"Charles Schuler" wrote in message
...

It might not be such a bad thing (I mean by that the replacement approach
as
opposed to repair). Having something diagnosed and repaired these days
can
be like a tour through Dante's Inferno. Our pool heater (heat exchanger)
went out recently and it took five service calls to get it fixed (sort
of).
It's not really fixed because now the bypass valve is screwed up (can no
longer bypass the heater), a pressure gauge is missing its cover and no
longer works, the cover of the heater is bulged out on the front as it was
improperly reinstalled, and the auto function of the heater no longer
works
(no doubt a re-wiring error).

It seems to me that folks with a basic knowledge of mechanics and
electricity and a reasonable attitude about customer service are in VERY
short supply. I suppose that nowadays those with any ability go to law
school or earn MBAs.

No. The employers will only hire young, cheap workers. Anyone who knows what
they are doing doesn't interest them. They probably figure they work too
slow, so they can't make as much profit.

N