I don't mind doing favors for friends as long as quid pro pro is offered, even if I never take them up on it.
My other is the worst, she'll invite me over for dinner, and when I get there I get "Hey, while you're here, my PC is acting up...". Great, because you know I brought all of my diagnostics etc with me. By the way, did you take a screenshot or write down the error? Of course not, despite me asking her to do that for years. Usually it's some shitware that's she's installed.
She's family though, so I do it and don't complain, I just try to educate her and hint that maybe she should give me a heads up that it needs looking at.
I haven't even been a PC tech for more than 20 years so in generally don't have a problem telling people so and that they would be better off seeing a pro.
So far no one's asked me for free help writing software - which is what I do now. On that, I have no problem saying no, and my consulting rate is $150/hr.
My other is the worst, she'll invite me over for dinner, and when I get there I get "Hey, while you're here, my PC is acting up...". Great, because you know I brought all of my diagnostics etc with me. By the way, did you take a screenshot or write down the error? Of course not, despite me asking her to do that for years. Usually it's some shitware that's she's installed.
She's family though, so I do it and don't complain, I just try to educate her and hint that maybe she should give me a heads up that it needs looking at.
I haven't even been a PC tech for more than 20 years so in generally don't have a problem telling people so and that they would be better off seeing a pro.
So far no one's asked me for free help writing software - which is what I do now. On that, I have no problem saying no, and my consulting rate is $150/hr.