This says it all right here. In the Past there were more Highly skilled
Technicians around. So the Mfr's could rely on the Job Getting done in a
manner
that met both the Consumer and them in a sufficient way. Now as you say,
there are alot of "shoddy" Techs around who try and cut corners by replacing
the parts With cheaper Generic Subs to help keep his profits up, and cust
costs low....it dont work and Mfr's take the heat in the End. Another
example is causing more problems with the Set than was originally present,
due to improper or NO Training - and the Solution is sending the board to a
board Rebuilder, or Telling the Customer its not repairable, when it really
is, and its their Fault its alot of work to repair.

The problem with alot of the Mfr's is they dont Research the Service Center
at all too much, or ask for references of past Customers who used them for
repairs.
Some of them will give you a Cert as long as you pay for the Service Manual
Subscriptions, figuring if they have the money for that, then they must be
making good money, and welcome them into the Family.

At first they catered to us. Bought us
lunch and introduced us to the latest technologies. They treated us as
an integral part of their support chain. Now they treat us as a thing
to be shunned. We are a impediment to their sales.

What do you think?