 Advice is now chargeable
Saturday, 4 August 2007
Even though I specialise in software development, people regularly ask me for advice on a whole range of computer-related issues. Hardware upgrades, home networks, virus removal. Anything to do with computers, really.
Then, they go right ahead and ignore it. Often to their own detriment. They buy something which doesn’t quite work. Or, they pay too much for something that does. Either way, they waste their money and my time.
So, why would anyone expect me, as a skilled and qualified IT professional, to give free advice and sometimes even free service? Would they expect a mate of mine, who is a qualified plumber, to do their wife’s plumbing for free? I don’t think so. What is it about our industry which gives people the impression that they can leech off us?
No more.
From now on I have a new policy: advice costs $110/hour (including GST), with 2 hours minimum. I expect to get lots of puzzled looks and very few takers.
Which suits me just fine.
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