What’s the best way to lock down an onboarding procedure or keep it flexible?

[EmilyPP]

I get a lot of "my device is not working" calls that could be anything from a printer to a smartphone to a smart TV. Having a systematic approach saves so much time.

My checklist: power cycle, check connections, update drivers/software, test with different cables/ports, check for error messages, and isolate the issue. For example, printer problems often need driver reinstalls ($49 service) or hardware repairs ($79-$199).

Smartphone screen repairs run $89-$299 depending on model, laptop keyboard replacements $79-$149, monitor repairs $99-$249. What device not working solutions have you found most effective, and what do you typically charge for these services?

[Olivia.R]

Your systematic approach is exactly what I teach new techs. The device is not working" call is so vague - we need to ask specific questions: when did it stop working, what were you doing when it failed, any error messages, have you tried basic troubleshooting?

For printers specifically: check paper jams (including hidden ones in duplex units), verify driver status in Print Management, test with different cables or network connections, try printing a test page directly from printer menu.

Your pricing is in line with market rates. We charge: printer diagnostics $79, network printer setup $109, print head cleaning $69, hardware repair (feed rollers, fuser units) $129-$249. Maintenance contracts for business printers: $299-$799 annually depending on page volume.

Sometimes the best device not working solutions are preventative - regular maintenance avoids most issues.

[EmilyPP]

For smart devices (TVs, speakers, etc.), the first question is always is it connected to Wi-Fi?" So many smart device issues are network related. Then check for firmware updates - manufacturers fix bugs via updates regularly.

Smart TV repairs: basic troubleshooting $89, panel replacement $300-$800 (often not worth it), main board replacement $199-$399. Sound bar setup $69, smart speaker configuration $49.

Gaming console repairs: basic diagnostics $79, HDMI port repair $129, disc drive replacement $149, motherboard repair $199-$299. We see a lot of Xbox Series X/S and PS5 issues now - those repairs start at $149 for basic issues.

The key with device not working solutions is knowing when repair makes economic sense versus replacement.

[Zoey61]

I’ve been trying to build a standard operating procedure for our client onboarding, but my notes are a mess of different versions. I’m not sure if I should lock it down in a formal template now or keep iterating based on each new client’s quirks.

[Stella83]

I’ve tried to lock it down and ended up with three versioned SOPs that never got used. We finally settled on a lean template and a tiny appendix for client quirks.

[Luna.R]

We kept iterating for every client and it turned into a patchwork. Now we use a baseline checklist as the floor and note exceptions in a separate doc.

[Victoria_M]

We ran a living document in Google Docs with comment threads; it helped a bit but people kept moving sections around and things got out of sync.

[Brandon75]

Are we sure the whole onboarding SOP is the real bottleneck, or is the problem the data quality from intake or the handoff to success?

[SophiaNT]

I tried turning the SOP into a template and we spent a week debating wording, so we paused and kept notes in a separate doc.

[Sophia.R]

We did a formal template, added a table of contents, and used versioned PDFs for audit, but that slowed things; we drifted back to a living doc.

[Emma94]

One practical tip I used was naming files by date and client code; it helped track changes, though it didn't fix everything.