Sunday Repairs

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It looks like that jaw got over 90 degrees C. I would have replaced it without a repair option. For liability and general good business it's always new materials and always comes with a 12 month warranty.

Dave
 
bikeindy said:
It could be that selling a replacement was overselling.
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There is no such thing.

One of my favorite sayings is "Make an ask of yourself". It is sometimes surprising what people will bite on, simply because you just asked. Asking is 90% of the battle when selling. You owe it to yourself or your boss to at least ask and/or suggest. Many people have in their heads already more drastic repairs, and even though a suitable repair to existing could be effected the opinion of the electrician. If you ask for the "right" repair, it's often a pretty easy sale. I put "right" in quotes, because in this case it's a toss up. I've certainly put in my share of replacement 40 blocks in old meter cans that would otherwise be a pain to change on a weekend, which I'm comfortable calling a permanent and effective repair. Probably 1/2 of these were replaced with new equipment in coming days simply because I asked for the work.
 
At first glance at the pics, I had thought a bad decision was made in replacing that meter jaw..because I was concerned about the heat damage to the insulating support.

But a closer look makes it out that the insulating support WAS replaced as well as the top left (line) jaw. If that's the case, then a job well done, and a repair I wouldn't worry about.

If, however, that insulating support was just cleaned off and reused, that would be a bad thing!!

I also feel that the customer goodwill and the potential referrals made this a good deal all around.

I have a lot of repeat business in my service biz by doing quick (yet safe) repairs when necessary. And if I have any doubts about a repair being able to last, I indicate that it is indeed a temp fix verbally and in writing on my service reports and invoices.
 
bikeindy said:
I would have given the guy all the options myself, explained that the meter base was old and it could fail again if just repaired, but if I thought from seeing it first hand that the repair would last, I would point him in that direction. I stated in a earlier post that i would replace it out right if it wasn't much more work, but that thing from the looks of the photos could be a real pain, again I only see the pics not the job so i give frizbee the benifit that he made the best call for him and the customer. When you go out as the owner you know your customer and have a feel for what they want, you make a call based on all the info at hand and make good money while your at it. It could be that selling a replacement was overselling.
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2 points...what if it was an employee that went out, and not you the owner? is it really overselling to replace a 30 yr old meter? what about a 3 yr old meter?
 
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mxslick said:
I also feel that the customer goodwill and the potential referrals made this a good deal all around.
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so long as it holds...what if it fails in a month? goodwill and referrals? what if this guy doesn't talk to people? doesn't need an electrician for another 5 yrs?

these are all 'what-if' questions...not saying they are fact...just something to think about...
 
mxslick said:
But a closer look makes it out that the insulating support WAS replaced as well as the top left (line) jaw. If that's the case, then a job well done, and a repair I wouldn't worry about.

If, however, that insulating support was just cleaned off and reused, that would be a bad thing!!
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The whole right side was replaced including the insulating support. The left side was not repaired. Any differences seen are due to picture quality and the fact that the fist picture shows a jumper/bypass clip installed by the power co. which left them with half power. The second picture does not show this as I did not reinstall it.
 
bradleyelectric said:
I heard somewhere that the average consumer needs an electrician every 36 months :)
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Who they actually call is another story entirely.

A guy just started a "Mr. Handyman" franchise down the road, and they're advertising electrical repairs.
 
bradleyelectric said:
I heard somewhere that the average consumer needs an electrician every 36 months or so :)
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i heard that someone before too...i think i read it on the internet:D
 
bradleyelectric said:
I heard somewhere that the average consumer needs an electrician every 36 months or so :)
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LOL and the average cinema needs a service tech only after they lose over $4,000 in lost ticket sales when the projector/lamp/sound craps out. :grin:

The average service charge to fix most problems only runs around $500-600, :smile:
 
emahler said:
2 points...what if it was an employee that went out, and not you the owner? is it really overselling to replace a 30 yr old meter? what about a 3 yr old meter?
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I'll take marc's point that there is no overselling, and give that to you. My employees would do the same as me thats how they have been trained to deal with customers, like I said I give the customer all the options all the time and then get a feeling from there feed back. If that was my customer and I told him all the options and he asked, "Would i be better off replacing this" I would reply, "Yes but not today, today I will fix it and you call me this week and we will set it on the schedule for replacement, It is going to cost you $X, when I come back." I think you know all the variable of the conversation. What it comes down to is the guy needed his power on and it was Sunday.
 
bikeindy said:
I'll take marc's point that there is no overselling, and give that to you. My employees would do the same as me thats how they have been trained to deal with customers, like I said I give the customer all the options all the time and then get a feeling from there feed back. If that was my customer and I told him all the options and he asked, "Would i be better off replacing this" I would reply, "Yes but not today, today I will fix it and you call me this week and we will set it on the schedule for replacement, It is going to cost you $X, when I come back." I think you know all the variable of the conversation. What it comes down to is the guy needed his power on and it was Sunday.
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agreed...the fix on a sunday is not in question...heck my questions aren't even specifically about frisbee's post, just general questions regarding this type of situation...

we all think a little differently, and it's neat to see the differences...
 
mdshunk said:
Who they actually call is another story entirely.

A guy just started a "Mr. Handyman" franchise down the road, and they're advertising electrical repairs.
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That is the look of craigslist around here. I go on once or twice a day and flag every home improvement and handman ad that lists they do any trade work and anyone that is not licensed. It is more unlicensed people advertising on there than those that are. Sometimes I put up that they can't have insurance without a license and I put 1 of my county license numbers under license# and don't advertise for anything and it drives them nuts replying back that I don't have a valid license and why am I doing that. People sometimes put up how to check state licenses and apparently they don't know that there are county licenses and they check the number to try to find out who I am. That is exactly why I don't post my state license number when I do that.
 
emahler said:
agreed...the fix on a sunday is not in question...heck my questions aren't even specifically about frisbee's post, just general questions regarding this type of situation...

we all think a little differently, and it's neat to see the differences...
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Dude, it's Frizbee man.

But you can call me Murf. I will edit my signature. :)
 
Murph?

smurfs-world-record.jpg
 
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