Interesting web page about electronics repair in other cultures, such as
China and Africa:

http://www.janchipchase.com/repaircultures

A cellphone is small enough that you can open a repair shop with a little
knowledge and a little flat surface to work on.

Need spare parts? Cannibalize another cellphone.

Schematic? Service manual? It's easier to ask a friend about common
faults and repair techniques. (Hmmm. Come to think of it, that's what we
do here!)

Authorized repair station? Yes, they exist, but there are a lot more
independent technicians doing a lot more business on the streets.
Cheaper, quicker, more available.

Jim Land wrote:
Interesting web page about electronics repair in other cultures, such as
China and Africa:

http://www.janchipchase.com/repaircultures

A cellphone is small enough that you can open a repair shop with a little
knowledge and a little flat surface to work on.

Need spare parts? Cannibalize another cellphone.

Schematic? Service manual? It's easier to ask a friend about common
faults and repair techniques. (Hmmm. Come to think of it, that's what we
do here!)

Authorized repair station? Yes, they exist, but there are a lot more
independent technicians doing a lot more business on the streets.
Cheaper, quicker, more available.
Jim.... I live in Toronto, a very multi-cultural city and people here
from lesser developed countries will pay to get something fixed rather
than trow away and buy new.
We have lots of independent electronic repair shops here owned by people
from these countries and they seem to be flourishing. Shops are usually
very small, off the beaten track, and the techs are very good at their
work and often very creative in making repairs.
They always have bins of products that they cannibalize for parts.
Forget OEM or new parts, their goal is to make it work.
Interesting in that most of the long established main stream repair
shops are long gone.
Regards
Lee

Been in Kenya and South Africa and it's just like that, but most in Kenya.

Bart Bervoets
"Lee Babcock" wrote in message
...
Jim Land wrote:
Interesting web page about electronics repair in other cultures, such as
China and Africa:

http://www.janchipchase.com/repaircultures
A cellphone is small enough that you can open a repair shop with a
little knowledge and a little flat surface to work on. Need spare parts?
Cannibalize another cellphone.

Schematic? Service manual? It's easier to ask a friend about common
faults and repair techniques. (Hmmm. Come to think of it, that's what we
do here!)

Authorized repair station? Yes, they exist, but there are a lot more
independent technicians doing a lot more business on the streets.
Cheaper, quicker, more available.
Jim.... I live in Toronto, a very multi-cultural city and people here from
lesser developed countries will pay to get something fixed rather than
trow away and buy new.
We have lots of independent electronic repair shops here owned by people
from these countries and they seem to be flourishing. Shops are usually
very small, off the beaten track, and the techs are very good at their
work and often very creative in making repairs.
They always have bins of products that they cannibalize for parts.
Forget OEM or new parts, their goal is to make it work.
Interesting in that most of the long established main stream repair shops
are long gone.
Regards
Lee

Bart Bervoets wrote:

Been in Kenya and South Africa and it's just like that, but most in Kenya.

Bart Bervoets
"Lee Babcock" wrote in message
...

Jim Land wrote:

Interesting web page about electronics repair in other cultures, such as
China and Africa:

http://www.janchipchase.com/repaircultures
A cellphone is small enough that you can open a repair shop with a
little knowledge and a little flat surface to work on. Need spare parts?
Cannibalize another cellphone.



I have a mate who emigrated from Ethiopia, very creative at repair, will
use his tongue as a voltmeter, very good using taping to isolate a fault
etc.

Lee Babcock wrote:

We have lots of independent electronic repair shops here owned by people
from these countries and they seem to be flourishing. Shops are usually
very small, off the beaten track, and the techs are very good at their
work and often very creative in making repairs.
They always have bins of products that they cannibalize for parts.
Forget OEM or new parts, their goal is to make it work.
Interesting in that most of the long established main stream repair
shops are long gone.
Regards
Lee

Thats all part of the more efficient & competitive business model for
repair shops thats taking over, but its odd how many are still trying
to stick, unsuccessfully, to the old model. They seem to think 'repairs
are uneconomical' rather than ask themselves why, and what they can do
about it.


NT

wrote in message
ps.com...

Thats all part of the more efficient & competitive business model for
repair shops thats taking over, but its odd how many are still trying
to stick, unsuccessfully, to the old model. They seem to think 'repairs
are uneconomical' rather than ask themselves why, and what they can do
about it.

I used to repair small electric appliances and pocket radios and made a
living. Couldn't do it now.

I could replace an element in a popup toaster in under 5 minutes - a skill
without use nowadays.