There is nothing wrong with markup on parts your clients buy through you - just be fair or it will come back to bite you.

1. Get a contract

2. Get a contract

3. Get a contract

In that contract, stipulate that the parts recommended for installation are per your stipulation and that lesser inferior components could void any service contract, and if those parts incur additional troubleshooting time or effort to complete the project that you are not responsible.

As part of your service contract, stipulate that you will supply new or refurbished parts at YOUR discretion, and that you are the final arbiter of the solution or the contract is voided. "I'm sorry, we can't support that product, it's not on our list of supported items in our contract, we'd have to charge you extra for using it, and it has caused us grief, that's why we never use it or allow it on our contracts"

"No user serviceable parts inside".

I always give 3 possible solutions: The Cheap Gawd Awful Junk, Mid-priced Does The Job, and The Super Deluxe Country Club Solution.

Then base the outcome on the choice they make. I know it sounds like extra effort, but for non technical people, they need to see what happens at different price points.

For example, they choose The Cheap Gawd Awful Junk, well that includes additional support time and additional installation costs.

Try to get them steered towards the solution you want by making the middle look awesome and then if they get the middle or deluxe you win, and even they go for The Cheap Gawd Awful Junk then you still win by covering their bad choice with additional support money to YOU for their bad decision.

Get EVRYTHING in writing. In business, "friends" often become enemies overnite, and that contract will save your ass.

You can find some good service contracts out there, that may appear harsh when you read them, but realize the people who wrote those contracts got fucked over too many times. Your contract is your friend. If they won't sign a contract, walk away.

There is nothing wrong with markup on parts your clients buy through you - just be fair or it will come back to bite you.

1. Get a contract

2. Get a contract

3. Get a contract

In that contract, stipulate that the parts recommended for installation are per your stipulation and that lesser inferior components could void any service contract, and if those parts incur additional troubleshooting time or effort to complete the project that you are not responsible.

As part of your service contract, stipulate that you will supply new or refurbished parts at YOUR discretion, and that you are the final arbiter of the solution or the contract is voided. "I'm sorry, we can't support that product, it's not on our list of supported items in our contract, we'd have to charge you extra for using it, and it has caused us grief, that's why we never use it or allow it on our contracts"

"No user serviceable parts inside".

I always give 3 possible solutions: The Cheap Gawd Awful Junk, Mid-priced Does The Job, and The Super Deluxe Country Club Solution.

Then base the outcome on the choice they make. I know it sounds like extra effort, but for non technical people, they need to see what happens at different price points.

For example, they choose The Cheap Gawd Awful Junk, well that includes additional support time and additional installation costs.

Try to get them steered towards the solution you want by making the middle look awesome and then if they get the middle or deluxe you win, and even they go for The Cheap Gawd Awful Junk then you still win by covering their bad choice with additional support money to YOU for their bad decision.

Get EVRYTHING in writing. In business, "friends" often become enemies overnite, and that contract will save your ass.

You can find some good service contracts out there, that may appear harsh when you read them, but realize the people who wrote those contracts got screwed over too many times. Your contract is your friend. If they won't sign a contract, walk away.