«

For those people with a legitimate business.

Do you have your customers sign a service agreement
when they bring in a machine for service?

Gary

I thought a service agreement was an agreement between a service company and
the customer to perform a certain amount of work on a regular basis for a
set fee.

The only thing I have my customers sign is an invoice. Two copies (since I
don't have carbons now). The invoice claims a 30 day warranty on parts/labor
listed on the invoice (or 90 days for new systems and other items). However
this is all this basic ... since I rarely do work without getting paid at
least a bench fee (up front ).
<> wrote in message
news:...
> For those people with a legitimate business.
>
> Do you have your customers sign a service agreement
> when they bring in a machine for service?
>
> Gary

My lawyer advised me that i should have them sign a service
agreement similiar to what you sign when you bring a car in for
repairs. Stating your hourly rate and how do you bill for less than an
hour.

Gary

On Thu, 11 Sep 2003 13:07:27 -0400, "techshare" <>
wrote:

>I thought a service agreement was an agreement between a service company and
>the customer to perform a certain amount of work on a regular basis for a
>set fee.
>
>The only thing I have my customers sign is an invoice. Two copies (since I
>don't have carbons now). The invoice claims a 30 day warranty on parts/labor
>listed on the invoice (or 90 days for new systems and other items). However
>this is all this basic ... since I rarely do work without getting paid at
>least a bench fee (up front ).
><> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> For those people with a legitimate business.
>>
>> Do you have your customers sign a service agreement
>> when they bring in a machine for service?
>>
>> Gary
>

In article <>,
wrote:

> For those people with a legitimate business.
>
> Do you have your customers sign a service agreement
> when they bring in a machine for service?
>
> Gary

ABSOLUTELY!!!

In article <wOidnX8XF8FFNv2iU->, "techshare"
<> wrote:

> I thought a service agreement was an agreement between a service company and
> the customer to perform a certain amount of work on a regular basis for a
> set fee.
>
> The only thing I have my customers sign is an invoice. Two copies (since I
> don't have carbons now). The invoice claims a 30 day warranty on parts/labor
> listed on the invoice (or 90 days for new systems and other items). However
> this is all this basic ... since I rarely do work without getting paid at
> least a bench fee (up front ).
> <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > For those people with a legitimate business.
> >
> > Do you have your customers sign a service agreement
> > when they bring in a machine for service?
> >
> > Gary

No, the service agrrement should be signed BEFORE work is perofmred on the
customer machine- and among others things it should set forth the rates an
what is expected, as well as what the complaints are. This way the cust
cannot claim you did not fix a problem they neever mentioned.

OK, are there any good (free) examples of such a service agreement? Do we
all have to pay attorneys to write them up? Also, what if you don't charge
by the hour (flat rate or per job)?
"Ghost" <> wrote in message
news:user-1109031820170001@1.0.0.101...
> In article <wOidnX8XF8FFNv2iU->, "techshare"
> <> wrote:
>
> > I thought a service agreement was an agreement between a service company
and
> > the customer to perform a certain amount of work on a regular basis for
a
> > set fee.
> >
> > The only thing I have my customers sign is an invoice. Two copies (since
I
> > don't have carbons now). The invoice claims a 30 day warranty on
parts/labor
> > listed on the invoice (or 90 days for new systems and other items).
However
> > this is all this basic ... since I rarely do work without getting paid
at
> > least a bench fee (up front ).
> > <> wrote in message
> > news:...
> > > For those people with a legitimate business.
> > >
> > > Do you have your customers sign a service agreement
> > > when they bring in a machine for service?
> > >
> > > Gary
>
> No, the service agrrement should be signed BEFORE work is perofmred on the
> customer machine- and among others things it should set forth the rates an
> what is expected, as well as what the complaints are. This way the cust
> cannot claim you did not fix a problem they neever mentioned.

Well, then you would want to put that into your agreement.

I do not know of any online offhand, but I am quite sure they are out there.

My agreement also says any unclaimed property past 30 days after
completeion without prior arrangments is mine. I had a few customers who
left their stuff in the shop for months- meaning I was still waiting on
payment. Either i could not reach them, or they did not have the money to
pick it up, etc. I got tired of it.

Also, the agreement says I am not responsible for unintentional damage.
What happens if a PSU dies on you during the time it is in the shop?

It also explains in the agreement that PC repair work is often time
consuming and how the time can be lengthed by the customers lack of
drivers, a slow CDROm, etc.


In article <B6mdnXToJai-m_yiU->, "techshare"
<> wrote:

> OK, are there any good (free) examples of such a service agreement? Do we
> all have to pay attorneys to write them up? Also, what if you don't charge
> by the hour (flat rate or per job)?
> "Ghost" <> wrote in message
> news:user-1109031820170001@1.0.0.101...
> > In article <wOidnX8XF8FFNv2iU->, "techshare"
> > <> wrote:
> >
> > > I thought a service agreement was an agreement between a service company
> and
> > > the customer to perform a certain amount of work on a regular basis for
> a
> > > set fee.
> > >
> > > The only thing I have my customers sign is an invoice. Two copies (since
> I
> > > don't have carbons now). The invoice claims a 30 day warranty on
> parts/labor
> > > listed on the invoice (or 90 days for new systems and other items).
> However
> > > this is all this basic ... since I rarely do work without getting paid
> at
> > > least a bench fee (up front ).
> > > <> wrote in message
> > > news:...
> > > > For those people with a legitimate business.
> > > >
> > > > Do you have your customers sign a service agreement
> > > > when they bring in a machine for service?
> > > >
> > > > Gary
> >
> > No, the service agrrement should be signed BEFORE work is perofmred on the
> > customer machine- and among others things it should set forth the rates an
> > what is expected, as well as what the complaints are. This way the cust
> > cannot claim you did not fix a problem they neever mentioned.

Those things sound cool. I guess you can make up whatever you want in
agreement. ...whether or not it binds is another story. Maybe I can put
something in there about software piracy (my pet peeve :-/) ... and another
thing I'm thinking about starting a discussion on the lines of drivers and
"no name" components .... most importantly mainboards. I am really getting
sick of other companies in town sticking no name mainboards in their beige
boxes ... selling them ... and of course not supporting them ... then the
disgruntled customers call up another service business (mine) and expect me
to work miracles with their silly sh*t for next to nothing. <SIGH> All this
so my competition can make more profit than I do while selling the customers
total crap.

On top of it ... these *sshole customers will tell me how they liked the
business they now refuse to call because they think they got a good "deal".
GRRR!! You ask these dumbasses "If they are so good ... then why are you
calling me?" "Oh, well they weren't good at support, but they gave me a
great deal on this machine ... so you should be able to fix it cheaply
right?" "Won't they fix it for you?" "No, they just want to sell me ANOTHER
machine". Ah!
"Ghost" <> wrote in message
news:user-1109032049470001@1.0.0.101...
>
> Well, then you would want to put that into your agreement.
>
> I do not know of any online offhand, but I am quite sure they are out
there.
>
> My agreement also says any unclaimed property past 30 days after
> completeion without prior arrangments is mine. I had a few customers who
> left their stuff in the shop for months- meaning I was still waiting on
> payment. Either i could not reach them, or they did not have the money to
> pick it up, etc. I got tired of it.
>
> Also, the agreement says I am not responsible for unintentional damage.
> What happens if a PSU dies on you during the time it is in the shop?
>
> It also explains in the agreement that PC repair work is often time
> consuming and how the time can be lengthed by the customers lack of
> drivers, a slow CDROm, etc.
>
>
> In article <B6mdnXToJai-m_yiU->, "techshare"
> <> wrote:
>
> > OK, are there any good (free) examples of such a service agreement? Do
we
> > all have to pay attorneys to write them up? Also, what if you don't
charge
> > by the hour (flat rate or per job)?
> > "Ghost" <> wrote in message
> > news:user-1109031820170001@1.0.0.101...
> > > In article <wOidnX8XF8FFNv2iU->, "techshare"
> > > <> wrote:
> > >
> > > > I thought a service agreement was an agreement between a service
company
> > and
> > > > the customer to perform a certain amount of work on a regular basis
for
> > a
> > > > set fee.
> > > >
> > > > The only thing I have my customers sign is an invoice. Two copies
(since
> > I
> > > > don't have carbons now). The invoice claims a 30 day warranty on
> > parts/labor
> > > > listed on the invoice (or 90 days for new systems and other items).
> > However
> > > > this is all this basic ... since I rarely do work without getting
paid
> > at
> > > > least a bench fee (up front ).
> > > > <> wrote in message
> > > > news:...
> > > > > For those people with a legitimate business.
> > > > >
> > > > > Do you have your customers sign a service agreement
> > > > > when they bring in a machine for service?
> > > > >
> > > > > Gary
> > >
> > > No, the service agrrement should be signed BEFORE work is perofmred on
the
> > > customer machine- and among others things it should set forth the
rates an
> > > what is expected, as well as what the complaints are. This way the
cust
> > > cannot claim you did not fix a problem they neever mentioned.

In article <>, "techshare"
<> wrote:

> Those things sound cool. I guess you can make up whatever you want in
> agreement. ...whether or not it binds is another story. Maybe I can put
> something in there about software piracy (my pet peeve :-/) ... and another
> thing I'm thinking about starting a discussion on the lines of drivers and
> "no name" components .... most importantly mainboards. I am really getting
> sick of other companies in town sticking no name mainboards in their beige
> boxes ... selling them ... and of course not supporting them ... then the
> disgruntled customers call up another service business (mine) and expect me
> to work miracles with their silly sh*t for next to nothing. <SIGH> All this
> so my competition can make more profit than I do while selling the customers
> total crap.
>
> On top of it ... these *sshole customers will tell me how they liked the
> business they now refuse to call because they think they got a good "deal".
> GRRR!! You ask these dumbasses "If they are so good ... then why are you
> calling me?" "Oh, well they weren't good at support, but they gave me a
> great deal on this machine ... so you should be able to fix it cheaply
> right?" "Won't they fix it for you?" "No, they just want to sell me ANOTHER
> machine". Ah!


I think you have some of the same customers I do... or at least they are
related.. lol

And we must have the same competition too!

I can tell you, I am eventually going to get out of the break/fix crap...
When I come back from my vacation next month, i will start steering the
company in another direction because the break/fix arena is going to die
off soon I think.

Ghost would you be kind enough to contact me off list.
To discuss this further.

Thanks for your help,

Gary

On Thu, 11 Sep 2003 22:18:36 GMT, (Ghost) wrote:

>In article <>,
> wrote:
>
>> For those people with a legitimate business.
>>
>> Do you have your customers sign a service agreement
>> when they bring in a machine for service?
>>
>> Gary
>
>ABSOLUTELY!!!