Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Re: Badda Bing
I use Connect for most of my spares – mostly because my local Qualtex agent lets me down time and again. :rolls: To be fair, they are really nice guys, but my promise to my customer is sacrosanct. I don’t like having to make excuses to customers for absent spares.
I am completely independent and don’t do any agency work at all.
Connect online ordering is really easy, you can see what’s in stock at 2am and usually get next day delivery. (generally). So suffice to say, I’ve just stayed with them out of convenience. But I take on board what others have said.Steve.
P.S. Masterpart always seem to get good recommendations on here though. 😉
Re: Badda Bing
I agree with Adrian on the convenience of Connections and usually I have no complaints. BUT…. the pricing structure is sinister. One of my friends buys probably 10 times the stuff I buy and his buying prices are higher than mine. (on average, circa 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} and sometimes more.) My friend firmly believes he is getting the lowest rates and is reluctant to rock the boat. So where ignorance is bliss……:rolls:
Maybe the lowering of my prices had something to do with the heated set-to I had with my rep on his prices compared with Qualtex. Quite a noticeable drop!! But if I hadn’t said anything…….?
But I am aware that most BSH spares are almost retail after you add the VAT. BSH Quickfinder site is priced including VAT. That is not fair.If CDSL want to play they play by our rules. They are the direct beneficiaries of the extra business after all. Any discount they give us will not really impact on them at all.
Let them ask us!!Steve.
Re: ID Card Idea
Full steam ahead!!! 😀
Are we to include the passport photo as in the ACRIB cards? If so, my last one was dreadful. Looked like I’d been freshly dug up. :rolls:
What info is to be included ie: National Insurance number? I couldn’t really understand why ACRIB wanted that.
Can you please post up your proposed card design, Ken?Steve.
Re: Membership.
The manufacturers and the sheds trading policies are part of the predicament that the TA was set up to change. Therefore you can’t really have a large vested interest involved with the decision making of the small individual retailer or repairer.
Associate member yes; decision or policy making – definitely No.Steve.
Re: Spreading the word
I agree with the welcome letter and application form ideas. I have talked to some traders in my area and the feedback has been favourable. Then it’s how to make the TA tangible – and give the trade the message that we are serious.
The identity card is what most of the traders (especially at Sibson) wanted, and the certificate of membership is a very good idea. Both emphasise the ethos of ‘inclusion’ that this TA will radiate.
The application form, (apart from the obvious database type questions) should include a section for the applicant to state what they think is affecting the industry and their concerns for their future. Also their opinion on how to address the issues raised. This could act as a barometer for the sole traders who often moan at the trade counter but are not actively seeking or knowing how to change their situation. The multi engineer companies input will help to gauge opinion on WP’s, employment problems and legislation. Even the people who are not regular contributors to UKW will probably have a view or three.
That’s my thoughts. Feedback please??
Steve.Re: Retired members
I see no problem with him becoming a member. The information and experience could be useful.
Steve.
Re: DeDietrich FX4447E oven.
Thanks, Ken, I’d really appreciate that. Trouble is, everything gets so hot you can barely touch it. Then, just as you’re getting somewhere, it all comes back on. 👿
Cheers for that,
Steve.
Re: Caple range cooker base element
Yes it’s the silver base plate that comes off. The oven liner cannot be removed without extensive dismantling. The brown screws on the back are just above the screws that hold the silver plate in place.
It took me ages the first time I did this job. So much so, that the solution to the problem is burned in my memory like a cow has a brand burned into it’s a*se!! 😆Steve.
Re: Issues to be addressed.
I can see where you are coming from, Adrian; and I can speak as an engineer who has no ties to any WP. I don’t supply spares to the public at cost, and don’t have the worry of upsetting my work providers. ‘Don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg’ comes to mind.
Therefore it may appear that I could probably say ‘balls’ to the Pope with absolutely no fear of reprisals or penalties.
We all agreed that the withholding of tech info was wrong and has to change. That is not going to win us any friends amongst the manufacturers in the short term. Especially if we flag up the ‘precedent’ set by the motor industry. And then decide to take them to task, possibly in full view of the media. But the manufacturers have an unfair advantage, and WP work is affected by these restrictions more so than private as the machines are generally newer on average. More info = less time struggling with fault codes and more jobs can be completed.
Spares pricing affects us all. If the parts were cheaper then more repairs become viable; the WP will be more profitable and therefore policies could be cheaper, more people take policies…….etc. But I simply cannot fathom how a PCB for a Zanussi washer can cost me £99 + vat, when a far more complex PC motherboard from Maplin’s (at retail) costs me £59 inc vat!!
Upsetting the parts suppliers? Yeah, that’s a possibility – and I have colleagues of 24 years standing working in these establishments. But they are happy to raise my costs with no consultation with me – so then there’s no harm in asking them why the deal is one-sided. And then in turn to expect a satisfactory answer.Sharing work opportunities is tricky. But if you have more than enough work then a new work opportunity that arises can divide your loyalties. It would be nice to be able to do all the work you are offered all of the time. I farm my refrigeration work out to another fridge engineer – I don’t have the time to do system jobs anymore but he has. But that sharing means my customer is sorted immediately; she is pleased with the service, and I can do 2 more jobs in the same time frame. And she comes back to me for all her other appliances.
So,it’s tricky but you have to be selective with what you pass on and to who.Training and CORGI are both areas where problems are arising. There is no longer a college course for Domestic appliance engineer in the mainstream colleges, but you can get a qualification in head massage!! No one is going to be available to fill our boots when we retire. No youngsters shown how rewarding and interesting this trade can be. Poorly trained one make manufacturers engineers is the future if we don’t act.
Corgi numbers are dropping as people retire or refuse to jump through the fire hoops. Corgi can train on specific skillsets without compromising on safety. But it cannot hope to fill the skills gap successfully without adapting to the changing market and needs of the engineer.
Pushing for change is going to be hard and maybe some people will get offended. But if asking questions and reminding people of their responsibilities towards us in this trade is wrong and risky, then we best stay as UKW.
I think it is a risk worth taking. I have 24 years left to go to retirement; I would like them to be busy and profitable ones!!Steve.
Re: Caple range cooker base element
Remove the outer back panel. Then look carefully 1″ above the gap between the drawer and the base of the inner back panel. There is a row of 2 or 3 screws that support the tray that holds the element underneath the oven. Undo these and the panel will pull down and out from the gap above the drawer. The element is then quite easy to swap. 😉
On reassembly, have a tool like a bradawl handy to support the tray through the screw holes while you reposition it. Otherwise it’s really fiddly to locate the screw holes and line the panel up at the same time.HTH,
Steve.
Re: What’s the difference ?
If we issue a membership number, any votes or lobbying we do can be quantified by a headcount of membership numbers. What I mean by that is you can say, as in your case Lawrence, membership number xxxxx thinks this or that, and in the case of a vote, the amount of people in favour……membership numbers… (long list). Then the voters or complainants can choose to be identified or not at their discretion but their opinion is still registered. This would apply in the event of a vote or lobby only. If necessary the TA can then ratify or moderate the individual member’s statement.
But I think it should be encouraged to be open and identifiable as that makes our TA more credible. It also gives us the moral high-ground.Steve.
Re: Fresh Footprints
(To be said in an upper class toff’s voice) –
“We name this battleship the ‘WTA’, and bless all that sail in her”.
‘Smash’ goes the champagne bottle.
“And watch out all that attempt to cross her bows!!!”…… 😉 😀
Thanks and well done to everyone for the hard work. Thanks again Ken, for UKW’s assistance.
Cheers!!
Steve.
P.S. What’s that sinking on the horizon? Can’t quite see the name…. begins with a ‘D’. 😆
