going rates for repairs?

shilmover

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What do you guys charge to fix machines?

I have an opportunity to fix some machines at a local theatre. They asked me for rates... I am totally good with movies for repairs, game for repairing games, etc, but would like to have an idea of what it might be worth.
 
Around here the going rate seems to be about $40 an hour or a flat rate based on the machine. Video games around $100 per repair and pins about $250. Plus parts in all cases.

ken
 
I think in this type of situation you should quote them a one time onsite consultation charge of $65.00 and then after game assessment quote them a (ROUGH) estimate amount. Tell them new components can/will stress old components but if extra parts monitor are needed it shouldn't amount to much extra. However if a game PCB will need to be repaired it can drive the cost up considerably more.
 
I charge $20/hr labor.

If the movie theater owned the games, I'd be happy to barter for movies and concessions.

Watch out! At the current prices theaters charge, that will get you a small popcorn and a chick flick!

ken
 
Most of you guys are too cheap. Hobby or not, my time is worth something. I charge $50/hr plus parts. That being said, I only charge for travel if it's *really* far, and most of the time I'll cut the person a break. But $50/hr is the base.
 
I work for food and free games >_<

But that's because all the games I work on are owned by friends/fellow collectors.
 
I typically charge $40 per hour, minimum two hour charge per visit, and I have had no shortage of customers. If the person is a real ass then the price goes up. I repaired a Star Trek The Next Generation pin last year and charged $160 an hour. I quoted him that price to scare him off but he bit and I couldn't turn down the job. That job took eight hours and $7 in parts...


BTW, I am always willing to barter as well. I have gotten my hands on vids, neon lights, and other things that I needed in trade for work performed.
 
Most of you guys are too cheap. Hobby or not, my time is worth something. I charge $50/hr plus parts. That being said, I only charge for travel if it's *really* far, and most of the time I'll cut the person a break. But $50/hr is the base.

My reasoning is this:

A pro will cost you $40-$70 an hour, but they 'should' be quicker than me to justify the higher price. I'm just a hobbyist and I'm technically getting paid to learn more stuff. Thus my lower rate.
 
I charge $30 to go and diagnose the games. I have to know what I'm getting into before I can give them a quote of what it will take to fix them. I try to take parts that are common fixes, like a power supply or two, and some chassis if I have any.

I generally charge $50 flat fee per game for basic repairs - like replacing a power supply, swapping a monitor chassis, or game board. In some cases, I send things out, so the $50 fee covers me taking the part out, and returning to put the part back in after it is fixed. I generally just charge cost on repaired items, and I sell power supplies and various parts (joysticks, etc) at 1.5x the price I get them for.

I don't make a living at it - it just provides extra cash now and then.
 
As a hobbyist 50 an hour + 25 bucks for a trip charge is fair.

100 dollar for someone who is a pro.

I give 75 to the guy who caps my monitors in 20 minutes. But it would take me 2 hours and my soldering leaves too much to be desired to risk screwing up a nice monitor... although I am getting better.
 
Tell them you'll come out for $50 and look over all the games, compile a list of everything that is wrong, and give them an estimate of the total repair per machine. If there is minor stuff like sticky buttons or a wire off the joystick, you can fix it really quick while there. But if it's stuff like power supplies or monitors, then you have to figure in the cost of parts plus the time to do it....
 
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