Training to become a domestic appliance engineer...
Discussion
Does any have experience of this? Either re-training, or working as a domestic appliance engineer? At the ripe-old age of 48 I am considering a new direction. I have been a photographer for nearly 20 years, which sounds glamorous, but is increasingly a major PITA, with work thin on the ground, and clients wanting the earth for tuppence. I have always been quite good a fixing things, and wish to continue being self-employed. I live in what I would call a 'target rich' place when it comes to the local customer base - Wandsworth in South London, and there must be a zillion fairly affluent households within a couple of miles. Googling for courses always seems to lead to one place called Dixon Training in Hull who do a 10 day course. Any experience of this place, or recommendations for others? Or please feel free to tell me if being a service engineer is also a major PITA, and I should avoid this route!
Thanks in advance for your wisdom.
Thanks in advance for your wisdom.
nogginthenog said:
Thanks Keyser - not a good omen for my possible venture!
I had a quote today to fix a washing machine in my BTL flat. Replace brushes = £125. The parts cost £19, and it's an easy job ( of course I will do it myself ) so maybe there is some mileage still in repairs?
I think therein lies the issue somewhat, you can spend £125 having a machine fixed for a simple issue or http://www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk/Beko-WMB51021W...I had a quote today to fix a washing machine in my BTL flat. Replace brushes = £125. The parts cost £19, and it's an easy job ( of course I will do it myself ) so maybe there is some mileage still in repairs?
Plus you know the new machine has a years guarantee etc
not sure why my reply appeared twice, perhaps PH needs an internet service engineer!
I see your point about the cost of a new machine, but it would be crazy to ditch a quality machine like a Bosch for the sake of £125 and replace it with a cheap model. Or maybe the world has become more disposable than I imagined?
I see your point about the cost of a new machine, but it would be crazy to ditch a quality machine like a Bosch for the sake of £125 and replace it with a cheap model. Or maybe the world has become more disposable than I imagined?
nogginthenog said:
not sure why my reply appeared twice, perhaps PH needs an internet service engineer!
I see your point about the cost of a new machine, but it would be crazy to ditch a quality machine like a Bosch for the sake of £125 and replace it with a cheap model. Or maybe the world has become more disposable than I imagined?
REcently had an issue with our dishwasher after 4 years hard use. Engineer came out and repalced the drain pump then the main control board, there's not much else in there! It still doidn't fix it. Fortunately the Ikea 5 year warranty resulted in a brand new replacement unit.I see your point about the cost of a new machine, but it would be crazy to ditch a quality machine like a Bosch for the sake of £125 and replace it with a cheap model. Or maybe the world has become more disposable than I imagined?
What I'm trying to say is that in a similar situation, working as an independent engineer, this particular job would have seen you out of pocket. Will they all be simple fixes??
nogginthenog said:
not sure why my reply appeared twice, perhaps PH needs an internet service engineer!
I see your point about the cost of a new machine, but it would be crazy to ditch a quality machine like a Bosch for the sake of £125 and replace it with a cheap model. Or maybe the world has become more disposable than I imagined?
If you have a decent machine to start with absolutely but many don't, I know my friend said Zanussi for instance are about an hour's labour to just get at the innards as they split in the middle.I see your point about the cost of a new machine, but it would be crazy to ditch a quality machine like a Bosch for the sake of £125 and replace it with a cheap model. Or maybe the world has become more disposable than I imagined?
I don't want to put you off I just know for him about 5 years ago it was a very fruitful business, now not so much so make sure you do your research
dave_s13 said:
REcently had an issue with our dishwasher after 4 years hard use. Engineer came out and repalced the drain pump then the main control board, there's not much else in there! It still doidn't fix it. Fortunately the Ikea 5 year warranty resulted in a brand new replacement unit.
What I'm trying to say is that in a similar situation, working as an independent engineer, this particular job would have seen you out of pocket. Will they all be simple fixes??
That is a very good example of the kind of jobs that must really annoy a service engineer.What I'm trying to say is that in a similar situation, working as an independent engineer, this particular job would have seen you out of pocket. Will they all be simple fixes??
I had to call out an engineer to fix a broken Fisher & Paykal fridge at home recently. I had neither the time nor the balls to get this one to bits! Bloke arrived, replaced a tiny fan that was made in Taiwan but the price was over £50, and left 15 minutes later, probably on his way to another easy fix. I then repaired the old fan, which just needed a wire soldering in-place. At least I have a spare now.
I had a fridge pack in this year, was worth investigating repairs. Found it very difficult to find someone and when I did it couldn't be fixed economically anyhow. I have an extended warranty on all my expensive appliances so the warranty company just asked e to send them the bill.
What attracted you to this field?
No offence to the OP but it always has and still does annoy me that every man and a dog is an engineer these days too.....
What attracted you to this field?
No offence to the OP but it always has and still does annoy me that every man and a dog is an engineer these days too.....
a311 said:
No offence to the OP but it always has and still does annoy me that every man and a dog is an engineer these days too.....
Scanned through the thread to see if it had already been covered and the very last post has it.I have nothing to add of benefit to the thread or the OP, but as someone who has done GCSE, A levels, a degree at a very well respected uni for engineering, and about 10 years on the job training, learning, courses, seminars, international projects etc ad infinitum, it gets on my wick that it is possible to go on a 10 day course and be classed an engineer. Why we don't have it as a protected status as per Germany or USA, I don't know.
You wouldn't go on a Basic First Aid course and call yourself a Doctor, hence why UK engineering is suffering a massive problem in recruiting - it really isn't seen as "hard", after all, the guys that are cutting edge in the field (F1, space travel, O+G, medical etc) are just the same as the man who comes to screw your sky dish to the wall and plug it into your house.
Certainly not having a go at the OP, but it is nice to have a rant once in a while
Oh, and to get the rant rating up a bit, I better drop a f
k in here, and a "it wasn't like it in my day".Yes, the term 'engineer' could be a little misleading in this application. Though I did a 4 year EITB apprenticeship to become a 'welder-fabricator' ( AKA boilermaker ) in the 1980's, then realised I didn't want to breath-in fumes and be covered in crap for the rest of my life.
I would still be interested from anyone working in this field - perhaps you are all too busy repairing appliances to be browsing forums such as this?
I would still be interested from anyone working in this field - perhaps you are all too busy repairing appliances to be browsing forums such as this?
Jesus H Christ.
Domestic Appliance Engineer?
Call me stupid, but I think a major part of what's wrong in the UK today are bullst 'qualification'-awarding bodies.
In other times, 'common sense' and the fact that someone 'could be arsed to do a job', moreover 'to do a job well' were considered enough.
Quite where this rant leaves the OP, I don't know. I pity the youth of today, truly I do.
Domestic Appliance Engineer?
Call me stupid, but I think a major part of what's wrong in the UK today are bulls
t 'qualification'-awarding bodies.In other times, 'common sense' and the fact that someone 'could be arsed to do a job', moreover 'to do a job well' were considered enough.
Quite where this rant leaves the OP, I don't know. I pity the youth of today, truly I do.
A guy I know works for an appliance manufacturer as a service engineer, he makes a very good living but echoes what the previous posters have said.
He has the benefit of the latest diagnostic equipment and a van full of spares so he does not have to make a second visit after obtaining the parts. Warranty work seems to pay well but some machines are condemned for trivial reasons, as a manufacturers representative he still gets paid for these visits whereas an independent would lose out.
He has the benefit of the latest diagnostic equipment and a van full of spares so he does not have to make a second visit after obtaining the parts. Warranty work seems to pay well but some machines are condemned for trivial reasons, as a manufacturers representative he still gets paid for these visits whereas an independent would lose out.
Mobile Chicane said:
Jesus H Christ.
Domestic Appliance Engineer?
Call me stupid, but I think a major part of what's wrong in the UK today are bullst 'qualification'-awarding bodies.
In other times, 'common sense' and the fact that someone 'could be arsed to do a job', moreover 'to do a job well' were considered enough.
Quite where this rant leaves the OP, I don't know. I pity the youth of today, truly I do.
I totally agree and has nothing to do with the OP. I take it the training course to become a washing machine engineer is three to four years?Domestic Appliance Engineer?
Call me stupid, but I think a major part of what's wrong in the UK today are bulls
t 'qualification'-awarding bodies.In other times, 'common sense' and the fact that someone 'could be arsed to do a job', moreover 'to do a job well' were considered enough.
Quite where this rant leaves the OP, I don't know. I pity the youth of today, truly I do.
A further three weeks study and you can become a doctor of dishwashers.
The dilution of the engineering qualification has always depressed me.
<snobby mode off>
Good luck OP!
Mike
OK - forget I ever mentioned the 'E' word!
When it comes to appliances becoming increasingly disposable, I think this is only at the bottom end of the market. Plenty of my neighbours think nothing of dropping £5K on a Mercury cooker ( although I doubt 'cooker' is the word the manufacturers use! ) or £1500 on a Smeg fridge ( which is probably the same inside as a Hotpoint ) and they wouldn't consider scrapping them for the price of a fan or an element. They would probably have a manufacturers warranty though, so would call the appropriate person rather than a local 'fixer' .
When it comes to appliances becoming increasingly disposable, I think this is only at the bottom end of the market. Plenty of my neighbours think nothing of dropping £5K on a Mercury cooker ( although I doubt 'cooker' is the word the manufacturers use! ) or £1500 on a Smeg fridge ( which is probably the same inside as a Hotpoint ) and they wouldn't consider scrapping them for the price of a fan or an element. They would probably have a manufacturers warranty though, so would call the appropriate person rather than a local 'fixer' .
Many years ago I worked for Hotpoint as a service engineer, mostly working on twin tubs and single tub power wringer types (which will give you an idea of how long ago we are talking about). In those days washing machines were viciously expensive and represented a major investment for a household. Naturally there was no question of 'buying a new one', and machines frequently went wrong.
Even then it wasn't an easy job even though I could usually park outside (which would be tricky these days) and the lady of the house was usually at home to let me in, tell me what was wrong, and pay me when I had finished. None of these things are the case now.
I guess what I am saying is- find something else to do.
Even then it wasn't an easy job even though I could usually park outside (which would be tricky these days) and the lady of the house was usually at home to let me in, tell me what was wrong, and pay me when I had finished. None of these things are the case now.
I guess what I am saying is- find something else to do.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff