Forum Replies Created
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Nope it won’t sumphose but then I don’t get paid to check the consumer’s electrical system and, in my experience, the last thing the customer wants to hear from us is more problems. 🙁 I’ve even had totally illegal new installations by kitchen fitters (had one today in fact) and cowboy builders and do the punters care? Not a bit for the most part so long as it works and looks nice! Sad, I know but that’s life so I gave up, unless there is a specific reason to investigate beyond my remit I don’t do it.
We used to check every single one, appliance and socket, for Zanussi as it was a stipulation and, you might not be as you’re a proper spark, but many would, be astounded at how many houses fail in some way. But the customers just don’t seem to care.
K.
Re: Electrue/NESN
CaryGrant wrote:It seems there may be coverage problems caused by this carry on.
Is that due to a lack of NESN agents or poor service by NESN agents? 😉
To expect a customer to wait over two weeks for a service call is a bit much really, but then if you want to employ another engineer you’re looking at circa £20K these days and that eats up a LOT of calls at £35 a hit, even if you get every one of them done first time.
K.
Re: UK Whitegoods
Martin wrote:I think the whole concept of UKW is brilliant. 21st century communication within the trade…bravo!…..The Forum topics for members to enjoy reading and contribute, a fantastic innovation…! Exchanging knowledge, ideas, experiences, trade tips and advice is the way forward. I welcome any further advances this forum could provide.
Thanks, it’s nice nice to know that you guys like it. 😀
Martin wrote:It would be nice to know what your competitors charge and what speed of service they provide but would only lead to local aggressive opposition and ill will, an area I would not wish to enter.
I agree, not a good route to take, I think that’s a path that could be dangerous but I see no reason not discuss the pros and cons of rate levels. But I do take the point.
Martin wrote:With UKW one can remain relatively anonymous if you so wish (not me though) but still contribute for the good of the industry. For the future?…personally I would like us INDEPENDENTS to have a greater influence with the MANUFACTURERS. In 2003 they are producing total rubbish for which we have to scrape a meagre living from what they produce. Appliances built by computers but not built for the job and ultimately uneconomical to repair means the future of our trade is all too apparent.
Yes, I agree I think we should speak to the manufacturers more and I do know that there are a few looking in here. So far the feedback from them all has been positive which is very encouraging news for everyone I feel, manufacturers etc included.
Martin wrote:The Brown Goods Trade fell foul of this effect just a few short years ago. Today few people get their VCR’s repaired as you can buy new for £40 or £50, thats if you can find someone to fix it?
Indeed, that is the reality we face I’m afraid and sooner than many think IMO.
Martin wrote:The whole trade is in danger of imploding due to sub standard products. If there was some way our little group could communicate with the major manufacturere/suppliers to realise this, so much the better. In todays market ‘Quality’ and ‘Quantity’ do not go together. Sooner or later the whole trade will go ‘Belly up’ as a result.
Yes, sub-standard appliances do have a lot to do with it but that’s a symptom of the product being de-valued in the public’s eye as well as the trade’s. But you’re right I think on the dangers.
Martin wrote:Once upon a time not so long ago, many of my customers asked…..”What machine would you recommend?”…….”Hotpoint” I replied! …..Ask me the same question today….”Don’t even think of buying a Hotpoint”…….the answer…..WHY?….The drum bearings pack up after 6 months. If the sump valve blocks, the machine overspills water all over the electrics…and BANG!!…”Can it be fixed”….”No Lady, not at a price you want to pay!”
Funnily enough I have exactly the same problem, the last decent built machine I saw was that German built Brandt machine that Neil and I like so much. Apart from that I struggle to think of any other of late.
Martin wrote:The only time manufacturers listen is when TV programmes like WATCHDOG slag them off. I welcome the day when UKW has the same effect 🙂
Well, maybe this idea of Del’s could redress the balance to an extent, maybe it will have an effect maybe it won’t, but it’s worth a shot if you ask me. If enough people hear about it and sales are affected by it maybe we’ll finally get it across to the sales side of the manufacturers that it can pay off to build a machine worth having.
But there’s a far more important aspect to this that will have a far greater effect than going to the public directly. Dealers! If the retailers know that an appliance is not going to give them grief and they get a reasonable markup, they’ll sell it long before they sell a piece of and that could have a far more profound effect much faster.
Walk softly, carry a big stick. 😉
K.
Re: UK Whitegoods
Del wrote:WORK PROVIDER OF THE YEAR AWARD
I wonder who’d get the skip dodgers prize for that one 😆 😯😆 Best not go there eh? 😉
K.
(Martin, I’ll answer that post in depth later when I get a minute)
Re: UK Whitegoods
Del wrote:As nearly a quarter of a million hits have been taken by the ukwhitegoods site it is quite obvious that a lot of people are taking notice of what we have to say.
I hope so and the figures seem to be increasing as well. I just think it’s an ideal vehicle to promote ourselves and the industry with.
Del wrote:I was just thinking that it might be good to run a “MACHINE OF THE YEAR” award given by ukwhitegood. voted for by us the independant repair trade. We could have members doing reviews on washers and have different catogories. who better to advise the general public than the people responsible for keeping them going.
Remember which magazine who could’nt tell the difference between a crosslee badged whiteknight/zannussi was the same bloody machine and gave it vastly different ratings.Bloody good idea! Anyone up for that? Can we ask if the manufacturers are interested in sponsoring some little award plaugues or something? Do we want products in different catagories etc.? I’m well chuffed with that idea Del, damned good!
As for Which, yes they’ve done that for years, the first one I spotted was the old Bendix against the old Philco, same machines exactly different ratings, very poor.
Del wrote:We could have awards for the best engineered/ servicability / availabilty & price of spares ( sorry Servis you’ve already lost ) We could even have the ‘SKIP DODGER OF THE YEAR’ award for the worst macine on the market ( why did an indesit dishwasher spring to my mind just then)
😆 I don’t see why not!
Del wrote:The posibilities are simply endless. Well you wanted idea’s seems I’m on a roll, for god’s sake somebody stop me.
Nope, don’t stop with ideas the more the merrier.
Now all I have to do is work out how to collate votes. 😕
K.
Re: UK Whitegoods
Del wrote:Might it be an idea to put up post code maps of the U.K. and mark off areas covered by members of ukwhitegoods, perhaps even three maps to cover all the three skill sets. So that anyone can click on the area or post code of thier locality
It’s reasonably straightforward to do that but very hard to do in an intuative way TBH. A better idea would probably be a serchable postcode database, but that would cost money. I’ll have a think about it though.
Del wrote:set national charges I hasten to add, just set national quality of service.
There would obviousley have to be a disclaimer to ukwhitegoods as it would be a self administering code of practice. But people could be advised that any member found to be breaking the guidelines would be removed from the site if they attracted too many complaints.No, we’re not trying to set prices and a code of practise may be an idea. But the only fear I have of that is that we may be seen as trying to undermine DASA in some way, any thoughts on that?
Del wrote:Dont shoot me down in flames its only a suggestion, that might or might not work. I do think it’s worthy of disscussion though.
Not at all, any ideas are good input if nothing else and gives us something to work with.
K.
Re: Fisher & Paykel
wcda wrote:We still get some of the D&G work, but at our normal commercial rates and are probably better off as a result, despite the lower workload.
Seems to be a recurring theme these days that does. 😕
Anyway, the reason for the post is that this rumour has now been confirmed as being fact as per D&G. Whether it’s good or bad, who knows?
K.
Sorted, it appears that Kyle (aka bagpuss_the_cat) trashed his server this morning. Nice of him to let me know. 😕
Anyway switched to Andy’s server in Holland, problem solved.
Dave, change the server to nl.nixhelp.org (or uk2) and you’ll get on okay. 😉
K.
Re: No strings attached!
Alex wrote:Is it an idea to drop a wink to Ian Spicer of D&G regards this site? He may be glad of the info for the NESN issue. I know he was having a meeting with Terese Eyton-jones at the Wimbledon office and it was regards NESN. She wouldn’t tell me any more.
Ian Spicer is fully aware of the site but he doesn’t hold an account. Two people do from D&G but I’ve never seen a login by them yet but they have been on the site as recently as Friday. 😉
VERY intersting regarding the meeting, but I’d have to conclude that the intention is to fuck NESN up a bit.
Isn’t life fun right now? 😀
K.
Just to give an example…
On Saturday night Dave and I were asked about a forum for off-topic stuff, could it be there? Well, look, inside 5 minutes of us agreeing that it was a good idea it was done!
I’m not saying that we can do everything that is requested, I’m not even saying that we’ll think it’s a good idea but if you don’t ask… 😕
We have polls, we have discussion, we have meetings, we generally do things democratically…where do you see it going?
Now there has been some discussion on UKW doing more for the trade as a body of people and this can be a fantastic melting pot of different ideas as, as far as I consider it, you lot aren’t stupid as if you were, you wouldn’t still be running your own businesses. So it’s over to you lot, you have to input a bit to get an output.
What do you want from UKW and the trade in general or where or what would you like to see it doing? Positive or negative I’d love to hear some opinion and comment.
K.
Re: Site News & Updates
Del wrote:Would it be possible for me to buy a few shares 😆 😉
Can I have some too? 😉 If only I got paid per page view, ho hum. 😕
One day I’ll stumble on a get rich quick scheme but I’d bet it has bugger all to do with domestic appliances! 😉
K.
Re: No strings attached!
ted wrote:there is more and D&G have now offered any help they can be in my battle on the legal front with trubshit and the help they are offering is of great comfort.
Indeed, which also implies that they know that there was an NESN involvement in all this in some way.
K.
I’m an agent for De Dietrich and have been for many years and I’m actually fed up with people complaining about the price of those control knobs. Usually the customer wants two sets, then just one after they find out the prices!
Sorry Gracecourt but they are DD only spares and not available from any other source so they can charge what they like for them. 🙁
K.
Yes I had noticed it and we’re just on 6 months from the launch now and it never ceases to amaze me just how popular the site has become.
If you want bored read on….
We’ve been getting more and more hits from all over the world, many recently from Australia and the US (obviously) but quite a few from EU States as well. We’ve got a good few manufacturers looking in that have not signed up 🙁 and a good few that have 😀 and are looking in here. Hopefully they’re taking some of what we’re trying to say on board, or at least I hope so and using it in a positive and constructive manner.
We’ve been getting loads of hits from private individuals as well and it’s good to see some members of the public using the forums for enquiries. Please, if you feel you can answer those posts or sell from it then do so, that’s one of the reasons it’s there and if you can use the site and sell a part or a machine from it then do so as I don’t have a problem with that at all. Just play fair and be gentelmen or ladies, as the case me be ,about it. Same thing about answering a post looking for a service call, don’t be shy about it, get stuck in and use it!
Thing is, if we do answer these types of things and help people the site will get known for it and more people will use it just through word of mouth. Of course I’ll still promote it, but as we all know only too well, nothing beats word of mouth when it comes to advertising!
And on the figures, yes we’ll most likely pass the 1/4 million mark this week at some point and a quick rattle of calculator keys tells me that we should, if the site shows a small but steady growth, pass the million mark in the third quarter of 2004. Damned impressive for a site so young! 😀
K.
