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Offering information and fun for the appliance repair industry and interested do-it-yourselfers since 2013.

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Phone: 1-800-377-8881
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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Wayback Machine Wednesday

In the 20 years years, I have been the appliance trade I have seen a lot of changes. To those of you have been doing this for what may seem like forever, we salute you! Here is a short stroll down memory lane.

Creative Commons license on image.
You know you are an old timer when...

  • You remember when W.L. May was located on the park blocks in downtown Portland.
  • You did research, it meant using film cards and quick books, not computers.
  • You have serviced a GE clam shell timer.
  • You had the borrow the customers phone if you needed to make a call from the field.
  • You know what a wigwag is and have replaced a lot of them.
  • You remember having to give a model number when ordering parts for Whirlpool warranty, and they would be shipped to you at no charge,
  • You remember the days before computer boards in appliances.
  • You have worked on a wringer washer and had no trouble finding parts.
  • You knew that the parts numbers for a washer would start with a 2 from Maytag, a 2 or 3 from Whirlpool, or a WH from GE.
  • You could do sealed system repair without the licensing by the EPA. 
  • You remember when Roy and Chuck were rookies.
  • You remember when Frigidaire started adding a 5300 to the beginning of their part numbers.
  • Your first service van now qualifies as a classic car.
What else can you remember about the "good old days"? Tell us about it in the comments.

2 comments:

  1. No ebay with customers looking on line during repair and saying that part cost ??? and you are doing the job for WHAT!! Or I bought my part off the internet can you tell me how to install? Or I bought the wrong part off the internet will you buy it from me they will not take it back.

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    Replies
    1. It was easier then, that's for sure. A lot of service companies have addressed that problem by instituting flat rate pricing. By using one price for the completed repair, questions about specific parts prices as well as time to do job are both minimized.

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