mel jacobson on fri 14 dec 07
i just want things fair.
repair parts have gotten out of hand.
check and double check...esp electronic repair
parts.
here is a real story: (second telling)
my daughters furnace at the farm...brand new mind you,
stopped working...-20 for a week. i went up and the
house was frozen. toilets had solid ice.
i called a local furnace guy. started a slow warm up of the house
with electric heaters...he installed a new electronic igniter.
cost $468.51. part was $250.00.
all working fine.
house was saved..no damage.
at the pool last december, and a guy said to me...`man,
i just had an igniter put in my new furnace...and before he
could finish i said...`$500`...`wow, how did you know?``
hmmm,
so, i went to midwest electronic supply. asked the guy
the price of a honeywell/3562 igniter. `hmmm, lets see,
igniter...hmmm, around twenty bucks.` depends on the model.
now, this install is: remove two sheet metal screws, pull out the
igniter, unhook a four wire bundle, remove. slide in new
igniter, add wire bundle, screw in two sheet metal screws...
start furnace.
and, i know you have to be able to diagnose the problem...but
hey, even david hendley could figure this out.
(when david is cold he throws a log in his stove.)
my friend virgil and me each purchased a replacement igniter.
next time...we are ready.
mine was around 35 bucks. virgil's was $12.95. of course, mine
was honeywell. his was chinese/odd brand. (but, looking closely, mine
was chinese too...just a honeywell label.)
so...lessons learned.
those little circuit boards for many appliances cost about 3 bucks
wholesale. they charge hundreds for them.
so.
i just want it fair.
we do have a mystique over electronic parts.
it is like voodoo. so. watch out. check prices first.
take your time. my friend in phoenix had a virus taken off his
computer...i saw the billing...$396.00. tune up.
god, anyone of you could have fixed it in 15 minutes.
( and i know the guy just messed with the start up/config
and got rid of about 80 things running on start up.) did some
delete internet stuff/cookies/defrag...and the machine runs 80 times faster.)
my friend said...`man, that guy is cheap...and look what he did for me.`
hmmm, to each his own.
if you do not know anything about modern times...the scam is
out there to get you...don't even talk about cars.
mel
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
Ted Neal on fri 14 dec 07
Mel
Knowledge is power...(and $$)...and if you dont know you will pay through the nose
I had mine go out in the middle of a -10 northern utah night.
Having a little kiln experience helped me track it down
to the igniter....(as the tip crumbled in my hand I figured it was the problem.)
I called the repair guy and told him what was wrong...and gladly paid him $75 to put one in.
(It was a Sunday... so the premium paid for the ignitor that he had on hand was worth not having
frozen pipes.)
Had I not tinkered with it and found the issue myself, I know there would have been significant
"diagnostic" charges etc.
I don't want to make sweeping generalizations, but many people just don't know how
to tinker and fix things anymore. My Dad was like McGuyver (sp?) he could fix anything with what
he had on hand. I always admired that... Everything is 'disposable' these days.....
Ted Neal
Ric Swenson on fri 14 dec 07
Mel,
=20
Embarrassed to even mention this, but I first/best/worst introduction to el=
ectric repair guys was in my first home in Anchorage in 1972. It was an ol=
d house by Alaska standards. Post WW-II insulated with old army blankets in=
some walls. Built in sections, over time on concrete blocks that sat on th=
e ground. You get the idea. =20
=20
So anyway the previous owners left the washer and dryer with the house and =
after a few months the washer stopped working. I fiddled with the knobs and=
after a bit of fussing, I called the local appliance store for a service c=
all. $40. minimum. (Alaska prices!) The guy came in, scratched his head ..=
.. then his ass...then he unplugged the machine, wiped the prongs of the pl=
ug on his work rag...and plugged it back in.=20
=20
Shazzzam!=20
=20
Goodbye $40.00 and hello blushing customer...Since then a little wiser and =
careful about first checking for the obvious before engaging the services o=
f "an expert".
=20
It hurts to tell that story...even now....but maybe it can help someone lea=
rn?
=20
Ric
=20
=20
_________________________________________________________________
The best games are on Xbox 360. Click here for a special offer on an Xbox =
360 Console.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/wheretobuy/=
Tom at Hutchtel.net on sun 16 dec 07
>>From: "mel jacobson"
Subject: the price of repair electronics
> repair parts have gotten out of hand.
> check and double check...esp electronic repair
> parts.
>
Several years ago there was discussion on the list about replacing the
continuous switches used on many electric kilns. These things are notorious
for burning out. Go to the kiln manufacturer, $35 or $40.
It was either David H or Vince P who suggested going to your local appliance
supply place and get an appropriate (voltage and wattage) electric stove
switch. I did, repairs have cut by 3/4 and the switches cost less than $20
a shot.
Tom Wirt
New hip working great!
George Dymesich on mon 17 dec 07
Hi Lee, Merry Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year.George
On Dec 17, 2007, at 5:40 PM, Lee Love wrote:
> iPod batteries are notoriously expensive.
>
> My mp3 players all take AAA or AA batteries. I don't have to plug
> the player in when the batteries are dead, I just put in another
> rechargable and put the dead ones in the recharger.
>
>
> --
> Lee in Mashiko, Japan
> http://groups.google.com/group/ClayCraft
>
> "Men are born ignorant, not stupid. They are made stupid by
> education." -- Bertrand Russell
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change
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>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots2@visi.com
>
John Sankey on mon 17 dec 07
"Several years ago there was discussion on the list about
replacing the continuous switches used on many electric kilns.
These things are notorious for burning out. Go to the kiln
manufacturer, $35 or $40."
Olympic charges $20. Just got one.
--
Include 'Byrd' in the subject line of your reply
to get through my spam filter.
Lee Love on tue 18 dec 07
iPod batteries are notoriously expensive.
My mp3 players all take AAA or AA batteries. I don't have to plug
the player in when the batteries are dead, I just put in another
rechargable and put the dead ones in the recharger.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
http://groups.google.com/group/ClayCraft
"Men are born ignorant, not stupid. They are made stupid by
education." -- Bertrand Russell
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