Device and method for pricing repair services
A list of pricing information for repair services includes a potentially large number of repair services grouped into a limited number of price categories such that the price of any given pricing category represents the price of each different service included in that category. A method of using this price list to determine the price of a particular repair service desired by a customer includes the steps of identifying in the price list the pricing category which includes the particular service desired, and determining the unique price assigned to that pricing category. Preferably, the price list is initially displayed to a customer before the customer's equipment is diagnosed, and the customer is informed that the cost of the repair service will be one of the prices associated with a listed pricing category. Upon diagnosing the customer's equipment to determine the particular repair service needed, and advising the customer of such, the service technician as well as the customer can each reference the price list independently to readily determine the price of the desired service.
1. A method of communicating to a customer pricing information corresponding to a desired service, the method comprising:
receiving information relating to a plurality of services, said information including an individual price and an expected frequency of performance for each of the services;
grouping the services into a plurality of pricing categories fewer in number than the plurality of services, at least one of said pricing categories including at least two unrelated services, and at least one of said pricing categories including at least two services for which the individual prices are different;
determining, for each of the pricing categories, a unique price for any of the services in the respective pricing category as a function of the individual prices and the frequencies of performance for the services in the respective pricing category;
generating, by a computer processor, a price list, said price list including each of the pricing categories and the determined unique prices for the pricing categories, the unique price associated with a particular pricing category representing the price of each service included in that particular pricing category; and
displaying to the customer the price list, thereby enabling the customer to determine the price to be charged to the customer for the desired service by identifying in the price list the unique price associated with the pricing category which includes the desired service;
wherein the price list is displayed to the customer before determining which of the plurality of services is the desired service.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein each pricing category includes a plurality of unrelated services.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of services is a large number of services and wherein the plurality of pricing categories is no more than twenty five.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of services is a large number of services and wherein the plurality of pricing categories is no more than eight.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of services is a large number of services and wherein the plurality of pricing categories is no more than five.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying includes displaying the price list to the customer at a location of the customer.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising diagnosing an equipment of the customer to determine which of the plurality of services is the service desired.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising informing the customer before the equipment is diagnosed that the price for the desired service will be one of said unique prices.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising advising the customer which of the plurality of services is the desired service after diagnosing the equipment.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of HVAC, plumbing, electrical and appliance equipment and diagnosing includes diagnosing the equipment at a location of the customer.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of automotive and appliance equipment and diagnosing includes diagnosing the equipment at a service provider facility.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying includes providing the customer with a copy of the price list.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the generated price list in a first computer; and
wherein displaying to the customer the price list includes transmitting the stored price list from the first computer to a second computer, the second computer being a computer of the customer.
14. A method of pricing a plurality of different services offered by a service provider, anyone of which may be needed by a customer, the method comprising:
grouping the different services into a limited set of pricing categories as a function of a cost of each service and an expected frequency at which each service is rendered, at least one of said pricing categories including at least two unrelated different services;
determining a unique price for each of the pricing categories as a function of the cost and the expected frequency for each of the services in the respective pricing category;
assigning the unique prices to the pricing categories whereby the unique price assigned to a particular one of the pricing categories represents the price of each service grouped into that particular one pricing category;
generating, by a computer processor, a price list, said price list including each of the pricing categories and the assigned unique prices for the pricing categories; and
displaying the price list to the customer.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising storing the generated price list in a computer of the service provider; and
wherein displaying the price list to the customer includes transmitting the stored price list to a computer of the customer.