Should I charge money?
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About 2 to 4 times a month I get a request for help directly in my email that has come from someone that has picked up my details from one of the message boards here on CodeProject. I feel that adds an obligation to answer which I don't like. I feel that I should be able to answer posts as I choose. So, I was thinking on the train this morning that if someone wants a response out of the way of prying eyes (perhaps it is a project that must be kept confidential, perhaps they have an ego to protect) and off the forums that I should charge a fee. What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be?
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
If they are anything like the emails I get then it won't be worth the hassle. If you do the work and they don't pay it will be a PITA getting the money out of them. Refer them back to the forums or politely reply that you are too busy. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Michael Dunn wrote: "except the sod who voted this a 1, NO SOUP FOR YOU" Crikey! ain't life grand?
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About 2 to 4 times a month I get a request for help directly in my email that has come from someone that has picked up my details from one of the message boards here on CodeProject. I feel that adds an obligation to answer which I don't like. I feel that I should be able to answer posts as I choose. So, I was thinking on the train this morning that if someone wants a response out of the way of prying eyes (perhaps it is a project that must be kept confidential, perhaps they have an ego to protect) and off the forums that I should charge a fee. What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be?
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
I used run a fairly comprehensive FAQ, but began to regret it almost instantly when it became obvious if given a search option and a set of answers that'll solve any known problem, a person will still prefer to click the email link than bother looking themselves -- Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit! Phoenix Paint - back from DPaint's ashes!
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If they are anything like the emails I get then it won't be worth the hassle. If you do the work and they don't pay it will be a PITA getting the money out of them. Refer them back to the forums or politely reply that you are too busy. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Michael Dunn wrote: "except the sod who voted this a 1, NO SOUP FOR YOU" Crikey! ain't life grand?
Paul Watson wrote: If you do the work and they don't pay it will be a PITA getting the money out of them Well, I was thinking about that. I thought that I could make the offer, if they accept I would form the answer, tell them it is ready and when the payment comes through send them the answer. That way I don't lose out. Paul Watson wrote: Refer them back to the forums or politely reply that you are too busy That's what I've been doing, although over the past year a couple of nuts seemed to think I was obligated to respond off the forum.
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
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About 2 to 4 times a month I get a request for help directly in my email that has come from someone that has picked up my details from one of the message boards here on CodeProject. I feel that adds an obligation to answer which I don't like. I feel that I should be able to answer posts as I choose. So, I was thinking on the train this morning that if someone wants a response out of the way of prying eyes (perhaps it is a project that must be kept confidential, perhaps they have an ego to protect) and off the forums that I should charge a fee. What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be?
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
I provide free Amateur Radio software on http://hrd.ham-radio.ch[^] - one user wrote 'I am an economics professor and don't have time to read the handbook so I'm emailing you direct'. He didn't get a reply :mad:. What you could do is use http://www.phpbb.com[^] forums for your users - I do this and it works very well - http://www.ham-radio.ch/forums[^]. Old Simon HB9DRV
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I provide free Amateur Radio software on http://hrd.ham-radio.ch[^] - one user wrote 'I am an economics professor and don't have time to read the handbook so I'm emailing you direct'. He didn't get a reply :mad:. What you could do is use http://www.phpbb.com[^] forums for your users - I do this and it works very well - http://www.ham-radio.ch/forums[^]. Old Simon HB9DRV
Simon Brown wrote: one user wrote 'I am an economics professor as if that is a valid excuse. That's terrible.
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
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About 2 to 4 times a month I get a request for help directly in my email that has come from someone that has picked up my details from one of the message boards here on CodeProject. I feel that adds an obligation to answer which I don't like. I feel that I should be able to answer posts as I choose. So, I was thinking on the train this morning that if someone wants a response out of the way of prying eyes (perhaps it is a project that must be kept confidential, perhaps they have an ego to protect) and off the forums that I should charge a fee. What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be?
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
Yeah, I get the odd request in email too, almost always as a direct email from one of my articles. Gut feeling? If the question arises directly out of the subject matter of the article in question I'll respond that I'd rather the question and the answer were attached to the article so more than one person can benefit from the exchange. But, as you'd know from your own experience, often the question doesn't relate to the article and it's obvious the request comes from someone who's too lazy to do their own research/homework. Those requests go unanswered. As for a fee based approach, if they have the money to pay wouldn't they go find a consultant? An email seems so much cheaper if you know what I mean. [later addition] There is, of course, the occasional email from a 'well known' CP identity. These are almost always from someone who's paid his/her dues through answers to questions on the various forums. Of course the attitude toward those emails is different. :) [/later addition] Rob Manderson I'm working on a version for Visual Lisp++ My (occasional) blog http://blogs.wdevs.com/ultramaroon/[^]
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Yeah, I get the odd request in email too, almost always as a direct email from one of my articles. Gut feeling? If the question arises directly out of the subject matter of the article in question I'll respond that I'd rather the question and the answer were attached to the article so more than one person can benefit from the exchange. But, as you'd know from your own experience, often the question doesn't relate to the article and it's obvious the request comes from someone who's too lazy to do their own research/homework. Those requests go unanswered. As for a fee based approach, if they have the money to pay wouldn't they go find a consultant? An email seems so much cheaper if you know what I mean. [later addition] There is, of course, the occasional email from a 'well known' CP identity. These are almost always from someone who's paid his/her dues through answers to questions on the various forums. Of course the attitude toward those emails is different. :) [/later addition] Rob Manderson I'm working on a version for Visual Lisp++ My (occasional) blog http://blogs.wdevs.com/ultramaroon/[^]
Rob Manderson wrote: As for a fee based approach, if they have the money to pay wouldn't they go find a consultant? I guess my idea of making a wee bit extra to enjoy an evening out here and there is a little off the mark. :sigh: Certainly if I am googling for something I occasionally come across something that looks like it would be a good answer, but it stops short of any useful information and prompts me to sign up for $x per month and at that point I just go back to the next item in the Google search.
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
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Rob Manderson wrote: As for a fee based approach, if they have the money to pay wouldn't they go find a consultant? I guess my idea of making a wee bit extra to enjoy an evening out here and there is a little off the mark. :sigh: Certainly if I am googling for something I occasionally come across something that looks like it would be a good answer, but it stops short of any useful information and prompts me to sign up for $x per month and at that point I just go back to the next item in the Google search.
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
Colin Angus Mackay wrote: it stops short of any useful information and prompts me to sign up for $x per month Uh uh :) As we (you and I already know) there's no substitute for a healthy curiousity and some research skills :) Rob Manderson I'm working on a version for Visual Lisp++ My (occasional) blog http://blogs.wdevs.com/ultramaroon/[^]
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Colin Angus Mackay wrote: it stops short of any useful information and prompts me to sign up for $x per month Uh uh :) As we (you and I already know) there's no substitute for a healthy curiousity and some research skills :) Rob Manderson I'm working on a version for Visual Lisp++ My (occasional) blog http://blogs.wdevs.com/ultramaroon/[^]
Rob Manderson wrote: there's no substitute for a healthy curiousity and some research skills Absolutely. :)
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
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I provide free Amateur Radio software on http://hrd.ham-radio.ch[^] - one user wrote 'I am an economics professor and don't have time to read the handbook so I'm emailing you direct'. He didn't get a reply :mad:. What you could do is use http://www.phpbb.com[^] forums for your users - I do this and it works very well - http://www.ham-radio.ch/forums[^]. Old Simon HB9DRV
Simon Brown wrote: 'I am an economics professor and don't have time to read the handbook More like I am an economics professor and can't be a#sed to read the handbook. My god, they have plenty of time! Ant. I'm hard, yet soft.
I'm coloured, yet clear.
I'm fruity and sweet.
I'm jelly, what am I? Muse on it further, I shall return! - David Williams (Little Britain) -
About 2 to 4 times a month I get a request for help directly in my email that has come from someone that has picked up my details from one of the message boards here on CodeProject. I feel that adds an obligation to answer which I don't like. I feel that I should be able to answer posts as I choose. So, I was thinking on the train this morning that if someone wants a response out of the way of prying eyes (perhaps it is a project that must be kept confidential, perhaps they have an ego to protect) and off the forums that I should charge a fee. What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be?
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
Colin Angus Mackay wrote: What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be? I very much doubt you'd ever see any money for what you did - unless you are getting requests different to the kind the rest of us receive. If I was to do it, I'd treat them like a client. Get them to sign off on a contract, get purchase order details etc. I don't think it would be worth the effort though. I now ignore all the requests I get. Most of them get caught by my white-list spam filter anyway. The one I got yesterday was funny. The guy started off by complimenting me on my articles, which must make him a mindreader as the only ones I have are in my head :-D Michael CP Blog [^]
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Colin Angus Mackay wrote: What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be? I very much doubt you'd ever see any money for what you did - unless you are getting requests different to the kind the rest of us receive. If I was to do it, I'd treat them like a client. Get them to sign off on a contract, get purchase order details etc. I don't think it would be worth the effort though. I now ignore all the requests I get. Most of them get caught by my white-list spam filter anyway. The one I got yesterday was funny. The guy started off by complimenting me on my articles, which must make him a mindreader as the only ones I have are in my head :-D Michael CP Blog [^]
Michael P Butler wrote: I don't think it would be worth the effort though Yes, given the responses from the other people on this thread I'm coming to the same conclusion. Michael P Butler wrote: which must make him a mindreader as the only ones I have are in my head Wow! What an ability! I wish I could do that. :rolleyes: :laugh:
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
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Colin Angus Mackay wrote: What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be? I very much doubt you'd ever see any money for what you did - unless you are getting requests different to the kind the rest of us receive. If I was to do it, I'd treat them like a client. Get them to sign off on a contract, get purchase order details etc. I don't think it would be worth the effort though. I now ignore all the requests I get. Most of them get caught by my white-list spam filter anyway. The one I got yesterday was funny. The guy started off by complimenting me on my articles, which must make him a mindreader as the only ones I have are in my head :-D Michael CP Blog [^]
Perhaps he was reading between your posts!? :laugh: Ant. I'm hard, yet soft.
I'm coloured, yet clear.
I'm fruity and sweet.
I'm jelly, what am I? Muse on it further, I shall return! - David Williams (Little Britain) -
About 2 to 4 times a month I get a request for help directly in my email that has come from someone that has picked up my details from one of the message boards here on CodeProject. I feel that adds an obligation to answer which I don't like. I feel that I should be able to answer posts as I choose. So, I was thinking on the train this morning that if someone wants a response out of the way of prying eyes (perhaps it is a project that must be kept confidential, perhaps they have an ego to protect) and off the forums that I should charge a fee. What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be?
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
Charge a fee for doing someones homework? 'Cos I bet that's most of the questions are for! Ignore them or politely tell them to go fish.
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Charge a fee for doing someones homework? 'Cos I bet that's most of the questions are for! Ignore them or politely tell them to go fish.
Robert Edward Caldecott wrote: Charge a fee for doing someones homework? 'Cos I bet that's most of the questions are for! In the cases where it is homework, wouldn't it make economic sense from my point of view. I get a wee bit cash up front, good for an evening out or a new DVD or whatever, and then better job security down the line. ;P
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
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I provide free Amateur Radio software on http://hrd.ham-radio.ch[^] - one user wrote 'I am an economics professor and don't have time to read the handbook so I'm emailing you direct'. He didn't get a reply :mad:. What you could do is use http://www.phpbb.com[^] forums for your users - I do this and it works very well - http://www.ham-radio.ch/forums[^]. Old Simon HB9DRV
I would have replied :evil-grin: The tigress is here :-D
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Michael P Butler wrote: I don't think it would be worth the effort though Yes, given the responses from the other people on this thread I'm coming to the same conclusion. Michael P Butler wrote: which must make him a mindreader as the only ones I have are in my head Wow! What an ability! I wish I could do that. :rolleyes: :laugh:
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
Colin Angus Mackay wrote: I wish I could do that I already knew you couldn't ;P The tigress is here :-D
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About 2 to 4 times a month I get a request for help directly in my email that has come from someone that has picked up my details from one of the message boards here on CodeProject. I feel that adds an obligation to answer which I don't like. I feel that I should be able to answer posts as I choose. So, I was thinking on the train this morning that if someone wants a response out of the way of prying eyes (perhaps it is a project that must be kept confidential, perhaps they have an ego to protect) and off the forums that I should charge a fee. What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be?
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
I get those same e-mails on occassion. I handle it in a variety of ways. If I can answer the question with a few sentences, I do so, and include a friendly "Please post further questions to CP so that everyone benefits" reminder. If it requires a long drawn-out answer, I just delete the e-mail.
"When I was born I was so surprised that I didn't talk for a year and a half." - Gracie Allen
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I get those same e-mails on occassion. I handle it in a variety of ways. If I can answer the question with a few sentences, I do so, and include a friendly "Please post further questions to CP so that everyone benefits" reminder. If it requires a long drawn-out answer, I just delete the e-mail.
"When I was born I was so surprised that I didn't talk for a year and a half." - Gracie Allen
I find that the ones that arrive via email are the long drawn out variety and usually with a lot of hand holding. My style is to help them with their immediate problem and I try to drop in as many good keywords that would help them on their searches* in the future. This is of course wishful thinking in some cases
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
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About 2 to 4 times a month I get a request for help directly in my email that has come from someone that has picked up my details from one of the message boards here on CodeProject. I feel that adds an obligation to answer which I don't like. I feel that I should be able to answer posts as I choose. So, I was thinking on the train this morning that if someone wants a response out of the way of prying eyes (perhaps it is a project that must be kept confidential, perhaps they have an ego to protect) and off the forums that I should charge a fee. What do you think? If you think I should, what do you recon a fair and reasonable fee should be?
Vogon Building and Loan advise that your planet is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on any mortgage secured upon it. Please remember that the force of gravity can go up as well as down.
That depends. A question where there is a "I don't want to ask this publicly because evil people could use it in a criminal way if they thought of it" should be answered privatly. (assuming you are reasonably satisfied they have a good use for it, and there really are evil uses) If they prove they have looked for an answer, and it isn't answered elsewhere, I'd answer it, if I was clearly an expert worth asking. (that is if you asked about thumbnails in kdesktop where I've done some work and few others have I'd answer your question if it was intelligent) In all other cases, if I was feeling nice I'd respond with the following link: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Read it. A very harsh answer, but everyone should read it, and apply it to life. When I'm not feeling nice I hit delete. I'm not a consultant setup to bill people. If I ran a computer help buisness I'd respond with my rates, and ask some proof they will pay. It isn't worth my time to learn how to bill the few people who ask me for help.