Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Re: SatNav
Or – for about £100 more, the best on the market is the Tom tom Go. It’s pretty awesome.
http://www.tomtom.com/products/product. … Language=1
To be honest, it’s light years ahead of the Blaupunkt one.
A search on Google quicky finds them at £412 (inc VAT) and free delivery.
The flash demo is good (although the voice is rubbish) you can select various voices and I have a nice relaxing bloke called Tom.) You can also download all the speed, and traffic light camera locations and set it to warn you when 250 yards from one.
Re: Amusing Ancedotes & Other Tales
Interesting true stories from my life as a washing machine repairman.
I needed to drain a washing machine full of water. My customer opened the back door and fetched a bucket from the yard. I popped it at the side of the washer and we both cringed at the sight of two fat and ugly slugs lounging about in the bottom.
Agreeing we didn’t like slimy slugs I decided to evict them in the back garden but first, I needed to unhook the washing machine’s drain hose from underneath the sink. It only took a minute and returning to the bucket I was surprised to find the slugs missing.
“What the…?” I exclaimed and my customer recoiled in horror …
… I lifted the bucket and there they were – gone. “I didn’t realise they could be so fast”, I said. My customer wasn’t happy. She hated slimy slugs and two of them were loose in the kitchen. We scoured the floor but they had disappeared. I spent a few moments trapped in an illogical loop of looking inside the bucket, lifting it up, twisting it round and looking at the bottom but they were vanished.A thought flashed into my mind and I responded by lifting up my trouser legs. “I hope they haven’t scuttled up me trousers while I was lying on the floor” I remarked, half joking and half concerned. At this my customer became more agitated and she started a more serious search.
Eventually I found the blighters who had met an unfortunate end. As they’d slithered over the top of the bucket they had both took refuge under the small rim. When I’d picked up the bucket with its handle they had each been squashed by the leverage of the handle. If it wasn’t for their tragic death, it would have been funny.
Over the years I’ve removed many household objects from washing machines – none of which had any right to be there. Pens, penknives watches, countless coins and of course, more socks than you could shake a wooden leg at. I even once had a nasty fright when a giant hairy-looking (toy) spider fell out of one. However, I’ve only ever removed one …
… condom. I was young, and alone with a female customer. I had the washing machine partially drained and tipped back against the wall so I could get underneath where the sump hose and pump were.Armed with a towel and a washing up bowl, I had my head under the washing machine – tool in hand (oo-er) and proceeded to undo the sump hose. The customer stood expectantly (as they do) behind me. I pulled off the sump hose and the usual gush filled the bowl with a swirling pool of dirty water. A very large, elongated condom swirled round and round and I just stared at it. “Hmmm,” I thought.
Although not very experienced, I could easily recognise an embarrassing situation despite receiving no training for them. I decided to remain under the washing machine for a while. Sliding the bowl out, with the condom by now floating menacingly still, I pushed it out toward the customer. “Here’s your problem,” I announced.
Shrieking “Oh my God!” she ran into the next room where she remained while I finished the repair.
I did wonder how it got into the machine in its unsheathed state, but didn’t express my thoughts as I gave her the bill. I realized of course I’d not see this customer again. Despite my good service, it was highly likely she would remain too embarrassed over the incident to ever use me again
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
I think they can have a limited advantage, but if they really did what people using them expect, we could get out of absolutely anything with them.
For example, I don’t think you can get a customer to sign a disclaimer to absolve you of any responsibility for damage caused to kitchen or flooring and then yank a machione out and rip the floor. You can still be sued for not using reasonable care etc. Also, customers could claim they were cohersed, tricked or even intimidated into signing them. I’m sure you’d be in a stronger position if you had a signed disclaimer, if it was reasonable, but you stil have to exercise proper care.
It’s the same when companies have clauses in contracts which we sign. If the contracts are proven to be unreasonable then no matter what we signed, the contract can be ripped up by a court.
No one can give advice and have no responsibility for it with a disclaimer. I reckon they are advisable to use, but they aint a shield to protect us.
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
I thought public liability insurance covered against proceedings resulting from a repair carried out as opposed to from advice given. My understanding was that separate and expensive prfessional liability insurance was needed to cover for giving professional advice. It’s a bloomin’ minefield.
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
Martin wrote:… However individuals giving advice could possibly be deemed liable if such advice were incorrect, unsafe or proven as irresponsibly given.
That I can understand and agree with. It’s giving good sound and clear advice but being sued because a half wit couldn’t follow it that I am angry about.
..AND I do have insurance in place as a safeguard against such actions.
How much does it cost and who does it?
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
Ahh. An important distinction. If wired wrongly though, or the earth isn’t connected properly and comes out after a few months) it is still potentially dangerous.
Re: Basic Electrical Safety
Can someone tell me what the difference is between the subjects and intentions of this topic, and telling someone how to wire a heater or a thermostat (which is easier) etc?
My intention is not to be facitious, but to clarify the accepted wisdom on UKW that we can’t give technical info to the public. We can’t advise how to fit a motor, or which wires go where on a 3 wire thermostat, but we can advise how to wire a plug etc.
My understanding is that we can’t advise people because we cannot assess their competance to carry out the work and if they cock it up and fry – it’s our fault. This, as many will know I feel is stupid, and I actually doubt that if you give proper, clear and accurate information you can really be liable, but nether-the-less, that’s supposed to be the situation.
Re: Flying Toolbox To Cease!
appboy wrote:I have just received a letter from D&G informing all service agents that the popular on line service call referal service is to cease with immediate effect!
Apparently,there is a new legislation that allows customers a 14 day cooling off period after purchasing a repair policy, this means that an unscrupulous customer could take out a policy on line, book a repair and then cancel the policy leaving the insurer to foot the repair bill!
This should be good news for UKW on line referal service and create more leads for us subscribers! 😀
This doesn’t make sense. It could easily be got round in terms and conditions.. I can’t see how a viable company could be shut down by the “possibility” of some people fraudulently using their services. All businesses have fraud. It sounds a weak excuse to be honest.
Re: I think Kwatts wrong
To me, the article is a mostly balanced and a realistic view, with a few long over due home truths that the customer’s need to know about. However, I can also see that in small parts (as pointed out) it is possibly attempting to over compensate for the way things have swung too far in the customers favour. The overall impression (mostly by one paragraph – quoted later) is that it’s virtually pointless asking for a replacement, which depending where you bought it from is not necessarily the case. Many major suppliers “will” replace machines to retain customer good will. This practice is understandable but further distorts the customer’s perception of their rights.
Realistically, if national company like Comet or Curry’s loses a customer, they are potentially losing many thousands of pounds in future business from not only the customer, but their immediate family and maybe even friends. I believe this may be an additional reason for customers getting more exchanges than they are entitled to and perpetuating the myth that if a product breaks down it should be replaced.
It is true that most customers have an over inflated view of their rights and many milk the system and try to bully and intimidate engineers and suppliers. I too have heard the phrase, “I’ve been in touch with Watchdog” so many times that I struggle not to laugh. In 99{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of cases I am convinced it is an idle and clichéd threat. Besides, Watchdog would not be interested in the overwhelming majority of complaints, they are looking for sensationalism – they are not a charity, they are commercially driven TV programme makers.
I haven’t “studied†the article as such, but I think there is only one paragraph I would object to and it is this –
“If you refuse the repair then get ready for a bit of a battle as you will probably be coerced into having the repairs carried out. If you really want an exchange you’ll have to tough it out without the use of the machine until such times as the matter is resolved and with many retailers and manufacturers, don’t expect it to happen quickly or by itself.â€
Without this paragraph the article seems fair, realistic and needed to me.
Re: ‘No Call Out Charge’ beware!!!
RS wrote:
With the ASA and TS taking more interest these day are we safe using words like “expert†or “qualifiedâ€?Interesting point. How would one prove they were an “expert”?
Re: DASA
How about a publicity stunt? Something along the lines of dressing up as Batman and then …….? 😉
Seriously though, to me there has always been a fatal flaw in organisations such as DASA. That is – because of the high standards and code of practices required, they tend to attract the elite or aspiring. This is always likely to be a relatively small percentage of people in the trade. But in order to attract enough funds and give value for money you need to get as many members as possible.
You can’t start letting anyone in as it would undermine the whole point and alienate existing members. Therefore you are doomed to being a minority group that can never be big enough to get economies of scale benefits for members.
Because of this, maybe members should accept that fees will always be relatively high. The problem then, is why should they pay high fees unless they get something very worthwhile in return and we are back on the vicious circle.
If Government decides to enforce standards DASA is going to thrive and prosper. If not, it’s going to be tough.
Re: DASA
Most customers have never heard of DASA. Therefore there’s no real advantage to advertise being a member. Therefore DASA can’t charge its members enough to be able to run it properly and make customers aware of its existance and benefits.
kwatt wrote:Gas! Premium rates then. 😀
K.
Only Gas? What’s the difference between this and the franchise offer?
Re: Hotpoint Advertise Franchises!
You can’t earn £17,000-£20,000 plus a van for stacking shelves can you? Things are so bad workwise I’m considering anything. Not stacking shelves though 😉
