| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/1/2008 4:06:52 PM | Following on from the other thread about friends who disappear when they start a new relationship......
Why is it that some "friends" only contact you when they want their computer fixed or have a problem. And even worse than that expect you to do it for free?
I am a computer expert and always get calls about my laptop has stopped working, or my kids have lost their homework, or we've lost all out holiday pictures for the last ten years, etc. And they expect you to sort it all out for them for nothing, well except maybe a cup of tea and a biscuit if you are lucky.
I know several people that when the phone goes I answer it and the first thought in my mind is "What have they broken now?". I've even started timing some of them to see how long the "Hello mate, long time no see routine" goes before they ask me about it. To be honest some of them now I don't even answer the phone to anymore.
The same friends who are plumbers, builders, electricians, plasterers, etc would never dream of doing work for me for free. I've actually even mentioned it a couple of times and they look at you as if you asked them to eat a piece of dog poo!!!!
So why is it that computer people are just expected to help for nothing? And that you only get contacted when something is wrong? | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/2/2008 12:26:50 AM | got some friends, one in colchester who is too far for me to drive on a whim has lots of issues, seems to be getting better and giving hints over the phone helps a lot
another one local messed up big time, went over there, got several beers and finally sorted it out, was not really worried about cash, so told him what he thought it was worth 40 quid and more beers down the pub when his friend came over and "fixed" my work so he could not use the net :)
friend who used to do tech support refuses to do it at all unless really desperate
if they ask for help, maybe you are too busy, but will get round to them in a few weeks, if really desperate, they could goto pc world and get ripped off, plus any nude pictures will likely have the police involved - local shop seems to borrow music and film collections when people bring stuff to be fixed | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/2/2008 8:29:46 AM | Any friends of mine who have wanted work small jobs (a little bit of skimming etc) done I'll genreally do for free well intend to if I have what I need left over from work. But alot of the time they refuse to let me leave unless I have something. If it's something bigger I just give them a cheap price. Admittedly I wouldn't do anything too big like this as although they are friends it's still taking up my evenings and weekends. It's not doing me any favours but I do feel abliged.
None of my friends seem to be able to do anything the one who was a mechanic gave it up because he wasn't any good. He managed to destroy 3 cars in under 2 years from not looking after them... Forgot to put oil in two of them. | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/2/2008 8:47:38 AM | | Don't have this problem because im not good at anything particularly useful, well except lending money, but I'm a bit of a tight **stard with my money, so very rarely will lend any. But that said, I would never expect anything for free that wasted someones time. Doesnt feel right taking without giving (how gay does that sound?!) | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/2/2008 10:52:16 AM | My problem with computers is waking up the morning after a night on the lager and finding out i've dismantled it, dismantled my gfx card (To clean the heatsink) and its strewn all over my living room because it seemed like a good idea at the time.
But yeah I feel like an unpaid pc technican for the majority of my friends and family. | |
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che37
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Joined: 4/12/2008
Msg: 11 | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/2/2008 3:20:13 PM | All your replies so far have been brilliant. Not been offered to be paid with sex before I must admit 
Glad to see that I am not the only one who gets all this hassle though.
But is it true what I said about other trades not being expected to do stuff "just to help out as a mate" etc?
The reason I don't charge, and I never fixed home PCs when I had my own IT Consultancy, is because they so easily get broken by the kids. Or actually more often the parents not knowing what they are doing
So you tell them it's all fixed, then 2 days later they have broken it again and blame you for not fixing it properly in the first place.
By the way if anyone tells you the best money is in IT then don't believe them. Locksmiths do the best. Closely followed by the £40 call out plumbers. | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/2/2008 6:25:21 PM | This used to happen to me years back and then somehow I started putting people off. Can't remember what I did exactly, I think it just became aparent that I had nothing to prove anymore. People rarely ask now and are very grateful if I do help out.
They don't offer to pay because its one of those things people don't have a concept of value for. In some case they think its something you enjoy, and not work. People ask me to do artwork for them sometimes and are put out when I tell them they'd have to pay. Art dosen't have a specific value either. | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/17/2008 2:27:42 AM | I suspect that as a fixer, ( I am also in IT - in a very secret IT ), we are independent. And I may hazard my neck that , most people rarely want independent people. They (like all of us) have a need to feel wanted. And what do they want from us? What they see is only a fixer, not a tree to lean on. Especially when we talk of the sensible things to do on the internet. All facts and no fun, makes Jack a dull boy.
You are right! They want things for free from their friends, but they would pay strangers in a shop! For me I would pay for my friends services because I know he/she is close to my heart. He/She is sustaining my life form, makes me happy and sad, and affects my life, and is a part of my life, so why not contribute for this "family" ?
I may have crossed some bounds here, again I'm sorry. | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/17/2008 2:42:51 AM | Tall Graham,
I am a computer expert and always get calls about my laptop has stopped working, or my kids have lost their homework, or we've lost all out holiday pictures for the last ten years, etc. And they expect you to sort it all out for them for nothing, well except maybe a cup of tea and a biscuit if you are lucky.
Is 'Oh no! My computer has gone wrong, who can save me now?' a good chat up line for you? Seeing as you are near me and quite nice....
Oddly enough....ppl never ring me with the dire urge to know the latin name of a virus or how the kidney works....  | |
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cargy
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Joined: 10/13/2006
Msg: 19 | |
| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/17/2008 2:43:54 AM | I had a "friend" who seemed to think that my Hoover was an essential part of the friendship. (And not just the Hoover... sugar, tea bags, milk, bread, fags and anything else he could ponce - which was surprising as he had a bigger income than anyone else in the flats)
Once a week, every week, he'd knock and borrow it, until I eventually realised that not only was he taking it for granted, but on many occasions he returned it full to the gills!
(He was also one of those people, who sub-lend. It turned out that my Hoover was doing 4 of the six flats in the block, and I'd often waste ages hunting it down when I needed to do my flat).
One day I had enough; he came to the door as usual and asked to borrow the Hoover.
"No" says I, "sorry not this time". He looked stunned "Why not?".
I said "I don't have to explain it. I've got my reasons and the answer's no!"
He then got personal, "You're not much of a friend if you can't lend your Hoover to a mate"
Well, he walked into it didn't he?
"Well, you're not much of a mate if our 'friendship' depends on my Hoover!"
After that, his flat just got dirty!
If you like fixing pooters, and you have nowt better to do, then fine. But if not... charge him or make him buy the drinks next time you go for a beer! | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/17/2008 3:30:13 AM | I know exactly the type you mean, I have a friend whose pets i look after when he's away. well I just got sick of doing it for no thanks or anything, so last time when he asked me I lied and said I was away, which left him in the lurch, but tough luck.
I thought ''find someone else to be your mug''. after a while you just have to say no or people will doormat you forever. | |
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| Why is it that some friends only contact you when they want their computer fixed?
Posted: 5/17/2008 3:34:47 AM |
So why is it that computer people are just expected to help for nothing?
It's not just computers that happens with. I own a car dealership and whenever a friends car breaks or gets scratched the first person they contact is me expecting to use my mechanic or body shop on the cheap.
I don't necessarily mind helping them out. But, I don't like being in the position of having to tell them that there car is buggered and it's going to cost hundreds of pounds in parts just to put it right. They always look at me as if I've just shot their mother and it's somehow my fault that it can't be fixed any cheaper.
I also have a rule now. I never get new cars for friends. You get them a fantastic deal on a car in the trade. But, if the slightest thing ever goes wrong with it in the next ten years they make you feel obliged to sort it out.
My mate is my accountant. He probably feels the same away about me as he does lots of work for very little money as he's a good friend. So maybe what goes around comes around. | |
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