[airspirit]

I make certain things clear. First, I will never build a PC for less than $100 USD. No arguments. Normally, for detailed overclocks and cooling installations, I demand up to $200. Second, I'll install Windows, Office, and the basics such as Acrobat Reader, Java, and Mozilla, but nothing more unless they want to pay for it. Third, I only do software issues for them under three conditions: 1) if the problem is my fault, or 2) if they paid me an obscene amount of money, or 3) if they are a broadband customer of mine. I always help my broadband folks. If it is a hardware problem that I caused, I fix it ASAP. If it is one they caused (like the gal that tried to cram a LAN card in an AGP slot), they are on their own. Most of the time, though, I'll help the first one or two times they ask for piddly help, but after that, I make it clear they are on their own. They are all informed of this policy from the get-go, so they can't say I didn't warn them.

All in all, I usually spend less than 3-4 hours doing it, most of which is spent reading a book during installs, and make $100-200. Not a bad deal for me, and a great deal for them. It keeps me in electro-toys.