Scott Lane wrote:

Just wondering if there are any small repair shops anymore. I am running a
small shop, mostly getting small low dollar repairs. I post a $20 minimum
charge but give away a lot of free estimates.

What is a good place to order picture tubes online? I know this is not cost
effective, but the customer wants an estimate . . . so . .. Thanks. Scott



I'm in Toronto, and for the last 15 years, the number of established
electronic repair shops has been dwindling rapidly.
Toronto is a very multicultural city and in the last 10 years, a lot of
small, one/two person shops have been opened by middle eastern and Asian
people and they seem to be prospering!

I have one about a half Km from me that has been around for about ten
years and is owned by a Chinese fellow from Hong Kong. He has a great
shop and must have about 2,000 sq ft of space, most of which is a
wharehouse area in behind full of old electronics.
His sucess is because he charges for estimates, but deducts from the
bill if repairs are done, and he cannibalizes from the stuff in his
warehouse. His signage clearly states that parts replaced may be used
and his customers have no problem with that. He gets his 'old stock'
from pieces brought in for estimates and left by customers as not worth
either repairing or at times, even doing an estimate.

Also, he will repair just about anything as long as it is electronic!
I refer people to this shop regularly and people are very happy with his
work and prices!

I'm a retired computer sciences teacher from a local college and this
guy is one of the few that will replace caps on a motherboard.

Regards
Lee in Toronto