Do it yourself TV repair - Your input please

[Jay's TV]

  There always was, and probably always will be people attempting to repair things that they know very little about. Because of lack of money, curiosity or just ego. A TV given to them or a TV found that was disposed of, people are going to attempt to repair them themselves.
At times they may succeed but more often than not the set will be damaged even further. Have any of you had any experiences that you would like to share about this topic? Just click on reply and let us know what you have seen.

[Jay's TV]

Well lets focus back to the here and now Steve. When something breaks that I own and value I seek out a professional to repair it.
Sure it is going to cost more than letting uncle Joe tinker with it for a few months, but I know the job will be completed promptly
and professionally because I looked into the repair shops credentials and asked friends about the repair shop. If it is something I really don't care much about I don't mind if uncle Joe tinkers with it drunk or sober because I really don't care if it gets fixed or not.
  There are little things that a pro can spot easily that an untrained eye will never see. There are things that an untrained eye sees that aren't even a problem. No one is ever going to stop do it yourselfers, it is not possible. But we need to understand them, tolerate them, and learn how to deal with them here on the internet and in our workplaces.
  I NEVER EVER touch a set that a customer has tinkered with. I learned this the hard way. If I go on a service call and discover uncle Joe was in it for a couple hours yesterday I pack up my tools and leave. Uncle Joe must now complete the repair himself. I am not being rude or anything, I just do not have the time to waste not knowing what may have been touched . Most of my customers will not open up their sets other than maybe to check a fuse.
  There is a difference between a new tech and a one time do it yourselfer, they are not one in the same. I support new technicians if they are serious about learning the trade. I will not support a do it yourselfer, there are too many things in tv repair to consider.

[tmcorsi]

I don't mind working on sets after someone else has been in it (DIY or tech). The original complaint is interesting but I start with what it's doing now and eliminate problems until it works (or the customer declines further repairs).
My favorite cartoon, the first scene, a big display of "Do It Yourself" repair books in the window of a TV repair shop. Next scene, a customer asks the owner, "what's up with the books?". Final scene, the owner says "Business has never been better!".

[Jay's TV]

If your lucky and don't waste hours only to find parts replaced with the wrong ones.
Na too many repair jobs out there to gamble time away. You never get the whole story with
these tampered with repairs. Warranty void if seal is broken, there is a reason for this sticker.
Have a great weekend!!!

[Jay's TV]

Most people you are attempting to help have no idea of what you are telling them to do. Don 't you see without a little training in electronics makes a world of difference. How can you justify this when most have no idea what your talking about, most do not know what a hot is.
Do  whatever you have the free time for but as for me it is hard enough talking to people with some training. Just in case hope you have a good insurance policy for when a 12 year old gets electrocuted. It is not just about being cheap, there are many many more factors you are totally missing.

[Jay's TV]

It is your time, if you feel somehow this would be profitable for you then I guess you must know something I don't.
There are already a lot of websites doing something like this and I bet they get paid as well as a lot of refunds given out.
Not all pros are crooks as you seem to think. Just because they get paid well for their good work does not make them crooks.
I have seen a lot of self proclaimed "electronic engineers" put parts in backwards. Venture in this mess at your own risk.

[Rikko]

Here's the thing about engineers, God made engineers with holes in their elbows. Somehow, the knowlege leaks out all over the floor before it gets to their hands..and that's why God made Techs!
At my last shop it was almost a daily occurance having a set come in that was tampered with. At first I got angry, but after a while I just didn't care. The thing is I knew I had to fix what they screwed up, then fix the original problem and I got quite good at it. LOL I charged them accordingly and they seemed quite gratefull. Also note I even made up a few new curse words while working on them. It let off steam. Do I approve? Of course not. There have been countless sets come in, perfectly repairable & cheap! but due to their DIY hands ended up costing them much more...or just "no repair" and time wasted for me.
Sets that I turned down: A Sanyo came in, no vert sweep. Found ALL the vertical output pins soldered together and the traces pulled up. Oh, blown fuse too. Another was a hitachi projo that came in with ALL the connecting wires pulled out and parts missing. And you gotta remember the fellows who install 100 amp no blow fuses. That's just a small sampling of what I'm sure we've all seen.
As a safety note, if you instruct someone on how to fix a set and in the process he gets knocked on his arse or breaks something else, that's leaves you wide open for a law suit!

Off the soap box now hehehe

Rikko

[Ronan]

i will not sell parts but i will look at the set for a minimum charge and also give an opinion
if a customer had the back off minimum is doubled
Ron's tv
North Wales,pa