[TenTec] Omni 5, Omni 6 5.0 to 5.5 MHz PLL saga -- for the repair archive, except for the editorial comments

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

I just received a quote from a company regarding repair. Diagnostic fee 
$250 and $135 / hr.   If I have the unit repaired the diagnostic fee 
would be applied to the repair.   In any even, I'm spending a minimum of 
$250 plus shipping both ways.

Yes I understand the warranty repair issue.  However, if it had not been 
warranty, how much would be charged?    Frankly for ham radio repairs 
today, considering time and test equipment required and space 
allocation, $135 is a reasonable rate.   The days of $35 / hour are long 
gone.  Folks, get over it!     Now you know why I no longer repair ham 
equipment.

73

Bob, K4TAX



On 9/6/2018 11:05 AM, MadScientist wrote:
> Well I certainly did not charge the customer for the added time - it was a warranty repair.
>
> I also learned from the experience so, to some extent, it was worth the time spent.
>
> I WISH I could get people to pay me $135 per hour for this relatively rare level of repair expertise.
>
> 73
>
> Gary
>
>> On Sep 6, 2018, at 10:46 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <rmcgraw at blomand.net> wrote:
>>
>> Gary:
>>
>> I most likely can't count or recall the times I have asked the question; "why do you think the radio needs alignment?"    If a component has been replaced, well then......... maybe.   Just to "do it" to be "doing it" is an invitation to introduce an issue or issues which did not originally exist.  Bad idea from the start.
>>
>> I commend you for your good trouble shooting on your part.  Hope your customer was very understanding.   And with your time and effort, at normal billing rates, the radio was, frankly,  not likely worth repairing.  Now for those of you that may not agree, if billing rate is $135/hour and at 8 hrs, that's $1080 plus shipping.   Nah, the radio working is great OK, but not working, nah, not worth it.   Repairing old radios must be done solely for the "LOVE" of the radio, not from a practical or business point of view.  That's one of the reasons I no longer repair radios.  As my friend TIM says:  "Time Is Money".
>>
>> Glad there is still someone that can and is able to repair these older radios.  With the prices of new radios falling and the ones being introduced into the market, any form of repair is largely out of the realistic realm of practicality .   Sad, but I think we'll see more and more of this.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>>
>>
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