and most of my customers feel the same about their tv repair.
of coarse rebuilt tuners and modules are used parts.
and i state that on the customer invoice.
a good rebuilder has a history of each type chassis, of every part that fails frequently, and they replace from that list, whether they are bad or not.
and 90% of the time it fixes the module.
thats the advantage of doing thousands of one kind of board. and dealing with a large rebuilder.
All i am suggesting is to give the customer the option of used parts at a discount, or new, they can decide which the trust more. either should last the 90 day repair warranty, but which will last for an additional 2 or 3 years, as the customer expects the repair to last.
My invoices are mostly labor, free parts wouldnt really cut my price that much.
I sell the parts at near my cost plus shipping and handling, and charge mostly labor.
average invoice is 10 for parts 120 labor.
in the old days it used to be mostly tube mark up and a little labor for the call.
but i have found they seem to except the labor charge better than a parts charge here.
maybe because a little transistor at radio shack is cheap, but the years of education to replace the right one is worth much more.
the only answer i see, is to repair expensive equipment.
Just my thoughts,
Larry
Electric Medic wrote:
I knew this topic would lead to the old "used parts" scare. All I can say is have you ever bought a tuner from a tuner rebuilder? I got news, you might as well take one off a junker chassis because that is what you get, used. Well, they may change one IC or something, but every other part is old. You might also get the intermittent the dud provider didn't mention. At least, I mark my junker chassis as to what is good or bad as best that I can tell. Same thing with board rebuilders, do we really think the rebuilders replace every part "New" on those chassis. They may put one or two new parts, the rest are probably older than the junk chassis you have laying around. And guess what, if the shop made a mistake or the rebuilder thinks the shop made a mistake a sent them a good board as dud, they will ship it to you as "rebuilt" with all the previous intermittent the other customer had. So we all use "used" parts whether we know it or not.
Perry Bower Electric Medic "It's Cheaper to Keep Her" http://www.electricmedic.com 3850 Washington Road Suite 4C Martinez, Georgia 30907 Phone: 706-8MEDIC4 (863-3424) Phone: 706-863-3474 Fax: 706-863-2316 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of larry Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 10:48 AM To: ELECTRONICS PROFESSIONALS LIST Subject: Re: [Techs] LeRoy's demise...was...: Fixed..NAP HD2717C101 27B800,no video..(was vertical problem)
this is not directed to any special person, just my thoughts. Is this list secure, or can anyone search google and find these messages. I don t use parts from old tv's unless the customer authorizes it. which I seldom do, because new parts are so cheap now, and the old parts are questionable quality, such as IC s, flybacks, etc. Disposing of a customers junk is not too easy, if you want to be legal. registered letters, etc. i have saved a few tvs I felt were just too good to junk, but after sitting for a year collecting dust , I end up junking them any way. i hate to go back to a set i already gave up on. lol We charge for estimates, when we didnt , we got junk that some picked off the curb, and would not spend much to repair, because the felt it was near worthless. i can usually sell a repair easier than a used tv. the original owner seems to value their tv more than a stranger would. Please remember, this may not be a private list, and someones customer may be reading this, and assume we all the same. Just my thoughts, Larry
Intrepid Video Support wrote:
Joe, I hope you have that in writing that the customer signs and you have
checked with your local laws.
You can't just automatically make a set yours. There is a lawful procedure
to follow.
Jeff Dougherty Intrepid Video TV/VCR 263 S Front St Steelton PA 17113 fax...717-564-4952 www.intrepid-video.com www.tech-repair.net
----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Tech2004" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "ELECTRONICS PROFESSIONALS LIST" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 6:53 PM Subject: RE: [Techs] LeRoy's demise...was...: Fixed..NAP HD2717C101
27B800,no video..(was vertical
problem)
I've never ever had to worry about any units hanging around and waiting for custs approval or to pick up after repaired. Everything is known up front within a week at most. Never have to worry about contacting cust to pick up, it's either picked up within days after repair or given to me the moment they decide they don't want the repair. "joe" ================================= [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] My customer's who get the coupons have already "proven" themselves by leaving an estimate fee on another unit. These are the people we want to come back and use our services. As I said. I think it was a great idea! It's the best of both worlds. It's not a completely free estimate but at the same time it has value to the customer and shows them that we appreciate their business. Heck Eugene, If I were a customer I wouldn't bring anything to you if you behave towards your customers as you behave on these lists. Mark Wentowski Perry Hill Electronics 3836 Harrison Rd. Montgomery AL 36109 phone: (334)279-5622 fax: (334)273-9050 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ================================= From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Eugene
Spooner=================================
It is kinda like you say "Reasonable Expectations". The set that gets past my door HAS got to have a deposit or it's no deal at all and goes back out PDQ. For me here and don't know what it is in your area ; it is a "Legal" problem that when it is and legally got rid of it requires either one of two things - Certified Mail for one and wait 6 months is the other. So , if I am going to be bound by that - I WANT SOME LOOT for it all. If I get rid of it wrongfully ; I may end up paying $100.00 ( Law specifies minimum value is $100.00 regardless ) for it plus Court Costs ( $55.00 ) and I am not about to do $155.00 on a set that won't bring me over $50 profits after all is said and done. Effectively for DV sets ; I charge a $20.00 estimate fee for looking at it. I get $40.00 up front and if they do not come back for the 'refund' of $20.00 ; I use it up to pay for the Certified mail and disposal charges. Have started doing this as to kill Two Birds with one stone. I use the same Certified Mail to give notice of storage charges of $2.00 per day beginning the Day after the mailing of this Certified Mail. This came about because of a Peer of mine had bitterly complained about the Postal Service taking 3 MONTHS to deliver a certified mail on a Wide Screen. If he had that 'storage charges' in the mailing ; would have collected an additional $180.00 plus the repair bill of $330.00 on a set that he can sell for $600-$700 easy enough. Then the Owner can talk to the Postal Service about that.. Owner came by and ... As for the "Free Estimate" ; guess I do that and it is while the Customer is here and I advise him what it might cost and if he wants more specifics or OK's the repair guesstimates ; I GET that deposit before I take one screw out ! This is 'filtering' at the front to get rid of cheapskates or they are 'not serious'. This has been the sorest point with me followed by "Long Time" to pick up. NLA is next. Best: Eugene ================================= Mark Wentowski wrote: Hi Leroy and Jeff. I couldn't agree more. But in our market area and because of our overhead we do charge estimate fees but recently we've printed up some "free estimate" coupons. When a customer returns to pick up an unrepaired unit we give them a coupon. It is transferable so they can share it with their family or friends. So far it has worked out well and people aren't as likely to think that they've been ripped off. I thought it was a great idea. Mark Wentowski Perry Hill Electronics 3836 Harrison Rd. Montgomery AL 36109 phone: (334)279-5622 fax: (334)273-9050 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ================================= ================================= LeRoy, More power to you. No one has any business telling you how to run your business and it annoys me when other techs tell you NOT to give free estimates, to charge more, etc... Some of us have to use some creative selling techniques to bring in more business. I some times spend 15 minutes encouraging a customer to leave their set. When you have nothing to repair..you appreciate the ones that will leave their set and agree to a reasonable repair bill. Jeff Dougherty Intrepid Video TV/ Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 11:54 AM Subject: [Techs] Re: Fixed..NAP HD2717C101 27B800,no video..(was vertical problem) ================================= Hi Mark, and fellow techs. I just put FREE ESTIMATES back up on my outside sign,...and I don't want anybody to give me any sh*t about it. I've tried it BOTH ways, and I don't want to drive anymore of my customers to Wal-Mart any sooner then I have to. A FREE estimate is just THAT,...if they want a more precise diagnosis,...then they will still have to pay $1 per inch for the size of the screen. $20 for 19", $25 for 25-27", and $35 for 32-40". $50-100 for PTVs. I will also require the remote control to be brought in, to qualify for the FREE estimate. Cause I plan to repair, and sell them as used sets, and nobody wants to buy a used TV with out a remote control. I plan to sell them for 1/2 the price that Wal-Mart charges for a new one. After all, the junk they sell is not any better then a good used TV, that has been reconditioned properly. Of course,...that has to be part of my sales pitch. I will have to convence them of that. In cases where the set is obviously a junker, I won't even accept it to start with. I will give them an unreasonably high estimate, to discourage them from even leaving it at my facility. My plan is to get some of the BEST, repairable sets, before they junk them to buy new. I am certain that there are TOO many 25-35 inch sets, that are being junked, that could be fixed and sold at a profet. I am doing this because I am desperate. If I had many customers like the good ole days,...I would be more picky, but, things are getting scary around here. Dead, dead,...and more dead each day that passes. Hope things are better for you guys in your resective areas. You might say,...that I am making a final stab at it. Beat Wally World at their own game, and undercut them by 50%. HO, ho,.HA, ha, HE, he,..... ;-) LLW LeRoy Westlund
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