[TechAssist] Re: was I wrong with free trips, helping seniors?
- From: "Jerome Silverman" <greentron@xxxxxxx>
- To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:35:40 -0400
Its tough doing business with people that dont have any money. Thats who the
rent-to-almost-own industry was invented for. Wheather its a repair or a
replacement they expect to pay $10 a week. Hard to take the repair away if
they dont pay. The rent-to-own business here pretty much died when the State
changed the law making it more difficult to repossess.
Jerry Silverman
Greentron Inc
4 Newland Ave Greenville SC 29609
Fax/Phone 864 232 3889
greentron@xxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Al L" <alleathe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 9:27 AM
Subject: [TechAssist] Re: was I wrong with free trips, helping seniors?
> Lindsey,
> Would they come to his house and hook it up for free?Please read the e
> mail again,all of it!
> Proves you either get a good buck or stay home, in my humble opinion.
>
> Al Leatherman
> 224 RT. 46
> Mine Hill, NJ 07803
> 973-361-5796
> WWW.ALS-TV.NET
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lindsey Altman" <athomeservice@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 8:32 AM
> Subject: [TechAssist] Re: was I wrong with free trips, helping seniors?
>
>
> > Hi John,
> >
> > I hate to burst your bubble. They could have gotten a brand new one
=
> > for
> > the price you got in it. Check out pricewatch.com and in the future a =
> > good
> > price for what you sold baring the scratches would probably be around
> > $25.00.
> >
> > HTH,
> > Lindsey =20
> >
> > Lindsey Altman
> > At Home Service Company
> > 440 Cedar Ave.
> > Claxton, Georgia 30417
> > 912-739-1019
> > athomeservice@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of fremur01@xxxxxxxxx
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:31 PM
> > To: techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [TechAssist] Re: was I wrong with free trips, helping seniors?
> >
> > John,=20
> >
> > I had a recent monitor call that was quite an eye
> > opener. Recently I invested in a newer phone system
> > that screens and routes calls along with clearly
> > stating minimum on site service charges (which is $45
> > by the way) etc. Anyway, so I get a message one day
> > from this man who needed a monitor fixed. It was dead,
> > and belonged to his daughter.=20
> >
> > The message was along the lines of "My screen is dead
> > and I don't want to put over $45 in a monitor=85" So me
> > trying to at least follow-up spoke with him called and
> > explained that most pc monitors are not worth the
> > trouble to fix, especially if under 17". Trying to be
> > a good Samaritan I remembered having a few "test/spare
> > 15" monitors" and offered to do a home service call
> > and swap out the old one for the $45 fee. He agreed to
> > that, got to his daughters house, (public housing by
> > the way)...installed the unit and removed the old one.
> > No complaints, he was rather pleased....
> >
> > It gets better...the other day his daughter calls with
> > a generic "I have a few questions...please give me a
> > call " message. Turns out this cheapskate was griping
> > because the screen had a few scratches and it was hard
> > for her to play games...Holy Moly!
> >
> > I practically gave them the monitor for free! What
> > would a tow-truck driver do if a stranded motorist ran
> > out of gas, he gives them a couple of gallons to get
> > vehicle started=85then have them gripe about whether it
> > was name brand gas=85
> >
> > Anyway, this last customer rubbed me the wrong way to
> > say the least. I've always heard that beggars can't be
> > choosey or something along those lines but that took
> > the cake. Techs, Go with your gut feeling in the
> > future when it comes to cheapskates. Let them know the
> > charge upfront and bill for your expertise!!
> >
> > Fred
> > MTS Electronics
> > Fayetteville, NC
> > fremur01@xxxxxxxxx
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----=20
> >
> > Phil and all,
> >
> > Let me relate an experience that has helped me
> > throughout the years...
> >
> > Several years ago I was called out to service a
> > customer's TV in the home.=20
> > It was an NAP C5 chassis with a stuck relay. Now
> > normally I would replace=20
> > the relay as I have found that cleaning them is a
> > temporary fix at best, but=20
> > this little old lady was giving me a sob story about
> > how broke she was, how=20
> > this was her only entertainment, how she could not
> > afford such an expensive=20
> > repair.... (we have all heard it)
> >
> > Reluctantly I removed the cover and cleaned the relay
> > contacts and restored=20
> > the set to proper operation and handed her the bill
> > for the service call=20
> > only after listening to her for 30 minutes(as I felt
> > sorry for her) . As=20
> > she was writing out her check, and entering it in her
> > checkbook, I noticed=20
> > her checking account balance was slightly over
> > $25,000.00 .
> >
> > No money? Cannot afford repair? Well....
> >
> > I learned then and there that it doesn't pay to feel
> > sorry for someone, and=20
> > I have since treated all customer's the same whether
> > they complain or not.=20
> > I give them the price, don't negotiate, and they can
> > accept it or I will=20
> > move on. When someone wants to negotiate, I tell them
> > that this is the=20
> > price, and the longer they keep me from doing my job
> > the more expensive the=20
> > repair will be. Do you think any other retailer will
> > waive or reduce=20
> > charges? I don't think so.
> >
> > You are ultimately responsible for your own destiny-=20
> > Be professional and=20
> > charge what the job is worth. In the long run, you
> > may get a reputation for=20
> > being "soft" and then you have to deal with those
> > customers all the time.=20
> > Remember, you do not know their situation nor do you
> > need to- treat every=20
> > one fairly and then you have nothing to worry about.
> >
> > JMHO
> >
> > John E. Wilkins Jr., CSM/A+
> > Home TV Service
> > 3468 So. Main St.
> > Salt Lake City, Ut. 84115
> >
> > (801)486-5641
> > fax (801)467-2294
> >
> > jwilkinsjr@xxxxxxxxx
> >
> > Proud Member of NESDA since 2000- are you? Check
> > it out=20
> > http://www.nesda.com
> >
> >
> > .
> > ----- Original Message -----=20
> > From: "Phil Bader" <tjanphyl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: "Techassist-B (private)" <repair@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 1:58 PM
> > Subject: [TechAssist-B] was I wrong with free trips,
> > helping seniors?
> >
> >
> >>I guess I'm not really bitter because maybe he really
> > is hard up. But
> >> here's how the "test case" went:
> >> ;-)
> >> Don't scold me,guys!
> >> As you know, I picked up a senior man's 25" TV at
> > lunch today.(waived
> >> the trip charges,collected the 39.00 shop fee)
> >> Sound, no pix.Sharp 25G-S60
> >> At shop, found just a line across screen.
> >> I found what I needed to fix it in parts. Vance has
> > them.
> >>
> >> $79.00 Basic shop labor + about 30.00 parts.
> >> 109.60 + tax.
> >> basic labor + parts/shipping+ tax - deposit, trips
> > all free.
> >> Bal due $78.27, can have ready,delivered Thursday
> > noon.
> >> "Thursday! That long???"
> >> "Wow....that much! Do you take installments? Can I
> > make payments? I get
> >> paid the 1st of the month!"
> >> No,sir, we are a COD repair shop. If you want to
> > have us fix and hold it
> >> til the 1st of the month we will...
> >> "Ohhh No! I need it now! My web (internet) TV is on
> > that.I have emails!
> >> I need it now! two days? That long?"
> >> I said well, I am sensitive to seniors, thats why I
> > waived almost 40.00
> >> already, offered 48 hour service,too but I can't do
> > that AND finance
> >> you,sir .
> >> (He wants platinum service but has no money)
> >> "Well, I'll manage to get the money together
> > somehow... Just bring it
> >> Thursday... "
> >> See what I got into?
> >> Maybe I am looking at it all wrong.
> >> Phil
> >>
> >> --=20
> >>
> >> Philip Bader
> >> Jan Phyl TV Inc. (estab. 1976)
> >> 3420 Recker Hwy. Winter Haven, Fl. 33880
> >> Fax (863) 299-8821
> >> email: tjanphyl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> see our ad at:
> >>
> >
http://jan-phyl-television-pc-monitor-service.9601288257006.worldpages-ad=
> > s.c
> > om/
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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