FORT WAYNE – Because of technical difficulties beyond their control, many repair shops are getting poor reception.
Fast-evolving technology in consumer electronics has many service centers going out of business and others searching for ways to stay afloat, industry officials say.
“We live in such a throwaway society and since the ’80s and ’90s, the VCR market really took a hit because nobody has them anymore,” said Mack Blakely, executive director of National Electronics Service Dealers Association in Fort Worth, Texas.
“The VCR had so many parts, pulleys and things that broke. There aren’t as many parts with DVDs and the other new stuff.”
In the 1980s, Blakely said the U.S. had about 20,000 electronic repair outlets. Today, there are fewer than 10,000.
“We were decimated,” said Blakely, who could not provide revenue figures for the industry.
But owners of electronic workshops are trying to fight back.
Brook-Mill Television owner John Jackson said newer flat-panel LCD and plasma TV models have many components of older tube sets. The similarities allow Jackson to keep his repair staff busy.
“We’re always updating and brushing up on new circuitry, but the basics remain the same,” said Jackson, whose operation is at 5616 Industrial Road.
To attempt to keep pace and profits, Jackson said repair shops will push harder to gain contract work with the military, hospitals, doctors’ offices, hotels and the government.
Industry leaders also advised taking on “large appliances” and other non-traditional equipment, Jackson said.
Still, Jackson has been forced to cut the work hours of his employees.
“Basically, like a lot of other businesses we have a lot less money than we used to,” he said. “The office staff work three days a week and the technical guys work four days a week. We’re trying to survive.”
Jackson said “all of the small stuff is pretty much gone,” referring to clock radios, boom boxes and similar electronics.
“We just don’t have those things to work on anymore, mainly because they’re so inexpensive to replace,” he said.
It’s a familiar refrain, Blakely said.
“The stuff coming over from China is so cheap and in most cases it doesn’t make sense to get something fixed when you can buy it new for about the same cost,” he said.
And in the cases of flat-panel TVs “if the screen is broke it costs too much to repair and again, you’re better off buying another one,” Blakely said.
Lou Diller said there is a market for some older technologies, though.
The repairman began his business, Diller’s TV Service & Repair, in 1960. Diller thinks tube televisions with digital tuners built just before the flat-panel explosion offer picture quality comparable to newer sets.
“It’s a small market out there, but I do sell them,” said Diller, whose shop is at 4908 E. State Blvd.
“I get quite a few parents who want the heavier sets to put in their children’s rooms because they’ve smashed the LCD sets. The tube sets are a proven technology and people find that they still work well.”
Older but better
Denny Weimer, vice president at Brook-Mill, also sees some advantages to older model sets – they can take a hit.
Weimer said he can’t help but chuckle how one customer tried to explain a cracked flat-panel screen.
“This guy comes in and says while he was watching TV, a bird flew through the window and ran into his set,” Weimer said.
“A lot of times couples are fighting and take it out on the television, we’ve seen kids whack them with Star Wars light sabers and other things happen that people are embarrassed to talk about. I don’t know what happened, but I know a bird didn’t cause the damage.”
