Computer Guys Have Expenses And Want Something Leftover Too

On a whiteboard in my office, I have a list of places that do similar work and their hourly rates, and at the bottom of the list I have mine.  They are $120, $99, $85, and $80.

Today someone sought me out because the $99 place was so expensive, and they estimated cleaning up the machine, malware infested and otherwise in need of attention, would be a three to five hour job.

Instead of being pleased to be saving 20%, I got begged not to charge so much.  I was humorous about it, but it offends me.  I’m sure the CPA whose employee it was would think I was nuts if I begged him to charge only half his going rates.  I can’t imagine someone being all shocked on learning an attorney I work for charges $120 or more.

It’s not that I don’t expect that some people will consider that a lot of money.  It’s just that a surprising number, even in business, don’t expect to have to pay real money for computer-related services.  Even I think of it as a lot, because of the price level time warp factor I was discussing with Deb recently.  Otherwise I might very well increase it to match what my math says would be more appropriate.  Not to mention my annoyance when I encounter people who charge more and are less capable.  However, competing on price says to leave it the same as it’s been since 1997.

Anyway, I managed to clean things up quite sufficiently in under two hours; none of this three to five stuff.  Go me!  Now back to the work I interrupted…

1. It’s universal.  A Masters degree in computer sciences and thirty years of experience and I still get complaints about high fees (even though they’re lower than the fees of the 20 year-old high school dropout across town).

   Posted by Dave Schuler  on  02/18  at  10:41 AM

2. It’s simple, you compete on price, you get more, not less of this attempted bargaining down your rates. You’re announcing to the world that you’re willing to misprice your labor. Is it any surprise that people are interested in seeing how much more irrational you’re willing to go?

   Do yourself a favor and raise your rates. You’ll find yourself new clients, more money, and less aggravation.

   Posted by TM Lutas  on  02/18  at  11:44 AM

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

<< Back to main

Powered by ExpressionEngine