Paul Doherty - PC Services Pricelist

PC Services

I get quite a lot of customers who have previously tried big computer shops, often without much luck. They've suggested that this website should show what I offer compared with what PC World (which owns "The TechGuys") offers. This is my best attempt. If you find they are cheaper than me, I'll happily match their price.

I am rather cheaper than PC World, but on the other hand I don't cover the whole country. I suspect I'm rather more flexible, too — there's only me, and with over 25 years of experience in the computer industry, I do all this myself, in person. I understand computers in depth (I'm not following a 25-point checklist I was taught on a two-week training course) and won't tell you that "you'll have to phone again for someone else to come out to do that" if you think of something extra while I'm there.

An engineer to visit your home

PC World price £70 per hour, my price £30 per hour. I do no fix, no fee, PC World doesn't.

PC Healthcheck

PC World price £69.99, my price £30.

They say:

Our healthcheck focuses on a number of areas:

A complete software and hardware diagnostic to identify problem areas.
Installation of Windows updates and security patches.
A full valet – your computer is thoroughly cleaned inside and out.
Consultation with a Tech Guy to discuss any problems you may be having.
Advice on any required upgrades.
Free installation of upgrades (if purchased from The TechGuys).
Much more.

I'd do all that and more – for example, people often want their PC adjusted to how they want to use it, "shortcut icons" placed on the desktop, background pictures changed, that sort of thing. I'd do all that, remove unwanted clutter, change some of the Windows defaults that aren't very sensible, and so on.

Upgrade Installation

PC World price £69.99, my price £30.

Also, the parts I supply are often from the same (or better) manufacturers as PC World use, but I charge rather less for them. For example, a cable I charge £5 for, I see PC World charge £14.99 for.

PC Installation

PC World price £49.99, my price £30.

And I'll go to PC World, buy the PC for you, and bring it back to you for me to install.

Network Installation

PC World price £89.99, my price £50.

Again, the parts I supply (wireless routers, for example) are often from the same (or better) manufacturers as PC World use, but I charge rather less for them — often half PC World's price.

Software Support

PC World price £39.99 per year, my price £10 per visit.

These are not directly comparable, because PC World offer only telephone support – you phone a call centre at 0870 rates (typically 8p per minute at any time). If you phone me (on my normal phone number, costing at most 3p per minute, with no call centre and no stupid menu system) I don't charge for immediate help and advice. For complex questions, I visit to show you what to do.

I also offer a "remote control" service, similar to this and this, where I control – and fix – your PC from my office. (A working broadband connection is needed for this.)

TechGuy prices taken from http://www.thetechguys.com/ourservices/index.shtml on May 17th, 2007.

(That page has disappeared at June 2008: they seem to have removed most of their prices from their site.)