Laundry Appliance Servicemen Of Old - Was It Ever A Good Living?

[launderess]

One sees all sorts of print and television media showing smiling, capable, clean and well dressed service men showing up to install or service laundry and other appliances. One wonders if doing such work was ever a good living?









Merely require information. From what one understands Miele and other places are having difficult time sourcing and keeping qualified installation and service persons.

 

[goatfarmer]

My dad worked on appliances, from before I was born, up into the 90's. He made a decent living, raised 4 of us kids, with mom only working in his business answering the phones.

 

 

[repairguy]

I believe a lot of the service positions made a decent living before the internet and big box stores when folks were still interested in supporting local businesses that provided great customer service. When several big box stores moved into the area in the early nineties multiple mom and pop shops disappeared from hardware stores that sold appliances to appliance stores themselves. It’s unfortunate that the days of those businesses are gone never to return. I worked for a GE dealer from 2000-2005. He had to sell factory scratch and dent appliances to try to remain in business and closed the doors in 2008 I believe. They had been in business since 1976 if I remember correctly.

 

[frigilux]

We had an appliance serviceman named Leroy when I was a kid—1960s through mid-‘70s—who owned his own business and serviced all brands. All of our appliances were from Sears. The biggest difference is that it used to be more cost effective to repair rather than replace things like televisions, radios, toasters, coffeemakers, mixers, etc. These days the cost of a service call to make a diagnosis is crazy expensive. By the time one pays for the diagnostic service call, then purchasing parts and paying for another service call plus labor, it’s easier to just buy a new appliance. Times have changed.

 

[launderess]

If our local appliance repair man sounded and looked like one in that Tide commercial it would be worth cost of call out just to drool at the man.

 

[foraloysius]

But he’s married. lol

 

[launderess]

One did say "drool at", not actually lay hands upon.

 

[foraloysius]

I know, just a little harmless teasing from my side. I have “drooled” enough in my life. ;-)

 

[combo52]

Having Worked in the Appliance industry for over 50 years

And I have known many dozens of repair technicians and small appliance dealer owners. I can’t think of a single one that didn’t do well financially in the long run.

This is not a particularly dangerous profession and you meet a lot of wonderful people. It’s an excellent profession for women as well, as it doesn’t require great physical strength.

My younger brother and I have both done very well financially and certainly live very convenient lives never subject to layoffs having to move for a job, etc. you really can call your own shots in this business.

Would do it all again , John

 

[kenwashesmonday]

My dad had a good 30+ year career as a GE appliance technician. By the time I was of age circa 1980, Jack Welch was in the process of destroying the business and it was all over.

 

[qsd-dan]

clean and well dressed service men

Probably was the like that until the hippie generation, around the mid 1960's.

 

[kenmoreman]

Appliance repair Job

I worked for Sears Roebuck back in the good days in the 70s when you could make a very good salary and we were treated well. I was able to raise two children as a single parent and we were quite satisfied life style . It was an honest profession.

 

[launderess]

Not for nothing big spender husband of wife in that Tide commercial couldn't splash out and get a GE dryer as well? Wonder what his MIL had to say about that! *LOL*

 

[askolover]

I would do it if i could make a decent living at it these days but it's all disposable now. It would have to pay VERY well to compare to my nursing salary though...

 

[kalanikaau1]

Respect...

As a boomer I remember regarding the TV repair person as a wizard, like most households in the '50-'60's we owned just one television, an ancient 19" inch black/white Zenith until it was determined that it was completely irreparable.
At times the entire chassis had to be removed for shop repairs, the repair person was gracious enough to leave us a loaner set, more often than not a tiny 13 inch set.
The entire family pined for the Zenith's return as it was the only source of audio/visual entertainment back then.
The Zenith was replaced with a Packard-Bell color set, a very expensive investment back then, along the lines of a new car.
As with all kids back then, this gave me bragging rights in the neighborhood, I believe that we were the first on the block to own a color set...

 

[kalanikaau1]

Reply # 10

Ah yes, the ubiquitous Sears-Roebuck store, we had a rather large one here in Honolulu during the late '50's.
It was the only American institution I can remember where Mom would shop for new school clothes for us kids, while Dad watched a football game in the appliances section as our faithful '52 Ranch Wagon was shod with new tires, all under one roof.

 

[wishwash]

I was just wondering about this yesterday... My newer machine gave up. It's the marked-up part cost and the added labor that makes service and repair so infeasible. I don't think the repairman makes a decent living anymore. The hourly cost has so much business overhead wrapped in.

I try to repair things myself, when I can, rather than throw them out.

 

[qsd-dan]

I don't think the repairman makes a decent living anymo

Not sure about that. It's $100+ just to show up at your door now.

There's a 3rd generation appliance repairmen on YouTube that talks about a company in his area who goes around condemning appliances most of the time. Think about it, 10 calls a day at $100 a pop of a condemning appliances without picking up a single tool is $1000 in your pocket...daily. That adds up, quickly!

 

[combo52]

It has been a very successful and rewarding career

While true our service call to get us into a house and make an accurate diagnosis is nearly $100. We only condemn about one and 10 appliances at best. The others get fixed.

It’s a whole lot cheaper to pay $100 than even consider replacing any major appliance today.

While repair costs have certainly gone up with automobiles and appliances alike or just about anything you need to have repaired around your house, we’re not gonna stop living in houses, driving cars or buying appliances and using them.

Appliance Reliability is much better than it has ever been. You’re much less likely to need an appliance repair person very often, but if you’d like nice appliances, nice cars, nice house there are expenses, fortunately income has gone up so much of this country. It’s not that hard to afford these things if you’re smart about it.

John