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For the past few moths I have been asking myself this question.
It was the case an engineer held respect and customers thanked them for being able to repair there equipment.
I used to really enjoy being able to go out and solve problems and get it working.
Now…
Manufacturers bringing in cheap chinese crap basically with inherant defects without a cure..Try this…Try that… only going to be paid once though as its a recall and its still not fixed after 4 visits of trying what ever they have said..Not that your going to be paid for the extra visits to try out what they are trying to cure a defect which they cant work out in the factory.
Whats covered not covered..I wish I knew…changes daily..
If customer arent in even though youve booked,confirmed,given 3 hr time slot,traked vehicle and proved engineer attended phone records to prove engineer telephoned customer evening or morning of call to advise appointment time and whilst there when nobody was at home,photo of house. and to which in law and contract the customer should pay for the wasted call..we all have wages,fuel,tax ins to pay.
The cost of the business’s are going up the expectations are going up,the demands are going up..BUT the back up is GOING DOWN as in real terms the contract rates are also going down.
Go back out FOC again..you didnt attend…no you cant charge the customer..no were not paying you…its under warranty..No receipts,blocked pumps,no fault cos they cant be bothered to read the manual… unofficially..Lie on the job sheet to get paid..what respect do we gain for having to lie to get paid on 30{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of jobs…LG chaesed round for ages trying to find out why the wires kept coming off the pumps or broken wires to pumps…Nope it was the 5p coin that jammed the impellor..manufacturing defect…nope chargable or you didnt get paid.Or lie ?
Customers..
I want..I want and if I dont get it im going to sue or go to the papers or complain about the engineer as the company will give them what ever to shut them up.
You Repair but you see them again in a few months time..same fault.its your fault as your the engineer.Will I be doing this job in 12 months time…That is a question which will be answered shortly.
Re: Is this job worth it ??
I know just how you feel, this trade is going to the dogs.
I’m sick to death of customers wingeing about just about everything. It’s not going to get any better in fact things will just get worse.I’m thinking of throwing in the towel, I’ve really had enough.
Re: Is this job worth it ??
I have been in this trade for 32 years , since leaving school , and have gone from having pride and enjoyment from a varied and interesting job to suffering the anxiety , arguments and even apprehension about going out in the mornings . I offer a 1 hour time slot each day for my first job , and even for these , 50{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of the time I have customers asking me to ring first , make it between so and so …..
When I first started out, we gave a 10 hour slot on a day perhaps a week away … We are fighting it from all sides and honestly, I am struggling to keep my business afloat and am not sure any more if I even want to 🙁Re: Is this job worth it ??
Ask yourself this Bryan…………… “As I’m putting in 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} and for everything I have so far worked toward, achieved and endured over these passing years should, at the very least by now, be earning me a minimum and clear profit of 200{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}….”
After all you personally get up at some god awful time in the morning and chances are 5 days a week don’t get chance to relax until bed time comes around! Unless you can do all this at your own pace and without compromising your health along the way, you need to consider carefully your future. Or at the very least pay closer attention toward the direction it is heading right now. And based on what you have so far told us I would advise the latter needs some forethought.
As we Yorkshiremen say: If tha does out fer nowt tha’s best do it fa thi’sen!😉
Yours sincerely
Martin
( your acting Agony Uncle)
I Keep telling himself that i am working stupidly long hours to make a better life for my family, yet working those hours is keeping me away from my family, how does that work?
Re: Is this job worth it ??
Blimey,
Someone has read my mind.
Been feeling this way for about 6 months. Have had a few knee problems driving so have had to curtail one WP.
I am saving about £100 a month on fuel and have increased my average invoice by around £15 so I’m doing less work for the same money and feeling less bored but after 28 years the fun has gone. We often don’t repair as much as parts swap and how often do we think “just fitted that, how long a guarantee should I give ’cause I don’t trust it”.
I usually make decisions on the spur of the moment, like buying this house so I can see me getting up one morning and saying “I’ve had enough” 60 now and not sure if I can afford it but getting very very close.
RobRe: Is this job worth it ??
What would we all do if we didn’t do this job?
I moan about customers just as much as the next person, the grass is always greener!
But is it any better anywhere else?I qualified as an Avionics engineer in 1994 and shortly after left to take over my Dads business. 16 years on I’m still here doing it. Looking back my moans are no different now as they were then.
I occasionally bump into old colleagues & their moans are still the same as well. (Shift work, 4 day weeks, Loss of contracts, Loss of overtime.)
The hours & thought I put into this job are crazy. But deep down I secretly still love working for myself & having to ‘fight’ to bring home the cash.
Oh well back to waiting for the phone to ring, there it goes, just as my dinners ready. Without fail!
Re: Is this job worth it ??
Oh well back to waiting for the phone to ring, there it goes, just as my dinners ready. Without fail!
Well you could buy my business if you want it…
Bryan
Re: Is this job worth it ??
Well you could buy my business if you want it…
Thanks for the offer but I shall decline.
You employ staff which is something I really wouldn’t want to get involved
with. I take my hat off to you because I know how time consuming it is looking after myself let alone others.(Plus you’ve just bought that unit, so if thats in the business I don’t think I
would have the ready cash.) 😉Re: Is this job worth it ??
(Plus you’ve just bought that unit, so if thats in the business I don’t think I
would have the ready cashNope unit would’nt be there unless you wanted to lease it..” good engineers,one of which is my son.
Bryan
Re: Is this job worth it ??
are things realy that bad bryan ? having said that i know how you feel i have a s**t year,
chin up mate
RE
Re: Is this job worth it ??
are things realy that bad bryan ? having said that i know how you feel i have a s**t year,
Financially Nope..never been better(other than the samsung home visits 😛 )
Workwise secure..as secure as any can be,Plenty of work..can’t remember the last day that we didnt have a full day for all of us.Money is’nt everything..
Bryan
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