Happy Halloween!

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.'

Kelly's Korner - Happy Halloween!

To all my ghouls and ghosties,

Fall is definately in the air and it has been an absolutely gorgeous one!  The trees are so many different colours, the days sunny and nights have been crisp.  Very little rain here in the Portland area and the local pumpkin patches are doing a booming business.

Speaking of pumpkins, my baby sis is a HUGE pumpkin fan and I've been flooding her FB page and email with all kinds of recipes for all kinds of pumpkin goodies.  Personally, I can live without it - blech!  But I do have a very simple recipe for pumpkin cookies that even I like - and you can throw it together while you're cooking dinner and have fresh cookies for desert.



Creative Commons license on image.

Kelly's Super Simple Pumpkin Cookies

1 box spice cake mix
1 can pumpkin

Optional:

2 cups oatmeal and/or lots of raisins or chocolate chips or all three

Just mix together and drop on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes (time may vary due to different ovens and size of cookies.

You can't get much easier than this!  Hmmm, gonna have to stop at the store....YUM!

Have a spooktacular Halloween!

Monday Motivation

Friday Featured Clent: Scotts Trading Post

Name: 
Lelainia Walker

Company: 
Scotts Trading Post

Contact Info: 

3738 Main St

(NE corner of 37th & Main/next to GIANT BURGER)

Springfield, OR

ph: 541-746-1517

e-mail: scottstradingpost@hotmail.com 

Facebook: Scotts Trading Post

Where did you grow up:
Northern California/Portland Oregon area

How long in the trade:   
17 years

How long in your current company: 
New owner in the past 6 months (editors note: Congratulations and best wishes for success!)

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work: 
Camping, movies, and time with family

To what do you credit your success:   
The willingness to try and the helpful people around me.

What do you like about doing business with WL May: WL May is like family to me, I worked alongside of the best people in this industry for over 5 years & have continued to do business with them as an employee @ another shop here in the Springfield, Eugene area, before I bought Scotts Trading Post.  I will continue to do business with them.  They are my 1st go to supplier when I am in need!

Can you share one piece of advice for others in our industry: 
Stick to what you know, try not to go too far outside of your business model

Is there anything else you like to say:   
I am enjoying that I can be a part of a local economy & bring sensible service at a sensible price. I enjoy being able to provide top notch service & products at a reasonable price, realistic to anyone's expectations.


If you would like YOUR company profiled as a featured client send an email to: rob.m@wlmay.com

Appliance Tweets

This morning I was checking on Twitter for items related to the world of appliances. I found several things to share.

This first post is simply a declaration of appliance love:

You know your getting older when you love appliances! And I love my new dishwasher! ✨🍴
— αѕнℓєє ℓαωѕσи (@ashleelawson5) October 22, 2013

Then there is this tweet of a decidedly different nature:

Wife tried to show me how to do laundry before she left for work. I know how to do laundry, I just don't want to do laundry.
— A Man at a Desk (@guyinacubicle) October 22, 2013

Here is a tip I had not heard before:

Candles will burn longer and drip less if placed in the freezer a few hours before using.
— Facts Guide (@FactsGuide) October 18, 2013

There were several tips I had heard before, of course:

Clean the filter. If your dishwasher has a filter screen, clean it regularly. A clean appliance runs more efficiently.
— Busy Household (@BusyHousehold) October 19, 2013

Stinky Socks? Soak in color-safe bleach & detergent for about 15 min. Then place sock in the washer with chlorine or color-safe bleach.
— Inst of Home Science (@InstHomeScience) October 22, 2013

Want your clothes to dry faster in the dryer? Throw in a clean towel—it'll absorb extra water.
— Life Cheatings (@LifeCheates) October 22, 2013

Keep the lint filter clean in your dryer to maximize air circulation and energy efficiency. Keeping the lint filter clean also prevents fire
— Busy Household (@BusyHousehold) September 24, 2013

Don’t leave the refrigerator and oven doors open. Every time it’s opened, up to 30 percent of the air can escape #vegasgoesgreen
— City of Las Vegas (@CityOfLasVegas) October 12, 2013

And to close out this post, here is a tweet from a happy repair customer. We hope all of your customers feel this good about your work:

How much do I tip the washing machine repair man & how long do I hold our hug?
— lauren caltagirone (@MrsRupertPupkin) October 14, 2013

Appliance Cleaning Tips

Creative Commons license on image.

As we enter the holiday season, thoughts turn to good times, good eats, and homemade kitchen treats.We depend on the appliances in our kitchen to be there ready to serve us by safely storing and preserving our food, providing predictable even heat when cooking, and allowing us to clean up more efficiently so that we can spend more time with family and friends. With all that our appliances do for us, regular maintenance is the least we can do for them. Your appliances will last longer, your home will look nicer, and you repairman will have plenty of time to sleep in. Here are some suggestions the keep your appliances in top shape. When you are doing the cleaning be extra careful not to allow electronic controls to pick up moisture as that can lead to an expensive break down, which is what maintenance should be helping you avoid.

Refrigerator
* Clean the refrigerator door and drawer gaskets with a cloth soaked with warm water and dish detergent, and then dry them with a towel. Gaskets that get sticky with food can tear, which can be a surprisingly involved and expensive repair. Torn gaskets can also lead to other mechanical problems which can end up being costly.
* At least once a year, wash the drawers and racks in the refrigerator, and scrub the interior surfaces of the appliance with a solution of water and baking soda.
* Clean the condenser coils on the back or bottom of your refrigerator. These coils attract dust and when the get dirty they reduce the efficiency of your machine, causing it to work harder which leads to higher electrical bills. It also can lead to breakdowns which can be expensive as well. W.L. May stocks brushes created specifically for cleaning condenser coils, or the long attachment on your vacuum can also do the job.
* Wipe off cold containers before returning them to the refrigerator, says Whirlpool’s Institute of Kitchen Science. Wet containers require the unit to work harder to remove moisture from the air, and can also cause mold.
* If you have a stainless range, once again there are several products we stock to cleand the stainless steel. We also carry scratch repair kits that can help with the almost invetable scratching that can happen to stainless steel.

Dishwasher
* Check under the spray arm for a strainer filter that can be emptied and cleaned.
* Run a dishwasher cleaner through your dishwasher. There are several commercial products available that we stock at W.L.May and many home recipes for cleaners you could try as well. Regardless of how you do it, it should help eliminate mineral build ups and leave the interior of your dishwasher looking and smelling clean and germ free.
* As with your refrigerator and using the same techniques, clean the gaskets around the edge of the door.

Oven and Stove Top
* Wipe away spills right away, do not allow them to get baked onto the your range.
* Take advantage of the cleaning function on your oven, if it has one.
* If your oven lacks a cleaning cycle, a tip is to set a shallow pan of ammonia in the oven overnight. In the morning discard the ammonia, and wipe down oven with a damp cloth. Repeat as needed.
* As with your refrigerator, we have solutions available to help in cleaning stainless steel ranges.

Garbage Disposal
* Run the disposal when you send waste to it.It seems obvious, but sometimes people don't turn the disposal on right away. That waste can build up causing odor problems and increasing the workload the disposal will have when it finally gets turned on.
* Periodically run a half a lemon through the disposal. The citric acid in the lemon will help break down any lingering food particles and also will leave your disposal with a pleasant scent.

Microwave
*Combine a few cups of water with a squirt of lemon juice and heat until boiling in the microwave. You could alternately use a solution of vinegar and water or dish soap and water. The lemon juice in the steam cleans the inside of the appliance, letting you easily wipe away accumulated food.

Kelly's Korner - Post Party

Hey, All,

Well, if I do say so myself, we had an awesome anniversary party at all 4 of our branches last Friday.
Balloons, music, food, prizes and best of all, getting to visit with the people that came to help us celebrate!
Watch our Facebook page for more pics to be added this week!  https://www.facebook.com/wlmaycompany

Swag table from PDX

All the branches had a great time:

Sacramento: 

Boise:

Seattle:

   

We would also like to offer our congratulations to our grand prize winners:

In Boise: Wes Coe's Washer and Dryer, Boise ID
In Seattle: Affordable Appliance Repair, Lake Stevens, WA
In Sacramento: All Pro Appliance Service, Sacramento, CA
In Portland: Mr Appliance of SCC, Camas, WA

Thanks to all the branches and their people for putting on a great day.  My family for all their help.  My fabulous co-chair, Shannon, who did way more work on this than me.  Wesley May and George Thomas for the vision to start a business to help consumers with their appliance repair needs.  Shar Stuart for the terrific boss friend that she is.  And to all our W L May customers that have made the last 90 years a success!  Here's to the next 90!

Have a great week!

Motivation Monday

Ten Notable Firsts From 1923

1923 Ford Model T
Creative Commons license on image.

1.Time magazine founded. Still being published, Time has grown to have the largest circulation in the world for a weekly newsmagazine.

2.Hockey Night in Canada is first broadcast on the Toronto Star's private station CFCA, making the first hockey broadcast ever. Starting in 1931, the show became a weekly program that still airs on the CBC in Canada.

3.The Walt Disney Company was founded. The company still operates and is a leader in world wide entertainment.

4.Louis Armstrong makes his first recording, "Chimes Blues," with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. Armstrong would have a long and successful career that included a Grammy Lifetime Acheivment Award, inductions into the Grammy and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, and was even featured on a commemorative US Stamp.

5.Yankee Stadium opens its doors in the Bronx, NY. "The House That Ruth Built" continued until 2008, when a a new stadium was opened for the team. The original ball park was demolished in 2010.

6.The first 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race is held, and is won by André Lagache and René Léonard with 128 laps. The race is still held annually, in 2013 the Audi Sport Team Joest wom by covering 348 laps in the 24 hour period.

7.The Hollywood Sign is inaugurated in California (originally reading Hollywoodland). Now siply reading "Hollywood" the sign is as distinctive a landmark as you will find and is still an icon of Southern California.

8.Dometic releases the first commercially available absorption refrigerator in Sweden. In 1925 the company was purchased by Electrolux, still a major manufacturer of household appliances,

9.Vladimir K. Zworykin files his first patent (in the United States) for "television systems". It wasn't until the close of World War II that regular broadcasting led to their widespread adoption.

10.W.L. May Co. opens in Portland, OR, beginning 90 years of service to the appliance repair community. Today, W.L. May serves appliance repair companies all over the Western U.S., by providing OEM parts and supplies with a high level of customer service. The 90th Anniversary is being held today at all of our branches. We hope you can attend.

Throwback Thursday: News Recap October 17, 2014

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on Facebook, Twitter or Google+, you may not be getting the whole story. We use all of those social media outlets to share news stories that relate to our industry as well as appliance tips we have found from other sources. Here is a recap of some of the top stories we have seen lately. A lot has been happening so without further ado:

We start with a consumer friendly article we feel would be great for sharing:

• The Atlantic had a interesting (although admittedly somewhat biased) article about the history of refrigeration and how it has affected American refrigerator design. Link
• Houston Forward Times shared tips on loading the refrigerator to encourage healthy eating choices. Link

Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:

• The Cleveland Daily Banner reported on Whirlpool's move of their cooking products manufacturing facilities. Link 
• The Alliance to Save Energy Named Whirlpool Corporation Innovative Star Award Recipient for Smart Grid Home Appliances Link
• The Wall Street Journal reported that Whirlpool Corporation's Cleveland, TN, Facility Earned LEED Gold Certification Link
• Whirlpool made the news yet again by becoming an official sponsor of Homes For Our Troops. Link
• KB Homes announced their new builds will be featuring Whirlpools "smart appliances". Link
• Daily Finance reported on GE's plans to develope and utilize the "industrial internet". Link

We found several articles that might be of interest to those of you who love all thing appliances:

• Babble reported on new T-shirts Tide has come up with that have detergent built into them. Link
• Science Daily issued a disturbing and somewhat controversial report on dishwashers. Link
• With more and more appliances reaching Energy Star status, Lohud.com reported that the bar may be raising soon to qualify for listing in the program. Link
• WDRB.co, reported on a challenge GE is making to their property tax bill for Energy Park. Link
• Green Swag reported on a hand operated washing machine that wasn't particularly impressive. Link

Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:

• Web.Search.Social posted a popular article addressing how to deal with price-shopping customers who do not want to pay for service. Link
• Pulse 2.0 reported on a new partnership between Whirlpool and Google. Link
• No Jitter explained the importance of the Whirlpool/Google partnership to the IT world. Link
• CSO gave some excellent advice on helping manage multiple passwords online. Link

We shared a few sorrowful observations on the end of an appliances lifespan, which serve as a good reminder to how important an appliance can be in someones life:

• The Osborne Families blog shared the frustration of a broken appliance. This was a good reminder of what homeowners go through when their appliance dies. Link
• This article from The Los Angeles times also explores the feelings of loss for retiring appliance. Link

We close with a couple of fun stories:

• The Kitchn shared Tales from a Refrigerator Bag Lady as she cleans up her act. Link
• A report on Oregon woman that has pet Aardvarks living in her washing machine. Yes, you read that right. The article includes some pretty cute pictures. Link

W.L. May Wednesday: A Report From Our Branches

Today we are sharing with you a little bit about what's happening at our various branch stores. Thanks to Terri in Seattle and Mark in Sacramento for the reports.

News from Seattle…..
         
Congratulations to Seattle Home Appliance on their most recent growth. They picked up the old Jack Roberts building in Shoreline in 2010, then on to the old Sumner Appliance in 2011, the old Jack Roberts in Tacoma in 2012, and Conklin Appliance Lynnwood 2013.

Being a family owned business that values the local economy, they have kept as much in place as possible in the locations they acquire. Growing also means the need for more assistance inside the main store and Sid, the owner, has the knack for finding some of the best talent in the industry to combine with his already outstanding staff to make Seattle Home Appliance shine as a local force in the appliance industry.

News from Sacramento...

The Sacramento branch has been doing some cleaning in the warehouse. It is funny how so many things can accumulate. From damaged/mispacked parts from the manufacturers to warranty parts that we must hold onto for a certain amount of time. Then you have the RTV (return to vendor) parts, like cores and defective items. WOW! We are clearing this area just in case the weather becomes difficult. Winter is coming!

We all are really excited about the 90th anniversary this Friday and the Regional Servicers Meeting at the end of the month and hope we have a full house. Come one come all! 

News from Boise...

Boise has been busy in preparing for the W.L. May Anniversary party on October 18 as well as the upcoming Regional Service Meeting Of The United Servicer's Association on November 7 & 8.

Kelly's Korner - Paaar-Tay!

Hey, All!

Well, Shannon and I have been very busy planning and getting things ready for the W L May 90th Birthday Party this coming Friday, October 18.  Having just a month to get a plan, stuff ordered and sent out to the branches AND still working our full 8 hours has been an excercise in getting 12 hours of work into 8 lol! 

We will be having balloons, barbeque burgers and prizes, plus a bunch of other fun stuff.  So be sure to stop by, grab a burger and celebrate with us!

 

Have a great week!

 

Monday Motivation: Happy Columbus Day!

Fun Friday: Appliance Night Out Video

What do appliances do for fun? We hope it isn't this.

Thoughtful Thursday: GE Numbering Systems

GE is an unusual company-but not in a bad way. Founded by Thomas Edison, GE has a long tradition of doing things their own way. I remember once being told by an old-timer in the industry: "There is the right way, the wrong way, and the GE way." The system they use for numbering parts is unique to them as well, but it is quite rational. That would be another part of the Edison legacy.

GE is consistent with the style of part number they use. Their numbers use a combination of letters and numbers with the letters being more prevalent than most other brands. For example, all GE appliance parts will start with the letter "W", unless those parts are packaged for display as a retail item. Those retail items start with the letters "PM" for Parts Master, their retail product program. The second letter used indicates the type of appliance the part is used on. So, on a GE model:

• WB is used for cooking equipment such as ranges, microwaves and range hoods. B for baking.
• WR is used for refrigerators and freezers. R for refrigeration.
• WD is used for dishwashers. D for dishwashers.
• WC is used for Trash Compacters. C for compacter.
• WH is used for washers. H is for home laundry.
• WE is used for dryers. E for electric dryer. This prefix is used on gas dryers as well.

As you can see, it is pretty easy to determine what type of machine a part is for just by seeing the first few letters in the part number. But GE didn't stop there. The numbers that come after the letters often hold meanings as well, although there are some exceptions found as you get past the letters.

Here are some common numbering standards:
For ranges:

• WB21 is used for switches.
• WB27 is used for controls
• WB30 is used for surface elements.
• WB31 Is used for drip pans and rings and burner grates.
• WB44 is used for bake and broil elements

For refrigerators:

• WR9 is used for controls, both temperature and defrost 
• WR30 is used for ice makers and related pieces (such as the ice bin).
• WR50 and WR51 are used for defrost heaters and thermostats. 
• WR55 is used for electronics such as boards, touchpads and sensors. 
• WR60 is used for motors.
• WR87 is used for compressors.

For dishwashers:

• WD26 is used for motors and pumps.

For washing machines:

• WH1 is used for belts.
• WH13 is used for valves.
• WH23 is used for pumps.
• WH38 is used for transmissions.

For dryers:

• WE11 is used for elements.
• WE18 is used for lint screens.

As you can see there is a certain elegance to their numbering system. I am probably overlooking a few of their common prefixes, so please let me know in the comments what I missed.

There are also a few tricks that seem to come up regularly to people who are researching GE parts.

1. The first has to do with the model number. There are a fair number of GE models that end with the sequence letter-zero (or sometimes astersisk)-letter-number-letter-letter. These can be particularly tricky as GE has an unwritten rule that the zero or asterisk is dropped in this type of model number, To complicate matter further, they will sometimes drop the last 2 letters off as well. A good way to deal with this, if you are using the Illustrated Parts Lookup is to key in the 1st half of the number. You will get a list of all models that start with what you typed. Knowing what I just told you about GE model numbers, it should at that point be fairly easy to pick your model off of the list.
2. The second has to do with part numbers and another unwritten GE rule. Older models of GE used a strict format of 2 letters-2 numbers-the letter x-4 numbers, When the the number was shorter they would insert zeroes to stick to their format. For example, WR9x489 would likely be listed as WR09x0489. The researcher is just expected to "know" to drop those zeroes out of the number. That was confusing but consistent until a few years ago, when GE decided to NOT have the zeros drop out of the part number. How can you tell? The rule of thumb to use is if there are 5 numbers after the connecting letter (Ususally "X" but sometimes "T","M"or another letter) then you leave all zeroes intact. If there are not 5 numbers after the connecting letter, then it is an older number and the zeroes drop as mentioned about.

That's all there is to it! Clear as mud, I know. The great thing is that if you need a hand, we've got you covered. There is a lot of experience working with GE's among our staff, so do not hesitate to give us a call if you have difficulties.

Wednesday W.L.May Profile: Regina Liversedge

Reprinted from: What's Cooking at W.L. May Co? Volume 1 Issue 11-Prior to relocating to Boise, Regina Liversedge and her husband, Jim, called Atwater, CA home. She worked for Barnard's Appliance, where she learned a lot from co-workers, Jeff and Dan, about the appliance service industry, from cleaning to trouble shooting and repair. They were great to work with and she found her new found education fascinating.

During late 1995, Regina and Jim followed their boys, who had moved to Boise for employment opportunities. Shortly after arriving in Boise, Regina became part of the W.L. May Co. family. She started as a Boise counter employee and in 1996 became Branch Manager. She simply loves getting up every day and going to work.

Regina and her husband, Jim, recently celebrated their 42nd marriage anniversary. Jim, her high school sweetheart, has been and always will be, her best friend. Regina could not have a better partner to share her life with.

They have two grown children; Jerome, 42, who now lives in Kalispell, MT, and Charlie, 38, who lives in Clancy, MT. Their son Charlie is the father of Regina's "wonderful and fun" 13 year old granddaughter, Mallory. They are very   proud of their two boys and granddaughter, Mallory. They also enjoy spending time visiting Regina's mother, Marilyn, who lives in an assisted living complex in Boise; they enjoy bringing her home for weekends and including her on small trips. Their family is the model of happiness, and feel this way because of the amount of quality time they spend together.

They love to watch Mallory bowl during her weekly Saturday morning league, and they frequently travel to watch her participate in city and state tournaments. Mallory is a great bowler, and has been going to Team Masters for the last two years in New York and Ohio. This year the tournament will be in Florida. Not only does Mallory enjoy bowling, she has earned college scholarship money from the time she started to bowl.

Regina takes it one day at a time and enjoys life. In her spare time, Regina enjoys fishing and camping, traveling anywhere and most importantly, enjoying family time. One of her favorite things to do is to jump up and say "Let's get out of here" and get in the car and go to destinations unknown. Regina loves visiting her sister, Mary, who lives in Garfield Bay (near Lake Ponderay) located just off the highway in Sagle, ID; a place of beauty in Northern Idaho.

If you're ever in the Boise area, make sure to drop in and say hello to Regina, you're guaranteed to be greeted with a smile.

Kelly's Korner - RSM Training

Hey, All,

W L May is commited to the continuing education of not only ourselves but our customers also.  The appliance and business world is changing rapidly and it is imperative to keep up with the changing times to stay in business. I got to have breakfast with the the guys and gals on Friday and really enjoyed meeting everyone!

That is why we are proud to team up with the United Servicers Association (USA - http://www.unitedservicers.com/)  and offer these RSM training classes to you.  USA has their finger on the pulse of the service industry and are more than willing to share their knowledge.

Thanks, Glyn!

Our Portland, OR session that was held on September 19-20 was a big success.  The technical training gave the technicians a lot of helpful tips and techniques and answered a lot of questions they had.  The round table discussion in the evening of the first day - moderated by Paul McDonald of USA - let the technicians and business owners have a very fun and informative platform in which to talk about their specific issues and find solutions and ideas for them.  The business training class at the end of the second day lit some major light bulbs in the minds of the business owners that attended it.  The feedback that I'm getting is that part alone was more than worth the cost of the training session!

Some people think that they can't afford to take 2 days off to attend.  What I am hearing from our attendees is that you can't afford to not to attend.  We still have 2 more sessions coming up:

Sacramento, CA:  October 31 and November 1, 2013 (yes, you can come dressed as an appliance technician on the 31st!)  https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=1257369

Boise, ID: November 7 and 8, 2013 https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=1257382

Click on the links above for information and registration on the session you would like to attend.  If you go to USA's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/UnitedServicers the picture at the top was taken at our Portland session.  And part of your registration fees include a years membership to USA.

Don't miss these!  You can't afford to not to!

Have a great week!

Motivation Monday

Friday Fun: We're Having A Party!

Throwback Thursday: News Recap October 3, 2014

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on Facebook, Twitter or Google+, you may not be getting the whole story. We use all of those social media outlets to share news stories that relate to our industry as well as appliance tips we have found from other sources. Here is a recap of some of the top stories we have seen lately. A lot has been happening so without further ado:

We start with some consumer friendly articles we feel would be great for sharing:

• The Consumerist challenged the notion that the most expensive appliances are the best. Link
• Food Safety News expressed concern over the dishwasher cooking fad. Link
• Valley News, quoting Preferred Appliance Parts, stated that new is not always better. Link
• Houston Chronicle considered the pros and cons of high end kitchen equipment. Link
• North Jersey.Com compared various refrigerator layouts. Link
• FDL Reporter pointed out some places germs can be breeding in your kitchen (and its appliances), Link
• The National mentioned how a full refrigerator is more energy efficient, as well as some other tips, Link
• The Dailly Herald Offered a few tips to keep dishwashers running efficiently. Link

Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:

• Wall Street Journal reported that in August shipments of large appliances were up 15.3% over last year. Link
• GE offered their vision of the home of the future. Link
• The Cleveland Daily Banner covered some of the challenges Whirlpool has faced with moving production facilities of cooking appliances. Link 

We found several articles that might be of interest to those of you who love all thing appliances:

• The Sabbatical Chef shared her collection of refrigerator magnets. Link
• How Stuff Works listed the top 10 appliances they could not do without. Link
• Treehugger shared a prototype design for a different way of refrigerating produce. Link
• A woman in Dayton, Ohio won an "Oldest Refrigerator" contest with a model from 1933. Link
• Journal Star talked about features they would like to see in the "smart appliances" that are being developed and introduced to the marketplace. Link
• Designer William Keeffer came up with a new way to repurpose washer tubs. Link 

Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:

• Google made major changes to how their search performs. Link
• Dashburst announced that Facebook added a feature allowing for editting of posts. Link

We close with a couple of fun stories:

• Patriot Ledger shared the story of the appliance that charged the servicer. Link
• The Christian Science Monitor had this funny about doing laundry in a foreign land. Link 

Wednesday Worth Watching: The William Prototype Cooktop

Here is a prototype cooktop design that is patent pending. It is a pretty interesting concept.Is this something you would like to see on the market or do you have your reservations? Let us know in the comments below.

Kelly's Korner - Early Holiday Shopping for Your Favorite Tech

Hey, All,

Ok, now that the summer is over, time to think about the holidays.  I know - we are already being bombarded, but now is the time to think about the technician, employees, or that handyman in your life.  W L May has a lot of fun and useful items for gifts and stocking stuffers.

TRTD-1: Tamper-resistant Torx driver - four-in-one of the most popular torx sizes for microwaves and other appliances with tamper-resistant torx screws - T-15, T-20, T-25 and T-30.

SDBD-1:  Bit Slide Driver - thumb nut safety lock - magnetized - 3" handle makes it easy to fit in a pocket.

SD-7 and SD-10:  Slide Driver - comes in 7" and 10" sizes - slides from 1/4" to 5/16" without stopping to change sockets - magnetized.

EMF-1 and EMF-2:  Extendable Magnetic Flashlight (I want one of these!) - 3 super bright LEDS, magnetized on both ends to attach to appliance at one end and pick up screws, nuts and bolts, etc., with the other end - extends from 6.5" to 21" long with flexible neck.  The EMF-2 has a mirror to help find that screw you dropped.  FB-1 is the part number for the replacement batteries.

Call or come in to W L May for pricing and get a jump on your gift list!

Have a great week!