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Moderators the biggest problem getting people interested in this site appart when they need info, is a diverse range of topics which you all do very well and thats why I also post.
What I have tried till i’m blue in the face is to get company engineers on as they work for companies they would have latest updates but we have got to give them something.
Some I have managed to get on come on once and go, I feel if we could give them an interest ie what companies pay bad companies job vacancies
most are not interested in us independants,of course this might be detrimental to us over rates of pay.Looking at the Whirlpool Forum it seems a waste of time!
Kirk.
Re: How Do You Get More
The two biggest single factors in this industry are apathy (which I would say is No.1) and fear!
Quite why people are so apathetic I dunno quite honestly but there are many (often accused of being my henchmen :lol:) that most certainly are not, as well as many of the regulars on UKW who do their level best to help both the trade and public alike. The effort does not go un-noticed I can assure you.
As for getting company engineers on, well let’s just say that there’s a few watching UKW. 😉
Getting some to interact and post is No2’s issue, fear. Fear of retribution from their employer and that also affects many of the independents as well as they too are afraid to post anything remotely contentious in case it filters back that they said something out of turn. I have little fear of such things as I always give a fair chance to whoever before shooting my gob off as a general rule and try to get the other side of the story so it’s a balanced view, even if it is my own. Employed engineers often do not have that luxury.
That said one of them has forwarded me a load of Electrolux fault codes and reset procedures for the horrid things I keep seeing asked about here and, the information came from a non-copyrighted source so, in theory, I could just publish them. If I so desired I could do so in a myriad of ways that would keep Lux guessing for months as to where it came from, but I would personally rather that they gave their blessing on such matters and worked with us all to the betterment of the trade as opposed to forcing the information to be underground. But again, this is a fear for independent engineers if they get caught.
What I have seen is both camps pointing something out, often blindingly obvious, leading to a “D’OH!” moment. Stupid things that we forget and we all do it from time to time as we’re not perfect, but that’s great and many times the guys that specialise on a brand or manufacturer are all too good at that. Great I say as it only makes us all the better for it even if it can be embarrassing.
If any engineers are looking for employment or to escape to the side of the good guys then I have offered to mediate on their behalf, that offer stands and will do for good on UKW. The info is confidential and I will advise wherever I can independently. I have already tried to help several people find gainful employment with various employers and it’s a bonus to me personally to see that work out.
The Whirlpool forum was there for a reason and remains there for a reason, I am actually pleased that there’s little chat on it but I take the point.
K.
I agree with Ken whole heartedly but would add that employed engineers live in, shall we say, a cosy world with everything laid on for them and the security of a regular salary.
Outside of this is where the rest of us are lurking, struggling for every scrap of information and knowledge that we can find – which is why UKW works – we are Independant, non-accountable and altruistic enough to try and care for each other.
Personally, I can see no practical reason why manufacturers and their engineers shouldn’t join in, but that isn’t the way of the world. To my certain knowledge we have had agents threatened because of their involvement with UKW; the position for an employed engineer is almost certainly rather more tenuous. This explains why a large number of people use handles – I assume you are Kirk; unless you missed off the “Captain” bit when joining…………
Being realistic about this, it’s still very early days with UKW. Fantastic read rate – mainly from the Public, demonstrating their frustration with the lack of information generally available; growing Trade membership, manufacturers do read and occasionally contribute on the site – the pointers are all good! It will be interesting to see where we are in two years time!
I suspect that the manufacturing side of the business has become so used to the stasis which has eminated from DASA that the vibrant, noisy nature of UKW is really rather scary to them – in time, they’ll get used to it and with the revival of DASA underway the whole nature of the Manufacturer/Trade interface will change – hopefully to a far more open and trusting relationship.
Well, you can hope, can’t you?
Regards,
Chris.Re: How Do You Get More
Ken – Is there any mileage in setting up a confidential area for technical requests/ manufacturer information that would allow those with concerns to input advice to those that need it.
I have offered several people their own hosted forum where information and experience could be passed more openly within a network dealing with a particular manufacturer, insurer or brand. Given that, more than likely, any that are dealing with the independents have most of their network looking in on UKW at some point already it makes a lot of sense to do that.
I think that problems are severalfold…
1. Big companies move very slowly and getting approval for some form of forum takes an age.
2. Fear of being a pioneer in the field.
3. The cost, although it’s really pretty small.
4. Fear of not being in control, which is not really true as we would do and put rules in place as requested for any such forums as I’d regard them as not being mine. We’d just maintain them.
However the offer is open, always has been and I’m more than willing to talk to anyone about it.
I agree though that it could be extremely beneficial for everyone to share the experiences openly and interact well in the medium, I’m all for it.
What I would say though is that unlike the clearly marked “unnofficial” Whirlpool one (which is currently on borrowed time), I’d far rather see some official involvement in any such endevours and being monitored/moderated by the party using it.
K.
Re: How Do You Get More
Thanks guys for all your input, so penguin 45 and others know I don’t hide behind a false name I am Norman Kirkland and due to my son and I in a previous life working for Comet! that was how they named me so I left it that way so if any old friends came on like charlieboy they would know me.
Norman Kirkland
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