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Re: no work
Very slow for me as well. Not worked in this trade through a recession but can remember my dad being very busy during the last two recessions when doing this job.
I think the design of the modern machines are one of the main causes, motor brushes being more robust and now we are seeing more induction motors coming on to the scene. We now get very few calls to clean out pressure systems as they have been moved higher up the tub so they rarely get blocked.
There are many more reasons such as over priced parts our labour costs going up, insurance policies the rental market on the increase, coded boards, no on/off switches, sealed drum tubs etc.
Cant see much future in this game to be honest 😥
GrahamRe: no work
yep naw getin any easier thats for sure.ie hot carbons up top:any stats doin fridges best any easiest jobs oven elements. do them al week 😆
Re: no work
The only reason i can think of for the repair business being slow despite new machine sales being down as well, is people simply doing the easy stuff themselves (or getting someone they know to)
Have been noticing a definate drop off in drum paddle calls,door handles, hinges, blocked filters.. the easy stuff.
Tomorrow, i have a WMA bearing job & a late Hotpoint with a board comms error displayed ( wont tell ’em it prob just needs a cable wiggled 😯 ) no coincidence that both jobs could be perceived as ‘tricky’ methinks.
Oh well, at least i’ll clear over ton.. happy days. 😥Re: no work
Hello,
We have been very quiet. I also do a few sales of spares, nothing major but looking at the Omniture analysis of our site and increase in Parts Only Sales. Seems a lot of people are DIY’Ing.
The internet has played and important part in this, just look how many clever (or not as the case may be!) Engineers are detailing how to repair products on the internet. Some to increase sales of parts maybe others, Who knows why.
Still, Tesco seem to be doing well and have Vacancies! 🙂
Re: no work
citycooling wrote:
The internet has played and important part in this, just look how many clever (or not as the case may be!) Engineers are detailing how to repair products on the internet. Some to increase sales of parts maybe others, Who knows why.
I`d agree with that, the internet is great, but not for everything.
The amount of armchair experts out there since they got on line is becoming huge.
I once called to a Samsung american F/F which had the usual issues, b4 i asked what the problem was the guy was telling me how to repair it and the he had a print out of the fault codes, tech info to instal modification etc.
He only needed me because the lawyers needed a Suitable Qualified Engineer to confirm the unit is a piece of crap and the client has grounds to sue Samsung for selling a unit not fit to cool a carrot.
Like the Koreans give a four x, they`ve made billions selling crap.
Re: no work
citycooling wrote:The internet has played and important part in this, just look how many clever (or not as the case may be!) Engineers are detailing how to repair products on the internet. Some to increase sales of parts maybe others, Who knows why.
When work gets slack then first off you check your phone to see if it’s working? The phone works fine so why ain’t it ringing? 😕
Very often the most common reason is that it’s either kids half term holidays or there’s a bank holiday looming on the horizon. More recently of course the ‘recession’ has had a greater part to blame and lies at the root of the problem right now I believe.
Whilst as a rule a recession brings more prospect of folks wanting their appliances fixed and business picks up during these times. Regrettably the current financial crisis has come at a time when most of the replacement goods are at rock bottom prices whereas labour costs to fix them has gone through the roof!
Similarly in areas of manufacturing decline and subsequent high unemployment levels many can neither afford to get someone in to fix their machine let alone find the money to buy a new one! These are the areas of the UK where ‘no call out’ is the only way to scrape in a call or two. Folks ringing round finding whoever’s cheapest to get it sorted.
The ‘information highway’ has been a life changing development for very many households in the UK in recent years. It’s value recognised by millions as the only true source these days for literally anything. A life changing all encompassing help and resources tool for all mankind and no mistake. The surfer can find out anything from how to make a bomb to how to fix a Bosch. Who sells the cheapest bags of fertiliser (major bomb ingredient, by the way :wink:) to who can give me step by step instruction to fixing my Bosch? It’s all there and for FREE, added to and up-dated every millisecond – 24/7.
So there is a connection between having no work, dodgy phone connection, bank holidays, recession, cheap machines and the Internet information highway. All play a part in some way or another but it’s impossible to lay blame to any individual possibility. Impossible to quantify, impossible to even guess. But the only real conclusion any thinking person could conclude is that all of the above are to blame. That little or nothing can be done about it and that running a business, any business is subjected to all these problems at one time or another. Dealing with it requires a bit of lateral thinking, thinking ‘outside the box’ as it where.8)
So if work for you is taking a downward path, time to diversify perhaps? Add extra product ranges to your services? Start flogging spares to a few DIY punters? Cover a bigger area or start flogging new machines to those you right off? Buy a few of Ken’s ISE machines?
Within the trade anything is possible and may well do it for you. Stay the way you are and it may have sad consequences because, armed with what you already have realised and the current path you’re on, things won’t get any better. What’s good for today won’t be good for tomorrow, a roller coaster ride to the end of the pier is guaranteed but beyond that its up to you.
😀
Re: no work
Quiet is an understatement. I’m currently on same day call. Ring before 3pm and I’ll be with you that day. Just done a leaking DW fill hose for a Letting agent and they only called at lunch time. Shame though, lovely kitchen but now with wavey wooden floor tiles 😯 😯 😯 . Second time been to this MFI kitchen in a month. (last time was for Fridge Freezer faulty) It was only put in last summer so think it just under 1 year old…. who going to pay???? Hey any luck I could get the DW and WM to go faulty as well…
Re: no work
Maybe There has : has Been A Problem On The Manufacturers Production Lines Which has Been Overlooked. ❓
Is it Possible That there has Been A Batch Made That Will go more Than Three Years Without Breaking Down 😆
We All Now That There Are Some Particular Models Which Just Pack up After About 2912 cycles over A year :rolls:
And you Just need A Device Like A Credit Card To get Them Running Again 🙂
As i Said On Another Thread The Other Week catalog Sales On dear£££.££
cheap appliances Are Up Rather Than Go For A Repair Its Easier To Pay A £10 A Month Rather Than Pay For A Repair Because £ is Short.
garn 😛Re: no work
so where’s all the customers gone? one job today and the phone hasnt rung with any real work all day.
green shoots ….what green shoots?wilf
Re: no work
oddly Jan this year has been highest turnover month recorded for me. Quiet around hols though.
S.
Re: no work
yep january was our best ever too but just steady since easter, just enough work to keep us going. have seen slight increase last couple of weeks but could still do plenty more.
I have also gone very quiet here hardly any fresh jobs coming in I cant be that good in repairing them.
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