If that’s the case, I’d start reconsidering the definition of “friend”. Maybe they really are friends yet there’s a possibility that they’re simply friendly people who are using you. When it stops being fun for you…
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Would you ask your friend to pay for your servicing?
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If that’s the case, I’d start reconsidering the definition of “friend”. Maybe they really are friends yet there’s a possibility that they’re simply friendly people who are using you. When it stops being fun for you…
Do your "friends" really understand how much can be involved in repairing something as complex as a camera, in terms of
knowledge, skill, time and possibly parts ? It's all very well doing things for free, but in work like this as in most things, it will all be OK until something goes wrong, then it's all your fault ?
I had a professional practice (unconnected with photography) and my colleagues and I never did anything for free, the only way to work was to try to do a good job for a fair price which covered all overheads, and to accept responsibity for the quality of the work.
The only time we gave any free "advice" might have been at an initial interview with a prospective client. when we could have indicated some "generic" advice as to what might apply to apply to them or what we could look into for them if we were to act on their behalf, nothing more.
I think in this case only you can decide what you want to do with your time and skill.
knowledge, skill, time and possibly parts ? It's all very well doing things for free, but in work like this as in most things, it will all be OK until something goes wrong, then it's all your fault ?
I had a professional practice (unconnected with photography) and my colleagues and I never did anything for free, the only way to work was to try to do a good job for a fair price which covered all overheads, and to accept responsibity for the quality of the work.
The only time we gave any free "advice" might have been at an initial interview with a prospective client. when we could have indicated some "generic" advice as to what might apply to apply to them or what we could look into for them if we were to act on their behalf, nothing more.
I think in this case only you can decide what you want to do with your time and skill.
If this was for friends in need, I'd be happy to do it so that they have a working camera. Or it would have to be VERY good friends and in this case they would not exagerate.
When it becomes regular, then it's something else, and I'd ask for proper compensation, be it money, film, etc...
If they're selling the cameras afterwards, I'd say that half (at least ) of the gain should be yours, and the gain computed based on the price the sold it for, the expenses you had to fix it (special tools, parts...) , and the price they paid for it in the first place.
I'd be OK I think I was doing lots of repairs for myself and they paid for the tools I need (may be a wishlist of what you need ?)
When it becomes regular, then it's something else, and I'd ask for proper compensation, be it money, film, etc...
If they're selling the cameras afterwards, I'd say that half (at least ) of the gain should be yours, and the gain computed based on the price the sold it for, the expenses you had to fix it (special tools, parts...) , and the price they paid for it in the first place.
I'd be OK I think I was doing lots of repairs for myself and they paid for the tools I need (may be a wishlist of what you need ?)
I don't think you should charge but rather refuse to do if whenever you don't feel like doing. If you charge I am sure to make it worth your time your friends will think you're too expensive. Do not charge cheap. Charging a low price is the worst thing you can do.
MattKing
Moderator
Do what you are comfortable with, and make your thoughts and intentions clear to those you deal with.
All of which sounds simple, but isn't necessarily so.
If you can accomplish the first, you may find it easier to accomplish the second. But even if you don't do the latter, you will probably feel better about it.
All of which sounds simple, but isn't necessarily so.
If you can accomplish the first, you may find it easier to accomplish the second. But even if you don't do the latter, you will probably feel better about it.
Charging a low price mean you're not worth much and it doesn't mean that you do your friends a favor. So if you charge, charge the right price. If you expect to make $30 an hour working for someone you would have to charge at least $120 when you do it as your own business.
No, it's not tricky at all. Either your time and skills have a value or they don't. You decide: "Is what I do of value"?
Personally, I believe that any skilled repair technician is worth at least $15 an hour. Whether or not you are working for friends or total strangers isn't really relevant: what you are doing has value. Don't be afraid to attach a fee that reflects that value.
Maybe you don't want to make this "A Job" and that's fine - you don't ever need to make the leap to doing it as a profession. But giving away your time and skills doesn't make a lot of sense either. I've found that people often assume what they are getting has no real value if they didn't actually pay for it.
$15 an hour is minimum wage,
camera repair is a skill. Don't sell yourself short
camera repair is a skill. Don't sell yourself short
Below minimum wage in some states.
I did say "at least $15".
If I charged what I believe my work is actually worth, I would not have many customers. There's a very real limit to what someone will pay to have a camera properly serviced (not just take the speed train out of the shutter and give it a wipe and put it back in and call the job done).
On average, it takes 8-10 hours of labor to strip apart, clean, lubricate, reassemble and calibrate a camera. I pay myself about $20 an hour for this work and it's barely more than poverty wages, but it also puts me close to the limit of what people will pay.
even if you think your time is $15 and hour you have to charge $60 an hour. You're not working for a company with benefit and provding tools and responsible for your mistakes. Your time isn't worth nothing if you give it away free. If you donate something it doesn't mean that what you donate has no value. If you sell it cheap then it means that is how much is worth. So I would either not charge or charge the correct price.
LOL! If I charged $60 an hour for what I do, my clients would have to pay $500+ to get their camera serviced! Nobody is going to pay that.
I know! But that's how much you have to charge to be in real honest business of camera repair. So my original recommend was not to charge but refuse to do it whenever you do not feel like.
Last night I decided to talk to them in face. I didn't criticised them, but told them what exactly happened and let them see the unfinished projects on the table. They are actually quite shocked to see how much gears have sent to my place. And it leads to another problem exposed : particularly 2 of them are actually unaware of their shopping habit.
I don't want to be gender bias but as a woman finding a handy man is kind of easier than as men (which I think most if not all of the OP friends who got him to fix their cameras are men) finding wives that can fix things.
My wife does all the useful repairs in our house and I take care of the useless, old camera equipment
Last night I decided to talk to them in face. I didn't criticised them, but told them what exactly happened and let them see the unfinished projects on the table. They are actually quite shocked to see how much gears have sent to my place. And it leads to another problem exposed : particularly 2 of them are actually unaware of their shopping habit.
Hopefully this will awaken them to the burden they are placing on you and modify their behavior!
Hopefully true. Also important is self-control. Saying “yes” too often can lead to overcommitment and regret.
Excellent!Last night I decided to talk to them in face. I didn't criticised them, but told them what exactly happened and let them see the unfinished projects on the table. They are actually quite shocked to see how much gears have sent to my place. And it leads to another problem exposed : particularly 2 of them are actually unaware of their shopping habit.
I think that it is important to talk about this as a issue for everyone to help with. Along with them giving you cameras, you took them in. I hope that everyone can find a good way forward that you find respectful of your time and skills.
My wife does all the useful repairs in our house and I take care of the useless, old camera equipment
My long time girl friend was the first non-engineer woman I met that called screwdrivers, flathead and Phillips instead of '+' and '-'. Also when we go off roading and a vehicle gets in a precarious position she pulls out a large pad a paper and sketches a free body diagram and proceeds to work out a graphical solution almost as fast as the most experienced drivers figure out a solution based on experience.
Last night I decided to talk to them in face. I didn't criticised them, but told them what exactly happened and let them see the unfinished projects on the table. They are actually quite shocked to see how much gears have sent to my place. And it leads to another problem exposed : particularly 2 of them are actually unaware of their shopping habit.
If it was joint project & with time they left it due to lack of time -all the results of project is yours.
I can understand the help to your best friend with his lovely old camera, once... ok twice!
All other is business not regarding you pay taxes or not
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