Should i put my computer repair prices up?

[scott_150]

Hi,

I have a small one-man computer repair shop in Norfolk UK. Currently I charge £40.00 for most repairs ie, Windows re-installation, computer service etc.

I'm wondering if I would be able to put this up to £50.00 instead? I have a lot of good reviews for my business.

A service typically takes a day or so depending on how nice it wants to be to me & this is what I usually do for a computer/laptop service:
(I apologise for the lack of technical terminology, this is a list intended for my customers)
• ADWCleaner
• Hitman Pro
• Malwarebytes
• Super Anti-spyware
• antivirus scan
• Unwanted programs removal
• Over 40 Windows system repairs & checks
• Hard drive tests
• Memory tests
• Corruption repairs
• System file checks & repairs
• Driver checks & updates performed
• System advanced settings tweaks performed
• Advanced configuration tweaks performed
• Updates installed
• Start-up item checks & tweaks performed
• Hard drive space freed up, temporary & system files cleaned.
• Page file settings tweaks performed
• Schedule tasks checked & tweaked
• Unwanted add-ons & toolbars etc. removed from browsers
• Browser settings cleaned & tweaked
• Hard drive defragmented/optimised
• Antivirus status checks, updates & scans done.
• Cooling system blew free of any dust &/or blockages
• Computer/laptop physically cleaned

I'm also very interested in what other people charge for your work?


Any answers/opinions positive or negative towards the subject are greatly appreciated, thank you!

 

[Ralston18]

Always difficult to know.

Depends so much on the local economics, competitor's pricing, existing goodwill you have earned within the community.

Is your area growing: do you have residential customers, business/commerical customers? Can you bid on government contracts?

What are your objectives: make a living full time repairs or just part-time self employed to boost your income?

You might raise your pricing but only halfway between (i.e. £45.00) for good/known customers.

Charge the higher rate (£50.00) for new customers but have some "discount" coupons available - maybe £47.50)

May be wise to provide some advance notice to your customer base. Must be carefully done so as they do not just go somewhere else "next time".

Price increases are not only difficult - they can be tricky as well.

 

[mjslakeridge]

Have you considered charging a very low fee for initial consultation, and then charging for the actual services you provide depending on the complexity/time required to complete the service? You could provide the customer with a quote and let them decide whether to proceed with the work. I am not in the computer repair business, so I don't know what is customary. Also how long have you been charging 40? If it has been many years, I think customers would understand an increase.

 

[scott_150]

proving very difficult indeed, looking around £45-65 is about average for a service.

I don't want to do a consultation fee simply because i was always taught that you don't charge people for looking at the machine/diagnostics, which is something I still believe although a charge is becoming more and more common including with the other computer shop in town. And free diagnostics is quite a good advertising point for me.

As for time I've only had my shop for just over a year & is the first venture on my own although I've been doing PC repairs for about 6 years since I was 13. The person who taught me a good amount of knowledge & who I started out with has been charging £40.00 for repairs since I joined him which is where I got the original 40 from & he is now semi-retired and sends a good amount of his customers to me as he is slowly retiring, although it's mostly my own customer base.

Residential customers are basically my only customers though I do the occasional things for businesses but it's never been anything that I wouldn't usually do for a residential user ie fixing printer faults and things like that, I don't have any business or government contracts but I would like to move into whenever possible.

The main objective with the business is to build it into a future for myself, so to eventually make a full living off it and grow the business into 4/5 shops. I'm only 19 so at this point actually getting myself paid a great amount really doesn't interest me. What I would however like & is the main thinking behind the price rise, is to move into a larger shop in 2 years when my current lease ends. So I want to make sure the business has some money to support the move.

The charging different rates for new & old customers is a good idea but one I'd rather avoid because I can very easily picture someone coming into the shop and saying "you charged my friend £45, why have you charged me £50?" and complaining.

I do already do a discount scheme for returning customers where if they leave me a review, I give them £5 off their next repair (I offer the £5 as an incentive because otherwise, half the people don't bother filling them out & I feel like we've "evened" things out, they have given me something I've given them something, which I realise not everyone will agree with but still it works).

However, discount coupons could be a good idea to boost my facebook page &/or my website ie like our facebook page or go to our website to download a coupon to get £5 off or a free cooling re-vamp or something.

 

[Ralston18]

Go slow and simple.

Maybe just an across the board increase to £45 and weather the storm.....

Explain the need to customers if asked - good customers will understand expecially if your services continue to meet their requirements and expectations.

What you do need to avoid is that at some time in the future you will be forced to raise your pricing - and perhaps a great deal just to breakeven on expenses such as a new lease/larger shop.

You are already thinking proactively. Very good. Two years is not too far ahead to plan so do some reading and research.

Learn about business practices, different types of expenses, breakeven analysis - financial matters.

Also watch other businesses; IT and otherwise. Join any professional or business groups in your area. It appears you have had a good mentor. But learn from other people as well.

I am sure that you would rather spend your time in the shop actually fixing computers etc.. And that may be your true strength. But for now learn as much as you can and then later on, as your business grows, you can delegate as necessary. (Which tends to be very difficult for many small business owners/professionals.)

 

[scott_150]

Sorry for the delay in my reply busy week.

Thank you for the advice it helped a lot with my decision, I did eventually jump straight in and put my Service & Tune up price to £50.00 & most other services to £45.

I've had both old repeat customers and new customers come in for a service since the price change and not one has batted an eye, made a face or changed the tone in their voice at the new price. They were just as happy to pay it.