPG as you can without visible degradation using photoshop or similar.

I'd dump the splash page - it adds nothing but the need to click the mouse one more time.

Remember to use fully descriptive alt tags on all of your graphic images (including logos). You are providing a service to the public so the disability descrimination act is applicable.

Prices look like good value for money!

Cheers,

Ron