Had a chat with a guy from a local repair cafe that made me rethink my pricing

I was at a coffee shop in Portland last Tuesday and got talking to this older guy who runs a free repair cafe twice a month. He told me he fixes old toasters and fans for nothing, just asks people to donate if they can. I've been charging $45 flat rate for basic stuff like replacing a power cord or a bad switch. He said something like 'if you're only fixing things for money, you're missing half the fun' and it hit me weird. I mean, I get that I need to pay bills, but he had this joy in his voice about bringing old junk back to life for free. It made me wonder if I've been too focused on the cash side and not enough on just loving the work. Has anyone else tried doing a free repair day or felt guilty about their prices?

2 comments

2 Comments

jones.blake6d ago

Wait, $45 flat rate for something basic like a power cord swap? Thats actually pretty cheap compared to the $65-$80 most shops around here charge for labor alone. Half the repair guys I know would laugh at $45 for any electrical work. That old dude sounds like hes living off something else, like a pension or savings. If you need that money to eat, dont feel bad about it. Maybe just try one free repair day a month and see if it gives you that same vibe without killing your income.

davis.linda5d ago

That bit about the one free repair day a month reminded me - a buddy of mine tried that exact thing last summer. He said it was great for his conscience but he ended up broke by week two.