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476 Posts
Hello just curious are you suppose to tip a calibrator? Newbie here and I don't want to be the only cheap guy. THANKS
tip a calibrator ?
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If he works for himself, no. If he works for a company, and he goes beyond the expectations for the job as contracted, perhaps. This is an individual decision. I have had clients insist that I take a little extra tip, even though I refuse it, whether I am doing work independently or for one of my dealers.
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6,723 Posts
Greetings
Some do ... most don't. It isn't expected or required.
I had one client who ... after I told him what the bill was ... said that the bill was too low and proceeded to write me a much larger sum in payment.
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regards
Some do ... most don't. It isn't expected or required.
I had one client who ... after I told him what the bill was ... said that the bill was too low and proceeded to write me a much larger sum in payment.
regards
I dont really see the point. He estimates and charges you for what he does just like any other service. If you had someone clean your carpet, would you tip them after paying 400 bones because you were satisfied with the outcome? Thats supposed to be the result. Calibrators choose their occupation. Just like anybody, if they are not making enough dough, they arent charging enough. And if you ask me, the price of a calibration is through the roof. They just charge that to make the bills every month. Even though the service is not nearly as valuable as charged from an actual labor and time standpoint.
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214 Posts
In your humble opinion...
In your humble opinion...
I never expect a tip- I agree to do the work for a certain amount and I'm happy with that. On the other hand, I do get tips sometimes (usually about once out of every 3 or 4 jobs) and I am genuinely thankful for them.
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For me, tips are just a pleasant occasional surprise. Will it make my day if I get one? Usually. Will it make me think any less of a person or feel any less happy with my job when I don't get one? Not a chance!
well in my humble opinion i could get service from a lawyer or a therapist for the same hourly rate as a tv calibration. im not opposed to getting a calibration or paying for one. i just understand the thesis behind the pricing of one and why i wouldnt tip a calibrator. unless he needed to borrow 20 bucks. lol
well in my humble opinion i could get service from a lawyer or a therapist for the same hourly rate as a tv calibration. im not opposed to getting a calibration or paying for one. i just understand the thesis behind the pricing of one and why i wouldnt tip a calibrator. unless he needed to borrow 20 bucks. lol
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24,155 Posts
IMHO...
Professional or not, if YOU are are pleased with the outcome when a job is completed and/or exceeds your expectations, use your best judgement (gut?).
I have no problem throwing out a few extra $$ for lunch and few beers when I receive courtesy and consideration.
Professional or not, if YOU are are pleased with the outcome when a job is completed and/or exceeds your expectations, use your best judgement (gut?).
I have no problem throwing out a few extra $$ for lunch and few beers when I receive courtesy and consideration.
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3,587 Posts
OK, let's analyze this "through the roof" pricing...
I have $25,000 worth of hardware and software that has to be maintained (upgrade fees from time to time, calibration of the meter is $800+ per year, the car needs gas, tires, oil changes, brakes, and occasional repairs). There's the cost of insurance (personal liability plus using your vehicle for business purposes raises the rate above strictly pleasure use or commuting rates), and income taxes (about 25% for state and federal after deductions), health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, long term care insurance, unemployment insurance et al.
My average travel time for calibrations is about 50 minutes each way, an hour and 40 minutes total per calibration. And I don't charge for that time... the first hour is "free" and additional travel time is quite reasonable. So when I charge nothing extra for travel - that's part of the fee. There are very few calibrations that take less than 4 hours... most are in the 4 hours to 5 hours range. So let's say the travel time is 1.5 hours and the calibration time is 4.5 hours... that's 6 hours total. If the calibration fee is $300, that's $50 an hour - BEFORE expenses. My last job paid $41 an hour plus (they claimed) about $20/hour in benefits (probably a pretty reasonable estimate considering the cost of medical, dental, retirement, etc.). Nobody is paying benefits on my calibration work - it has to cover my own benefits. And that $50 an hour doesn't include all the "non-calibration time" it takes to stay current with calibrating various display models - a constantly changing profile with hundreds of new models every year. I used to get paid to take in-house training or outside courses to keep current with new technologies and compliance requirements - not any more, that's now all unpaid time.
So, how much would YOU charge for calibration if you were doing that for a living instead of what you are doing now? I think we'd all like to know.
OK, let's analyze this "through the roof" pricing...
I have $25,000 worth of hardware and software that has to be maintained (upgrade fees from time to time, calibration of the meter is $800+ per year, the car needs gas, tires, oil changes, brakes, and occasional repairs). There's the cost of insurance (personal liability plus using your vehicle for business purposes raises the rate above strictly pleasure use or commuting rates), and income taxes (about 25% for state and federal after deductions), health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, long term care insurance, unemployment insurance et al.
My average travel time for calibrations is about 50 minutes each way, an hour and 40 minutes total per calibration. And I don't charge for that time... the first hour is "free" and additional travel time is quite reasonable. So when I charge nothing extra for travel - that's part of the fee. There are very few calibrations that take less than 4 hours... most are in the 4 hours to 5 hours range. So let's say the travel time is 1.5 hours and the calibration time is 4.5 hours... that's 6 hours total. If the calibration fee is $300, that's $50 an hour - BEFORE expenses. My last job paid $41 an hour plus (they claimed) about $20/hour in benefits (probably a pretty reasonable estimate considering the cost of medical, dental, retirement, etc.). Nobody is paying benefits on my calibration work - it has to cover my own benefits. And that $50 an hour doesn't include all the "non-calibration time" it takes to stay current with calibrating various display models - a constantly changing profile with hundreds of new models every year. I used to get paid to take in-house training or outside courses to keep current with new technologies and compliance requirements - not any more, that's now all unpaid time.
So, how much would YOU charge for calibration if you were doing that for a living instead of what you are doing now? I think we'd all like to know.
id put it at 50 bones an input. i cant help it if your field of work isnt a broadcale business. like i said thats the occupation you chose. i understand where the money charged is coming from. but when you look at the concrete facts of what your getting in the end its not near the value charged, as alot of things are. im sure if the business of calibration were more the norm and broadspread, travel lengths would be cut down and more competitiveness would drive some of these costs down. but thats clearly not the case. i respect what you do and have been looking to get a calibration but am just not sure if needed. this topic is whether a calibrator should be tipped. my answer is no on a cash standpoint for reasons stated earlier. as far as feeding someone lunch and whatnot, id be more than happy to oblige.
id put it at 50 bones an input. i cant help it if your field of work isnt a broadcale business. like i said thats the occupation you chose. i understand where the money charged is coming from. but when you look at the concrete facts of what your getting in the end its not near the value charged, as alot of things are. im sure if the business of calibration were more the norm and broadspread, travel lengths would be cut down and more competitiveness would drive some of these costs down. but thats clearly not the case. i respect what you do and have been looking to get a calibration but am just not sure if needed. this topic is whether a calibrator should be tipped. my answer is no on a cash standpoint for reasons stated earlier. as far as feeding someone lunch and whatnot, id be more than happy to oblige.
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You don't need to so why bother ;P
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So you'd charge $50 an input... maybe $150 for a calibration that you have 90 minutes of travel time, $25,000 in equipment and software that has to be maintained, business and personal insurance that has to be paid for, vacation time (not paid by your employer because there is no employer), purchase and maintain your vehicle (including insurance), purchase fuel, and you'd spend 4.5 hours average working on the calibration... sounds like a GREAT business plan. Really well thought-out and VERY realistic. NOT. You'd have a very very short career as a calibrator unless you don't mind living under a freeway overpass and don't mind taking public transportation.
So you'd charge $50 an input... maybe $150 for a calibration that you have 90 minutes of travel time, $25,000 in equipment and software that has to be maintained, business and personal insurance that has to be paid for, vacation time (not paid by your employer because there is no employer), purchase and maintain your vehicle (including insurance), purchase fuel, and you'd spend 4.5 hours average working on the calibration... sounds like a GREAT business plan. Really well thought-out and VERY realistic. NOT. You'd have a very very short career as a calibrator unless you don't mind living under a freeway overpass and don't mind taking public transportation.
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24,155 Posts
On one hand...
You choose your "profession" and how you obtain income and set your fee for service. That's your personal choice and one of the many drawbacks to being self-employed.
On the other hand...
Those that have desire to have a "professional" will do so. If some feel that the service is overpriced, then you have the option to find alternatives.
This is not a thread about the prices for calibration or the woes/expenses of being a calibrator.
You choose your "profession" and how you obtain income and set your fee for service. That's your personal choice and one of the many drawbacks to being self-employed.
On the other hand...
Those that have desire to have a "professional" will do so. If some feel that the service is overpriced, then you have the option to find alternatives.
This is not a thread about the prices for calibration or the woes/expenses of being a calibrator.
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20,735 Posts
You obviously have limited experience with video and the value that an accurate image provides.
I suppose you'd think $50 would be appropriate to set up a CRT display too?
How laughable. Maybe if you want joe schmoe with a test disc to fiddle around for half an hour $50 might be appropriate.
What you are paying for is three big big things:
1) knowledge and experience. With a good calibrator, this consists of YEARS of experience in video and/or engineering.
2) Tools: expensive, often VERY expensive equipment which must be maintained as well.
3) A result: the most accurate image your display can yield.
#2 is really the only one that has a clear cost-value calculation that you could spread out among calibrations. #1 and #3 are priceless.
That you think $50 is worth that result, and worth that expertise, given how much you can spend on a display (even given today's amazing deals on excellent displays) tells me you haven't a clue and have no experience with a calibrated display or what actually goes into achieving an accurate picture.
If you think you could spend a weekend teaching yourself how to calibrate displays coming from a position of zero knowledge, then you are a fool.
You obviously have limited experience with video and the value that an accurate image provides.
I suppose you'd think $50 would be appropriate to set up a CRT display too?
How laughable. Maybe if you want joe schmoe with a test disc to fiddle around for half an hour $50 might be appropriate.
What you are paying for is three big big things:
1) knowledge and experience. With a good calibrator, this consists of YEARS of experience in video and/or engineering.
2) Tools: expensive, often VERY expensive equipment which must be maintained as well.
3) A result: the most accurate image your display can yield.
#2 is really the only one that has a clear cost-value calculation that you could spread out among calibrations. #1 and #3 are priceless.
That you think $50 is worth that result, and worth that expertise, given how much you can spend on a display (even given today's amazing deals on excellent displays) tells me you haven't a clue and have no experience with a calibrated display or what actually goes into achieving an accurate picture.
If you think you could spend a weekend teaching yourself how to calibrate displays coming from a position of zero knowledge, then you are a fool.
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3,587 Posts
To charge $50 an input, you'd have to use a Spyder and ride a bike. Good luck with your calibration business venture. You have a most unrealistic conception of what it takes to be a professional. You can't achieve professional results without professional-grade tools - no matter how much you'd like to believe you could cheap-out on the equipment, you can't. I don't get hired to do amateur-quality work. I get hired to do professional quality work and that requires professional quality tools.
I didn't WANT to spend as much as I did on calibration tools but the compromises in quality and time caused by cheaper stuff simply were not professional-grade. I probable save an hour per calibration using the meter I use and I STILL spend 4-5 hours doing each calibration. A lesser meter is so slow and so limited at the lower luminance levels that I can't in good conscience charge anybody anything if I'm using a tool that limited.
There are reasons professionals use what they use.
To charge $50 an input, you'd have to use a Spyder and ride a bike. Good luck with your calibration business venture. You have a most unrealistic conception of what it takes to be a professional. You can't achieve professional results without professional-grade tools - no matter how much you'd like to believe you could cheap-out on the equipment, you can't. I don't get hired to do amateur-quality work. I get hired to do professional quality work and that requires professional quality tools.
I didn't WANT to spend as much as I did on calibration tools but the compromises in quality and time caused by cheaper stuff simply were not professional-grade. I probable save an hour per calibration using the meter I use and I STILL spend 4-5 hours doing each calibration. A lesser meter is so slow and so limited at the lower luminance levels that I can't in good conscience charge anybody anything if I'm using a tool that limited.
There are reasons professionals use what they use.
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146 Posts
Greetings,
Tips are neither expected or required, though I am always grateful for ice water!
Regards
Greetings,
Tips are neither expected or required, though I am always grateful for ice water!
Regards
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