Boy, am I in the wrong line of work .........

[Steve B]

Yesterday, our large Whirlpool self cleaning oven quit working. That is, the electronic panel on it went black, and the latch that holds it shut during cleaning engaged partially. We can still open it with a fork, but the oven or clock or electronics won't work.

Call the guy. $80 for someone to come out and tell us what's wrong.

Needs two fuses, the guy says. About $20 per, and another $60 for the service call. He doesn't fix things, just gives estimates.

Today, the guy comes and says it will be $275 MORE to fix the thing. We say we'll get back to him when he faxes us a written bid. No intention of getting back to him.

The friggin thing can be replaced for $600. They want $355 to fix this.

Anyone got any suggestions? I think I can pull the unit and check the obvious fuses.

Geez, these guys make my heart surgeon look like a minimum wage worker.

Steve

[JoeSpareBedroom]

Real appliance parts stores, and often public libraries have repair books which deal with specific brands & models of appliances. I'd find one, or get ready to shell out the cash to a repair person. My only other suggestion would be to open the yellow pages and look for a locally owned appliance store which has a repair & parts department. I recently had a drainage problem with my dishwasher. I went to one of these stores to buy the service manual. The parts guy asked what was wrong, showed me a $7.00 plastic valve, and said the odds were 90% it would fix the problem. It did. He also spun the computer screen around and showed me exactly where it went. I called back the next day and asked his boss where the guy usually went for lunch, and got him a $20.00 gift certificate.

[Steve Barker LT]

And when you replace it, buy a gas unit. Then you won't have to worry about such things. (and you can cook properly on it too)

[JoeSpareBedroom]

He's talking about the electronics, not the circuit that makes the elements glow. Gas ranges often have the same delicate electronics as electric models.

[Jim]

Steve,

I can relate to this as I am a pipeline welder/contractor in the oil industry. I make more than any Dr. and a lot of surgeons...... in fact, if I needed structural welding done for myself, I'd hire someone else cause I can't even afford my own rates....LOL.......Jim

[Jim]

[nowforsale]

lady calls a plumber because her plumbing doesn't work

plumber shows up and she shows him the plumbing

plumber pulls hammer out of tool kit, bangs on pipe, and says "that will be $350 m'am"

lady says "just for banging on the pipe?"

plumber says "no m'am, it's for knowing where to bang on the pipe"

[JoeSpareBedroom]

That's not funny!

In my previous house, there was a problem with the dip tube in the water heater. It was covered under warranty, as long as the repair was done by one of a handful of plumbers on AO Smith's list. While the plumber was at the house, I pointed out the old iron drain pipes under my kitchen, which clogged on a fairly regular basis. I was planning on remodeling the kitchen, so I asked the plumber how much to switch the pipes to PVC. He said $350, so as long as he was there, I had him do the job. It took 90 minutes.

Moved to a new house. The 50 year old iron pipes were even worse. Called the same plumber and said "No rush, but if you're nearby, stop over and tell me what the same thing will cost". He lives 10 minutes away. He stopped by. Estimate: $1500.00. After I got up off the floor, I said "The other house was $350. Why's this $1500?? It looks like about the same amount of pipe, and it's much easier to work on here - it's all out in the open - no corners". He says "Travel charges. I was already at your other house, right?".

No further comment.

[Stormin Mormon]

I'm remembering the joke about a dentist who calls a plumber. When the drain is cleared, the dentist remarks "I don't even make this much money". The plumber replies "neither did I when I was a dentist".

[hallerb]

HBC my competitor servicing laminators charges 250 bucks for the first hours labor to repair a 1500 buck laminator.

I charge a fraction of that, and feel like a thief somewtimes for a 00 bucks a hour, but it includes travvel........

laminators put plastic on paper a good example is menus clear covering.

Sears your best example of ripoff chars more travel to get the same tech to service a furnace with air. 75 nucks charge for swapping tool kits.....

being in the service business myself it costs a lot to operate, but geez some are just a ripoff

[jeffc]

Yes it's expensive, but you have to keep some things in mind. It takes a lot of overhead before you can make any money. Overhead in time and money that you have to spend before you can charge anyone. If it's such an easy buck, then why aren't you doing it? You'll get rich quickly and easily, right?

Second, in that industry, you do not simply work 40 hours a week and get paid that same $250 an hour or whatever outrageous thing it is. Maybe you only get 15 hours a week like that. The rest of the time is spent dealing with obnoxious customers who never end up using your services, dealing with paperwork, buying material, etc etc etc. I'm not saying they don't make a good living, but I'm saying it's naive to think of it in terms of "Oh, this guy got paid this much for an hour's work, therefore he makes this much per hour."

[Steve Barker LT]

And more often, not. I can't imagine why. I've never seen such a unit.

[Mikey S.]

You've never seen a gas stove with electronic controls?

[JoeSpareBedroom]

We're talking about the clock, timer, and very often, the electronic circuit that controls the oven. We are NOT talking about the 4 knobs that control the burners. With this is mind, you've either seen it, or you haven't looked. There are plenty of them.

[Nick Hull]

I've seen them but would never buy a gas stove that wouldn't work during a power failure ;)

[JoeSpareBedroom]

The electronics usually don't control the burners. Usually.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Ovens may not, but burners will You have to light the burners with a match.

If a stove has anything electrical on it, even if it is just a light or a timer, it must, by law, have a pilotless igniter

[Steve B]

I know for goddam sure I will NEVER buy another stove with electronic controls. I didn't want this one, but I didn't get to vote.

Just give me the simple one with manual controls that I can change in five minutes.

I"ll cope.

Steve

[JoeSpareBedroom]

I tried to find one a few years ago. It's not that easy. I didn't check any of the Wolf or Viking stoves, although I couldn't afford them anyway.

[Cheri]

I hear you Steve. When I replaced my old oven with control knobs to one with electronic controls, I had no idea what a pain it would be. All that pressing arrows, waiting for the correct cooking time, then it goes fast and zips past by several hours, and you have to go back, and start over. Geez, never again.

Cheri

Cheri