Kelly's Korner - Small Appliances

Hey, All,

We all have small appliances in our homes - toasters, coffee makers, blenders, mixers, etc.  What happens when one of them quits working?

From the movie The Brave Little Toaster - my kids drove me nuts watching this!

We get a lot of calls here for parts for small appliances and with the exception of Kitchenaid products, we don't carry any parts.

So what do you do?  Your best bet is to contact the manufacturer of the product.  Your small appliance should have the name of the manufacturer and the same model/serial tag that your large appliances have and sometimes even a phone number to contact the company.

If you have no contact info on the machine, jump on the internet and search for the company.  Contact them; they can either direct you to someone in your area that repairs small appliances or they may be able to help you right then and send you the part you need.

But, as with all repairs, look at the cost of the repair vs replacing it.  Why buy a replacement coffee carafe for $15 when you can replace the whole thing for $9.99?  (and if you can't function in the morning without coffee then you are stopping at the store to replace it anyway, right?)  And let's face it - we are in a throw away society and many of the small appliances are not meant to be repaired or replaced.  I've seen microwaves and small refrigerators that way.

Also, please be conscience of the environmental impact of the appliance you are discarding and contact your waste management company for the best way to dispose of it.

And as with anything, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for operations and cleaning to have your appliances, whether large or small, keep working correctly.  Now I'm going to get another cup of coffee and you all....

Have a wonderful week!

Three Types of Repair Companies

(Flickr user 401K 2012/CC)

How is your business doing? Are you happy with your current level of success? Would you like to to be more profitable?

We want you to succeed. In fact, your success is vital to our own. From this side of the counter we often see businesses in one of three stages: growing, holding on, or falling behind. We also see a lot of the same factors helping determine where a company might fall in that spectrum. Lets looks a little closer.

Growing. Even during the height of the economic downturn. some appliance repair companies managed to grow and expand. While each of those companies have their own style and approach to service, they also have a lot in common. Most of them are aware of how the Internet has changed marketing and have adjusted accordingly. They did not do this without help. Many of them also utilized training offered by the United Servicer Association. These companies also make time to keep up with new products and attend product training whenever it is available.

Holding On. The companies that we see holding on are not expanding their businesses. Occasionally they will take advantage of training opportunities if they are convenient enough to attend. These companies may need more training in Internet marketing. Sometimes they are learning new products on the job, wasting valuable time in the process.  They might also be losing time by not keeping a big enough inventory of parts on hand, resulting in return trips that cost both time and vehicle expenses. Not everyone that is just holding on is lacking in skills, though. Sometimes retirement is close by and they have no exit plan. They are willing to go out of business when they retire, leaving them with no desire or need to grow their business.

Falling behind. Sadly, we see some companies falling a little farther behind each year. These are the toughest cases to watch. Often these companies declined opportunities for further skills, either mechanically or digitally. They tend to blame the economy. Many times there is an avoidance of anything resembling a computer. By avoiding jobs involving computer boards, and pinning their hopes on the phone book ads that used to work so well, they find themselves with fewer and fewer jobs. These are the people that need to hear what the successful companies are doing. Unfortunately, they are the same people who will probably never even see this post.

If you want to be one of those "growing" companies, it is up to you to keep your skills up to date. To help you achieve that goal, W.L. May will be sponsoring and attending the ASTI (Appliance Service Training Institute). The event will be held in New Orleans, LA from Feb. 8-12th. Classes will be offered not only on product training, but also on business and Internet marketing. We hope we see you there!

For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Repair Or Replace?

(Flickr user Angel Arcones/CC)

A frequent question consumers have when dealing with a broken appliance is whether to repair or replace the appliance. It can be a big decision.

A frequent rule of thumb is if the repair exceeds the more than half of the cost of a replacement, then you should repair it. That's not bad advice and actually can be a pretty decent rule of thumb; Before you cancel that service call and go running off to find a new appliance you may want consider a few other factors.

Let's talk about that "cost of replacement". These days manufacturers offer a wide variety of appliances to meet a spectrum of price points. What that means is that many repairs will exceed half of the cost of a lower end appliance. There is a good chance that what you are looking at replacing is a better, more feature rich unit than the low end "price busters" you might have seen in some ads.

Make sure, when you are thinking of those ads that you saw, that the machine being sold is as good as what you have. If not you will probably be buying a more expensive appliance from your appliance dealer. That higher priced appliance is the true replacement cost, not the low end unit that would not meet your needs or standards,

Also do not forget to take into account delivery charges, installation charges and any expenses that might be involved with getting rid of your broken appliance. As you can see, that "cheap ad" that you saw suddenly becomes a bit pricier.

Besides the question of replacement cost, I might consider the nature of the repair. For example. if the appliance is in great shape, but a fairly expensive switch needed to be replacement, That might be worth doing. On the other hand an inexpensive repair may be a symptom of a more expensive item beginning to fail. This is where hiring a trained, professional service technician can help you make an educated choice.

Nobody likes having a broken appliance and facing the repair/replace dilemma. If you are facing that choice, we hope we have helped sort out the decision for you. If you opt to replace your appliance, we wish you years of trouble free operation. If repairing the appliance is the better choice. we are here to help with the parts and supplies to do the job.

For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Kelly's Korner - A Flirt with Disaster

Hey, All,

Well, I am on vacation this week and next but had to leave something for you all to chuckle over.

So, I get home the other night and my #2 son says, "Mom, we don't have any hot water."

W T ?!?!?!?!?  I had plenty of hot water for my shower that morning - omg, it's Christmas and I can't afford any extra bills - which of my techs can I call for help - AARRRGGGHHH!!!  All this is running through my head in pure panic mode but, because I am the epitome of cool (yeah, right!),  I go turn on the hot water in the tub - yup, nothing but cold water.  So I go into the laundry room where the hot water heater is - looks ok - nothing leaking or burning (electric heater and less that 5 years old).  Luckily, the breakers for the heater and the dryer are right on the wall beside the heater (note:  mark breakers for what they go to - it really makes life easier) so I flipped that.

Eeeh, not really hearing anything....wait!!  Working in this business has taught me a thing or two and even though W L May does not do much with water heaters - in the very back of my brain, I seem to remember that there is a reset button on heaters.  So I grab my handy dandy Phillips screwdriver and take off the top plate and voile!  There is a button!  And I push that button!  And I hear faint noises of the heater elements heating up! And I am dancing for joy!  But I need to wait a bit for the water to heat to see if it is working.

So I spend the next hour watching TV, crocheting and checking the clock every two seconds.  After an hour I go into the bathroom and turn the tub faucet on praying.....Yahoo!  The water is getting warm!  Happy dances all around and Mom has saved the day once again!  And taught my boys if it happens again to fix it themselves.

A note to all - if you run into a situation like this and the things I did don't work - STOP!  Call a plumber.  Especially if you have a gas heater - gas scares me and luckily only my furnace is gas and I have Patrick to help me with that.  But there may be other issues that need to be dealt with so call a professional.

Have a wonderful and warm Holiday!

Kelly's Korner - How to Find a Good Appliance Repair Company

Hey, All,

So you go to put a load of clothes in your washer, load up the clothes, add detergent and turn it on and NOTHING!!  Or you go to pull a pint of ice cream out of the freezer and everything is melted or defrosted.  What do you do?

Do you try to fix it yourself?  Call Mr Fixit next door?  Or call a professional appliance repair company?  If you are sure of your repair abilities and/or of your personal Mr Fixit, then fine, but what do you do if it's beyond your abilities?  Yellow pages?  Google?

Your best sources would be friends and neighbors - check to see who they use. They will give you an honest opinion on the experiences they've had.  Angie's List is another.  If you use Google, Yahoo, or the Yellow Pages, it is buyer beware!  Do some thorough checking on a company before you call them.  It is probably a good idea to do this in a non-emergency situation so you are not panicked when an appliance does break down.

Creative Commons license on image.

Some questions to have answered are:

• Do they take debit/credit cards?
• Ask questions about their charging system - do they charge a service call no matter what?  What is the total amount of the repair going to be?
• If they have to come back to finish the repair, is that going to be an additional charge?
• How long have they been in business?
• Are they insured in case something gets broken or damaged?
• What is their guarantee on parts and labor?
• Ask for references
• What kind of training have the techs had - are they factory authorized to work on your appliances?

I did a previous blog about questions that a servicer needs to ask, so take a quick look at that and have all the information ready when you call - it saves a lot of time on both ends.  Also, make sure that the area that the tech is going to be working in is clean and cleared out - he more than likely will have to move the appliance out to work on it.

Having a good appliance repair company on call is a great idea - not only will they come out for the emergencies but will recommended preventative maintenance calls and products to help your machines run better - cleaners, filters, etc.

Have a great week!

Kelly's Korner - When to replace an appliance

Hey, All,

I get a lot of calls from consumers about replacing appliances.  Whether remodeling and replacing all your appliances or you have one that has quit working, there are several factors to consider when you are thinking about replacing an appliance.

First of all, how much is repairing the appliance going to cost you compared to buying a new one?  There is a good article in Consumer Reports about the factors to consider.  But the basic rule of thumb is;  if the repair costs are over 50% of the cost of a new one, then replace.

Creative Commons license on image.

So you are looking for a new appliance?  What do you buy?  Are you brand driven?  Just looking at cost?  Or do you want all the bells and whistles?  What about repairs?  What is the warranty on what you are looking at?  Do the servicers in your area even work on the brand you are looking at?

With the influx of brands that are made outside the USA, there are a lot of servicers that won't work on them.  And getting someone out to your place to do any work and the availability of those parts might be more than you are willing to wait for.  Does the store you are buying the appliance from do service work?  Many of the "big box" stores do not - once it's out the door it's your problem.

So do your homework before you trot down to your local store to pick a new appliance.  Web crawl and get all the info on the brand(s) you are looking at.  Consumer Reports is a good source.  Also, if you have a favorite servicer, call and ask their opinion.  Better to be armed with information about the appliance you are buying than get surprised if you have issues with it.

Have a great week!

Friday Morning Videos: Robert DIY Changes A Direct Drive Coupler

Here is a video on how to replace a direct drive coupler on Whirlpool/Kenmore washers. Basic stuff to you pros working in the field, we know. We hope this video will be helpful for sharing with any do-it-yourself folks you may be trying to help, or perhaps for showing to a rookie appliance repair person who is in training.

For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

The Repairman (With Apologies To Edgar Allen Poe)

Creative Commons license on image.

Once I was driving in traffic dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of service calls before.

While I nodded, nearly sleeping, suddenly there came a dinging,

As of my cell phone gently ringing, ringing with another chore.

"Tis some customer," I muttered, "or a dispatch from my store -

Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in that bleak October,

And the rain would keep on falling in a drippy wet downpour.

Eagerly I wished to fix things - plainly I had studied wirings

From my books of technical training - training so I knew the score.

I knew all about all the appliances in any showroom floor -

Nameless here forevermore.

And the sad uncertain questions when I would do repairs

Thrilled me - making me the hero like never felt before.

So that now, when asked what was wrong, I explained

"Tis just a a leaky seal on you refrigerator door -

Some warm air seeping into the refrigerator door -

This it is, and nothing more."

Presently I checked my stock; hesitating I stared in shock,

"Sir," said I, "and Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I am out of stock, I've double checked whats in my truck,

And so little is the air thats leaking, leaking at your refrigerator door,

And in order to make sure, I checked all around your refrigerator door; -

A tiny leak there, and nothing more.

Fearing I would be sent packing, because the needed part was lacking,

I calmly told the customer I would call up the parts store;

I assured my client all would be ok, because I deal with W.L. May,

The customer said the web they would explore,

Because they thought they'd seen a bargain online before

Merely this and nothing more.

Firing up the google searching, all over the internet they were lurching,

They said "I found it on some online site."

"Are you sure," said I, "what if they don't get it it right?

Let me see then, what page that is, and this mystery explore -

Whos is selling you the part? Is it coming from off shore?"

They said "What could go wrong? It's fine, I'm sure."

I had not even shared the price, but my clients no longer seemed so nice,

"We'll just get the part" they said, "then you can put it on the door".

I knew delivery time was longer, though they "just knew" that I was wronger

"W.L.May could have it to you tommorrow I did implore-

They stock all the parts for your refrigerator door"

They said "we will get it ourselves", and nothing more.

At first it looked like everything would work out well,

After just 10 days later, they called up my store,

Finally the part came in, Can you come out to put it in?

We scheduled the call to come do the chore -

Installing a gasket on their refrigerators door

Quoth the customer "I sure did score!"'

As I got there I looked a what they'd been sent,

It was so wrong that my jaw hit the floor;

I was used to W.L. May getting it right, but this time it was a different sight,

I opened the box that should have had a gasket for the door-

It looked like a part, but not for a door,

As into the packaging I tore

But the part, sitting lonely on the kitchen tile, was only

A washer pump, and not a seal for a refrigerator door.

Frustrated I grumbled - that website had fumbled -

This part is for a washer, I'd seen plenty before -

This isn't even close to a gasket for a door

Now how in the world could I do the chore?

Calling the customer, I stated dialing my phone,

I told them I was there ready to fix the door,

I'd have it done faster, but this order is a disaster

I'm up a creek without an oar -

You were sent a pump by that online store!

At that my client started to roar!

It was a problem that needed some fixing,

I knew I could count on my favorite part store;

I got on the phone with W.L. May, My part was in hand the very next day!

Happy I was dealing with such a good part store -

I hustled over to my clients house and I fixed that door

My customers were happy with me once more.

There's a more to tell, because it didn't end well.

When my customers emailed that online part store ;

They were promised a credit to make it all right, in 6 months it came-they were lucky alright!

Their trust had been shaken right down to the core,

In online sites that are run from off shore,

The customer said "We won't use them no more!"

With that I remembered the way, that my life was made easier by W.L. May

When I needed research help they did the chore.

They help so much I know I'm not on my own.

I get what I need very quickly and more,

They help me succeed on the road, in the store - 

I'm always prepared at the customers door.

Reviewing my options for parts and supplies

I've seen on the internet lots of parts stores,

They promise the moon the sun and the stars-

But then I remember the gasket for the door

The errors they made, and the customers roar,

Quoth this repairman, `Nevermore.'