PRR said:
"With the help of an online video and a $20 part, she repaired the dryer on her own in 45 minutes and joined the ranks of do-it-yourselfers reshaping the nation’s service economy.
"The can-do attitude saves consumers money and gives them a sense of empowerment, but it also dings the appliance-repair industry. Spending on appliance repair collapsed...."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/pity-the-maytag-repairman-1428276891
I saw that article too but not sure about their punchline... "appliance repair collapsed". I installed a new dishwasher a few months ago and almost immediately one of the LEDs on the control panel stopped working... Even though it was brand new and covered by warranty, I took it apart to see if I could repair it, ASSuming it is probably a bad solder joint. After visual inspection and ohming out the LEDs everything looked OK. I retouched all the associated solder joints I could identify but no love...
So I broke down and pinged Whirlpool service... Since I don't live in a urban service area they farmed out my repair to a local guy (Paul) . A couple weeks later when he showed up I told him exactly what I told Whirlpool and he wrote down the significant serial numbers et al, and ordered a replacement control board.
That was about a month ago, so when I saw Paul at the post office across the street from my house the other day, I ambushed him and asked how my replacement control board was coming. ;D He said it was still back ordered (I believe him).
Since then another LED on the control panel stopped working. The dishwasher still works fine, or I'd be more aggravated, but the bad PCB seems to be getting worse, and I have to ASSume that the button pressed registered properly . If some more LEDs go out it will be even more fun to operate.
Perhaps they had a run of bad PCB, which is why they don't have any in repair stock now... maybe if it drags out another month with no PCB I'll take it out and try to fix it again... I suspect there is either a LED driver chip and/or bad solder on a processor... While at this point I'd like a new good PCB.
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Back to my quibble with the WSJ article, I asked Paul how his repair business was and he said it was hopping, and if he was willing to relocate to TX he could make really good money... Of course just a one rat sample, but professional appliance repair is apparently not dead...
JR
PS.. In general repairs are 5% parts, 15% labor, and 80% knowing what to fix.... The WWW can help with the 80% but not all of it. Common problems should be talked about on the forums. I have been impressed with availability of repair parts (not that cheap ) for many appliances (no I couldn't find a control board for my washer, but I fixed my old tired vacuum cleaner a few years back thanks to www repair parts ).