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Craig and I just did a very interesting little exercise…
I was looking through Yellow Pages for this year and noted the distinct lack of many in the washing machine repairs section, of course they’ve messed about with the areas, but even so it seemed desperately low. So we dug out the YP from 1999/2000 and one for 2002/2003 for Glasgow South before YP messed up the areas to make more cash and started counting.
In the 1999 book there was 61 listed repairers in the section, 7 were OEM service so approximately 54 independents.
In the 2003 book there was 57 in total and of those 8 were OEM service, so again with the same equation applied, 49 independents.
Doesn’t seem too much does it, only a drop of five? Well, let’s put it into perspective, that’s a 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} (approx for round figures) drop in the total number of repairers out there and also (again approx based on other data I have) drop of about 20 engineers in three years.
There’s a nice thought for you all.
K.
Re: 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Less?
In my area, there has been a lot of indepedents quit lately. It’s usually the one’s who just did vacuum repairs, or just did repairs without sales. Sales account for nearly half of my business now!!!!
I keep gettin new customers that have ex-engineers stickers on the appliances. I hate that. Engineers that think they have to put stickers all over the customers appliances. If you did a good job, they will call you again. There’s another poll I think. ‘Do you stick stupid lil stickers on your customers appliances?’
Oh yeah, and the fall in yp adverts could be to do with bt having a classified section now. 🙄
Re: 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Less?
Goatboy wrote:If you did a good job, they will call you again.
Oh yes?…..I think you may be guilty of overshadowing yourself with self-esteem to think your customers would give you repeat business on that slender assumption 🙁
Take it from me that ‘stickers’ are an essential part of a good business practice. The average breakdown rate on a washing machine for example is 22 months, do you think after that time ‘your’ customer is going to remember who fixed it last time :con:
…. would be able to recollect your business name?… let alone your phone number?….no chance!
Get yourself a few hundred stickers printed or lose out to your competitors that have a load in their pockets 8)
Martin
Re: 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Less?
I think it’s a good poll topic.
Re: 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Less?
I simply hand customer my business card along with the invoice/receipt when job complete.Most seem to keep it in a safe place for future reference.
In my opinion stickers on appliances is a bit too much.
Bryan
Re: 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Less?
Goatboy wrote:I think it’s a good poll topic.
Just for your benefit I have polled the question 😀
Martin
Re: 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Less?
I totally agree with Bryan. I give em a business card with their bill. Stickers are too over the top. They can put the card where ever they want (including the bin i suppose).
(Damn, this forum is addictive, i got work to do!)
ps. soz about changing the subject kwatt
Re: 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Less?
Goatboy wrote:(Damn, this forum is addictive, i got work to do!)
A few of us say that every single day and often into the night as well. 😉
K.
Re: 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Less?
I’m surprised the drop isn’t greater than that, it probably is in wealthy areas. So often these days you hear of people slinging out an appliance because the door handle or timer knob has broken, all adding up to less work for repairers. An old retired sparky once told me he used to spend one day a week repairing kettles, toasters and irons. I’ve gone from about 2 microwave repairs a week to about 1 every 2 months (usually built in ones). Even some types of washing machine repairs seem to have dried up. Replacing Zanussi 3 and 4 tag interlocks was a nice little earner when I used to get several a week, now I go for months without getting one.
It’s the same in my game- most of the bigger lab suppliers won’t bother sending an engineer out to sub-£500 equipment, and in the garages, power and airtools are chucked rather than repaired.
Me, I’m not choosy. A couple of quiet hours spent fixing cheap stuff is still money in the bank…
Re: 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Less?
Fix it at the right price, first time, leave them a card and you have a customer for life…….
Leeds engineers appear to be dropping out like flies over the last 3 years, but I still can’t find one to take on.
Cheers,
Chris.
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