Do Some People Out There Crap Money?

[havic626]

I was looking at a few ads in the sunday paper and i came across something to me is stupid.  At Best Buy they charge about 199$$ to install your tv and to hook up your ps3 to it.  Are there people out there that pay this???  For 20$ or a 18 pack ill hook up your tv and your ps3!!!!!!

[shardian]

Life Lesson:
Never do "favors" for people who aren't part of your deeply trusted inner circle, or unless they are actually intelligent. Anyone else will forever attribute ANYTHING that could be considered less than optimum performance YOUR fault, no matter how irrelevant to what you did or what they screwed up themselves.
Let them pay Best Buy, that way you can stay acquaintances.

[hulkster]

people will pay tons of money for a convenience.  just like i pay $30 or so to have my oil changed in my car.  i know i could probaby do it myself and save money, but i care more about pinballjim's opinions than i do my car. 

another example is that i paid to have my pool "closed" for the winter.  yes i have a pool and it sucks, worst decision ever to buy a house with a pool.  anyway, i paid $150 to have two guys come out and drain some stuff and put chemicals in.  i didnt know how to do it, and i really didnt want to know how so i paid for it.  now, i dont pay for installation services of electronics because im not afraid to hook it up.  i do freelance for people at my work and i charge $40 an hour for pc stuff.  tomorrow i have to get a guys pc and basically just do some defrags, spyware scans, and AV scans...ill make around $80 because his pc is so dang slow.  but he doesnt care because he doesnt have to worry about it. 

[Dartful Dodger]

What shardian said.

With insurance, gas, time and other headaches 190 seems low.

When you buy a product from Best Buy they push warranties and batteries, even if the product doesn’t require them.

I've never heard them ask if I need assistance to the car, let alone offer to have it installed.

[ChadTower]

If the person is actually intelligent, as shardian says, they can hook up their own TV and won't be asking you to do it anyway.  If they ask, they don't fit that description.

[shardian]

If the person is actually intelligent, as shardian says, they can hook up their own TV and won't be asking you to do it anyway.  If they ask, they don't fit that description.

For the most part, that is right . There are exceptions. I know several people that I don't hesitate to help with PC's, electronics, etc and I don't charge them anything. However, I also know that if I need help in their area of expertise, they will be right there without hesitation. Both fellows are old-timers and know everything there is to know about woodworking and construction. They also understand that they are getting FREE labor and that I will do my best. If something were to go wrong - even if it was my fault - they don't sweat it - it was free labor and not working to begin with after all.

[hulkster]

If the person is actually intelligent, as shardian says, they can hook up their own TV and won't be asking you to do it anyway.  If they ask, they don't fit that description.

or they just dont care to know about it.  lots of my co-workers are fast learners and extremely intelligent.  yet, they just dont want to even fool with setting up electronics.  i know they can do it, but they just dont care about it.

[ChadTower]

For the most part, that is right . There are exceptions. I know several people that I don't hesitate to help with PC's, electronics, etc and I don't charge them anything. However, I also know that if I need help in their area of expertise, they will be right there without hesitation. Both fellows are old-timers and know everything there is to know about woodworking and construction. They also understand that they are getting FREE labor and that I will do my best. If something were to go wrong - even if it was my fault - they don't sweat it - it was free labor and not working to begin with after all.

I don't know anyone like that, sadly.  Or maybe it's just here in MA - even if you know someone who would be like that, when you need them, they always have some reason they can't make it.  Even if you were just at their house last week debugging their wireless router.

[shardian]

If the person is actually intelligent, as shardian says, they can hook up their own TV and won't be asking you to do it anyway.  If they ask, they don't fit that description.

or they just dont care to know about it.  lots of my co-workers are fast learners and extremely intelligent.  yet, they just dont want to even fool with setting up electronics.  i know they can do it, but they just dont care about it.

I guess to clarify:
Intelligent people can also be lazy, and have a lack of accountability. Feel them out on both issues before ever offering help.

[shardian]

I don't know anyone like that, sadly.  Or maybe it's just here in MA - even if you know someone who would be like that, when you need them, they always have some reason they can't make it.  Even if you were just at their house last week debugging their wireless router.

Dude, find you an old-timer and absorb some of their knowledge before it is gone. It is scary to think where our country will go after all of the baby boomers retire in the next few years. All of that knowledge - just gone all at once. I have asked these old-timers for help on multiple occasions, and they are tickled pink to help me out - even if it means an out of the way trip to my house. People our age don't give a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- about anything but themselves for some reason.
I love helping people out if I can. I have also in many instances been left out in the cold when I ask super simple favors of these same people. I especially hate it when you can tell they are lying thru their teeth with their excuse. I HATE it when these people take advantage of me, and I have disassociated with MANY friends because of that. My brother-in-law is the world's worst. Hell, he did the same thing to his own sister (my wife of course) for even longer. We don't associate anymore with him.

Sorry, touchy subject for me. Simply put, you find out who your real friends are real fast when something bad happens to you.

[ChadTower]

That's pretty much my point - I've spent time in people's houses helping them with a network/PC/etc issue and had them decline helping me carry things back to my car.  Come to my house at some point to help me with something?  May as well forget that idea.  Ain't gonna happen.

There are plenty of old timers on my block, but for this purpose it doesn't work.  They are all widows.  The one man left is about 90 and drove a truck for a living.  A respectable profession but not one I would ask about.

Hell, even when trying to do business with someone on my street... there is a plumber a few houses down.  I tried to hire him to work on my house, give the work to the neighbor.  He no-showed while I'm sitting there burning vacation time.

[havic626]

To me it just seems crazy to pay that much for something as easy as taking a tv out of a box and plugging it in for almost 200$$.  I mean i understand for some people that may be the only option for the disabled or elderly.

[boykster]

To me it just seems crazy to pay that much for something as easy as taking a tv out of a box and plugging it in for almost 200$$.  I mean i understand for some people that may be the only option for the disabled or elderly.

Installation may also include hanging a flat panel on the wall.  Also, not every one knows the difference between different types of cables, how to route the audio, etc.  Sure, trivial to many, but not to all.  I find the idea of calling firedog or geeksquad to troubleshoot a pc as ridiculous, but to many ppl, a pc is black magic.

 

[AtomSmasher]

My brother in law just got a quote last week from a local shop to install a tv and surround sound with a small but custom entertainment center.  The total for everything came to $22,000 .... he's decided to try and do it himself.

[ahofle]

I can't say I'm surprised people pay $200 to connect a TV seeing as how people are also dumb enough to pay $150 for a Monster HDMI cable. 

[danny_galaga]

[ark_ader]

Well in answer to your post header.  Yes.

Its tradition in the UK to have a Christmas Pudding.  And inside the Pudding is 6p coins.  Now back in the day 1940's-60's the sixpenny coins were pure silver.  Worth some money.  Today they are out of circulation and looks like a modern 5p coin.

So we go over to Grandmas house on Christams Day for Christmas Pud loaded with 6p coins.

Most of them we caught before we swallowed, but one or two got away.   



Coming back to your obvious question.  I used to have a part time business doing exactly that.  I would go to someones house, flat or business to set up computer equipment and other setups like TVs, videos and Satellite boxes.  Most of the time it involved something real simple and if the client looked at a simple book he could do it.  Other times it was a real puzzle.

But my clients were either too busy with work and family or I used to assist the aged, with the same scenario.  So its not like they are stupid or lazy.  Some people are like Midas and cause more problems than they need. 

Now you have guys driving smart cars and call themselves Geek Squad.   Same thing more expensive.

[ChadTower]

My brother in law just got a quote last week from a local shop to install a tv and surround sound with a small but custom entertainment center.  The total for everything came to $22,000 .... he's decided to try and do it himself.

Did that include a new garage to put it in?   

[billf]

My brother in law just got a quote last week from a local shop to install a tv and surround sound with a small but custom entertainment center.  The total for everything came to $22,000 .... he's decided to try and do it himself.

Did that include a new garage to put it in?   

And a finished basement??   

[boykster]

I can't say I'm surprised people pay $200 to connect a TV seeing as how people are also dumb enough to pay $150 for a Monster HDMI cable. 

NO kidding, considering a cable from monoprice will do EXACTLY the same thing for a fraction of the cost.  I can understand paying for a quality cable, but Monster?  All marketing and hype (just like Bose).  I build my video cables (not HDMI/DVI though) myself using quality Belden cable and Canare balanced connectors.  I can build a component video cable comparable to a $200 boutique cable for less than $30.

 

[SNAAKE]

speaking of crapping money..check out this cabinet..ONLY 8K !
http://cgi.ebay.com/Video-Arcade-Machine-42-Plasma-TV-Monitor-MAME-tm_W0QQitemZ120232802817QQihZ002QQcategoryZ187QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


yeah plasma screen is instant deal breaker. good luck with random burn in..especially with all teh old games. AND older games lag on plasma/lcd/dlp. and to be perfectly honest, it IS kinda ugly. it has nothing fancy going on. no artwork,t-molding,seperate marquee light box.

[shardian]

speaking of crapping money..check out this cabinet..ONLY 8K !

I don't know about the rest of you, but I love reaching down to my ankles to put  a quarter in the machine.

on that note, if this was mine I would only let hot chicks play the outer two players.
(If you don't get that one, then you are officially homosexual.)

[SithMaster]

speaking of crapping money..check out this cabinet..ONLY 8K !

I don't know about the rest of you, but I love reaching down to my ankles to put  a quarter in the machine.

on that note, if this was mine I would only let hot chicks play the outer two players.
(If you don't get that one, then you are officially homosexual.)

or gay.

[Singapura]

I've been trying to get someone to help me build a cab for months now and offer good money for it (certainly compared with the average salary here) but no one even bothers  If I had space for a workshop I'd have bought the equipment and wood myself by now. On the other hand,  if you buy a tv or computer here they always install it for free.

[ChadTower]

That looks like it's only a two player layout - with separate 4 and 8 way sticks.

[shardian]

That looks like it's only a two player layout - with separate 4 and 8 way sticks.

On second look, you are right. I saw the big ass panel, several joysticks, and of course, the ankle biter 4 slot coin door. I have no clue why they invested in a brand new 4 slot coin door then. Utterly retarded either way.

[Zero_Hour]

I actually am one of those people who took Best Buy up on the TV installation offer.
(However, I bought my cables at monoprice.com  )
BUT -
It was a 52" LCD, that I was having wall mounted. Normally It's a job I would do myself, but given the size of the set (and it's expense), I decided that I really would have some issues trying to accomplish it as a one man job.

The installers were on time, courteous, and efficient. It was definitely a 2-man job. In my case, it was money well spent.

[Chris G]

speaking of crapping money..check out this cabinet..ONLY 8K !
http://cgi.ebay.com/Video-Arcade-Machine-42-Plasma-TV-Monitor-MAME-tm_W0QQitemZ120232802817QQihZ002QQcategoryZ187QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


yeah plasma screen is instant deal breaker. good luck with random burn in..especially with all teh old games. AND older games lag on plasma/lcd/dlp. and to be perfectly honest, it IS kinda ugly. it has nothing fancy going on. no artwork,t-molding,seperate marquee light box.

But it comes with a FREE Nintendo Wii!!!