Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Re: Do you ever wish…..
I’m self employed and split myself between being a Land Gillie/ estate worker and an appliance engineer. If I’m not up to my eyes is deer guts or pheasant s***, I have my head in someone’s rancid dishwasher!
Some weeks the appliance work pays more and sometimes the gillie work keeps me afloat. If I was offered a full time job on the estate, or they could guarantee my hours then I would drop the appliances like a hot rock, sell my stock at cost price on eBay and convert my van into a motorhome! I would rather be bitten by ticks, eaten by the wee Scottish midge and view the magnificent countryside than have to attend another call out where someone questions my prices and me having to explain to them that I don’t get to keep all the money as I have to pay out for fuel, paying for the van, van repairs, replacement parts and tools, insurances, etc, I don’t make much from my business but it keeps the wolf from the door. in fact I’m lucky some days to break minimum wage. thats before I have to sit down after work and do my accounts and invoicing instead of spending time with my family and sucking back a beer!
Re: Whirlpool Top loader tap adapter
I have the adaptors in stock but you are looking at around £25 for a pair if my memory serves. I’m away at the moment but will be back home tomorrow night. If you give me a call on 07956324546 i will dig some out for you and get a more accurate price.
Re: Zanussi ZWF81443w Leaking (Lindo 100)
Thanks for your reply.
It was the diaphragm that was leaking on all 3 machines. I took the easy option and replaced all three. If they leak again in the future I will use sealer on them. I have a feeling that if anything else goes wrong with them the customer is going to look for replacements.
Re: ZWF1440W intermittently won’t start any warm/hot cycles
I agree, had a Zanussi do this not long ago. Had me baffled until I realised it was only on a heat cycle that it played up. I replaced the heater and it worked perfectly. I noticed that when the drum was full of water I got a reading between the element terminal and earth.
Re: User Fails
Went to install a new dishwasher at a customers address. He had been using his old machine for over 6 months with this door catch!! He only got a new appliance because his wife was sick of the dishwasher sticking out from under the counter!!
Re: Are you busy?
Flat out here!
I have been burning the candle at both ends to keep up with demand. It did go quiet for a short time but i was able to concentrate on refurbishing a few second hand appliances. Which cleared the decks in my workshop. i dont just do domestic appliances but also do small kitchen equipment and commercial appliances as well which helps.
Re: How much credit to extend to work providers?
I carry out a lot of work on commercial premises and in holiday homes. I also extend credit to anyone on the island as banking can be fun at times especially if they live out in the sticks (only about6 cash machines on the whole island and 2 that are 24 hours). I offer 15 days credit to everyone but if they let me down once its cash from then on. I would never dream of operating the way I do on the mainland. The great thing about island life is the community aspect. Most islanders wouldn’t dream of trying to get out of paying a bill. The down side is I am constantly owed around the £1500 mark from various sources, which was difficult at first but now I just factor that into my finances. I have only ever had one person not pay and I have told them never to call me again. They have to now rely on mainland repairers that charge a premium to come over on the ferry. Their loss, not mine!!
Re: Raw Whirlpool American washer wanted
I have one up here on the Isle of Arran, Scotland if you fancy a holiday?! Its in working order but a wee bit scabby. 😉
Re: Qualtex Account Closure
I had my account closed by Qualtex as I didn’t reach their threshold and to be honest that was their own doing.
I live on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. When I first started my business and I set up my account I could order £100 worth of stock and get free delivery. After my first order I was told it would be changed to £150 or face an £18 delivery charge but the orders were taking up to 14 days to arrive. About 6 months later They upped the threshold again to £250 or £18 delivery and still it was taking up to 2 weeks wait before I had the parts. I asked if they could send my orders Royal Mail as they didn’t charge any extra for delivering to the island and I would see it within 48 hours, I was told no, it was the courier or nothing. I then started to buy from other suppliers for my small orders and only buying from Qualtex for stock items. It took weeks but finally they agreed to send my consignments to a courier depot on the mainland and I could then get it shipped over for half the price and within 2 days.
I stopped buying multiples of everything so I could build up some working capital and only bought what I needed for the jobs I had booked in. For me to buy from Qualtex meant an additional courier delivery charge or pay a premium and wait an age for the parts. not something I could afford to do as I would soon lose customers.Ironically, I had a large £500+ stock order in my Qualtex basket the day I received my letter. I then rang them and spoke to a lovely woman in accounts who was very apologetic but said her hands were tied and it was such a shame as loads of accounts were being axed. I thanked her kindly and transferred my stock order to Connect.
I generally spend more than £500 per month on appliance spares and if Qualtex had been a bit more flexible with their delivery options and courier prices then I would have spent the majority of it with them. However it looks like their competitors are going to benefit from their loss.
A few have made comments about Connect prices but I have found that if I’m not happy with a price, I just call my account handler and he sorts out a deal for me. In his words, “If we make a loss on one part of a larger order then its not an issue. So long as we make a profit overall and you are happy to make the purchase it’s win win for everyone”. Also any issues I have had with them have been sorted quickly and professionally.
Re: Beko WMB71231W Trips RCD
Thanks Wilf.
I have been suspecting a wiring fault but numerous tests and I cant find a short. I might resort to removing the loom and going over it with a keen eye.
Thankfully I have an old Hotpoint lying around that they can use until I find the fault. I prefer to do jobs like that in the comfort of my own workshop without the customers breathing down my neck and asking questions. As much as I like the guys (I used to work with them) workshop banter is not good for concentration. ha ha
Re: Diplomat HJA8703
Been a while since I had time to come on here.
PCB was indeed faulty. Customer wanted to buy a new machine in the end.
Re: What is your average call out time?
I try to keep the call out time down to 2 to 3 days for domestic and 1 to 2 days for commercial jobs. Obviously if they are desperate then I have an emergency call out fee and I fit them in at a moments notice. Saying that though I run my company on a semi part time basis anyway so I don’t get that many jobs in per day. I try to restrict myself to 3 jobs per day unless I get really busy. I’m restricted by my hours as I’m run this business around my family so have school times and wife’s work commitments to adhere to, unless I can organise childcare in advance. I have been known to take my daughter with me to jobs and many of my customers love it when she comes along with me. She is like my company mascot!!
I wouldn’t change the way I run my business as my family come first. Nobody lay on their death bed and wished they had spent more time at the office!! Working myself into an early grave just to make sure someone can get clean dishes is not on my list of priorities. If they don’t like the fact that I can’t fit them in until the following week then find someone else. Guaranteed though, they wont find anyone more conscientious, caring and reasonably priced 😉
