Recently I had a lady with a laptop that had gotten over heated. I had things that needed replaced to make it run right again. She opted to just get a new one. She was a long time friend, so it wasn't a big deal that I didn't charge her anything, but as a general rule, what is an appropriate "service call" charge if this happens again? I now I need to charge for my time and effort.

Back when I worked in a PC repair shop, any job got at least 1 hour charge (unless it was something like installing ram)

We were charging 60$ an hour in house 85$ an hour on site

I'd say 30-40 is probably reasonable but it depends on what local shops are charging.

I also experience these things here in the shop but I charge some of my old friends maybe 50-60 percent of the minimum charge.

Why you must charge your old friends? It is because they will fell embarrass on themselves that they won't let you repair their computer anymore.

Well, that's just some of the case but as I asked some of my friends. They feel that way too.

- Felix

I have ended up with a $30 "diagnostic fee." They know about it when they first come in now. If they opt to not have me fix it, they don't get the PC back until I get the $30. I've only had 1 person not come back for their PC...of course it was a hunk of junk. I wouldn't have come back for it either!

I also charge a $30 Diag fee depending on the situation. If a customer brings in the computer and I'm able to Diagnose the problem in a matter of a min or 2 then the diag is free. Of course if they have me repair the computer then the diag is also free.

All in all I have only charged 2 people (that I can remember) the $30 diag fee.

$30 Diagnostic fee.

If I end up repairing the $30 gets rolled into the hourly charge.

The reason I do this is because people bring in there computer get it diagnosed and now know what the problem may be and go fix it there self.
It seems to work out well.