In-Apartment Computer Repair legal questions

[Ramor]

I'm moving into a new apartment building in the next week~ or so and want to basically just run a small shop outside of the spare space in my room fixing people's computers/arcade machines/laptops/360 RRoDs etc... but I know that (specifically for the 360s) I'd have to void warranties to even look at the problem and not to mention computers can be real finicky even if you manage to fix them. I want to know if there's some way to cover my ass through some sort of signed paper that would basically say "if this shit goes to hell I'm not financially liable for your problems, sign here _________", is that something that I would be able to do or what steps I should take to protect myself from people trying to get a new laptop or whatever out of me? I don't suspect I would really break anything as I've done component level work for a while now and know what I should feasibly be able to fix by myself and what I should leave to someone more experienced.

I'm expecting mostly software issues on computers but I have the ability to potentially fix a lot of various problems with TVs/360s/laptops that would require me changing out components (generally blown transistors and caps which aren't all that hard) but I'm a bit wary as to the legal implication if something I do FUBARs someone elses property even though they asked me to fix it.

Also, just suggestions from anyone who has done this sort of thing before, whether through craigslist or your own apartment complexes or just word of mouth, I don't want to do what I did a few months ago which basically ended with me having like 200 units in my house at one point which I obviously couldn't keep up with by myself, or if you've modded 360s or homebrewed a wii, what kind of timeframe would I be looking at to do something like that and would I need any external equipment? I'm sure I can google it but there's generally a few tricks which people have that aren't always obvious when you start but you eventually learn.

Also any tips on pricing models wouldn't be a bad idea, I do a lot of work for local pawnshops and consignment shops where I generally charge about 10% of their asking price of the item which usually comes out to about 20~40$ for about 30 minutes worth of work but obviously that's a bit more clear-cut of a business setting.

edit: Also, I've heard you can just buy the warranty stickers for 360s online to replace the ones that say 'void' when you remove them, anyone who might have extra info on this let me know! (I'm sure this isn't legal or is frowned upon or whatever, but I've only heard of them and never seen them)

[hey]

if you've modded 360s or homebrewed a wii, what kind of timeframe would I be looking at to do something like that and would I need any external equipment?

The wii requires nothing more than an sd card+reader to mod, and takes about 30 minutes, most of which is spent waiting for things. Not sure about the 360.

edit: Also, I've heard you can just buy the warranty stickers for 360s online to replace the ones that say 'void' when you remove them, anyone who might have extra info on this let me know! (I'm sure this isn't legal or is frowned upon or whatever, but I've only heard of them and never seen them)

You could just use a hairdryer, so it doesn't say void to begin with..?

[Guyverarmor]

I do a computer repair sidejob from my apartment for people inside my apt. complex, or people at my wife's school. The amt I charge is based on what they need me to do.

[Ramor]

I do a computer repair sidejob from my apartment for people inside my apt. complex, or people at my wife's school. The amt I charge is based on what they need me to do.

Just curious, but have you ever run across a problem that you couldn't fix, did you still charge them then and what? That's what I'm more worried about, I'd love to help people but if I don't know then I don't think I should charge anything really, but then again I feel like I could check at about 100 different things that would all in all take maybe upwards of 2 hours just to nail a problem down, which tbh doesn't sound like time I don't want to get paid for.

[Yabby]

If you can't fix the problem, don't charge. That said, there should be no problem you shouldn't be able to fix unless you can't find replacement parts.

[Toxictaru]

I think you can legally have them sign saying if you fuck up, shit happens.

Kinda like how where I work, one of the things I do is buy gold. We test it with acid, but part of that requires us to file in to the jewelry. Sometimes that acid hits it, turns it black and its fake. We suddenly have not only filed in to it, but also poured acid over it. We make them all sign waivers before we ever begin testing that we aren't liable for damages. I can't see why that wouldn't apply here, in some way, shape or form.

[Melena]

Just curious, but have you ever run across a problem that you couldn't fix, did you still charge them then and what? That's what I'm more worried about, I'd love to help people but if I don't know then I don't think I should charge anything really, but then again I feel like I could check at about 100 different things that would all in all take maybe upwards of 2 hours just to nail a problem down, which tbh doesn't sound like time I don't want to get paid for.

My rule of thumb is I do charge a minimum to at least look at it and figure it out to cover my ass and time. Obviously if I fix it quick, I won't gouge, but still has to cover my time. Typically I charge 50-100 depending on the job. I used to work at Fry's so I know how much the big box places charge just to look at your computer, and undercut them myself. If I wasn't so lazy, I could probably easily expand since the agency I work for is about 1500 people strong and most of them don't know shit about computers and manage to find every fucking virus known to man.

[Ramor]

I think you can legally have them sign saying if you fuck up, shit happens.

Kinda like how where I work, one of the things I do is buy gold. We test it with acid, but part of that requires us to file in to the jewelry. Sometimes that acid hits it, turns it black and its fake. We suddenly have not only filed in to it, but also poured acid over it. We make them all sign waivers before we ever begin testing that we aren't liable for damages. I can't see why that wouldn't apply here, in some way, shape or form.

Does this have to be worded in a particular way or what? I don't really have any lawschool friends to type something basic up for me though I have a cousin but she's more worker's comp stuff and I don't know if there's any overlap in the terminology or any way to get that worded and have me covered. I'd love to have something that literally says, "If I fuck up, it's your problem. Sign/date: ______" But I highly doubt that would legitimately cover me.

[Guyverarmor]

My rule of thumb is I do charge a minimum to at least look at it and figure it out to cover my ass and time. Obviously if I fix it quick, I won't gouge, but still has to cover my time. Typically I charge 50-100 depending on the job. I used to work at Fry's so I know how much the big box places charge just to look at your computer, and undercut them myself. If I wasn't so lazy, I could probably easily expand since the agency I work for is about 1500 people strong and most of them don't know shit about computers and manage to find every fucking virus known to man.

This is what I mainly do. For cleaning a computer I charge 50-75$...depending on how much work I gotta do. I charge 100-150$ for cleaning plus re-install of OS and setting up the computer ( again, depending on how much work ). I am about to start buying the DIY kits off of Tigerdirect and start selling em built with option of OS or not.

As far as fixing, if I cannot, I normally do not charge.

[Guyverarmor]

I normally let em know ahead of time. Haven't run into a legal situation yet... but reading this thread, I should make up a waiver form just in case.

[Coren]

I own a PC store. We bill 55/hr. Most of the time we bill 1-2 hours for a virus (depends if it's easy, or a giant pain in the ass), and 1.5 to 2.5 for an OS reinstallation, including data migration (again, depending on if I have recovery CDs, etc). Delivery is an additional $55 on top of any in-shop work. Any onsites are billed at $90/hr if we have not done work in-shop (network/printer setups, etc). For laptops with hardware problems (dc jack replacement, etc), we end up charging a shitload just because they can be annoying as hell to dismantle depending on the model.

Luckily I don't do most of the repair work any more, just the onsite jobs. Still, as others have said, there should be nothing you can't fix with an OS reload or a replacement part; whether it is cost-efficient is another matter. We bill $35 diagnostics on any item left with us. That way we can run coupons that offer "free diagnostics, a $35 value!". It also gets rid of most people that want a free diagnosis so they can go home and attempt to fix it themselves. We waive the diag fee if you have us do any in-shop work. Usually we give it a once-over before checkin so we can give a pretty well educated guess if it can be fixed or not. We try not to check-in computers that we know are trash and that won't be fixed.

All of these rates are slightly under the 3 or 4 stores I'd consider our competition in the area. Big-box stores like best buy and staples charge a shitload for almost everything, but they can get away with it because of massive advertising budgets and there's an endless supply of stupid people to fall for their shit.

Last, you should always have people sign something to the effect of "you are responsible for backing up your own data, so if I lose it, it's not my fault. Also, if I blow your shit up, you can't sue me." As a matter of course, having insurance is always a good idea; you never know when you might blow up some businessman's hard drive that had the last 8 years worth of data on there. Those signed things are a basic defense, but if you really fuck up, somebody's probably going to be gunning for you, waiver or not.

[Ramor]

Fair enough, any suggestions on going about having a waiver drawn up? Like what would something along those lines cost me to get from a law-firm/lawyer? I'm not exactly swimming in cash at the moment (hence me wanting to start fixing other people's stupid problems for $$$) but I could probably swing some cash as long as it would legally cover me.

I don't expect there to be many high-profile computers I'd take a look at, it'd be in a primarily student/new professional building with maybe some older tenants but I mean the rent's like 400$/mo so it's not exactly the nicest place (although it's a pretty fucking amazing apartment for that price around here).

Also, I was looking at more charging like 20~40$ to fix something as opposed to what I'm seeing you guys put up for numbers, what do the so-called 'big-box' places generally charge for this sort of thing? I don't really know to be perfectly honest, I know it's a lot more than it should be but they can't really have people who pay them like 150$ to remove a virus can they? (it's not that I don't believe that's possible it's just that it blows my mind knowing what little I know and the amount of work I can do on computers by myself)

edit: thank you all so far for the replies, they've all been quite helpful and were exactly what I was looking for from this thread.

edit2: how successful (for the people who started up or still do it just out of their living areas) were you and about how much do you take in per hour of work? I'm sure it'll be different for everyone considering where they are and whatnot, but I'm just curious!

[guartz]

yes,

make them sign something that says you are not responsible for data loss. This is crucial.

[Ratatapa]

Got a question that i'm sure will be usefull to the OP too

Tried to do this at home too but i have 1 big problems.

Getting contacts I tried Kijiji and lespacs which is a type of craiglist but less fucked up and i tried to charge 30$/h which i think is a good price.

But everyone undercutting at like 15-20$/h can't do shit at this rate.


Should i continue that way or make a fix rate per job?

[solanis]

Got a question that i'm sure will be usefull to the OP too

Tried to do this at home too but i have 1 big problems.

Getting contacts I tried Kijiji and lespacs which is a type of craiglist but less fucked up and i tried to charge 30$/h which i think is a good price.

But everyone undercutting at like 15-20$/h can't do shit at this rate.


Should i continue that way or make a fix rate per job?

it's not undercutting if that's the price people want to pay

[leviathanertai]

it's not undercutting if that's the price people want to pay

Its undercutting if its significantly below what people are willing to pay, and the price is simply lower for the purpose of getting more business than your competitors. And I would say 15-20/hr for that kind of work is significantly lower than what people are willing to pay. You can't really go by what people "want to pay" as, at least for me, that would always be at or around 0.

[solanis]

Its undercutting if its significantly below what people are willing to pay, and the price is simply lower for the purpose of getting more business than your competitors. And I would say 15-20/hr for that kind of work is significantly lower than what people are willing to pay. You can't really go by what people "want to pay" as, at least for me, that would always be at or around 0.

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough, I was assuming equilibrium. if everyone is charging 15-20 an hour, then that's the market price. that's what the labor is worth right now. if you feel your labor is worth more than the going market price, it doesn't mean anyone is undercutting, just that you over-value your labor in comparison to the market.

[plue]

Regarding a waiver form, you could try to go to a larger store (ex. BestBuy) and ask for their waiver form that they make people sign when coming in for repairs. Then simply make the format suit your own needs? I don't know if it would infringe any copyright laws, but it's probably what I'd do.

[Melena]

Really can't copyright terms and conditions. From what I remember on the fry's one (been almost 3 years since i left that hell hole) you agreed that data loss is not covered, physical damage voids the warranty, viruses are not covered, etc etc.