[Hidden-tech] What to charge for conference call

[Andy Klapper]

Tom,

I would actually charge the full rate.  I'm assuming here that the customer
asked you to be part of the conference call.  This was time you couldn't
perform any work for any other customer or work on getting new customers or
work on the mechanics of running a business or even veg in front of the
television.  In short the customer asked for an hour of your time and should
have expected to have to pay for it.

Now things do get murky at the start of the relationship with a customer.
Do you charge for your first meeting with the customer?  (I would say
generally no, unless the customer is getting some value out of the initial
meeting)   Do you charge for the time spent coming up with a proposal for a
customer?  (I would yes if the customer is getting some value out of the
proposal (i.e. a design and/or schedule that they can then give to somebody
else for implementation), no if it's just a standard rate schedule that
provides no value to the customer).


Andy.




-----Original Message-----
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net]On Behalf Of Tom at
Reelife Productions
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 10:29 PM
To: Hidden-Tech
Subject: [Hidden-tech] What to charge for conference call

Ok, folks,

I have a similar question regarding my time spent (1 full hour) on my
cellphone (nodding my head to noone) and saying about 12 words. Do you think
the company would be outraged if I charged them $40 (1/2 my normal rate) for
my time? Is there a generally accepted rule for this kind of thing?

<?fontfamily><?param Palatino><?smaller><?smaller><?smaller>Regards,

Tom Adams

Director/Owner
Reelife Documentary Productions
"cool digital video stuff...not boring or dumb"
413.575.9707
info at reelifeproductions.com www.reelifeproductions.com
Williamsburg, MA, USA<?/smaller><?/smaller><?/smaller><?/fontfamily>


On May 3, 2005, at 5:37 PM, matthew at the-spa.com wrote:
** Be a Good Dobee and help the group
** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
** Remember you must be counted to post .

i forgot to add that everything would also vary based on how much
they are charging the client for this 24x7 service.

matthew




---- Original Message ----
From: Ed at edbride-pr.com
To: Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] What to charge for emergency support ?
Date: Tue, 3 May 2005 14:41:37 -0400
** Be a Good Dobee and help the group
** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
** Remember you must be counted to post .

Charge for wearing beeper? I don't think so, anymore than you'd
charge for
keeping a cellphone nearby. You're charging for your time, the
beeper just
makes it easier for the client to find you.

First responder vs. later in the chain? Depends on how much you want
the
work. If you prefer to have someone else look at the problem first,
they
may, in fact, be able to fix it, so you'll get more sleep but less
money.
So, that's a conscious choice you get to make.

The structure seems fine to me, although I don't know the $$ part of
the
equation. But I should think that midnight-6am and weekends probably
justify
2x your normal hourly rate.

Ed

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Klapper" <andytk at charter.net>
To: <Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 11:59 AM
Subject: [Hidden-tech] What to charge for emergency support ?
...
The questions are;
* Does the structure that they propose seem right? (Seems
reasonable to
me,
but I've never done this before and want to avoid any gotchas that
others
may have learned the hard way).
* What would reasonable rates be for wearing a beeper, getting a
call at
4am
in the morning, and then for performing the work? (2x normal
rate, 3x,
5x?)
* Do I want to be the first responder or have somebody else look
at the
problem first? (I'm thinking no, I'd rather sleep if possible).
....

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