Author Topic: Want to go from part time to full time in appliance repair (Read 5010 times)

mike k · « **on:** September 08, 2011, 09:04:27 AM »

Hi All,

I have been running a part time appliance repair business for about a 1 1/2 years and would like to jump up to a full time status.

Looking for some advice as far as getting the phone to ring more.

Thank You!

Mike

AJ · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2011, 06:14:17 PM »

Hi Mike,

Are you doing any type of advertising now?

mike k · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2011, 07:47:39 PM »

Yes, Have an ad in the local phone book and an ad on google places (the free one).

AJ · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2011, 08:01:31 PM »

Does anyone even use a phone book anymore, lol..

Google places is good. I get calls from all over the country from warranty places that find me online that way.

I use magnetic business cards, lettering on truck. I don't place ads in the paper anymore like I use to.
I have worked the same area for years and get a lot repeat customers or new work from word of mouth.

I think having a website for any type business is good too.

JWWebster · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2011, 08:05:33 PM »

Do you have a steady job now?
Word of mouth is the best advertising you could get so when you do a repair talk up yourself and pass out a coupon like if ya get me a cust I will take %? off my next visit.

MajorApp · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2011, 12:37:43 AM »

You have to get in the yellow pages. Most people still use it. Thats where most of my calls come from. Dex or Yellowbook. Also, I recently got calls from the catholic and lutheran church bulletin advertising dept. in my area. I bought an ad in both, $135 per year each.

wildimaginations · « **Reply #6 on:** September 09, 2011, 06:48:33 AM »

Check out the major appliance retailers and find out who the 3rd party extended warranty companies are. Sign up with them. They don't pay as well but you will get calls. Another place the check out is the Home Warranty companies through the realtors. They will refer calls to you when they have a problem with certain appliances. After each of those calls are completed, tell the customer to give you a positive review on either Yahoo Yellow Pages or Yelp.com or Angie's List.com. People nowadays look up businesses on the net to see the reviews of each company to see if they're good at what they do.

It will take time but if you get a lot of positive reviews, you'll start to get more calls than you can handle.

MajorApp · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2011, 02:24:04 PM »

If you want to waste your time with warranty companies, good luck. Buy lots of Ramen noodles.

AJ · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2011, 02:34:47 PM »

Quote from: MajorApp on September 09, 2011, 02:24:04 PM

If you want to waste your time with warranty companies, good luck. Buy lots of Ramen noodles.

I get calls for warranty work, but I have yet to take one of them jobs.

If I was looking for work it maybe a different story, but I have enough to do the way it is.

mike k · « **Reply #9 on:** September 09, 2011, 03:07:27 PM »

Wow! great info

Yes JW I have a job, but woudnt call it steady.
Going to make this happen one way or the other

Thanks Everyone! Greatly appreciated

Mike

mike k · « **Reply #10 on:** September 22, 2011, 07:34:00 AM »

I did do some warranty work a couple months ago. They don't pay so well. Oh ya thats right I didnt get paid, they completely blew me off. Bad experience with that one

AJ · « **Reply #11 on:** September 22, 2011, 07:45:41 AM »

Quote from: mike k on September 22, 2011, 07:34:00 AM

I did do some warranty work a couple months ago. They don't pay so well. Oh ya thats right I didnt get paid, they completely blew me off. Bad experience with that one

Care to share the name of the warranty company with the rest of us?

mike k · « **Reply #12 on:** September 22, 2011, 08:44:01 PM »

Service Right USA

Brent@CanBC · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2011, 03:59:37 AM »

Hi Mike K. When I did warrantee work from any of the big wigs, I had a vender number here in Canada, and say its the Brick, or Sears, or Whirlpool. They would fax me a "authorization" for service, with their letter head, plus all the info, and address, phone number, all the info to carry out the call. That "authorization" is legal. They have to pay. Also, I fax'd them my business practice, charges, labour, mileage, taxes, and payment dates.

At first they just wanted me to go and do the call and get their customer fixed, then deal with them and payment. Not me. You do a check on them, and find out if they are worthy of your services. I got paid on or before the due date, or I took them to court, as I had all the info in the fax from them.

My agreement with them, was if they wanted me fast, then they had to pay fast. if not, they lost me. Things did work out for the 1st few times, then the payment dates fell behind. In my business reciepts, it had 3 different dates and times, and pricing. Meaning if I was paid on the 1st date, they paid 60.00 per that call. If they paid say a month down the road, they paid the 90.00, and the third was 120.00

Over time, and court they dropped me, as at that time, if they were wrong, they had to pay my costs also. Now in todays time, it doesn't work like that, I would have to pay my cost, and they pay their costs. So, I don't do them anymore. Am total indepent from all that.

If you don't cover your business, then obviously, they will be running your business for you. So not a good deal.

If you have invoicing with your required info on payment and your pricing etc, and it goes to court, and they have sent you a "authorization" fax'd, you have no problems getting paid, and on time. If you just take the call and all is ok, how long will it be ok.

Independent service is the only way to go. There will be some, that will not agree. Brent@CanBC

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