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Re: DASA!
Penguin45 wrote:
The implications are serious – we would need to smarten up our act as far as official contact and presentation is concerned. We would need to promote our own code of conduct (Nothing wrong with it) and as far as the (visible) site is concerned appear united. Perhaps one or two OTHER forums might need to disappear below the waves.Chris.
Chris your sumation is absolutely bang on. If UKW is to “take on the mantle” as you put it. Then this site changes forever. It would no longer have the freedoms it has now as it would then be membership driven and accountable for it’s comments rather than being lead by very proactive individuals.
It would then need to speak to government on behalf of it’s members and try to get it’s COP accepted by such bodies as OFT & DTI which is a long drawn out affair, before it would be officially recognised.
The Site would also have to draw up a constitution, and vote on officers and councillors and present it’s self as a democratic organisation which as we all know slows down the decision making process.I asked this very question right back in the early day’s of this site and was told repeatedly that there was no intention of going down this route.
To my mind, when the site was then turned into a Limited company it then negated any possibility of becoming a Trade Association.It is because of these facts that I had seen the need for both UKW and DASA as seperate organisations to be working very closley together. In the early day’s UKW approached DASA council for recognition and support and although the move was not universally popular the proposition was accepted. Since that time there has been a none ending stream of criticism from UKW towards DASA. Some of the criticisum was justified and acted upon i.e. The removal of an ineffective director, review the cop, seek the views of the members, review the constitution etc.
Dasa would never be able to respond as quickly as a private company as it has to seek concensus, rather than be driven in it’s direction by an M.D.
DASA needs a very motivated and effective director to be able to communicate what it is trying to do to it’s members but with the ever decreasing membership it is less and less likely to be able to afford one.
So it limps along on the efforts of unpaid voulenteers with limited time and resources who are trying to change it.UKW does itself no favours in kicking DASA as it only alienates those members who have remained loyal to its ranks over many many years.
I personally have managed to make myself unpopular in both camps by defending one in the company of the other to the point where I almost feel the best thing to say is “A pox on both your houses ! “
If DASA fails then let it. It’s needs no assistance in it’s demise.
Sean
Re: Christmas Bash 2004
Although our little community is not very old we are already starting to see the formation of ritualistic tradition which I suppose can only be expected.
I do of course refer to the anceint and well practiced art of
‘Doning The Laundry’As preformed by our official master of ceremonies Mr. Kevin Heath, abley assisted by our site creator Mr Ken Watt
This noble ritual was once again demonstrated in its’s full magnificence and splender by it’s creator and originator.
The ritual entail’s the presentation of a mysterious package to our master of ceremonies mid way through the festivities. Who then (with raised eyebrows to feign supprise) proceeds to open and examine the contents of the mysterious package, which is then revealed to be an item of laundry.
We now reach the most critical stage of the ceremony, where the laundry is very closley examined by our illustrious practicioner for both fragrence and sanitation.
I must point out that at this point of the ceremony congregation participation is crucial and is demonstrated by the ability to retain control of the retching reflex.After full quality control examinations have been concluded along with the facial expressions and contortions of our officinardo, the Laundry is finally and offically Doned on the pate of the celebrant to the rapturous applause and laughter of the congregation. Mr. Heath then proceeds to make himself available for photographs, autographs and alcohol
Del 😆
Re: R U Ready
There is value and qudos to be earnt in doing specific training though.
I.E. the kenwood stuff coming out of the CDSL stable. If they will let us go down there and strip some of these new machines to bits we can do a bloody good job of how best to get inside them and a good test proceedure with the pat no’s and descriptions and most likley faults. with updates on dvds as they bring out new models.
We could then pair up and charge CDSL for the training and run so many courses a year at Brum which is reasonably central.
I have always believed that this type of training would be most cost effective if a DVD or video tape was produced that the engineer could refer to from time to timeas he wanted.
We could again supply updates on the same format as new machines came out as well as service updates as repetitive field faults came to light.
That way firms would not be faced with big hotel bills and traveling expenses and also be loosing income from their engineer.Surley that’s got to be worth something to both UKW & CDSL.
The only great expense I can see would be the makeup bill for kevin, to make him look presentable on screen and avoid an ‘X’ certificate ! 🙄
Sean
Re: R U Ready
What we have to ask ourselves is who is doing this at the moment ?
We have Mr. Dixon over in Yorkshire who runs a Six weeks course with an exam at the end of it.We also have Steve Rochfort in conjunction with John Fitzgerald who are also attempting to put something similar in place.
When I was at the Dasa AGM on the second night I was sitting with Steve Clark from Lux and they are planning somthing similar and they alredy have a training school which he said would be bringing out basic engineer training for the whole trade not just Service Force Guy’s. This has some backing from AMDEA as they are just waking up to the engineer shortage.
I wont mention the esel guy who spoke at York as they are a joke.
I have spoken to all of these parties and all of them say that at the end of it you should be left with someone who is reasonably safe to be let loose in someones house. But they are reallistic enough to know that you do not end up with an Experienced engineer at the end of it. All you have is what used to be called in tradesmans term’s as an improver.
We also have to be ready for the people who will attack us for getting involved with training who have an axe to grind. They will ask us :-
A) Are we accredited Trainers
B) What qualifications do we ourselves posess
C) Do we have the insurance to cover any liabilities to our students ect.
D) Do we have the resources to offer sustained in field training ( If we started today you would only have 50 engineers trained by the end of the year)
E) Can we leave our own businesses for the amount of time required
F) Is a one weeks training course to cover all the required skill sets a realistic goal. because if it were then there would not be a skill shortage.
I am sorry to be pouring cold water on this noble ambition but It is my belief that UKW has done an incredible amount to change this trade for the better. It has helped to wake the fucker’s up. So let’s stick with what we do best. If we offer anything at all it has to at least match or be better than anything else available.
That said, if it is the majority view that we go down this route then I will
give all the support I can without detriment to my own business or family.
I might be a pain in the arse but at least I’m a democrat.Sean
Re: UKW on BBCi
I think that it might be that you are enlightening the general populice with technical term’s that they can actually understand i.e. “crap” which some of our number mistook for a comparison to fecal excrement when we all know that you were using the well known trade acronim for chronically reprehensible appliance parts. 😆
Might be a nice one to keep up your sleeve when the politically correct numpty’s arrive on the sceene 😉
Del
Re: Comet Engineers Corgi
Believe it or not, some time ago Comet had the cheek to write to my engineers at my business address to offer them jobs.
Perhaps now might be a good time to return the compliment by all of our members who are looking for Corgi trained staff to advertise from UKW for disgruntled Comet engineers to come along and have a little chat.Like my old Dad used to say to me ” Don’t get mad son, Get even ” 😉
Del
Re: Public Advice
I know this must seem an obvious question but as I have never actually enquired before, it would be reassuring to confirm the answer.
Does UKW (as we are now a limited co.) have public liability insurance to cover the eventuality of anyone causing themselves or anyone else harm as a result of any information or advice they have recieved via the site ?
I have always admired the amount of time and dedication you guy’s have devoted to helping joe public with their problems, but it has always been my firm belief that it is only a matter of time before some one makes a claim.
That is the main reason why I have been conspicuous in my absence in the public forums.Sean
Re: Well There We Have It!
I agree with peng, We some times have to narrow the debate, as some forum threads start off with a great idea and you think yes! we’re on to something here and then some muppett goes off on a tangent and the original thought get’s lost along the way.
I dont know how you can do it, but we must start to instill a bit of protocol that we stick to the topic in the heading. Otherwise we do not reach a conclusion to the debate, just endless rambilings.
Del
Re: New Campaign
This is why I posted the Idea in here first. To go with a crusade would require unanimity amongst us all, as we would all be guilty by association if it were to gain momentum.
But where you have the situation where the call rate is halfed as with GBDAR who also impose a 90 day call back on any other fault on the same appliance to be done as a call back. I feel it is these type of arsehole company’s who hold the trade back, as they are allways sited when you ask for improved rates from others.
Just Thinkin’ out loud Sean
Re: 5{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} Increase from Whirlpool
Is’nt it a shame that logic is only applied to their own cost’s and no bugger else’s.
Del
Re: Why Subscribe To UK Whitegoods?
Sorry ’bout that one John could’nt resist it. 😳
But to get back to the thread, Perhaps people do not full appreciate the total committment that has gone into the building of this site.
Just look at what they get for free.a) free platform to voice their opinions and concerns
b) free link to their own website from the busiest uk whitegoods site
c) free inclusion in the national ukw database
e) free technical advice and assistance
f) free sales counter for their spare stock
g) free advertisments for jobs and work oppurtunities
h) free advice on where to get those hard to come by spares
i) free live chat forum for the trade
j) free off topic forum for the seriously deranged and true confession freaks
k) free e-mail, directories, calender, downloads, faq’s, helpdesk, journal, photo gallery, private messages, reviews, polls, search engine, statistics, news articles, surveys.
And just for that you actually expect people to put their hand in their pockets when we all know that you run this site from the back of a fag packet in your spare time between rounds at your local. 😯
Behave !!
Del
Re: Why Subscribe To UK Whitegoods?
Yes you were there John and the only thing you missed was the toilet ! 😆
Del
Re: Oi, stop it!
Kev,
I think you will find that nowhere in Dave’s post did he refere to himself as the press officer for DASA or for that matter that he was expounding the official views of DASA.
The comments he made were entirely his own, for which he appologised in a later post. It’s a shame that you could’nt have been a little more magnanimous when he offered it, as I see that even ken had to pull you up on your later comment.You then ask me to make it clear that Mark gave no such permissions. As I was not privvy to your conversation I’m affraid that I can’t. Perhaps you should have made that point a little more clear in your earlier post.
Sean
Re: Oi, stop it!
kheath wrote:Just to clear a point Sean……Mark has spoken to me about what is going off with Electrolux……therefore its no secret. He explained to me in detail how it will supply the funds dasa needs, please do not blame admin when all electrolux agents are aware also….it is no secret.
Kevin.
I have to admit that I was not present at the dasa meeting where this approach was discussed and if you say that MARK has personally informed you of it and was quite happy for it to be used for public consumption on UKW. Then I have no option but to take your word for it.
In the interest of fairplay do you think that we can let DASA try to get through this period of reconstruction and reorganisation before it get’s torn to shreds again. Give them a chance to turn it around.
Sean
