Repair companies going to have to up their game?

[Andrew]

Was driving home yesterday, stopped at a robot and watched this panel van draw up next to me. No names mentioned, but it was one of these repair companies, and according to its branding it was an 'official' repairer for a number of big electronics companies. Strapped to the back of the van by rope and covered with a thin, dirty blanket, was someone's television. Which got me thinking: what sort of future do a lot of these smaller repair companies really have anymore? There is no way they can operate the way a lot of them do, with this, "Chuck it in the back and strap it down" attitude, because they're going to end up doing more damage than anything else, and people will ultimately refuse to have anything to do with them. It seems that the people doing the collecting have either not been trained on how to handle certain goods, or they just don't care?

[Hi-Phibian]

They don't or can't care and operate on a cut to the bone contract rate to the impoter. The importer tolerates it all because ANYTHING beats having to run your own workshop.

[JacoP]

And they will probably strike soon anyway.

[Steerpike]

Are we allowed to mention names? There is an authorised repair shop for that Dutch company that I pass occasionally. While not on the back of a truck, the way TV sets are just piled up on top of one-another and on the pavement, getting kicked & poked by passers by, is to me appalling.
None of my bought-when-new equipment has a single nick or blemish on it - and if I were to send it for repair, thats how I'd want it returned.
If that is their way of treating the outside, I can only make unhappy guesses at the quality of their 'hidden' work.

An N-P VHS that was sent for repair to P. themselves - in its box with polystyrene etc. - came back looking like it had been dagged upsidedown across the floor. No more business for P. from me.

[Andrew]

Are we allowed to mention names? There is an authorised repair shop for that Dutch company that I pass occasionally. While not on the back of a truck, the way TV sets are just piled up on top of one-another and on the pavement, getting kicked & poked by passers by, is to me appalling.
None of my bought-when-new equipment has a single nick or blemish on it - and if I were to send it for repair, thats how I'd want it returned.
If that is their way of treating the outside, I can only make unhappy guesses at the quality of their 'hidden' work.

An N-P VHS that was sent for repair to P. themselves - in its box with polystyrene etc. - came back looking like it had been dagged upsidedown across the floor. No more business for P. from me.

I think that's a huge concern for everyone when something needs to be repaired - especially if you have looked after it very well. If they can't be trusted with proper handling, what confidence can one possibly have in their ability to carry out a proper repair?

[joel]

Let's not even get into how some items are deliverd to AVSA for review.

[Andrew]

Let's not even get into how some items are deliverd to AVSA for review.

Aye....I think it was the one and only LG television that had been brought into the country for a launch. Arrived at our offices wrapped in two layers of (thin) bubble wrap, delivered by a courier company. Screen completely smashed. When the same guy came to collect it, and we watched him 'pack' it in his van, we knew why it had arrived the way it had...