> What? The guy works as a PC tech for a living, he fixes the
> computer of someone he doesn't even know in wildly off
> hours, and you want him to do it (virtually) for free? I'm
> about as liberal as they come, but that's beyond the pale.

Unless he decides to do it pro-bono for a "hard-times" customer or friend of a friend. The important thing here is to make it clear that it was a one time thing.

I've done a bunch of free consulting for low-income friends and/or service organizations. I make it clear, though, that it's not a guaranteed support contract and they should go out of their way to make it convenient to me (e.g. bring me the computer, don't make me drive somewhere to test/fix).

-brendan