[TechAssist] Re: closing the shop now will work from home
- From: "J Silverman" <greentron@xxxxxxx>
- To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 20:48:43 -0400
Back when I had 7 techs plus support people I had to scramble to keep a
backlog and tried all sorts of advertising including Yellow Pages in towns
70 miles around. Never got hardly anything from the Yellow Pages and finally
when the salesman came around one year and laid down the annual rate
increase I told him "no way" but that I would give them 10% of the gross on
business brought in fromYellow Pages advertising. He burned rubber all the
way out of our parking lot. And that was not an easy trick with a Ford
Pinto.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ed Gaidies <teltek3@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 6:27 PM
Subject: [TechAssist] Re: closing the shop now will work from home
> Jim..
>
>
> Me too.
> Dumped Yellow Pages 8 years ago.
>
> I guess I was not listening when they made the presentation. $390 for
> a Business Card sized add.
>
> I was under the impression this was annually. No way...this was
> Monthly.
>
> Well...it's a Contract for a year...so I absorbed it. I didn't expect
> them to go from home to home and black it out.
>
> I dropped the Yellow Page add...and being in an area with little or
> no competition, never hurt my bottom line.
>
> Here, in Canada, you are listed as a Business in the white
> pages, they still have to give you a line in the Yellow Pages.
>
> We have twin towns here, about 5 miles apart, and one Business is
> still active in Penetang. We are not actually "competitors", since
> there is enough business for both of us.
>
> But I have invested in the "Yellow Highlighting" in both towns, which
> costs me $30 a month. That is a good investment.
>
>
> The bottom line is.....it depends on your area...how many
> choices the customer base has, and pick your advertising accordingly.
>
> I have considered myself reasonably lucky, and after having
> about 7 shops for Electronic Service, we are now down to two.
>
> Probably,if I stopped loaning my parts to the one competitor
> left, I could Check Mate.
>
> He's the guy that will order Resistors..one or two at a time. I think
> I may have mentioned him in previous posts.
>
> If he needs a LA7838, he will order 2.
>
> I better stop right here....cause I can see were I'm heading.
>
>
> BTW...we know this should be on a List that Jay and Doug set up, just
> for these type of ramblings.
>
> But being a discussion about were to place your advertising
> dollar, may be of interest to other small businesses.
>
> I'm on a new Laptop and have not migrated the address files, so maybe
> if someone decides to carry on with this discussion, move it to the
> Chat List.
>
> I'm done.
>
> -Ed-
>
> Tel-Tek Electronics
> Ontario-Canada
> teltek3@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> teltek@xxxxxxxxx
>
> "Learn from past mistakes.Or you are bound to repeat them"
>
> On Aug 13, 2005, at 11:23 AM, becyn@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> > I dumped all my yellow page display ads two years ago.
> > All I have is a listing under TV and computers.
> >
> > IMHO most of the calls from yellow page shoppers are trying to save
> > $10 on
> > a repair. They call everyone there and ask "how much to fix a set that
> > has no picture?". Or "so and so said that the "gizmoflagit" is no
> > good,
> > how much to replace it?"
> > In other words it's waste of time answering calls generated from
> > yellow
> > page ads.
> > Yes, you get more calls, but maybe 10% are money. The time wasted
> > talking to the 90%
> > of "shoppers" or "brain pickers" wipes out any money made on the 10%.
> >
> > We,ve been around long enough to have a word of mouth trade, plus our
> > listings on mfr sites is more likely to result in a sale, since those
> > folks are looking specifically for an ASC.
> >
> > just my 2 cents on the subject...
> >
> > Jim McVey
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Ed Gaidies <teltek3@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: Saturday, August 13, 2005 6:47 am
> > Subject: [TechAssist] Re: closing the shop now will work from home
> >
> >
> >> Hey Perry...
> >> Tell me that's not $1250 a month.
> >>
> >> -Ed-
> >> Tel-Tek Electronics
> >> Ontario-Canada
> >> teltek3@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>
> >> teltek@xxxxxxxxx
> >>
> >> "Learn from past mistakes.Or you are bound to repeat them"
> >>
> >> On Aug 12, 2005, at 11:22 PM, Electric Medic wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>> $250 Month for a yellow page ad. What size is that? We have a 1/4
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>> page and
> >>> it is $1250 and goes up every year. I hate it every year when
> >>>
> >> that
> >>
> >>> lady
> >>> comes by because she never negotiates.
> >>>
> >>> Perry Bower
> >>> Electric Medic
> >>> "It's Cheaper to Keep Her"
> >>> http://www.electricmedic.com
> >>> 3850 Washington Road Suite 4C
> >>> Martinez, Georgia 30907
> >>> Phone: 706-8MEDIC4 (863-3424)
> >>> Phone: 706-863-3474
> >>> Fax: 706-863-2316
> >>> mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> [mailto:techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Kevin's TV
> >>>
> >> Repair> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 8:20 PM
> >>
> >>> To: techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> Subject: [TechAssist] Re: closing the shop now will work from home
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> That wouldn't work for my area. I rely on my yellow pages ad (cost
> >>> roughly $250/month) to bring in business, rather than walk-in
> >>>
> >> traffic> ($1000 + for shop rental, plus yellow pages ad).
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Kevin Wilks
> >>> Kevin's TV Repair
> >>> Penticton BC Canada
> >>> kevintv@xxxxxxx
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> [mailto:techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tel-Tek
> >>> Electronics
> >>> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 1:39 PM
> >>> To: techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> Subject: [TechAssist] Re: closing the shop now will work from home
> >>>
> >>> Just hire someone to do your Service Calls...you stay at the
> >>>
> >> store and
> >>
> >>> count
> >>> the money.
> >>> Business 101.
> >>>
> >>> -Ed-
> >>> Tel-Tek Electronics
> >>> Ontario-Canada
> >>>
> >>> teltek3@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> From: "Kevin's TV Repair" <kevintv@xxxxxxx>
> >>> To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >>> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 3:43 PM
> >>> Subject: [TechAssist] Re: closing the shop now will work from home
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> My business has always been out of my home. At first, (1998) most
> >>>> people would drop things off. Now most of my business is service
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>> calls
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> on big TV's. Having a store front would force me to hire
> >>>>
> >> someone to
> >>
> >>>> keep the store open while I am doing my service calls.
> >>>>
> >>>> Kevin Wilks
> >>>> Kevin's TV Repair
> >>>> Penticton BC Canada
> >>>> kevintv@xxxxxxx
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>>> [mailto:techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> >>>> BOSS1996@xxxxxxx
> >>>> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 8:19 AM
> >>>> To: techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>>> Subject: [TechAssist] Re: closing the shop now will work from home
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Hope all goes well, Pete, I've considered that myself at times but
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>> would
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> be
> >>>> concerned about the lack of storefront. Some people feel much
> >>>>
> >> better>> dealing
> >>
> >>>> with an actual "store" rather than someone who works from their
> >>>> house.
> >>>> BTW, I'm in Ft Laud. if you need anything, stop by.
> >>>>
> >>>> Robert Cardoza
> >>>> Picture Perfect Elec.
> >>>> 9940 NW 6th Ct
> >>>> Pembroke Pines, Fla, 33024
> >>>> 954-435-5868
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> In a message dated 8/12/2005 10:36:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> >>>> jr.myers@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> >>>>
> >>>> Consider offering free pick up and delivery for "carry in"
> >>>>
> >> products>> since you may loose all the walk in customers otherwise.
> >>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> ********************************
> >>>> Since 1972 *
> >>>> Jim Myers *
> >>>> Telrad Electronics *
> >>>> Fort Wayne Indiana *
> >>>> ********************************
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Tel-Tek Electronics wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> No problem Pete.
> >>>>> Working out of your home does not make you a "less" Technician.
> >>>>> This may become a thing in the near future.
> >>>>> Have to fix quite a few sets, just to pay your rent.
> >>>>> If you have no Sales, and a large Garage, works just as well,
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>> once
> >>>> your
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Customer base has been re-routed.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Maybe a bad idea to stop your Business Phone Number all at the
> >>>>>
> >> same>>>
> >>
> >>>> time,
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> and maybe have some Business Cards printed up, with a Map of your
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>> new
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Location on the back.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Expect a decrease in business for the first 6 to 8 months,
> >>>>>
> >> but>>>
> >>
> >>>> with no
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> rent to pay, should be no problem.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I made a change to doing Service from my shop at home about 12
> >>>>>
> >> years>>>
> >>
> >>>> ago,
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> worked well for me.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I need to loose my Business number, since that's $150 a
> >>>>>
> >> month,>>>
> >>
> >>>> but
> >>>> Bell
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> will not redirect calls from a Business line to a Residential
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>> line...message
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> would be "No longer in Service", telling the customer you may have
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>> gone
> >>>> out
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> of business.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> -Ed-
> >>>>> Tel-Tek Electronics
> >>>>> Ontario-Canada
> >>>>>
> >>>>> teltek3@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>>>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>>> From: <tjanphyl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >>>>> To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >>>>> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 8:23 AM
> >>>>> Subject: [TechAssist] Re: closing the shop now will work from
> >>>>>
> >> home>>>
> >>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> My friend, you may find you are left with more money at the
> >>>>>>
> >> end of
> >>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>> the
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>> month even without the storefront.I know of one local business
> >>>>>> machines tech that had a store, and all that did was walk in
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>> trade.The
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>> real money was the phone call service requests.He set up out
> >>>>>>
> >> of
> >>
> >>>>>> his
> >>>>>> home and garage.Very happy now.No more lost sleep. They
> >>>>>> called, he
> >>>>>> arrived.No one cares from where. I call my carpet cleaning
> >>>>>>
> >> service>>>>
> >>
> >>>> and
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>> I don't know where his office is, if any. Even if your business
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>> drops
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>> by 50% if your overhead is cut by 70%, you made more.
> >>>>>> Good luck.
> >>>>>> Phil
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Phil Bader, Pres.
> >>>>>> Jan Phyl TV Inc
> >>>>>> Winter Haven, Fl
> >>>>>> (863) 299-8821
> >>>>>> estab. 1976
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>>>> From: pete <tvtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >>>>>> Date: Thursday, August 11, 2005 9:21 pm
> >>>>>> Subject: [TechAssist] closing the shop now will work from home
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> After 33 years of service. Perdomo tv shop will work from
> >>>>>>>
> >> home. I
> >>
> >>>>>>> cannot aford the overhead anymore. Im also removing myself from
> >>>>>>> rca, mitsubishi and sony website because I cant afford it. I
> >>>>>>>
> >>
> >>
> >>>>>>> will
> >>>>>>> still be in this list and try to help anybody. I hope you
> >>>>>>>
> >> guys
> >>
> >>>>>>> can
> >>>>>>> work with me too
> >>>>>>> Thank you
> >>>>>>> Pete
> >>>>>>> Perdomo Tv Inc Since 1972
> >>>>>>> Miami.Fl
> >>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------------------
> >>>>>>>
> >> ----
> >>
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