Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Running a Web Hosting Business : How much is a tech worth?

[IntraHost]

Is 500-600 dollars a month a good amount to pay a customer service (support/sales) rep for 9-5, 7 days a week to handle phone, live chat, and email?

Just wondering. I think it comes out to be about 3 bucks an hour right?

[Jason_Berresford]

That's too low for 7 days/week. Plus I think you would have a hard time finding someone to work that much. Perhaps you would be better off at hiring two part time workers? instead of one full time slave driven worker ? Just my opinion.

[Planet Z]

I doubt you'd be able to find anyone even half competent to work those kinds of hours for that kind of wage.

Hell, you'd make a lot more money working at McDonalds.

[IntraHost]

Yea, I know... the guys worth 3,000 to 5,000 a month. I'm just going to be paying 500-600 a month.

[Get-Hosted.com]

Having him answering the phone will slow everything else down. Especially if there is a good amount of calls. Multitasking on the phone is hard, and you have to go get answers right there, because the person is waiting.

A lot of people will do this kinda work for cheap, because they probably spend their time on their computer anyway, and figure they can get something for it. The job would be worth a lot more though.

[ngaihua]

Originally posted by Get-Hosted.com
Having him answering the phone will slow everything else down. Especially if there is a good amount of calls. Multitasking on the phone is hard, and you have to go get answers right there, because the person is waiting.

A lot of people will do this kinda work for cheap, because they probably spend their time on their computer anyway, and figure they can get something for it. The job would be worth a lot more though.

Well I am one of those people (in summer at least). If the call volume is not great 2-4 calls per hour then the rate is ok as the person can do his own stuff (which might have some value to him like designing his web site) while waiting for the next call.

[Get-Hosted.com]

But if you were answering email and live chat... those wait while talkign on the phone.

[IntraHost]

Well the guy will be a dedicated rep, so whatever he can get done from 9-5, 7 days a week, he'll do. Our support volume is fairly small. I've always said the best support is the support you don't need. Anyways, our call volume is very slow too. I expect it to be for just emergencies or high priority stuff, most of the people I support now do email, I offer live chat, but rarely make it available because email works fastest for me in most cases.

Anyways, I didn't know if I could find someone for cheaper, but you guys say that low huh? Cool.

Thanks!

[qslack]

Actually, it's illegal to pay people less than the minimum wage in the US (which is where I assumed you live). That's around $5.50, I think.

I'm not quite sure if it would make any difference if they got to do their own work when there weren't any support tickets, but you should talk to a lawyer if you're planning on paying people less than minimum wage.

[clever]

Working 8 hours a day for 3 dollars an hour is extremely low.

I don't think you'll find someone to work for that low.

It's $24 for 8 hours of work... are you kidding me?

The min. wage is $5.25, or $5.50, it's illegal to pay less than that, as qslack said.

[jtan15]

Yeah, it is against the law to pay less than minimum wage. I'd much rather take a job flipping hamburgers then working for $3 an hour. To be quite honest, I don't think you will find anyone who is knowledgeable for less than $10/hr.

People have to make a living ...

[IntraHost]

You're right... but then again, the tech doesn't live within the US.

Haha, I think you've all answered my question that I couldn't find someone for any less. Thanks for the help!

[DavidU]

Originally posted by IntraHost
You're right... but then again, the tech doesn't live within the US.

Haha, I think you've all answered my question that I couldn't find someone for any less. Thanks for the help!

Is this a technique to get business? To show us how cheap you are? I feel really bad for your tech and I hope he realizes what you are doing.

Even if he doesn't live in the US, perhaps he is in a country that isn't as well developed economically....I would feel morally obligated to pay him US wages -- it's only fair.

One of my clients outsources a lot of code work to a guy in Romania but pays him well, real well. The guy in Romania is happy, my client is happy and there's nothing wrong with it...

-davidu

[Walter]

Originally posted by DavidU
Even if he doesn't live in the US, perhaps he is in a country that isn't as well developed economically....I would feel morally obligated to pay him US wages -- it's only fair.

Thats something I was always wondering about. I dont know the answer.
DavidU, you are located in the US, what would you think if there would be a country where people are 100 or 1000 times richer than in US and a business from there would pay you 10.000$ per hour for webdesign - wouldn't you go crazy?

[(SH)Saeed]

I see where both sides are saying and coming from. I think a lot of people think like, "well.. I'm gonna sit infront of the computer anyways.. Why not answer a few emails and make $500 extra per month?" I think this would be very popular amoung students specially. I think even if this turns out to be $3/h, it would still help the student pay his rent, help the smaller webhosting company grow and help the company's customers. Offcourse, if you choose to hire someone under these conditions, you can not and should not expect them to sit glued infront of the comp from 9 to 5!