Geek Squad Services More Valuable Than Electrical Services?

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aline

Senior Member
Location
Utah
Almost every electrical contractor in my area gives free estimates.

The Geek Squad charges $100 for estimates. Note they even say it will only take 1 hour to do the estimate.

A lot of electrical contractors in my area charge $65 to $85 per hour. Some even less than this.
Many electrical contractors in my area charge around $85 for a service call.

Check out the Geek Squad prices for installations at the link below. Note the estimated times and you can see the hourly rate is over $100 per hour.

I guess the Geek Squad services are more valuable than electrical contractor services.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...type=category&DCMP=KNC-TLC&ref=30&loc=KW-1111
 
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We could charge that,but, I dont like wearing a white shirt with a black tie, and my 8' ladder wont fit in a VW.:grin:
 
Geek Squad is one of my "businesses to watch". Good marketing, chain store tie-in. These guys know business. They probably have training to teach anyone to install home theater in short order.

Dave
 
ceb said:
We could charge that,but, I dont like wearing a white shirt with a black tie, and my 8' ladder wont fit in a VW.:grin:
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I'd show up in a pink tu tu if the customer will pay me $100 for an estimate.

I have a dispatch fee that's less than half of this to come out and give an estimate. Since almost all the other electrical contractors give free estimates I get quite a few rejections for estimates. That's ok though it keeps me from wasting my time bidding against ten other electricians for a $500 job and then the homeowner decides we're all too expensive and he'll just do the work himself. After all he can get a do it yourself book for $20.
 
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aline said:
Almost every electrical contractor in my area gives free estimates.
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Yeah a different colored big box, is that your bread and butter ? Is it something that your dealing with, I don't get the repulsion ?

There's quiet a few people infront of them on the price scale, but alot a lot lower.

If you have a market "WORK IT", your work and name will shine through, I just don't get it otherwise... :wink:

Editted in :
Beleive it or not some people will pay a higher price and not some "Standard rate"!
 
cadpoint said:
Yeah a different colored big box, is that your bread and butter ? Is it something that your dealing with, I don't get the repulsion ?
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I'm not repulsed with the Geek Squad. Just the opposite. I admire a company that knows how to market their services and charge enough to make a decent profit.

I'm just dissapointed that electrical contractors in my area don't feel their services are worth more than the $65 to $85 that most charge for small jobs and service calls.

I'm always hearing electrical contractors complain that they would like to raise their rates but they can't charge more than the going rate of $65 to $85 per hour.

The only reason the going rate around here is $65 to $85 per hour is not because the customer won't pay more than that. It's because that's what electrical contractors have made it. The going rate could just as easily be $135 to $150 per hour if electrical contractors were willing to charge that.

Electrical contractors seem to be afraid of breaking the $100 per hour barrier.
 
Tiger Electrical said:
Geek Squad is one of my "businesses to watch". Good marketing, chain store tie-in. These guys know business. They probably have training to teach anyone to install home theater in short order.

Dave
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I hear Home Depot contracts with certain electricians who meet with their approval, to install the products they sell: fans, recessed lights, generators, panels, what have you. Has anyone worked directly with the Home Depot? What has your experience been? e/m
 
Energy-Miser said:
I hear Home Depot contracts with certain electricians who meet with their approval, to install the products they sell: fans, recessed lights, generators, panels, what have you. Has anyone worked directly with the Home Depot? What has your experience been? e/m
Click to expand...

I've heard MR. Electrical has a contract with them.
 
Business Sense

Business Sense

I think your missing the point that its a service, be it a set price, that covers their expenses. People are paying for an expert, they Geek it the owner deciedes after that.

I hate the thought of having to call anyone! I don't think I could afford
any of the other trades, "Period"! Maybe I'm just to hands on, with a plumbers Wife to Boot...

I've seen plenty or T&M,, Drive Time and other pricing structures, if your doing what everyone else does then I guess , yes in fact you have the right to ponder!

Look at it, from out side the box!
No I'm not in business electrically, but I did have a business and ran for ten years and rasied the kids on it. I didn't do what everyone else was doing, I took a break and went (got employed) in electrical!
Who's the Fuba on now!!!:rolleyes:
 
Another thing I was wondering about is I'm always hearing how prices vary by large amounts depending on where you live. Do the prices the Geek Squad charge vary a lot depending on the city?

In other words when I click on the link below I see the following prices.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...type=category&DCMP=KNC-TLC&ref=30&loc=KW-1111

Geek Squad In Home Consultation $100
Geek Squad TV & Video Setup $150
Geek Squad Home Theater Setup $200
Geek Squad Basic Mounting of Flat Screen Panel $300
Geek Squad Programming a Remote Control $150

Are these prices the same in all cities in the US or are they different in some of the cities you guys live in? Do you guys see these same prices when you click on the link from another city and state?
I'm located in Utah and I'm curious if the prices shown at this site vary from place to place.
 
I think it's brilliant. I am seeing more of their trucks on the road now. You bet I am going to take some of their marketing ideas and use them on my website. $150.00 to connect the tv to the dvd. No programming of the equipment, Wow. I also noticed that fishing the wires are not included on their installation fee. I guess thats when they say "gotta get an electrician for that". Brilliant marketing though. I hope we all take notice of that.
 
How far will GeekSquad go into a problem? When I come into a fault that I can not immediately answer to, can I expect the GeekSquad to answer?
Follow me on an Industrial call, let's see how "Geek" you are.
 
With all the money they're making you'd figure they could afford entertainment like the rest of us...

Bad techs! The witchhunt begins... (It makes more sense if you start at the bottom and work your way up, chronologically speaking)

geeksquadtruckpulledover.jpg
 
$1oo?

$1oo?

Do not hesitate to charge $100 for an estimate! Remember this is not the 1980's. A hundred dollar bill is about like a twenty! Use to could gas up the truck with less than a twenty, now it takes nearly $100!
 
The difference is the type of person and market they're going after. They're going after a customer that will buy a $2000 wall mount tv or an expensive $200 router just to make their wireless internet 2% faster, and then have them come out and charge them another $400 to set it all up.

For most routine sevice calls we're going after a segment of the market who says, "I just want it to work". No frills nothing "special", just the everyday stuff.

If you want to be able to charge more money, appeal to a different market. This market may be within the same market you're in now, just with a person with a different need --->Something special! You've got to appeal to a type of person, not a type of service. Targeted marketing is key.
 
You gotta love flat rate fees..Sometimes you make out big other times you loose your butt..they appeal to an income class that is all credit card..You can get credit card with marginal credit for 2500 dollars and use whole card to buy and install theater system..geek squad to your rescue we will take your credit card cash..this is fad and will also fad away as we move to a more active society..theater system means nothing to me while in the boat fishing..or the deer stand hunting..Yet I own one..so jump on the band wagon and install everything for home owner when wiring there house..:grin: :D
 
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