IT Support

[dadelaw]

Does anyone know howm much IT support service companies charge for an annual maintenance contract (3-5 computers) and how many hours that covers for a home office?

[sierra2469alpha]

I'd be interested in this also.

One quote we got is from apixel.com.sg - $60 per PC per annum. they claim this is basic prevantitive maintenance.

Any experience with this company (or any other - be it good or bad) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Mr. P

[thistlesound]

Currently my coy is using SCVisions. They charge 1700 for 20hours of support. So far so good, response is rather quick. I can give you guys the contact if you want.

[sierra2469alpha]

$85 an hour and obviously an upfront $1700.

In the inimitable words of The Castle..."Tell 'em their dreaming!"

Thanks for the feedback, though.

Any other suggestions?

[thistlesound]

up to you guys to decide. we are very satisfied with their service so far. that's why I recommends.

when computers break down, we just want it up or someone to attend to the machine as soon as possible. Or else time will be wasted doing nothing.

if you have a budget you looking at, can always speak to the boss. Just a suggestion.

[sierra2469alpha]

thistlesound - sorry it wasn't a criticism - just a statement. Seems way out of the realmn - but thatnks for the intel - much appreciated!

Cheers, mr. P

[thistlesound]

no prob. we are just sharing

[sierra2469alpha]

Seems a fair whack up front. Sure the business model is nice for the support organisation. I checked out their site, but they don't seem to offer a SLA - how's their response? Will they do remote workers?

Cheers, and thanks again for the input Mr. P

[thistlesound]

SLA i think is about 90%. Yes, they do. You can email to deancheong@scvision.com.sg to find out more coz I am not too well verse for the technical part.

[thistlesound]

opps it should be deanchong@scvisions.com.sg

[ksl]

up to you guys to decide. we are very satisfied with their service so far. that's why I recommends.

when computers break down, we just want it up or someone to attend to the machine as soon as possible. Or else time will be wasted doing nothing.

if you have a budget you looking at, can always speak to the boss. Just a suggestion.

Do you mean we should contact the company you work for To pay up front to any company is not a sound proposal, and i would say the company, is not very client friendly, just looking for fools and their money, which are easy parted. Look at it another way, the guy rakes in 200 new clients at 1700$ and does a runner or you could look again and say, well they are targeting a specific client group, that will pay the fee's, these maybe well established companies that can afford the prices without flinching.

But my guess would be they are just taking advantage of business opportunities here in Singapore, because their is a great lack of multi skilled people and most Chinese business have to rely on outsourcing...I have also identified some of the Chinese CEO's that fall into this trap, and what else can they do, if they know nothing but what they studied...they have to pay, very easy prey.

It just doesn't add up.

What i would suggest to all, is to send out quotations, and if you are looking for reasonable rates, keep well away from the peak areas of the City, and tourist and expatriate areas.... because wheeling and dealing is going on all the time here in Singapore and the code of ethics, is that retailers and services can charge what they want and it's called business.

I have had quotes with as much as 400% difference just in the digital print business, and the cheapest is well away from the City, in the industrial areas....I suspect there are hundreds of operators that are brokering prices, so be very cautious, they will take every expat for a good ride and are quite expert at it too.

Of course they have much higher overheads too in the City, to think of and it is business. I actually poked my nose into my wife's biz, to find out that her Singapore contacts where just taking her for a ride too....It's all too easy to come out of University with degrees in business and believe that what you are doing is good business, if you are not street wise.

So as an example a digital decal, 165 X 48 can cost 90$ per side with a fixed charge of 80$ for installation or you can shop around and get exactly the same quality and size for 17$ and you get a print sample too... Now what matters to the new breed of MBA's is learning the skills of wheeling and dealing and understanding what is actually involved in the hanging of a decal, lucky for me i have plenty of DIY experience, in hanging wallpapers and such other things, to figure out that 80$ labour charge is a days wage in UK for many, for a job that should be completed within 1.5 hrs at most.

This is where experience counts, of knowing what is actually involved and how to locate cheap services....and the logical explanation is never in the City, or expat and tourist places, where rent prices and overheads are extreme. Just my 2 cents for food for thought, because i'm sure many people fall in the pit, because of no knowledge and have to outsource. So always quotations and at least 5 here, normally i would get 3 but this Country is well brokered in many areas of business....

I've deleted the last line, but really anything is tradable in Singapore and even Singaporeans can be taken for a ride, so it's all about learning what goes on here, and those that are close to you and trust, are they really helping you out, or onto a good thing? Everything has a price here! it's finding the right price for the same quality or quantity that matters, along with service.

[thistlesound]

if you like you can call my company to ask about the service. The reason for us outsourcing our IT is because our company size is small and just 2-3times a month we need someone to maintain and trouble shoot. Why should we pay 1000+ per month to get someone in house to do our IT when we do not need IT support every day?

Guess different company has different needs and if any one in company can double up as an IT then it will be good for the company.

[ukdesigner]

best bet... get a Mac. Never needed support in nearly 10 years. Runs better, doesn't crash and if I had a machine that went down every month I'd lose money hand over fist.

You takes your chances with Microsoft and this is what happens!