How much common are cheating technicians?

[kenmoreguy89]

Well, I think it is a nice question.....have you ever discovered a technician, or do you know at least how common is, or maybe, did you have any personal experiences about appliance service men to take advantage of the situation by claiming or pretending to fix what does not need to be fixed to get more $?
Here is a link of an italian broadcast of 2006, of course it's in iatlian and language is hard to understand but I think the video gives the sense....
This guy impersonate an old senile invalid man, living with his wife, he will disconnect the wires of the pump of this FL Indesit washer and so will call some technicians looking at how many will be the frauding ones with an hidden camera.
The first one all okay, is honest and immediately fix the problem stating the problem was the wire that disconnected.
The second one also.
The third one indeed tries to ask if they would consider a pump change by claiming that it became "old" and loose (it was a new pump changed before the broadcast).
The fourth one find a "ploy" of a 2 cents coin which finished in the pump taking it out of his pocket, to ask more $, he does not even want to be paid after he is discovered. LOL
The fifth one indeed is a thief in the true sense of the meaning!!! Not only say the machine had an electric card "blocked"? and so changed but also tries to steal from the bag of the lady omce she is away!!!
I let to you the comments:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5801014829175901102

 

[wayupnorth]

I am sure there are the bad ones

It doesnt seem to matter if it is an appliance or even automotive tech, they are VERY well trained to bleed every dime out of a customer, mainely by a national company. I have had the best luck with the independent "Honest Joes" that are honest, because they were brought up that way and refuse to screw their customers. And thats how they get the repeat business because more satisfied customers refer them.

 

[gus]

Federico: mi ha piaciuto moltissimo ascoltare la bella lingua tua e anche mia. Mio Nonno era italiano. Going back to the international English, this situation is so common all over the world. In Uruguay it's common currency!. You know what I mean. Pleased to meet you, and to the rest of the guys here, don't blame me for the Italian language, it belongs to my youngest childhood . Gus
PS Federico il mio secondo cognome é Ciliberti.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Tim: Yes even automotive tech also are really of the most cheaters, but this is well known, the indipendent ones use to be more honest as you say for obvious reasons but even them in certain situations try to get too "smart", I think everyone have a trusted auto tech though... but usually for appliances you call the first one you can find on the yellow pages.....
I agree totally anyway you're right...
Thanks for your thoughts and opinions about it....
[this post was last edited: 8/12/2012-20:02]

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Gus I'm so happy you enjoyed hearing the language!
So your Granpa was italian? Not sure from where the Cilliberti surname come from, I think Tuscany? Sounds like a Tusacan Surname... Anyway glad you enjoyed it!
Yes I think it is common everywhere...some places more, some places less, when it comes to think at the figure of the repairman I think of it as the good natured "Maytag repairman" who was always in his office waiting for some work that never comes I've this image in my mind, of the helpful and kind men in overalls with the name stitched on their top pockets, that were so common in the past....unfortunately the actual reality of this modern world is so different and you've to be careful on who you trust......

 

[wayupnorth]

Freddy, you're right. It is hard to find a good independent, honest appliance tech anywhere. Fortunately there is a place close by that can find the right parts for me and is very reasonable. I have always tried to do my own appliance repair when they are out of warranty, but sometimes, it may be worth junking with the newer stuff and immediately replace, depending on cost if it is something you absolutely have to have and cant get by with for a while, like especially a refrigerator or stove. I wished I had kept the old Gibson refrigerator, just in case. In case my Maytag LA511 should develop a problem, I do have my grandmothers Maytag wringer to fall back on.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Yes Tim I'm like you with this, I totally understand and agree... I try fixing myself when out of warranty as well, and when I can't (only for the new appliances of course) sometimes calling a repairman isn't worth it, for 2 main reasons, one is the cost I would spend that would be near buying a new one, second is that with the new stuff you never know, they all on average feature a failure so early and so often, so today is the pump, tomorrow will be motor, the switch, the element, the door, compressor etc....I prefer buy a new one and have it under warranty.
Anyway I always buy "VTG" when I can and you always go sure with them on every aspect.

[this post was last edited: 8/12/2012-22:38]

 

[volvoguy87]

Ripoffs and such.

I work in an appliance parts store. I sell parts to most of the service technicians in town and of my regulars, there is little chance of being taken advantage of. There are some bottom-feeder techs (and I use the term "tech" loosely here) who are more likely to cause damage than to fix it and cost their customers more money, not because they are looking for a quick buck, but because of their own incompetence. These guys charge the least money and tend to feed on the lowest-income folks.

Some of the regular techs will cut corners by using generic parts in place of OEM parts (especially in the used-appliance refurbishment business). Most folks don't know the difference between an FSP part and an ERP or QB brand.

There are some repairs that should include some other parts but most techs won't go that far for fear of being accused of attempting to cheat their customers. An example of this is when a 29" Whirlpool dryer breaks a belt, most techs will replace the belt. Few will even mention to their customer that it might be a good idea to also replace the drum support rollers and idler pulley (it adds almost 5 minutes to the job and WP makes a kit for this very purpose (WP Part #4392065).

The crooks in the business are some of the repair company owners who are just bad businessmen who don't treat their techs well. Examples include limited or no training, scheduling the techs all over town in no order having to do with geography, and generally treating their own employees like garbage. Another hazard is that some of the largest service companies (Sears, A&E, etc.) so often have new techs with little or no experience and/or training in the field. As soon as they get experience, they often leave and go with a local company that might pay better.

Yes, there are dishonest techs out there and they do give a bad name to the good ones. In Cincinnati, however, most of the techs are pretty honest. If you need to know which techs are good, call your local appliance parts store (go for the factory authorized ones if you can) and ask who is good and who isn't. Most employees of those stores with at least a few months experience will tell you. It's sort of like car insurance. If you want to know which company is good, ask a reputable local body shop.

It's not an easy living,
Dave

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

"Cheating" as in "adjective" or "verb&#3

My app' repairman took apart my washer w/ me!

Showed me how to take out the old motor coupler (which cracked) & put in a new one, & prepared me for if & when the pump breaks & what to do if & when any of those array of dials on my control panel go bad!

Think what I'd paid was worth it for "my day in Appliance Repair School"!

-- Dave

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Good advice Dave! (Volvoguy87)

So Dave(Volvoguy87) you say that all people need is to call service parts asking for the good ones.....yep this is a good advice, most people would not even think of it, unfortunately most people does not even think that in this field you could esily be cheated, but this is a good advice...thank you!!!

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Verb Dave (DaveAMKrayoGuy), addicted to cheat customers.

Yep, but you know, they doesn't try to get "smart" with everyone, of course they do that on the occasion that allows it, for example elder people, or ladies that does not even know how a pump or an appliance is made inside, they could tell everything and that would be okay......so it is even difficult they would get caught by them.
If for example a repairman would come in my house he would immediately understand while talking and explaining the problem that I'm a "learned" person ot at least I know what's wrong with it, so of course he would not even try.....
Unfortunately some take advantage of the situations, sad thing most are even elder people as the video shows....