How much to charge for HD Recovered Files

[mn072065]

Hi. Some suggestions please. My boss lost his personal home hard drive. Crashed. He was going to send to one of those hd recovering places. But i told him that I will give it a try. I was able to go in and backed up all his my documents folder. Now I have not told him yet, because i wanted to know how much can i charge him. I don't have a clue. If he was a cool boss, i would not charge him, but because he is not, i wanted to. Any Suggestions please. Thanks.

[jman98]

It's your decision, but you probably should have considered that charging for doing this could have negative consequences. If you did it for free, you might gain a lot more goodwill from your boss (he controls whether you get raises, promotions, etc.) than some piddly amount of money is worth. On the other hand, you certainly don't want to set a precedent where you have to do this kind of thing all the time for free. Even if you have negative feelings towards him (note that he probably has picked up on it and doesn't have the best attitude towards you either, regardless of who started it), you might consider that doing a favor for an enemy can often completely change how the other person views you.

I would do it for free with the understanding that I don't mind doing this as a one off sort of deal for free, but it's not something I would do all the time for free. If you feel you must charge for this, I don't think $100 is unreasonable and probably a lot less than a data recovery outfit would charge.

[gadgetguy]

If you didn't discuss money before you started, then you are better off not charging. Anything you ask for now will look like "ransom" for his data. The situation as described seems like a one time thing. If it happens again or he spreads the word on your abilities and others start asking, then discuss charges up front. No misunderstandings, no hard feelings.

[stantheman1976]

If it's your boss and you didn't discuss money beforehand don't charge. As gadgetguy said, it would look like ransom. Chances are he'll offer you something for your trouble and you can take it if he does.

[TBoneit]

Since you didn't mention money to him upfront you will most likely generate ill will by trying to charge as the others have said. Return the drive and the data to him. Hope he says thanks or offers money for your time and effort.

You do also realize that data recovery is more than just my Documents?

When we do this sort of thing one of the questions we ask is what program do you use for e-mail? If MS Outlook or Outlook Express we look for the address book and the outlook/outlook express folder so that the old emails and adress book can be imported. Typical adress book will be .wab file. Outlook files will be in a .pst file. Outlook Express will be .dbx files.

Eudora is something else again.

What if he is using MS Money or Quicken or Quickbooks? Pictures and music can be scattered anywhere too.

It isn't all that easy. I just skimmed the surface of what needs to be considered on data recovery.

One other thing to think about is if other users are on that computer they all a My Documents folder as well as a shared Documents folder. The folders are not all called my documents BTW.

I don't charge the Boss for anything on his or his family computers beyond doing them at work and getting my regular hourly pay.

Some bosses are easier than others. I guess I've been lucky.

We were slow this week so on wed. I asked for thurs off as vacation time. No Problem. Last job (14 years til they moved out of state). This job since 1996, Wow, 12 years already.

Anyway last job I saw an opportunity for side work to enhance my income. I approached management with an offer, They accepted it and I worked on some of the equipment on my days off for more money.
Note the sequence... Find a need, Discuss price, They accept it, Then do the work.

If you feel you need to charge for the media ask if the Boss wants to pay for it or if he wants to supply it.

Good Luck

[edDV]

In the future. Provide some research as to what others charge and encourage the customer to shop around.

Then negotiate a lower or higher price based on the personal services you can provide and/or your warranty. Your warranty terms and conditions should start with a minimal charge or compensation for your time if you can't do it at all. That should be a pre-payment. Compensation for "results" need to be defined completely. If you only recover half the data can he refuse payment? Are you entitled to withhold his data for non-payment? This needs to be spelled out up front.

If you are new to this type of business, expect to get screwed. Never deliver all the results without pre-payment. Hold the most important data for the last check to clear. If they have the results and refuse to pay because of this and that, all the legal costs shift to you to force payment. And you can be assured there will always be "this and that" reasons to refuse payment.


PS" While I'm on this rant, you newbies have been branwashed about the evils of business vs. the customer. As you gain experience being a business, you will soon be aware the the balance of "evils" falls to a few customers (consumers or other businesses) that are out to screw you in any way they can by not paying for services or resorting to tort legal threats to extract more from you. And I'm not even talking about the tax man or other government mandates which is another subject entirely.

[Soopafresh]

Sounds like you need a new job. Rather than being passive-aggressive, find a new place where you're treated better. Take action!

[bendixG15]

If someone volunteered to help me out, I would assume that its for free.
If they later came back and asked for payment, I wouldn't like it.

Hey, its your boss, do what you want, consider it a learning process.
Because you are obviously in a loose, loose, position.
You charge, he'll get pissed; you don't charge, you'll be pissed.

[Video Head]

Your boss could be the president of one of the largest software companies in the world or the supervisor of the shoe department in a big box chain store...it's all the same, except for your position and comp plan.

The important question you need to ask yourself is: "why did I offer to do this in the first place?"

Were you forced to do this? From the sounds of it, probably not. It sounds like you wanted to do this. Think back to your motivation for initially offering your expertise and skill...it was probably to show your boss and others within the organization that you have the goods to make a difference and that you should be noticed. If they do not recognize and reward you for it one way or another then you have gained valuable insight into how they work and can use that insight to plan your future in the best manner for yourself.

If they are clever, and do recognize your skill and willingness to be a team player, then you may be able to leverage that to further yourself.

Either way, do not belittle yourself by attempting to place an immediate monetary value on your help. That is the kind of thing that can stick and follow you for a long time...

[mn072065]

Thanks all for the good advice. Since i guess he doesn't like me too much, but I'm also very valuable for him, i guess i would not charge him. But if you would charge a person, Boss or not, what would be a reasonable price to charge someone only for my documents to be recovered. that's all he said. I know email is big, but since he mentioned only this, then this would be the only thing i would backup. Thanks again.

[Video Head]

I charge $100 per hour per technician for break fix and projects. Most software projects are based upon a statement of work with predetermined and agreed upon milestones to determine what is paid, and when, on a fixed pricing model.

[budz]

I with everyone else saying not to charge your boss. I just fixed one of our administrator's son's pc which I charged $115.00 to reformat the hard drive, reinstall os & office 2003, antivirus, spyware, firewall, etc. programs, backed up his music files and school stuff, installed a pci wireless network card and installed a new power supply. The price was discussed before any work was done. If they didn't like the cost they could always go to a local computer shop to get it fixed which we all know would cost more than $115.00.

[mn072065]

Thanks I will not charge him, but i wanted at least tell him if he would ask, that it would cost around $125. Thanks all.

[Video Head]

It may be wise, should he ask the cost, to advise him that the skills and experience you used to achieve the recovery of his invaluable data are immeasureable under the circumstances...never place your actions or skills in a position were they can be valued as a commodity...keep the F'r guessing

A can of peas is a can of peas...it doesn't matter where you get them from. After all the work you've done, don't tell him your just another can of peas.

[DarrellS]

Also, there is software that should be able to save most if not all the information on the hard drive. If you only have the ability to save his documents and nothing else then you should probably recommend that he find someone more quailified to do the job. Maybe he will buy the software you need if you want to try and do it yourself.

I bought a new MB over a month ago and installed an ATA controller card since I had two ATA drives and two burners. Some how, installing the ATA card screwed up two of my drives and when I returned the ATA card, the guy felt bad that his card screwed up almost 800GB of data so he wiped the 500GB drive out and reformatted it and told me to bring in the 300GB drive and he'd do the same to it. Since he closed up for the night and wasn't open for a couple of days, I decided to see what I could do to try and rescue the disc before taking it in. I downloaded a program called GetDataBack and was able to get all the data off of the unreadable drive. Some of the data on the drive was corrupt but over 99% was still good. I wish I would not have let the guy wipe out the 500GB drive.

[thecoalman]

If you didn't discuss money before you started, then you are better off not charging.

Agree with this. He could have made a decision then and opted for some other service and not have his drive tied up by you.

Having said that if he doesn't offer to give you something he's a dickhead.

[lordsmurf]

If you didn't discuss money before you started, then you are better off not charging.

Agree with this.

Yep. That's the best answer.
Next time, discuss charges in advance.

When you give it back, go ahead and say something like "lunch is on you _________" (insert date that is good for you) and wink, or give a thumbs up, or laugh/chuckle. He'll probably gladly do it. If not, he's an *******, and you told a "funny joke" to a jerk.

If money isn't an option, always go for the free food.

[bendixG15]

If money isn't an option, always go for the free food.

You don't want to know the mental image of you that popped into my head when I read that .....

[classfour]

I never charge a co-worker the first time - especially the Boss. I do charge repeat offenders.

BTW: did you get all the files? Few of us store everything under my documents. When I backup a hard drive: It usually takes a few discs. I do ask before hand if they're only looking for photos, in which I'll search for .jpg, etc. files.

[Nelson37]

As has been mentioned, you screwed yourself by not making it clear this was work for pay, and you have not yet done a complete job, either in recovering files or even making a start at determining a possible cause for the failure.

These are things a pro would do, and the hourly rates you are seeing are for professional services. Untrained, semi-knowledgable folks get one-quarter to one-third those rates.

I would point out that the service he was going to use would have been $500 or more, find out what rate the local high-school geeks are charging, (usually $25 to $35 per hour), and also point out that rate. Don't ask for money, but doing these things makes it clear that you have provided a service worthy of monetary compensation, and that you will most likely be smart enough to make the fees clear Next Time.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Thanks all for the good advice. Since i guess he doesn't like me too much, but I'm also very valuable for him, i guess i would not charge him. But if you would charge a person, Boss or not, what would be a reasonable price to charge someone only for my documents to be recovered. that's all he said. I know email is big, but since he mentioned only this, then this would be the only thing i would backup. Thanks again.

Hmmm. The bit I have highlighted in bold is important.

You - and presumably everyone replying to your post - take this to mean "only the contents of the My Documents folder". However, to your boss, it might mean "oh sh@t, my computer is trashed. I must get all my documents back." i.e., "I don't know how any of this works but there is important stuff on here - help!" Your boss may not have the faintest clue how files and folders are organized on the hard drive.

[Nelson37]

ABSOLUTELY, "documents" includes address book, favorites, tax and accounting files, much, much more.

What I usually do is copy the entire drive to a directory on the newer, much larger replacement drive. That way, when they remember the wedding pictures from three years ago and where they were stored, the files are already there.

[budz]

I do charge repeat offenders.

I also charge repeat offenders as well which could be relatives/friends.

[TBoneit]

I agree with Nelson37, That is the only way to be sure you got everything. I usually put a shortcut on the desktop to the folder where the old drive contents are stored. I also restore the My Documents & Favorites in the new user's profile. I also import e-mails and the Address book for Outlook or Outlook Express ahead of time. It saves time in the long run. And a shortcut to the shared folder goes on the desktop. Other things as needed.

Don't forget to run the Virus/Spyware scan.


I also tell them to hold onto the old drive until everything is backed up and then be sure to destroy it properly (Sledgehammer works pretty good) or think of it as a form of backup.

It takes longer to put everything onto the new drive but when that call comes asking where are my *.* type files? You can say look in the Old Drive Folder or just use search. I've had users with years of old e-mails that they feel are critical.