Here's an argument I made against charging for repairs:
If our default position is to bill for repairs, then we have no
incentive to do better work because we can get paid again every time we
fix it. We might even have a perverse incentive to do worse work.
--
Maybe lightning isn't our fault, but it's certainly not the customer's
fault either. And as Dave Milholen points out, you can mitigate the
impact. YOU can. If anything the customer has less control over that
than you did.
It might be the customer's fault if they hit Cat5 with a weed trimmer
(and that's one I would bill for), but you could also install a
U-channel or short piece of conduit to protect the cable where it's
vulnerable to that.
It might be the customer's fault if their dog eats the wire, but why is
the wire where the dog can get to it? If really it has to be there, add
a wiremold. Even when billing for that repair, I'd file away that
knowledge and apply it preemptively next time. If we're charging for
all of these things, then there's no reason for us to do it better.
</beatDeadHorse>
On 6/22/2020 1:52 PM, Ken Hohhof wrote:
Note that power companies will actually cover damage to appliances if
they have a power surge. Not sure how bad the surge has to be. But I
remember one time there was a cross from primary to secondary wires on
the poles and it blew out a bunch of TVs, washing machines, well
pumps, etc. The power company paid claims.
*From:* AF <[email protected]> *On Behalf Of *dave
*Sent:* Monday, June 22, 2020 11:08 AM
*To:* [email protected]
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Lightning/Grid Damage to Gear
We bill for acts of God but we also see what it takes to prevent such
again. From our side we will add an indoor inline sure suppressor.
9x out of 10 that is the resolve.
If it continues to be an issue we do what we can to relocate
subscriber unit to get away from the A lightning zones on a building
and get as close to the B Zones.
Where A is a direct for potential discharge and B is more nominal.
This with a little surge suppression goes a long ways in this business.
On 6/22/20 10:41 AM, Lewis Bergman wrote:
We did it the same way as Jim when we were in that business. We
built enough into the price to provide the service. They expect
it, it is easier to just charge them for it and give them what
they expect.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 10:38 AM Jim Bouse [Brazos WiFi]
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
We cover everything up to their router at no cost to the
customer. Acts of God are our responsibility.
Jim Bouse
Owner - Brazos WiFi
979-999-7000
http://www.brazoswifi.com <http://www.brazoswifi.com/>
*From:* AF <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> *On Behalf Of *Darin Steffl
*Sent:* Monday, June 22, 2020 10:34 AM
*To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
*Subject:* [AFMUG] Lightning/Grid Damage to Gear
Hey guys,
We typically perform free service calls when we find defective
gear with no signs of damage.
When we see lightning damage with black ethernet connectors or
other signs of physical damage, we always bill labor and
hardware and sometimes credit back a portion of it but never
all of it.
Many customers think that their monthly bill should cover acts
of God like lightning and power surges but I don't believe
that at all. If there's a power surge, the power utility won't
pay to replace your appliances and electronics. Paying your
Verizon bill doesn't get them to replace your phone if it dies.
Why do customers think we will come out and work for free and
give them free hardware?
What do you guys do just so I know I'm not being crazy by
billing for damage that we didn't cause?
--
Darin Steffl
Minnesota WiFi
www.mnwifi.com <http://www.mnwifi.com/>
507-634-WiFi
<http://www.facebook.com/minnesotawifi> Like us on Facebook
<http://www.facebook.com/minnesotawifi>
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--
Lewis Bergman
325-439-0533 Cell
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