How to become an authorized servicer, etc.

[grizzly]

Ok, here are Sunday's questions...

How does a servicer go about becoming an "authorized" servicer for a manufacturer? Is there some kind of training or certification that you need to go through? Does this allow you to get paid for doing warranty work by the manufacturer?

Do you get a discount from repairclinic (or your local parts dealer) if you are in business? Like a bulk discount for frequent customers? If you are buying a part for a customer's machine, do you have to pay sales tax on parts since they will be then resold to a final customer (I know this one may vary from state to state)?

Anyone have a list of the most common parts, and quantities thereof, that they keep on their service van? Or is this perhaps to general, and might it depend on your area and the type of work you do?

Anyone think there is a market for a servicer that works only evenings and weekends? When I finish my self study training many months from now, I'd like to dip my toe in the water, but sure don't want to quit my day job yet, so I'd like to try appliance repair part time in the evenings and weekends only.

[Poobah]

You have to contact the company that you are wanting to do work for.  They will inturn put you in touch with the service person that covers your region. they will then send you a info. packet (contract if you will) that you must fill out with your qualifications (HVAC license) proper tools, etc.  You must fill these out and send back in.  Then if you are approved you will be paid by the job.

I have never purchased from Repairclinic so I don't know about a discount. The discount ffrom a local parts dealer would be up to them and prob. how many parts you buy,  I give a % off to my repeat people....  In Ky. you will pay sales tax on a part purchase unless you give a copy of your business license (tax exempt form) to the shop you buy from.  Depending on how you are going to want to do your business, you may be better off just to pay it and go on.

The common list of parts will vary for the are that your in, by what % of appliance brands you will service, and the brands of the area.  Your local parts store could prob. help you with this.

As far as service work when your available (evenings, weekends) I don't know unless you just promote it that way.  Somehing like "Afterwork Applance Service, were there when you are" be special and accomodating, thats your niche.

Thing is with going into homes and doing repair make sure to cover yourself (insurance, proper tools, floor protection, etc.) alot more to it doing a repair in your basement than in a customers home, with them watching your every move. "You scratched my bamboo floor floor when you pulled that ref. out", yadda yadda. With the materials people use today and the way things are installed it is really a royal pain more times than not.  So make sure mind your P's & Q's

[AccApp]

[user=19408]grizzly[/user] wrote:

How does a servicer go about becoming an "authorized" servicer for a manufacturer? Is there some kind of training or certification that you need to go through? Does this allow you to get paid for doing warranty work by the manufacturer?

Do you get a discount from repairclinic (or your local parts dealer) if you are in business? Like a bulk discount for frequent customers? If you are buying a part for a customer's machine, do you have to pay sales tax on parts since they will be then resold to a final customer (I know this one may vary from state to state)?

Anyone have a list of the most common parts, and quantities thereof, that they keep on their service van? Or is this perhaps to general, and might it depend on your area and the type of work you do?

Anyone think there is a market for a servicer that works only evenings and weekends? When I finish my self study training many months from now, I'd like to dip my toe in the water, but sure don't want to quit my day job yet, so I'd like to try appliance repair part time in the evenings and weekends only.

1, Depends upon the mfgr and Regional Service Manager. For Frigidaire three years ago  I had to call a toll-free number (888-842-3660) and push option 2. They sent me a 20 question test which I had to return along with copy of my EPA certificate (I took my test on-line for $75, you'll only need it if you do sealed system refrigeration), and proof of liability and auto insurance. 5 weeks later they set me up with a ServiceBench ID and I started running calls for them. Not only will this authorize you to perform work on new units within the 1 year warranty period but it also authorizes you to service the products under Extended Service Agreements which can be very lucrative depending on how much you can chisel down your parts supplier. Example: I run a call on a gas range not baking, go check it out of course it is the ignitor. I get $66 for labor and the list price for the ignitor is 54.41. I paid $13.50 (50 at a time) so I net 106.91 for a call I paid nothing in advertising to acquire. Not bad for 20 minutes work, not including setting up the appointment and the driving.

2. Yes, I always call the same guy at my parts place and he tells me the retail price, regular dealer price and then my cost. He also asks if the part is for COD or warranty in which case I pay regular dealer price but get a credit directly to the supplier. It is a lot of paper work involved in tracking the stuff. In NJ I don't pay sales tax on appliance parts I will resell but I do pay it for HVAC equipment which is then not subject to sales tax if installed as part of a home imporvemnt (simple, right?).

3. Truck stock will definitely vary depending on what you find yourself doing. I do a lot of Sub-Zero warranty and COD work so I carry just about anything that I find fails regularly and fits in my Sub-Zero box reasonably. Condenser and evap fan motors, light and fan switches, thermistors, control boards, compressors and evaporators just to mention a few. You can start with a very small inventory of around $300. Call a local parts supplier and ask for a list of their top fast movers and winnow out the cosmetic parts and get the functional stuff until your budget is gone. When you use a part for COD work, replace it with two from the profit you make until you reach a reasonable level. You will get a handle on what you need very soon. Scour the free catalogs the suppliers will send you.

4. Hell, yeah! When I actually get a hold of someone they almost always request a Saturday appointment which I can rarely fulfill as I have a life (yeah,Right?). When I suggest a weekday evening appointment they will often jump at the chance. I am amazed at the number of people who are home all the time during the week but still have enough free cash around to buy top-end appliances. It's the cheap stuff folks have to work to afford but they still have someone who can meet me there given enough notice. A friend of mine did evenings and Saturdays for 6 months doing HVAC work strictly for two home warranty companies while he worked his day job. When he realized he made more on Saturday then the rest of the week he went full time and never looked back. Don't let customers know you are a part-timer, for some reason they will respect you less.

[grizzly]

This grasshoper thanks you guys for your great advice! I hear ya about the importance of insurance, when I had my painting gig going, pretty much everyday I was painting with the customer there I was very thankful I had a liability policy in place. Not because I thought I was gonna mess something up, but because of the way the customer seemed to watch every little move, just waiting for me to break something or make some kind of mistake. Kind of makes ya feel cheap and dirty when they watch you like a hawk, but once you do a good job for them, they settle down, usually. This one guy I painted his office for, acted kind of grumpy when he was paying after we finished his office, so I didn't think he was a satisfied customer. Several months go by, then he calls me and wants me to come paint his house. Makes me wonder if the customers who seems happy aren't, and vice versa.