What happened to the repair shops?
As good old Bobby Dylon once said, “times they are a changin”. For the service and repair industry, this has never been more so.
I have been in the electronics industry all my life. Fixing radios and TVs for friends, teachers at school, running telecoms companies and having my own businesses. Growing up in the ‘60s in South London, the local high street (as did all high streets) had plenty of repair shops and TV rental shops. These also sold components, valves, transformers etc. in order that your electrical, electronic items could be repaired. These shops always seemed to be owned by bald men in brown overalls! I always wanted to have a shop like that. Be careful what you wish for my mother used to say. Coming to Spain 20 years ago, I saw a requirement for electronics equipment servicing. I started Zeta services. Up until 4-5 years ago, customers were happy to have their TVs, HiFi, amplifiers and so on repaired. The cost of the repair generally worked out at around 20% of a new replacement. So, well worth doing. You don’t have to be a rocket surgeon to work out the small profit made on each job, by the time parts were obtained. Volume of jobs was therefore important.
As of late, two things seemed to have changed. The price of electronic goods, TVs, let’s say, has dropped dramatically, in comparison with other domestic goods. In the late ‘60s, your Philips 25” colour TV would have cost half that of the price of the Ford Anglia van it was delivered by. So when the TV failed or occasionally caught fire, as was their want, a repair was viable. Today you can go to a supermarket and buy a large screen budget TV for €200. In my experience, it won’t last long (2-3 years), but you get a new shiny toy. When the set fails, fault finding can often be time consuming and given the awful reliability of the TV’s LCD screens currently, a repair is sometimes not economic. My experience with Samsung TVs is terrible for this at the moment. And whilst writing, it is interesting to note that Sony (always a good set to buy albeit more expensive) are farming out their TV manufacturing to TCL. LG similarly are looking to have their branded sets made by Hisense. No need for me to make further comment, oh well.
The other change seen, is the expectation and attitude of the new wave of customers. Almost every day someone will make contact, telling you what the problem is, seen it on YouTube, Googled it etc…. telling you it’s only something small and therefore can be done in 2 minutes and costing 2/3rds of “F” all. Contact is quite often through WhatsWrong, written in a most A.I. entitled manner. The job is normally very urgent. So, do the job and spend two days trying to contact the person in order for the item to collected. I am sure this new attitude is born out of Internet culture. I’ll order an item from Amazon and expect it delivered in 10 minutes. The tenor of the written word is nothing like that which would be said to your face. Of course, as one gets older, one becomes less tolerant to this nonsense. Life teaches you this. The only positive I can take, is that it’s not just me. Chatting to friends in similar service industries, computing, mechanics and so on, the theme is identical. “Can’t wait to get out of this game” is a common phrase heard. Shame.
With the ever-increasing costs, insurance, autonomo, electric, tax, maintaining stock, test equipment and so on, you can see why there is a struggle.
Therefore, early retirement is the best option I reckon. Tough decision I guess, but probably the right time. The workshop has been relocated to save costs, still in Arboleas, details on website. Huge amounts of spares were skipped. Here is what’s typical; contacted a couple of colleges offering 100s of circuit boards, free, so that students could practice soldering, whatever. “oh no, too dangerous, can’t have that”.
I am still working, slightly reduced hours, still legal. Will be a little more choosey about the work I take on. Clients with valued items such as vintage audio, guitar amplifiers, decent TVs and alike are always welcome. Still supporting local businesses with electronic systems, radio stations and repairing down to component level on all kinds of equipment. I will carry on posting articles and information, updates via the local social media groups, given that I do get positive feedback from these.
Business as usual, but with a bit of a change. Work is now generally by appointment, so contact me via info@zeta-services.tv or phone – WhatsApp 666826886, also Facebook, Zeta services. Thanks for your past and hopefully future custom. And, as Patrick Mcgoohan used to say whilst trapped under his white balloon… ”be seeing you”
Seth, Zeta Services.
