xero1 Wrote:

SchmilK Wrote:anytime i do anything for anyone on a computer i request money or cookies...i don't give out help for free anymore because they don't appreciate the time and effort that goes in.

Sure its easy for us to run some scanners on a computer and maybe manual regedits, but if our work goes for free it is unappreciated.  If they have to give something in return, they think twice about making us feel like jerks for it.

Or at least that is how I have found it lately.  People seem to be more thankful when they give money to me for making their Personal Confuser less confusing.

Tried that a few times also, people here try to make you feel bad for asking for money. It's an other aspect of NJ that is hard to explain. Like I said before, people have money here and lots of it. The richest city in the US now is NJ, Apline, NJ If I recall correctly. They say "Wow, 50$ isn't that a lot?" Mind you they say this when I'm in their 2 million dollar house. I don't know how to put it, it's more how they say stuff and their body language I guess.

The people I've helped, maybe 5 said "Hey you want a beer or something?" One time I asked for a drink from that bitch that I took pictures for, she gave me water in a plastic cup and it's not like she was the kind of person that does that. She had lots of money, people come to her house and get to drink 100$ wine not that I wanted that, but water in a plastic cup. The just a big fudge you.

It's not only that people use you here, it's also the unfriendliness of people here. It's a big turn off when people don't smile, say hi, or anything. I find it very strange that people can be like that and that most of the people are like that.

i hear all of that!  its the same thing here.  Lake County is also in the top richest counties, and well..you don't get rich by giving away money.

I have a hard time telling someone that my 10 hours of fixing their spoon is worth $50-$100....but then i came accross 2 people who went to best buy and were charged $250 and $400 to remove viruses...AND...one person lost ALL of their photos and documents with no warning, the other was not allowed to turn on the computer or look at it before signing the papers saying they were satisfied with the work and paid the money!!!!

So now, if someone says 'Isn't that a bit high.  I pull out my phone, go to my Best Buy Geek Squad saved phone number, put it on speaker phone and tell the pocky head on the phone what MIGHT be wrong with the computer *after fixing it and KNOWING what was wrong* and get a quote around $200 and most of the time with no guarantee their files will be safe!

It sucks having a demanding skill that is so undervalued by the people who need it.  :(
Or if you know what their professional line of work is, ask them to 'do you a favor' that may take 4-10 hours and see what their response is  ;)  ehhehee...

it's one thing to be nice (which you and I both seem to be), but I am done being walked all over and have within the past 3 years actually started to stand up for my self and tell people no.

(This post was last modified: 24/03/2010 06:33 PM by SchmilK.)