Trouble with studio repair work!

[amptech]

When Studio's call you up to sort there equipment out such as blown amp's and trashed leads the list goes on... been there done that one to many times...

The never ending faulty amp....

Here's the thing, even when you repair items and return it plus give them a full demo of it fully working ready for action they still moan..

Now,after repairing one of there amps and leave it fully working order..... two weeks pass and the phone goes...that amps making odds sounds or it's dead!! so you take a look and sort it there within minutes and it's working like new and you make sure it's running at full power and you wait in the office as the local band run's the hell out of it and you recheck it and show it working as it should and you leave...

Now here's the things..the phone goes...yeah that amp is acting up and could you come round and check it out..sure...so you get there check it all is well..

Now a few day's pass and you get the call..on checking it you've noticed that it's volume control has been damaged and you point this to the owner and he say's it was like that when you brought it back

mmm so it my fault the control is broken?? yeah!....some studio's will try anything to get a free repair even try and swapping units that are the same.

here's the thing to do write down every thing that you've done and even take a picture of the working item(s) in front of them even mark the parts on the pcb..

there was one chap that linked two amps together via the speaker out's thinking it would be bridged them and you guessed it by by amps...plenty of smoke!

never try this one...

[pinkmouse]

And always take note of serial numbers so they don't try swapping things over...

:edit: And I also write the date under the dustcover on any drivers I recone.

[amptech]

I would agree there serial numbers etc...

It's an insult when they say it worked before you fixed it!! so why did you call then if it was working?

Some times it make you laugh when they don't have a reply to that one..... the best one is when they've rapped tin foil round the fuse thinking that will do the job!!

[toprepairman]

Been there too, it's amazing some of the things people try on.
Have to say, though, that the vast majority of 'private' clients are really good and don't try to cheat you. The worst thing usually being poor fault descriptions.

[amptech]

Second that...

[sakis]

eventhough i repair about 200 amps a year ( other devices also but we are in the solid state forum anyway ) i dond call my shelf amptech or even modest toprepairman ...still my rates of these so called """returns"'' are very very low .....quick estimation just come out of my computer is between 3-4% and these returns if shorted out finally proove that the costumer made something wrong ....

as about pro's that may want to f** ck around with me with situations like mentioned above i always try to add a bit of my personality on the delivery so they know like Tony Montana said : ""you **** with me ....you **** with the best """

humble regards sakis

[amptech]

Still in this game you take the rough with the smooth....but don't let them pull the wool over your eye's....next!

[dave_gerecke]

Hey amptech, it's not just in the studio world, and consumer electronics. I have worked in the semiconductor industry for almost 20 years, in field service, machine production and design/mfg support. I have seen and heard of instances of some of the biggest semiconductor mfgs trying the same sort of thing. Like pinkmouse said keep track of the serial numbers.

It's amazing how little ethics people really have. Or perhaps it's situational ethics; as long as they are the one getting the better end of the deal in the situation, it's ethical to them.

Peace and good luck,

Dave Gerecke

[amptech]

I would agree with that comment DAVE.... it was how ever last week on returning to this studio to collect an Item from one rooms that I seen a band member trying to remove the cover of an amp... 'saying the jack socket had fallen inside'...... I was quick to call the owner of the studio show and led him to the room where his item was being taken apart.. he confronted this guy, saying what **** are you doing to my amp?..
I said to him after would's 'well' YOU said your client's do not tamper with with your equipment so what the hell was he doing??
If and when he calls again I will take one look to see if any screws/seals have been removed before servicing....

[dave_gerecke]

Hey amptech, that is even scarier. I have also known a few musicians and the idea of them sticking their fingers inside of electronics is even more frightening than the owner of the studio! It does sound like you will have to put some sort of screw sealant on the cover screws, to track that sort of thing. Bummer for you. Good luck.

Peace,

Dave