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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
Email: Sales@WLMay.Com

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Kelly's Korner - Home and Garden Shows

Hey, All,

I saw advertising on the TV this weekend for Portland's Fall Home and Garden Show and started thinking about all the shows like this I've been to - various home and garden shows, yard, garden and patio shows, street of dreams and the like.

I love cruising these shows for a variety of reasons - mainly to see what is new and different out there.  I am a fan of the weird and unusual and can usually find one or two things that strike my fancy.  Another reason - and my mom and I have a ball with this - is to pick apart all the impractial things the designers come up with.  Like a kitchen and formal dining area side by side but the only way to go from one to the other is to go out one door, down a hallway in through the door to the other - not particularly practical when a doorway or pass through could have easily been built.

But the main thing is IDEAS!  Seeing through other's eyes what can be done to a particular space and the new products available - not only new construction but remodeling and refurbishing of existing structures.

But be careful!  Do your homework before you buy anything new or sign a contract for remodel work.  Are you being dazzled by all the bells and whistles on those display appliances?  Does that slick talking salesperson really know what he's talking about? If you are looking at appliances there are a lot of things to consider - will it fit where you want it?  What's the warranty?  Does anyone in town service it if something goes wrong?  Do you really need all the bells and whistles or do you just need to get the job done?

Also, watch out for entering drawings for gifts - these are ways for the vendor to build up calls for their sales staff and you might be inundated with all kinds of sales calls afterward.  If you are really interested in what they have to offer you, by all means give them your number or grab one of their flyers or business cards, but if you don't, don't sign up for drawings or only use your email address for contact info.

Have fun at these shows - I always do!

Have a great week!

Monday, September 29, 2014

Monday Motivation

(Modified image from Flickr User Marco Belluci/CC)

The essential question is not, “How busy are you?” but “What are you busy at?” ~ Oprah Winfrey

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

Friday, September 26, 2014

Friday Morning Videos: The Maytag Flyer

What do you do if you have a bicyle and and old Maytag motor? Well, you could do like this guy and build a motorcycle. Pretty cool project, I must say.



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

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Thursday Tweets: Microwave Edition



While looking through our Twitter feed we found these washing machine related tweets to share with you.


Our visit to the Twitterverse begins with a microwave story that's been in the news recently. An internet hoax got our of control:










In spite of all the warnings, a lot of people claim to have fallen for the prank:







At least one kid tried to capitalize on the situation:


Others saw this as a chance to clean folks out of their follower list:






Another new report a day or so later reported that the new, thinner iphones were bending in peoples pockets. This tweeter tried to get just a little more pranking mileage out of that news report.




The correct answer, even if it is a little over the top, is:




Again, use it for things you eat. Not penguins?!?




If you are using the microwave correctly, for foods you eat. Don't overdo it with the cooking time.







Signing off, we have a sweet sentiment and a message we would like to send out to all of our customers and blog readers...




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

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Wednesday W.L.May Profile: Glenn Hovey

This is the part of the blog where we share a little about ourselves. Today we would like to introduce you to one of the people that help provide you with our famously fast and accurate customer service.

Name? 
Glenn Hovey

Job Title? 
Warehouse Associate / Inventory Control Specialist

Where did you grow up? 
Born and raised in Oregon . I lived in Arkansas and Oklahoma area for a year and have been to Florida and back to Oregon while moving with family in my junior high years.

How long have you been with W.L. May? 
Started with company via temp agency on 09/11/2001. I believe my official hire date was 12/2001.

What did you do prior to joining W.L. May? 
I worked fast food with no benefits for around 18 years. Started as cook and ending with the title of Assistant Manager. Did some construction and ditch digging by hand. I also worked for a cabinet shop doing janitorial work and worked in other warehouses such as Warn Industry building truck and rv winches. I also worked for Applied Industrial Technologies full time and emergency on call rotating week schedule for urgent parts to ship to lumber mills that have part go out on the chain feeder, ect.

What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work? 
I like going to live music venues, comedy shows and I listen to and occasionally sing karaoke with my friends on Friday and Saturday nights.

To what do you credit your success? 
Credit my parents in the way I was raised to do chores, which included cleaning the barn and stalls. So, I was never worried about getting dirty or was afraid to do hard work. Also, credit them for teaching me to do the task correctly the first time thru to save time in the long run.

What do you like about working at W.L. May? 
I like that W.L.May company is a small family oriented company with bosses and owners who care what is going on with the employees of the companies daily lives. When something comes up, we rally around one another to do what we can for each other.

Can you share one piece of advice for others in our industry? 
Advice for others in our industry ? Not sure what to recommend.

Can you share something most people do not know about you?
I am a fraternal twin and I am 45 minutes older than my brother. We born before invention of ultrasound so he was a surprise package to everyone, including nurses and doctor, because our hearts were beating in sync with each other so they thought only one birth was coming.

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

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Kelly's Korner - Owner's Manuals

Hey, All,

Friends are the best!!  A girlfriend of mine bought a new gas barbeque grill and gave me her old one.  Thanks, Libby and Richard!  But I have never owned one of these before (was waiting for a Traeger to show up in my stocking lol) so I'm on a learning curve here.

So what do you do when you get a new piece of equipment, appliance, or other toy?  Or a used one? Most people (and I'm one) will monkey around with all the dials and buttons and try to figure out how everything works by trial and error.  But did you know that with the purchase of a new item there comes with it a little booklet called an "Owner's Manual'?

What?  Read an owner's manual?  What a novel concept!  Yes, indeed, and this little book will give you all the instructions you need to operate your new purchase.  It may also have troubleshooting tips that could fix an issue before you panic and call a tech to come fix it.  They also might list accessory pieces that you can purchase for your item.  Not to mention warranty information if something should go wrong.

What do you do if you bought something used?  If you go to the manufacturer's website and look under Customer Support or Manuals or something similar, you can - armed with the model number - download or print out the owner's manual on this.  If they don't have it available online, then call the customer service number listed and they should be able to send you one - may be a small cost involved.

Once I read through the manual, I need to go buy a propane jug and some steaks and enjoy my "new" barbeque!

Have a great week!

Monday, September 22, 2014

Monday Motivation

Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons. ~Jim Bishop

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

Friday, September 19, 2014

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Throwback Thursday: News Recap September 18, 2014

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on FacebookTwitter 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:
  • News-Journal.Com suggested that large refrigerators are making people fatter. LINK
  • A five year old girl was trapped in a running washing machine. Parents, please remember that a washer or dryer can be a dangerous piece of equipment. LINK
  • Want some natural laundry stain treatments? TreeHugger has got you covered. LINK
  • Power bill too high? Maybe these tips can help. LINK
  • Good Housekeeping has some easy, fun ideas for dressing up your refrigerator. LINK
  • SustainaBlog had a nice comparison between Top Loading and Front Loading washers. LINK
  • In spite of what you may have heard, Serious Eats says you should consider storing tomatoes in the refrigerator. LINK
Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:
  • Ending an era, Electrolux purchased the General Electric appliance division. LINK
  • Motley Fool suggested Kenmore should join GE appliances on the auction block. LINK
  • Samsung and LG rivalry escalates as execs are accused of vandalism. LINK
We found an article that might be of interest to those of you who love all thing appliances:
  • Letting the prime suspect off the hook, this dog proves that all missing socks are NOT the dryers fault. LINK
Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:
  • A Whirlpool executive discussed the development of the Internet Of Things with the computer tech community. LINK
  • Evertiq offered a great analysis of the Electrolux GE purchase and how it makes sense to shareholders. LINK
  • New rules for energy efficiency in refrigerators went into effect. LINK
We close with a fun story:
  • The Poughkeepsie Journal wrote that when your knives won't come clean in the dishwasher, or the socks come up missing from the dryer, blame the trolls! LINK
For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Broan

Yesterday, one of our rookies asked me if we carried Broan products.I was happy to say that we do. Let me tell YOU about it, in case you were not aware.


Broan specializes in ventilation products and has done so since 1932. They are most known for their range hoods and bathroom fans. We have access to their full product line from Range hoods are available from inexpensive options popular with rental houses to high end units for designer homes. A wide variety of bath fans are also available.

The Broan 30 inch range hood is a very popular budget entry in the category and comes in three flavors. Broan offers the hood in a non-vented variety, as well as providing options with either a 7" round vent or a 3-1/4"X10" vent access. We stock the white version. It is also also is available in bisque/biscuit, almond, stainless steel, and black.

In addition to complete products, we are also an authorized distributor for Broan parts. With a model number we can get any available Broan part to help you get that air moving again. The most popular parts are waiting for you in our warehouse. If we don't stock it, we would be more than happy to order it in for you.

As a side note, Nutone is another well known brand in the home ventilation arena. The Nortek corporation acquired Broan in 1981 and followed up by acquiring Nutone in 1998. In 2000 the companies were merged as Broan-Nutone LLC. It is an unusual arrangement as both names are hand;led independently. We can often get parts for Nutone, but they use a different numbering and ordering system than Broan which can sometimes interfere with our access.

We are entering that time of year where houses tend to be sealed up against the cold weather. This is the time of year that it is most important to have your home ventilation in good working order. Its also a good time to check your filters and replace them if needed.

Like Apple says in their famous press conferences, there is "just one more thing". Even if you have a range hood made by a company other than Broan/Nutone we can get replacement filters. Our supplier American Metal Filters will custom make filters to any specifications. Just call us with your needed specs and we can get the ball rolling.

If you know you need to do some repairs on your range hood. For your own sake, DO NOT put it off until the holidays. As the holidays approach servicers get busier and it becomes more difficult to schedule a service call. If any parts need to be ordered, that can result in a delay. An early request means you can get the repair done with time to spare before the holiday, that leaves you more time to do the fun stuff-like planning, shopping, cooking, cleaning, and...well, you get the picture.

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

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Kelly's Korner - Super Hero Book Revisited

Hey, All,

As I mentioned before, I have been training some new employees and I have stressed to them the importance of them starting their own Superhero Book.  They have been amazed as to the answers I can pull out of it when they have been beating their heads looking all over for something that can't be found by normal methods.

So I thought I'd go back and go from the beginning.  Now some of you who are more tech savvy could put all this on a program, but I am old school and I like my paper.

Grab a 3-ring binder (decorate any which way you want) and get some dividers and label them according to the manufacturers you deal with:  Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Bosch, LG, etc.  I would put a blank sheet or two of paper for those little things that you really don't need a print out of and a divider for miscellaneous stuff.

Now, anytime you have something that comes along that you can't find by conventional means, STICK IT IN YOUR BOOK!!!!  Research on it was bad enough the first time, right?, so you definately do not want to do it a second time, and you will be kicking yourself from here to breakfast for not having it.  You can put in service bulletins, installation instructions, pictures printed off the internet (make notes on these so you can remember the why and whatfor), ANYTHING that cannot be found by conventional means.  If you have to call a manufacturer, your distributor, or if a tech comes across something that you may need in the future, put it in there.  Way better to have too much information that not enough, right?
Creative Commons license on image.

Things I have on my notebook paper are like:

Extension for icemaker bail arm for Electrolux: 218513800
Sag kit for front load washer doors:  137309800
Fill tube heater for GE icemakers:  WR51X369
4 pin to 6 pin adapter for WR30X10093 icemaker:  WR29X10049
Neptune dryer that shows both for electric and gas models but does not give part number for electric element:  35001247 for element or 35001119 for whole assembly
Zippered mesh wash bag for small or delicate items:  W10180464RP
"Duckbill" for refrigerator drain hose:  8055306

We all here at W L May have some version of our own personal Super Hero Book - that's what makes us Superheroes to you!  Now you know our secret - shhhh!

Have a great week!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Monday Motivation

I can pardon everybody's mistakes except my own-Marcus Cato

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

Friday, September 12, 2014

Thursday Trivia Challenge: Friday Edition


So you think you know all about appliances? Here is a short set of trivia questions to test your knowledge.

Questions
1.This company started as ventilation fan maker who expanded into appliances by building a ventilation fan into a cooktop. Who is it?
2.As of October, 2013, how many Americans are employed in the appliance repair industry?
3.What common appliance part can potentially kill you if it is not handled correctly?
4.What year was Kitchenaid founded?
5.Kitchenaid is owned by Whirlpool, but it was started by another company that makes commercial kitchen equipment. What company was that?
6.What is the part number of Maytag's popular "universal" oven igniter?
7.One of the most commons handtools in America was invented in the early 1930's in Portland. Can you name the tool?
8.What appliance maker is headquartered in East Tamaki, New Zealand?

Answers
1.Jenn-Air
2.72,792 (source: IBIS World http://www.ibisworld.com/industry/default.aspx?indid=1710)
3.Microwave capacitor's can hold current even if the appliance is unplugged. Good practice involves discharging the current before servicing. Generally Contact with a charged capacitor will reseult in a nasty shock, but every year a few deaths result from careless handling. (Sources: Engineering Expert Witness Blog http://www.engineeringexpert.net/Engineering-Expert-Witness-Blog/?p=3760)
4.1919 (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KitchenAid)
5.Hobart (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KitchenAid)
6.12400035
7.Phillips Screwdrivder. (Source: http://handy.scout.com/story/1434505-history-of-screws-and-drivers?s=154)
8.Fisher Paykel (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_%26_Paykel)


Scoring
O-2 correct: You know a bit, but still have a lot to learn. Luckily you came to the right place.
2-4 correct: You know a fair amount about appliances. Keep visiting this blog to learn even more.
4-6 correct: You know a lot about appliances. Pass some of that knowledge on to someone.
6-8 correct You are an appliance star! Great job!
This is a monthly feature. To submit your own trivia questions (and answers) email: rob.m@wlmay.com with the subject line "trivia".

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

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

A Trip to the Oregon State Fair

Over the Labor Day weekend, I made a visit to the Oregon State Fair. A great time was had. Umatilla County's booth, like in previous years, featured some very old kitchen and laundry equipment. I could not resist taking a few pictures with my camera.The picture quality leaves something to be desired, but I still thought some of you would be interested. Enjoy!

First we have an old tub with a wringer and 2 different styles of agitator. One of them looking a lot like a toilet plunger and the other resembling a fancy soap bubble wand.


Next we have a tub sitting on an old washtub stand. This unit has 2 different styles of washboard on display.

Moving into a more modern era, here is an early electric model. Not sure why they washboard is included in the display. If you look closely you might notice someone was hiding their little brown jug in the washing machine. Hmm...well, life WAS hard in the Old West.


Moving into kitchen, they showcased an old stove that was almost buried in implements of mealtime destruction creation.


They also had an old monitor top refrigerator on display.


When the work was done, back in the day, it was fun to relax and listen to records on the Victrola...


Thanks again to Umatilla County for hauling all these old appliances across the state so that we could appreciate them. See you next year at the fair!

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

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Kelly's Korner - KitchenAid Mixers

Hey, All,

The other day my sister posted a picture of her new orange KitchenAid mixer that her husband and daughter bought her for her birthday.  She is loving it.  The one I have my dad bought my mom back in the late 60's early 70's and it is olive green.  Still works like a champ.  Mom used to do cakes semi-professionally and our friends would come from miles around when they found out she was making a cake as they LOVED her frosting - in fact, one girlfriend of mine just got a bowl of icing for her birthday - no cake - as the frosting was her favorite.

Why am I talking about a small appliance today instead of a major appliance?  KitchenAid is a Whirlpool brand, and while W L May does not carry small appliance parts, we do carry parts for the KitchenAid mixers.  In fact, the name KitchenAid came from one of the wives of the executives of Whirlpool when she declared,  “I don’t care what you call it, but I know it’s the best kitchen aid I’ve ever had!”

The first KitchenAid stand mixer came out in 1919 and were sold door-to-door by women.  Because of the high cost most stores would not sell them.  They went through many design changes but since the 1930's the look hasn't changed much.  They come in a wide variety of colours to please everyone. But the best thing about this mixer that it is a workhorse.  I don't think mine has ever had any parts replaced in the 35+ years we've had it.

This mixer is so versatile - not only can you whip up your favorite cake or cookies but you can mix and knead bread dough.  And you can buy attachments for it for juicing, grinding meat, stuffing sausages, making pasta, food processing and many more.  While the attachments are a bit pricey, if you use them alot, it is a lot cheaper in the long run than buying  separate appliances and saves a lot of space on your counter and well worth it.

KitchenAid mixers are the single, most registered item ever and a definate must-have in your kitchen if you do a lot of cooking.  I wouldn't trade mine for the world.  Not only for the sentimental valve because of all the memories of Mom making cakes and helping her with that, but because if I only had one small appliance, this is it.

So if you would like one for Christmas, get it on your list now - post pictures and ads all over the house so your loved ones get the hint!

Have a great week!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Monday Motivation


Normal people... believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet.-Scott Adams

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

Friday, September 5, 2014

Friday Morning Videos: GE Refrigerator Defrost System

Rich from Western Appliance Repair in Boise posted this short video explaining how a defrost heater in a GE works. Great for showing customers or trainees.



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

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Throwback Thursday: News Recap September 3, 2014

If you have been reading the W.L. May Blog but haven't checked us out on FacebookTwitter 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:
  • Eat Drink Better explained how to clean refrigerator coils. LINK
  • The Napa Valley Register checked in with their suggestions for refrigerator organization. LINK
  • There was some advice for installing a washing machine and gas dryer from the Las Vegas Review Journal. LINK
  • Kitchen Conservation had some tips to use up practically any leftover. LINK
  • University approved laundry programs are happening for freshmen. LINK
  • If your washing machine has stopped working, this article gives a few tips on staying fresh. LINK
  • Consumer Reports checked in with their recommendations for dealing with those smelly camp and sports clothes. LINK
Next, we look at the manufacturers and how they have been in the news recently:
  • Workers at the Roper factory have concerns about the possible sale of GE's appliance division. LINK
  • With Quirky out of the picture, Electrolux emerges as GE's main suitor. LINK
We found several articles that might be of interest to those of you who love all thing appliances:
  • California's drought conditions have called for massive water conservation. Experts recommend reusing dishwater to water plants. Dishwashers aren't generally designed for that, which is problem for this Fresno Bee columnist. LINK
Sometimes, the links we post are related to technology, business or happenings on the internet:
  • Handyman Club explained why isn't there just one screwdriver for all applications. LINK
  • Handyman Club of America had a history of toolcases. LINK
  • In the rush to get Internet connected appliances to the market, the BBC hopes that manufacturers remember security. LINK
We close with a few stories that are just for fun:
  • 22Words posted a kid doing a pretty good spider man impersonation. Then he goes one step further. Pretty amazing! LINK
  • From Thailand comes this colorful and artistic Frigidaire ad. Don't worry, language is not an issue with this one. LINK
For more from education and entertainment from W.L. May Company click...HERE

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Speaking of Back To School

Flicker/CC

With the passing of Labor Day, it's time for the "Back To School" season. If the kids in your neighborhood are not already back in school, they will be soon. Please be careful as you are making your service calls, there's certain to be more bikes and miniature pedestrians on the road then you probably were seeing over summer break.

As Kelly mentioned in yesterday's post, we are also training some new parts people here ate W.L. May so we are in a back to school frame of thought as well. Its always exciting to share our knowledge and experience with newcomers to our industry.

Should you be thinking about going back to school too? Lets face it, no matter how much of a whiz-bang servicer you might be on the classic Maytag laundry products, or the old GE refrigerators, those machines are getting less and less common. More and more machines are coming onto the market that have made radical changes from some long running designs. The old rules just don't apply any more!

The new machines offer you both new challenges and new opportunities. Service calls on the newer machines frequently involve more expensive components. This means you have less room for errors but also the opportunity for greater profits. The changes will also, over time, make the skills of those who keep up with all of the changes more valuable. This alone is a powerful argument for going "back to school".

Business and marketing is also changing rapidly with the digital age, and those changes affect both your customers expectations as well as how you react to this new type of customer. United Servicer members are on the front lines of change and would like you to join them in tackling the challenges of the 21st century appliance repair industry.

W.L. May Co., in partnership with The United Servicers Association is offering you the chance to stay current with you skills with the fall Regional Service Training Institute. We have worked to offer training sessions regionally to limit the amount of travel involved for our more rural servicers.

Here are the dates and the types of training being offered at each RSTI:
  • Sacramento, CA- September 25-26th-  Bosch, Electrolux, & Whirlpool, plus Business Classes 
  • Salt Lake City, UT-October 9-10th- Bosch, Electrolux, Samsung & Whirlpool, plus Business Classes 
  • Portland, OR-November 6-7th-Bosch, Electrolux, Samsung & Whirlpool, plus Business Classes


Please make a note there will be no Samsung training in Sacramento.

Registration for the event is $199.00. You registration fee includes all training and materials, five hot meals, and the opportunity to discuss challenges facing your company and the our industry, with knowledgeable peers who are outside of your competitive service area. 

More information  and to register visit the United Sevicers Registration site. Often these events sell out, and seats are filling up fast. Don't be the company that doesn't know how to fix one of those "new machines". Keep up with your competition, as we all move forward with new marketing and business management techniques for the digital age. Sign up NOW to make sure you are not "that company".


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

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Kelly's Korner - New Employees and the Learning Process

Hey, All,

As in any place of employment, there are people starting a job and some leaving (NO, I AM NOT LEAVING!) and we here at W L May are not in any way immune to this.  We do have employees that have been here for 30+ years!  And they will tell you that this job is a constant learning process.

We have a couple of newbie salespeople that I have been helping to train and the first thing we tell them is that they will NEVER know everything.  And not to denigrate the fast food industry because I have put my time in there - but this isn't burgers and fries.

Think of it this way.  Over the decades, fads, fashion and technology has changed dramatically.  You can see this every day in the car you drive and the phone you use.  The same is true for appliances.  In its day, the old wringer washer was a break-through in modern techology.  Now it is a museum piece.  And they are not all the same.  Parts that will work on a Model T Ford will not work on Chevy Camaro, right?  So when I am training, the constant theme that I tell my trainees is to ASK QUESTIONS!!!  If they are not 100% sure what the customer is looking for - keep asking. We get people calling in all the time that want a shelf for their refrigerator or a belt for their dryer and think they are all the same.  NOT!

So if you call in and get one of our new people, please be patient with them and their questions.  They are in a constant learning process and don' t know the machines and customers like us veterans do and they do want to get you the part you need.  And believe me, I learn something new everyday and I will be the first to admit I don't know everything.  Welcome to the W L May family, Liz and Lloyd!

Have a great week!

Monday, September 1, 2014