Finally stopped arguing with clients about data recovery pricing after one bad experience

I used to always give people a hard quote over the phone for drive recovery jobs, like 150 for a simple file pull. Then last month a guy brought in a WD external that was clicking, I quoted him 200 not knowing it needed a head swap. Turned into a 4 hour job with a donor drive and I ate the cost cause I already gave him the price. A buddy I met at a CompTIA meetup in Austin chewed me out, said always quote a range or a diagnostic fee first. Now I charge a flat 50 to evaluate, then give the real number after I crack it open. Has anyone else had to learn this the hard way with storage jobs?

2 comments

2 Comments

patriciap5228d ago

Flat 50 diagnostic fee is the way to go for sure. Had a similar mess a couple years back with a RAID array for a small law office. Quoted them a flat 300 over the phone, got there and it was a total rebuild situation. Ended up working 6 hours for 300 bucks. Now I charge a diagnostic fee upfront too, but I write it off if they take the repair. Keeps everyone honest and stops you from eating hours for nothing.

elizabethn5628d ago

Yeah writing off the diagnostic fee if they take the repair is the only way to make it fair. Learned that one the hard way too, now I don't quote anything until I've actually seen the hardware.